http://www.powells.com/biblio/17-9780767903868-4 - This is Bryson's account of his travels across Australia - and armchairs travel at its best. Bryson is pretty funny and fills this book with entertaining anecdotes and observations. I've never been to Australia, and in a way I think that made this book less enjoyable than it otherwise could have been. I found most interesting the parts of the book where he attempts to delve into the tricky relationship between white Australians and the Aborigines. It's clear there is severe racism in the country, and that there are problems with Aboriginal poverty and alcoholism. But, he didn't seem to be able to get much out of the locals (except obvious disdain) in terms of what the country is doing, if anything, to remedy the problems. I am interested in learning more about this issue in Australia and whether it parallels many of the issues in our own country with respect to Native Americans. I am also interested in reading his book about walking the Appalachian Trail, A Walk in the Woods - as that's something I've always thought would be awesome to do, but will probably never get around to.
Monday, June 18, 2007
In a Sunburned Country - Bill Bryson
http://www.powells.com/biblio/17-9780767903868-4 - This is Bryson's account of his travels across Australia - and armchairs travel at its best. Bryson is pretty funny and fills this book with entertaining anecdotes and observations. I've never been to Australia, and in a way I think that made this book less enjoyable than it otherwise could have been. I found most interesting the parts of the book where he attempts to delve into the tricky relationship between white Australians and the Aborigines. It's clear there is severe racism in the country, and that there are problems with Aboriginal poverty and alcoholism. But, he didn't seem to be able to get much out of the locals (except obvious disdain) in terms of what the country is doing, if anything, to remedy the problems. I am interested in learning more about this issue in Australia and whether it parallels many of the issues in our own country with respect to Native Americans. I am also interested in reading his book about walking the Appalachian Trail, A Walk in the Woods - as that's something I've always thought would be awesome to do, but will probably never get around to.
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I began reading this before I left for Australian and then finished while I was there. It was an excellent strategy and I had a great time comparing what he said about different places with my own impressions. It's been a few years now so I can't remember all of the politics discussed in the book but I can only say that this has become a strategy of mine to read some type of novel or nonfiction about countries before I visit and it really builds my interest.
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