Laugh-Out-Loud Funny | Bill Bryson’s ‘In a Sunburned Country’
Due to copyright laws, I can’t do much excerpting at all; nevertheless my recommendation of ‘In a Sunburned Country’ by Bill Bryson is wholehearted.
Ironically, this book has sat on our shelves for several years, having been bought by my husband with the best of intentions before he succumbed to his more natural inclination towards movies and other visual things.
As for me, I like to read ‘different’ things, and I’m at the beginning stages of a big writing project that involves marrying two genres – one fiction, one non-fiction – to create a new form, and I’m learning HEAPS here in between all the laughing.
I’m so glad I picked it up, and if like me you have an intense curiosity about life’s oddities and a fairly warped sense of humor, I’m quite sure you’ll be happy if you do too. Ah, the satisfaction of putting several other Bryson titles on my Christmas Wish List. There’s really nothing quite like discovering a great new author!
Here is a tidbit, just to whet your appetite.
“In the late afternoon, I stopped at a roadhouse for gas and coffee. I studied my book of maps . . . Then, having nothing better to do, I leafed through the index and amused myself, in a very low-key way, by looking for ridiculous names, of which Australia has a respectable plenitude. I am thus able to report that the following are all real places: Wee Waa, Poowons, Borrumbuttock, Suggan Buggan, Boomahnoomoonah, Waaia, Mullumbimby Ewylamartup, Jiggalong, and the supremely satisfying Tittybong.”
Click here for Bill’s official website at Random House or here to purchase Sunburned Country from Amazon.com. Enjoy!
Oh my! You’ve discovered one of my favorite ‘fun’ authors (as opposed to business or marketing books). I highly recommend “I’m a Stranger Here Myself.” I laughed harder at that one than any of the others (and so did my husband!).
E
I lived in Australia for several years and this book really captures the country … in SO many ways. Laughed so hard sometimes I could barely catch my breath (and that’s a good thing!)
D