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In a Sunburned Country
In a Sunburned Country | Bill Bryson
A CLASSIC FROM THE NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF ONE SUMMER Every time Bill Bryson walks out the door, memorable travel literature threatens to break out. His previous excursion along the Appalachian Trail resulted in the sublime national bestseller A Walk in the Woods. In A Sunburned Country is his report on what he found in an entirely different place: Australia, the country that doubles as a continent, and a place with the friendliest inhabitants, the hottest, driest weather, and the most peculiar and lethal wildlife to be found on the planet. The result is a deliciously funny, fact-filled, and adventurous performance by a writer who combines humor, wonder, and unflagging curiousity. Despite the fact that Australia harbors more things that can kill you in extremely nasty ways than anywhere else, including sharks, crocodiles, snakes, even riptides and deserts, Bill Bryson adores the place, and he takes his readers on a rollicking ride far beyond that beaten tourist path. Wherever he goes he finds Australians who are cheerful, extroverted, and unfailingly obliging, and these beaming products of land with clean, safe cities, cold beer, and constant sunshine fill the pages of this wonderful book. Australia is an immense and fortunate land, and it has found in Bill Bryson its perfect guide. From the Trade Paperback edition.
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bookowly
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Mehso-so

I don‘t much get the hype around Bill Bryson honestly. Haven‘t read his most famous work but this and Notes from a Small Island were simply fine, no more.

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Bookish_Gal
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Bailedbailed

I‘ve made it pretty much halfway, and it feels like such a chore. Picked up because it was for the library book club.
While author is funny at points, it‘s not my sense of humor. I loved learning about Australia through the side comments, but the back and forth between now travels and hundred of years ago tid bit just did not work. Just drags on where I‘m not interested, and blows by what I want to know.
Maybe another day 🇦🇺

dabbe #hailthebail! 🤩🤩🤩 8mo
Bookish_Gal @dabbe I‘m not someone who dnf‘s. It was harder than I thought it would be to dnf it. But wow that freed me up 8mo
dabbe @Bookish_Gal I hail it to remind myself that life's too short, and there are way too many other excellent books out there to enjoy! 🤩😍😃 8mo
Bookish_Gal @dabbe I‘m trying not to be bothered by it this year. It‘s one of my reading goals. 8mo
10 likes4 comments
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LeafingThroughLife
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Pickpick

While I have a hard copy of the book, I‘m glad I ended up listening to the audio of this one. Narrated by the other himself, the book is both informative and laugh out loud funny. As Bryson points out on the regular, Australia often flies under the radar of the world news, and it‘s true I didn‘t know much about it. Listening to this book was the most fun way to learn about its explorers, odd politics, unique fauna, and more. #bookspin

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GinaKButler
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Up next for the Memoir Around The World Challenge.
#bookspinbingo

MegaWhoppingCosmicBookwyrm This is my favorite Bryson so far! Hope you enjoy. 2y
17 likes1 stack add1 comment
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EverydayImReading
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I read this years ago and it made me laugh so much and I have read most of Brysons books now. Filled with strange and unusual stories and facts told in a loving way. All of his books are so well researched most of them like this one from his personnel adventures. #Alphabetgame

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TEArificbooks
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Pickpick

I love Bryson‘s humor. I feel like I have traveled to Australia and got lucky cause nothing tried to bite me. #19822022 @Librarybelle

Librarybelle Yay! I‘ve not read this one by Bryson yet, but he does well immersing readers into his journeys. 3y
43 likes1 stack add1 comment
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Kajari
Pickpick

Very witty, funny narration. He described the mostly scenario (like getting chased my wild dogs) in a way that will make you laugh until your stomach aches.

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ravenlee
Pickpick

A low pick. Humorous but not as much as A Walk in the Woods, informative and interesting. I found it a little confusing because it sounds like it‘s a single trip to Australia but it‘s actually several with some overlap in area. If Bryson or Australia are your thing, give this one a try. Otherwise, maybe not a good fit.

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MegaWhoppingCosmicBookwyrm
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2. If I HAD to choose, it would be Fantasy and the master is Tolkien. Dude single-handedly built fully functional languages for his fictional creations, not to mention an entire mythos! ❤️🤯🥰❤️
3. Bill Bryson or Rebecca Skloot
I‘m a day late, so no tags! 😅
#WondrousWednesday @Eggs

Eggs Thanks for playing 👏🏻📚🌼 4y
19 likes1 comment
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Deblovestoread
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#3books #thatmademewanttorravel

These are 3 books that came to mind for this prompt....Italy, Australia or time travel...all would be fantastic.

erzascarletbookgasm Time travel! Brilliant! 👍 4y
OriginalCyn620 Awesome! 4y
AkashaVampie That Jodi Taylor book sounds like my life!!!! Haha the title I mean! 4y
AkashaVampie Also that sounds like some nice spine poetry 4y
Deblovestoread @AkashaVampie Great catch on the spine poetry 💗 4y
28 likes5 comments
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TheSpineView
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77 likes2 comments
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underground_bks
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Pickpick

I listened to this audiobook with my husband and in-laws on our way to and from Indiana for Thanksgiving, care of Libro.fm! Bill Bryson had us laughing hysterically every 20-30 minutes for 12 hours! I loved learning about the history, environment, culture, and geography of this utterly unique country/continent, while laughing at Bryson‘s misadventures along the way! 🦘

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TheKidUpstairs
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📚 In a Sunburned Country
📽 Planes, Trains, and Automobiles
🎶 I'm On My Way - The Proclaimers

#ManicMonday @JoScho

RachelAmphlett Fab choices! 5y
JoScho Thanks for playing 😊🧳 5y
39 likes2 comments
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jb72
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#24B4MONDAY #readathon #summer
The readathon starts tomorrow! We get an extra day this month too. The theme is summer, but remember this is about having fun (so you don‘t have to follow the theme). I‘ve listed above the books I hope to read during the readathon. I‘ve already started Hex and Oliver Twist (although I‘m not liking the narrator on OT). I‘m shooting for 24 hours. Feel free to join and have some fun! 🏖

BeansPage Ooooo 😗 Hex was really good 5y
Andrew65 A great stack, have fun and good luck. 😊👍 5y
jb72 @TheReadingMermaid I‘m on chapter 5, and so far I like it. 5y
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jb72 @Andrew65 Thanks! 5y
Bklover I loved Hex! It was one of those I didn‘t expect to like. 5y
jb72 @Bklover Good to know....so far I like it. 5y
24 likes6 comments
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jb72
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#24B4MONDAY #readathon #summertime
The August Readathon is fast approaching. Time flies when you‘re having fun reading. This month‘s theme is summertime! Dust off all of those summer books you‘ve been meaning to read: books about summer, the beach, great summer covers, vacations, etc. Remember the theme is for added fun...you do not need to follow the theme to participate. Plus we are getting an extra read day this month! August 23 to August 26.

Andrew65 Should be great fun. 😊🤗 5y
jb72 @Andrew65 agreed! Really looking forward to it. 5y
22 likes2 comments
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Melzyrose90
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So, I am currently listening to "In A Sunburned Country" by Bill Bryson and loving it, but I have some questions ... Like why Australia has a snail that can kill a human?...

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cswaingiggles
This post contains spoilers
show me
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Reading this book on the recommendation of a client and already laughing out loud by the start of the second chapter and learned about two very different, but both entirely new to me, topics in the first chapter. I will have to force myself to not stay up all night reading this one as I have training for a new job around sunrise tomorrow morning. 💀

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Abby2
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Pickpick

A really funny travelogue of Australia. I love the history he includes.

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RamsFan1963
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Of course when I hear #DownUnder, I have to think of the classic 80s song by Men At Work

#WanderingJune @Cinfhen @BarbaraBB

Bklover And now it‘s stuck in my head!🎶🎵😉 (edited) 5y
Swe_Eva That was my brother and his wife‘s wedding dance. 😂 Not very romantic, but it was the first song they danced to when they first met, so it had to have a major part in the wedding. 5y
rretzler 💕 5y
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Cinfhen I‘ve always wanted to try a vegemite sandwich 😜 5y
RamsFan1963 @Cinfhen Don't!!! It tastes like gack!! Vile nasty stuff, I couldn't keep it down 5y
Centique @Cinfhen @RamsFan1963 the secret is to spread it super thin. Like 1/3rd of a teaspoon, maybe even less, its just scraped on barely. It mixes in with the butter. Great when you add cheese on top and then melt it! We all laugh when we see Americans slathering it on 🤢 (edited) 5y
BarbaraBB Great song! Is vegemite similar to marmite, @Centique ? 5y
RamsFan1963 @Centique That was my mistake, way too much it was overpowering!! Its not the worst thing I've ever eaten, that would be durian fruit from the Philippines. Oh. My. God!! What a nightmare that was!! 5y
Centique @BarbaraBB yes! Almost exactly the same although I prefer vegemite. 5y
Centique @RamsFan1963 I‘ve heard that about durian. Haven‘t tried it yet though 😬 I think maybe I should avoid it 😂😂 5y
RamsFan1963 @Centique I would if I was you. The texture is creamy but it tastes like $#!+ in your mouth and smells like rotting flesh. 5y
Cinfhen Ha @RamsFan1963 I‘ve heard it‘s NASTY!!! But now @Centique has given us an insider‘s tip 👍🏻 (edited) 5y
Cinfhen Ugh!!! Is Vegemite the equivalent of American Spam??? 5y
RamsFan1963 @Cinfhen Hey don't knock spam!! Spam, ramen noodles and neon orange Kraft mac & cheese got me through college 5y
Cinfhen The 3 food groups of college and beer! 5y
rwmg I ❤ durian 5y
RamsFan1963 @rwmg Really?! I admire you then sir, you have a cast iron stomach and a nose of steel. 5y
BarbaraBB Spam is meat in a tin isn‘t it? That sounds even less attractive than durian 😂 5y
56 likes18 comments
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thegirlwiththelibrarybag
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How many have you tried? (Or need explained if you don‘t hail from Australia?)

FlowerFairy I‘ve tried, and love, Tim Tams 💜 5y
CouronneDhiver Vegemite is awful. Lol 5y
Oblomov26 All of them and vegemite is wonderful 5y
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GripLitGrl I've only tried vegemite & i am not a fan 😝 5y
sisilia I‘ve tried all and omg I really miss choc mud cake 😍 5y
AsYouWish I haven‘t tried any of them but I have heard that Tim Tams are amazing and would love to try them someday!!! (edited) 5y
thegirlwiththelibrarybag @CouronneDhiver, so awful you commented twice 😂 I love Vegemite! 5y
thegirlwiththelibrarybag @FlowerFairy, there are so many variations now 🤩 I‘m always glad when someone buys a packet and leaves it on the workroom table... then I get to try the flavours I wouldn‘t buy 😂 5y
thegirlwiththelibrarybag @sisilia, ahhh! The supermarket mud cake 😂 5y
thegirlwiththelibrarybag @Oblomov26, yessss! Vegemite forever! 5y
thegirlwiththelibrarybag @GripLitGrl, did you do it right?! Whenever I see YouTube videos of people trying it - it‘s always way too much - it‘s not Nutella and should never be licked off a spoon (edited) 5y
AlaMich Tim Tams!!❤️ 5y
Susanita Tim Tams yum! Vegemite bleh. 5y
LeahBergen Tim Tams! ❤️❤️ 5y
CarolynM When my daughter was in the US last year I got a phone call asking me to send Tim Tams and Mint Slice (she took a tube of vegemite with her 😂) 5y
LaraS My Aussie cousin introduced me to Tim Tam Slams...my life has never been the same. 5y
thegirlwiththelibrarybag @CarolynM, I always forget to pack Vegemite when I travel and I‘m sad about it every time. My grandpa is awesome tho and comes to the airport with a Vegemite and cheese sandwich for me 😂 5y
thegirlwiththelibrarybag @LaraS ... I‘m probably living my life wrong but I‘ve never done a tim tam slam 😅🥺 5y
Lindy What about Iced Vovos? We can get Tim Tams and Vegemite here in Edmonton but no Iced Vovo biscuits. 😕 5y
thegirlwiththelibrarybag @Lindy, ooooh! I haven‘t seen them for awhile... I‘ll have a look next time I‘m in the supermarket 5y
Lindy @thegirlwiththelibrarybag I don‘t know why I like them so much. Memories of Brisbane, I guess. 5y
Centique Oh my gosh - you have to do a Tim Tam Slam they‘re the best chocolate experience of all time! 😍 PS I love vegemite very thinly spread. When we were kids (nz) we‘d have white bread sandwiches with vegemite and chips crushed in there - the best! Damn my healthy adult eating 😂😂 5y
thegirlwiththelibrarybag @Centique, I will, I will... next time a packet appears on the work table, I‘ll rustle up a hot chocolate! (edited) 5y
thegirlwiththelibrarybag @Centique, yay! I‘m glad you like Vegemite! And know about chip sandwiches 🤩😂 haven‘t had one in years. Sometimes you need a dose of salt and that would definitely deliver... (and white bread gets a bad wrap but I feel like it‘s actually fine? Even supermarket bread has come a long way in quality since the 90s) 5y
Centique We do a Tim Tam slam with tea - unless you don‘t like tea, then maybe try coffee? Might be crazy sweet with hot chocolate. 😬 5y
70 likes25 comments
review
Crinoline_Laphroaig
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Mehso-so

Struggled through Sunburned Country. I had just finished Sully. Library Books. Both Book Club reads that weren't for me. Way to much Real Life.
Favorite things this month 5th Gender and Unmarriageable.📚
#mymonthinbooks #may #stats

StillLookingForCarmenSanDiego Well done! 💖📚💖 5y
GlassAsDiamonds Had to google Sunburned Country - it had about four names I think (I know it as Down Under 😂🤦🏻‍♀️😂). Why the struggle? It‘s one of my favourites but I know people who have hated it with a passion (and my Australian grandfather was mortified because he thought it was too negative...). What‘s the gardening one? 5y
Crinoline_Laphroaig @GlassAsDiamonds I'm not sure. Too many facts at first. I just couldn't seem to get interested. I did like part in Victoria.I think part of the problem it was a busy month. Very little time to set in read. I just couldn't settle in. 5y
Crinoline_Laphroaig @GlassAsDiamonds Backyard was Gardening one. It had funny moments; especially since I know a few crazy obsessive gardening types. It wasn't a hold your attention stay up all night read. I kept setting aside when something new came in. Finally finished last few Chapters. 5y
33 likes4 comments
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steph_phanie
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Started my 5th book of 2019 this morning! Really excited for this one after our recent trip down under!

#nowreading #booklover #whatareyoureading #currentread #bookworm #billbryson #australia #travel #inasunburnedcountry #travelwriting #booknerd #kangaroos #paperback

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LibLib
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Mehso-so

Over meh book. Loved learning about Australia but this book is now 20 years old so a bit out of date. At least it‘s now off my TBR shelf! 🇦🇺 #reading #firstbookof2019 #tbr #ilovelearning

31 likes1 stack add
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LibLib
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I saw a similar story on Facebook and thought it was something cute, funny and made up as there was no reference of where it came from....THEN I stumbled across this while reading! Such a funny story which I‘m happy to say is true and definitely teaches you a valuable lesson: Work as early as you can. 😄😝😬 #truestory

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cinann
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Some of the blue books on my tbr, along with my blue blanket.

#31bookpics @howjessreads
#litsyclassics @Sarah83

Reecaspieces Nice stack 6y
cinann @Reecaspieces Thank you 6y
20 likes2 comments
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TheKidUpstairs
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Visit #Australia with any American travel writer, or cozy up with a book by an Aussie author (you can even bring the kids). Feeling hungry? A recipe from an Australian cookbook should do the trick!

#AugustisaTrip @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks @vkois88

Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks I still need to read !! 6y
vkois88 👍👍👍 6y
80 likes2 comments
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captainpunchmerica
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#riotgrams Day 4 - Travels and Adventures! I love this book and since it‘s about Australia it felt like Egg the shark should get a cameo

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Craftylikefox
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1. I have only been on a plane once when I was 29. I enjoy traveling by car just because I love checking everything out. I would love some day to take a ride on a train.
2. I have never really traveled at all in my life. Any place I have really been has been in New England. I enjoy my yearly Salem, MA trip. I would love to see our National Parks.
3. Nope, I can‘t afford to yet. I have plans to go down to Salem and see friends ☺️
#trivialthursday

GarthRanzz We‘re going to try and hit Rocky Mountain National Park and add a stamp to our Park‘s passport that we started last year. 6y
Craftylikefox @GarthRanzz that‘s so awesome!!! I am jealous. I hope you can do it and have an amazing time ☺️ 6y
31 likes2 comments
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Morr_Books
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Pickpick

I enjoy the mix of travelogue, anecdotes and history in Bill Bryson's writing. This book on Australia was most enjoyable and very funny at times. However, you may not think so if you are from Canberra, love cricket, and own/work at the hotel where Bryson stated that he would "sooner have bowel surgery in the woods with a stick" than ever stay there again. ? Can't wait to visit Australia someday.

Traci1 If you haven't already read it, I highly recommend his A Walk in the Woods (especially the audiobook). One of the funniest books ever. 7y
kamoorephoto This is my FAVORITE Bill Bryson book! 6y
Morr_Books @Traci1 that one was my first Bryson. I love it when an author can make travel writing so enjoyable and educational. His sarcastic humor is the best! 6y
75 likes1 stack add3 comments
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Howseldomtheydo
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101 likes1 stack add
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Hughmc
Pickpick

Great book!

Foxyfictionista Welcome to Litsy! 7y
Hughmc Thanks!! 7y
2 likes2 comments
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Hughmc

Loved this book. Must read for anyone planning a trip ‘down under‘.

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CherryPie
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🎈There's a weather balloon reference in one of Mark Frost's Twin Peaks books.
📚 Steinbeck or Bryson.
🍔 Lettuce wrapped burgers!
📖 Kim Gordon memoir, maybe. It all runs together.

#weekendchat @CSeydel

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Oryx
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An actual warm day! Bill Bryson makes me laugh out loud.

jhod Doesn't look like that down here! 😔 7y
AmyG That looks lovely. We just got 6 in of snow. :( 7y
TrishB Lovely 💕 7y
See All 6 Comments
Zelma Gotta love Bill Bryson! He‘s currently getting me out a reading slump. 7y
Kaye Green grass and blue sky ! Looks great. 7y
Oryx @Zelma he's so funny. I really like the audio versions, the narrator really makes me smile with his delivery 7y
91 likes6 comments
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Leah
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Day 15 of #riotgrams - hot books.

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GinEyre22
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23 likes1 stack add
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emtobiasz
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I'm so pleased with this #secretsantagoespostal package! @GlassAsDiamonds thank you so much! I'm excited for Phryne and the Valentes (they've been on my list!), keen to hear more about Australia from Bill Bryson, and amazed that you found a YA one I've never heard of! The bookmark and ornament and tote are so great too, plus the Sherlock journal-- what a lovely bunch of stuff!

emtobiasz Thanks also to the organizers @Avanders @MrBook @BookBabe ! 7y
MrBook Wow! 😳😁👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻🙌🏻👍🏻 7y
JenlovesJT47 Phryne is the best!!! 🤗 7y
See All 8 Comments
LeahBergen 😍😍 7y
GlassAsDiamonds I‘m so glad you liked them! I was a little worried I may have just sent all the things I love!!! 😊😊😊😊 7y
GlassAsDiamonds @GondorGirl me too!! It took me a little while to get into it but by the end I was so impressed at the original concept and really enjoyed it! 😊 7y
Avanders 😍😍 7y
81 likes8 comments
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GinEyre22
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TheJOMOreader
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Bought this 15 years ago when I was bound and determined to study abroad in Australia. That never worked out, but we‘re leaving next month for a sunburned country vacation, so I‘m finally getting around to reading it!

annalibris I hope you like it. It‘s one of my all-time favorites, and so funny! 7y
20 likes1 comment
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GinEyre22
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#uncannyoctober Day 2: Non fiction about a country I want to visit

19 likes1 stack add
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Howseldomtheydo
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92 likes2 stack adds
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Cberbs
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My first exposure to Bill Bryson. I‘m reading this in the van each day while waiting for my oldest to be dismissed from school

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Lcsmcat
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37 likes1 stack add
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Marchpane
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A pic of the overgrown backyard at dusk. You can just make out a thunderstorm rolling in and the colony of bats hanging out in the gum tree.

#ThisIsNotAmerica #SeptemBowie

LeahBergen Bats in a gum tree? I love it! 7y
Marchpane @LeahBergen they also like the mango tree (not pictured) 😂 7y
LeahBergen I've read about gum trees but have never seen one! 7y
See All 7 Comments
Cathythoughts So beautiful 7y
RealLifeReading How beautiful! 7y
DebinHawaii Gorgeous! 🌳🦇 7y
129 likes2 stack adds7 comments
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JacintaMCarter
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AmandaL
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Pickpick

This was a fantastic travel book packed with lots of interesting bits and funny anecdotes. It talks history, science, architecture, culture. It's narrated by the author. The more I listened, the more I liked it, and the more I wanted to visit Australia. I'll definitely be reading more of Bryson's books. #audiobook 🇦🇺 🐨

Centique I've read 5 Brysons and they're all good so far. Must read this one, we pop across to Australia almost every year to see friends and family. 7y
AmandaL @Centique That's good to hear. I hope you like this one too! 7y
54 likes1 stack add2 comments
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jenlbean
Pickpick

Awesome. Half travel guide, half middle aged man rambling about random but fascinating facts and opinions.