It is the driest, flattest, hottest, most infertile and climatically aggressive of all the inhabited continents and still Australia teems with life - a large portion of it quite deadly. In fact, Australia has more things that can kill you in a very nasty way than anywhere else.

Ignoring such dangers - and yet curiously obsessed by them - Bill Bryson journeyed to Australia and promptly fell in love with the country. And who can blame him? The people are cheerful, extrovert, quick-witted and unfailingly obliging: their cities are safe and clean and nearly always built on water; the food is excellent; the beer is cold and the sun nearly always shines. Life doesn't get much better than this...

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I tried to purchase a copy of this from Amazon to pass on as part of the HGG but the seller failed to deliver, didn't answer my mails and generally kept me waiting for a month or so. Two days ago, I was finally informed that the seller couldn't deliver the book after all, so I ordered another copy. It arrived today, so I am registering it ready to make up the HGG parcel and pass on in the course of next week. Sorry for the delay.

Posting as a HGG RABCK to a fellow book-crosser in Finland. Hope you enjoy it!

Wow, thank you so much for the lovely HGG gift! I received this wishlist book in the mail today with some bc stickers, chocolate, cocoa, candles, Christmas ornament and another book! It was unbelievable how many things there were in that package! Totally unexpected and awesome! Plus now I read that this book was bought especially for me; that is unbelievable and all kinds of heartwarming! Chremajora, you are too kind!

I've read a few Bryson's before, so am eagerly waiting to start this one!

I finally finished the book. I think I've been reading it in small increments since December. I really like Bryson's writing style, and I enjoyed the little anecdotes and stories about Australia, but unfortunately this book was not quite as good as I expected it to be. The main problem, I think, is that it's too long: almost 400 pages. I think like half of it would have been enough.

I liked the book somewhat, nevertheless. It's just that I was expecting a lot more, as the previous Bryson books I've read were more interesting and funnier too, if I recall correctly. I did learn a lot of new things about Australia, though. Thank you again, Chremajora, for the book!

I'm taking the book to the Helsinki area bookcrossing meetup at the Sokos department store cafe.

Down Under came far East today, waiting to be read.
Always interested in the view of Bill Bryson on countries.