tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6275165298547340568.post8947557023760366468..comments2023-10-20T16:03:03.157+01:00Comments on Devouring Texts: Devouring Books: Down Under by Bill BrysonLaurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17371636785566309578noreply@blogger.comBlogger22125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6275165298547340568.post-85336983446644251182013-05-06T04:21:36.560+01:002013-05-06T04:21:36.560+01:00I love a sunburned country,
a land of sweeping pl...I love a sunburned country, <br />a land of sweeping plains,<br />Of ragged mountain ranges,<br />Of droughts and flooding rains.<br />I love her far horizons,<br />I love her jewel-sea,<br />Her beauty and her terror -<br />The wide brown land for me!<br /><br />This is the only verse I know off the top of my head, but Dorothea Mackellar is one of my favourite lady Australians. I can't believe the UK got Down Under while the US got Dorothea!<br /><br />Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09259549933849264277noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6275165298547340568.post-57665660760833464322013-05-06T04:15:42.079+01:002013-05-06T04:15:42.079+01:00He skipped Tasmania? What. A. Dick. No, but I thin...He skipped Tasmania? What. A. Dick. No, but I think most people do. Whatever, their loss.<br /><br />Why does no one in my life drive? Tom doesn't drive either, and it makes spontaneous roadtrips a lot less likely to happen. But I will drive. Or we can find another friend to bring along who can also drive, so that I can nap from time to time. Either way, let's do this!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09259549933849264277noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6275165298547340568.post-43006886116777551782013-05-04T04:13:11.120+01:002013-05-04T04:13:11.120+01:00Okay, so I also read and enjoyed this book (though...Okay, so I also read and enjoyed this book (though under its American title; I guess Bryson pulled a reverse-Philosopher's Stone in that he used the fancy from-a-poem title for us Americans and just Down Under for you Brits), and I propose that we meet in Australia and hike to Uluru together. And then we can go get drunk at a weird bar, in true Bryson form. <br /><br />Yes/yes?Raynahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03536910555459674118noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6275165298547340568.post-2101771206511016442013-05-02T19:51:41.078+01:002013-05-02T19:51:41.078+01:00Ohhhh, I forgot about your aversion to Aussie acce...Ohhhh, I forgot about your aversion to Aussie accents! There's this one particular accent I don't like, but other than that one... I really like them. But then I like most accents that aren't British, so yeah.<br /><br />I have not seen Picnic at Hanging Rock, but that kind of sounds awesome. I can neither confirm or deny whether any girls have disappeared on or around Uluru, but... I'll let you know. <br /><br />YAY! READ ALL THE BRYSON! (That's my motto. Or possibly my battle cry. I haven't decided yet.)Laurahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17371636785566309578noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6275165298547340568.post-33902674604763748932013-05-02T19:48:57.217+01:002013-05-02T19:48:57.217+01:00Come ooooon Kayleigh! You can do it! I hadn't ...Come ooooon Kayleigh! You can do it! I hadn't read any Bryson before I was a blogger (actually... ok, just his Shakespeare book) and I think Alley used to talk about him all the time and I had about 4 or 5 of his books... Anyway, one thing led to another, and now it's ALL ABOUT BRYSON. For reals.Laurahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17371636785566309578noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6275165298547340568.post-43672631357158326312013-05-02T19:47:08.733+01:002013-05-02T19:47:08.733+01:00Tazzy! Bryson even skips Tasmania in his book, you...Tazzy! Bryson even skips Tasmania in his book, you know, but FORTUNATELY they went there on Masterchef Australia and it looked looooovely :). <br /><br />When you say WE can drive, you mean you, right? Because I can't drive. You'll have to do all the driving. Also I insist on travelling with about 20 litres of water per person because WHAT IF WE WERE STUCK IN THE OUTBACK WITH NO WATER OMG!!<br /><br />Also, SUGAR GLIDERS!!! So cute!!Laurahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17371636785566309578noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6275165298547340568.post-64490150047280008902013-05-02T17:51:35.759+01:002013-05-02T17:51:35.759+01:00I admit to hating the Australian accent, but I'...I admit to hating the Australian accent, but I'm hating it LESS after some years of living. So...there's that.<br /><br />I've wanted to visit since seeing Picnic at Hanging Rock, which seems to be a pretty similar rock experience (except no disappearing girls, so far as I can tell).<br /><br />I'll read this, though. Yup.Reading Rambohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12614467198216577755noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6275165298547340568.post-71083229501132903142013-05-02T00:41:34.235+01:002013-05-02T00:41:34.235+01:00I really should, and while I'm in "Austra...I really should, and while I'm in "Australia, F Yeah" mode I'm going to push Tasmania on you. Seriously, you NEED to take a trip to Tasmania. I feel like people usually skip it, but it's so beautiful it makes my heart hurt. <br /><br />We can definitely drive! For his honeymoon, my uncle and his wife drove around Australia and they said it was the greatest ever experience. So yes, let's do it.<br /><br />@Kayleigh, I am also not a fan of spiders, but just think of all the kangaroos and koalas and sugar gliders and you'll be fine! Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09259549933849264277noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6275165298547340568.post-22239496236745206042013-05-02T00:18:53.501+01:002013-05-02T00:18:53.501+01:00*Still* haven't read any Bryson, but that bit ...*Still* haven't read any Bryson, but that bit on Uluru? Gorgeous! Kayleigh vWhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08889972089506839071noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6275165298547340568.post-85483087176116939932013-05-02T00:16:39.308+01:002013-05-02T00:16:39.308+01:00Ah, see, because I was super scared of the wildlif...Ah, see, because I was super scared of the wildlife, but your comment makes me feel a bit better. Because I can't really do spiders and snakes and things. There was a spider in my apartment this morning, and it took me half an hour and a roll of paper towel between us for me to squish it. Freaking spiders.Kayleigh vWhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08889972089506839071noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6275165298547340568.post-67338195099215772922013-05-01T22:08:24.260+01:002013-05-01T22:08:24.260+01:00THERE IS TOTALLY A CONSPIRACY! I'll bet the bo...THERE IS TOTALLY A CONSPIRACY! I'll bet the boats send out shockwaves or something to KEEP US ALL APART! Omg, we've cracked this wide open (like Pangea was. Ooooh, connections. Or not!)Laurahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17371636785566309578noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6275165298547340568.post-31905039901966825922013-05-01T21:52:21.209+01:002013-05-01T21:52:21.209+01:00YEAH! WTF tectonic plates, screwing up Pangea for ...YEAH! WTF tectonic plates, screwing up Pangea for everyone. Except the airline and boat industries who are probably behind the whole thing. I smell a conspiracy Redhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16456600806188531803noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6275165298547340568.post-31841315134318378462013-05-01T21:42:43.925+01:002013-05-01T21:42:43.925+01:00Yes, yes you do! Have you not read anything anythi...Yes, yes you do! Have you not read anything anything by him? Because you know how you like science and things? A Short History of Nearly Everything is REALLY GOOD. Like, really good.Laurahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17371636785566309578noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6275165298547340568.post-80019747867109674582013-05-01T21:40:20.238+01:002013-05-01T21:40:20.238+01:00Isn't he SO MUCH less grumpy in this book thou...Isn't he SO MUCH less grumpy in this book though?! It's kind of startling! And awww, thank you! I was a bit like 'ooer' about writing it because I feel like I haven't written a non-HP review for aaaaages, so I was like 'what am I even doing?!' So your praise has warmed my heart :)<br /><br />And DAMN YOU AUSTRALIA! Move nearer to us, FFS! Or... At least to one of us. Can't we just smoosh all the land in the world together and walk/drive to anywhere?!Laurahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17371636785566309578noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6275165298547340568.post-88938551230968160242013-05-01T21:36:14.921+01:002013-05-01T21:36:14.921+01:00Yeah, but they can't ALL be awesome, right? OR...Yeah, but they can't ALL be awesome, right? OR ARE YOU ALL THE BEST?! You probably are. <br /><br />Australia sounds like the swellest place to visit, but ALSO it sounds like a pretty fine place to live! I mean... I'd probably melt to death, but apart from THAT?! Seems fine! (Seriously, I got sunburnt today and I don't think it even made it to 20ÂșC. I would die.)<br /><br />All of this is true, BUT there are still a lot more things that would kill you in Aus than, like, here for example. But, as I have said to you before, THE GREAT BARRIER REEF trumps everything (and, now, for me, Uluru. Apparently.)<br /><br />Uluru sounds SO FAR from civilisation that it's ridiculous. Like, Alice Springs is the nearest town and that's 300 miles away. 300 miles is A LOT OF MILES. So, you can drive right? Cause we can just hire a car and drive to that baby in like 5 hours. It'll be awesome. BIG ROCK, KAYLEIGH! How can you refuse?!<br /><br />Do you work for the Australian tourist board now? You really should!!Laurahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17371636785566309578noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6275165298547340568.post-74588339489393839892013-05-01T21:30:51.455+01:002013-05-01T21:30:51.455+01:00That's so cool that there was a Bryson book in...That's so cool that there was a Bryson book in every room of your house! I might need to start this up in my own house! (There are like 5 rooms in my house and 2 are already covered. This is awesome).<br /><br />That is totally harsh, but hey, you makes your choices! Bryson (and I) definitely come down on the side of, you know, 'yeah, there're are spiders, but HAVE YOU HEARD ABOUT ALL THIS OTHER COOL STUFF?!' and I'm definitely all for seeing the cool stuff. Also I'm not that bad about spiders, so it's all ok haha. But you definitely shouldn't read this if you DON'T want to be convinced to go to Australia, cause it totally does that!Laurahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17371636785566309578noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6275165298547340568.post-51856771188240229592013-05-01T21:09:50.948+01:002013-05-01T21:09:50.948+01:00OH MY GOD, A Walk In The Woods TOTALLY made me wan...OH MY GOD, A Walk In The Woods TOTALLY made me want to hike the AT! (I love the idea so much that I get to call it the 'AT' with some disturbing degree of familiarity...) Also I'm reading Wild at the moment, and in THAT, she's hiking the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) and now I want to do THAT, too! (I do like walking, but, let's face it, I would DIE on either of those trails...)<br /><br />Anyway! Yes! Let's go to Australia and then also to the AT and do ALL THE BRYSON THINGS. And be all grumpy, because that's a Bryson thing toooo!Laurahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17371636785566309578noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6275165298547340568.post-53389306091606866522013-05-01T18:48:41.667+01:002013-05-01T18:48:41.667+01:00Good lord I really need to read some Bryson. Good lord I really need to read some Bryson. Sarahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11196903315080725315noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6275165298547340568.post-26083221239567758192013-05-01T15:15:12.695+01:002013-05-01T15:15:12.695+01:00"As you'd expect from any Bryson book, th..."As you'd expect from any Bryson book, there's a mix of science, natural history, history-history, drinking, anecdoting, and just general juicy travelogue goodness that he really knows how to deliver on" - this is the best way to describe Bryson's books in general. Well this plus grumpiness (which you mentioned above, cos it can't be ignored). Excellent review!!<br /><br />This book does make me want to go see Australia. Why oh why does it have to be so damn far away?Redhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16456600806188531803noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6275165298547340568.post-2049502823191696882013-05-01T12:52:00.854+01:002013-05-01T12:52:00.854+01:00Dude that's not a compliment, it's just st...Dude that's not a compliment, it's just stating fact. But thank you all the same. <br /><br />It's a pretty swell country. If you were planning on moving here I'd give you a run down on omfg the politics and the mistreatment of the indigenous population etc etc, but as a place to visit? Yeah, it's pretty god damn good. <br /><br />And while everyone jokes about how many things can kill you in Australia, unless you go walkabout out bush you will not see a spider that you wouldn't find overseas, you will rarely see crocodiles (unless you're on a tour or in NT because they own that shit), snakes exist in the more rural areas, but you'll be unlucky if you see anything worse than a python and sharks aren't about to sneak up on you. <br /><br />I have yet to go to Uluru (it's a fair hike from everywhere) but everyone I know who has been has said it's amazing.<br /><br />In summation, yeah Australia! Come visit!!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09259549933849264277noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6275165298547340568.post-27624206384679425112013-05-01T12:15:48.814+01:002013-05-01T12:15:48.814+01:00My Dad and brother used be obsessed with Bryson to...My Dad and brother used be obsessed with Bryson to the point that every room in my house had one of his books in 'just in case'. So it's actually kinda weird that I've got this far without reading any. I feel I ought to start really.<br /><br />I have to say though that I will avoid this one. I'm very easily influenced by books that say things are good and no offence to all the lovely Australians out there but Australia is the only country I don't really want to visit. It looks amazing an all but, come on, the spiders?! Urgh. Can't deal with that. I'd be a jibbering, twitching, sweaty wreck. I really don't deal with spiders. Kinda harsh though, I suppose, writing off a whole country because of its wildlife but still, not going to happen. Elliehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09362128444319074118noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6275165298547340568.post-43138425159655966862013-05-01T10:27:39.467+01:002013-05-01T10:27:39.467+01:00Can't beat a little Bryson for making you want...Can't beat a little Bryson for making you want to take off and see ALL THE THINGS. When I first read 'A Walk in the Woods' at the age of about 11, for example, having thrown a fit every time my parents suggested going for a couple of hours' walk in the Peak District, I was suddenly convinced that going and walking the Appalachian Trail was an awesome and totally doable idea. SUCH IS THE POWER OF BRYSON. So, yeah... if you decide to go see the big rock, book a second ticket. With two of us there we could even set up hourly watches so we don't get ambushed by any plate-sized spiders. Just in case... :DElliehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07246472269477492583noreply@blogger.com