Community Discussion
Topic: LP Book Club #5

#	Author	Message
11	DAR Thu 5/15/2008 7:42a	Those reading: DAR This month's facilitator: Mrs. ElderP This month's book: In a Sunburned Country, Bill Bryson Next month's facilitator: Club founder: DVC_dad Books Read: Jan. 08--Water for Elephants Feb. 08--The Time Traveler's Wife March 08--The Kite Runner April 08--Can't Wait to Get to Heaven
12	Ursula Thu 5/15/2008 9:04a	Those reading: DAR Ursula This month's facilitator: Mrs. ElderP This month's book: In a Sunburned Country, Bill Bryson Next month's facilitator: Club founder: DVC_dad Books Read: Jan. 08--Water for Elephants Feb. 08--The Time Traveler's Wife March 08--The Kite Runner April 08--Can't Wait to Get to Heaven
13	alexbook Thu 5/15/2008 10:00a	Those reading: DAR Ursula alexbook This month's facilitator: Mrs. ElderP This month's book: In a Sunburned Country, Bill Bryson Next month's facilitator: DAR Club founder: DVC_dad Books Read: Jan. 08--Water for Elephants Feb. 08--The Time Traveler's Wife March 08--The Kite Runner April 08--Can't Wait to Get to Heaven
14	Mrs ElderP Sat 6/14/2008 7:39a	It's been a month since we picked the book. Discussion is long overdue! Did you like In a Sunburned Country? Did it make you more or less likely to want to visit Austraila? If by chance you've been to Austraila how do the author's observations match up with your experiences? What did you like the best? What did you like the least?
15	DAR Sat 6/14/2008 8:34a	Yes I liked it very much. It made me want to visit for sure. I loved it when he went to the Ned Kelly museum or whatever it was and just how bad it was. The political history of Australia while somewhat interesting was a little dry.
16	Mrs ElderP Sat 6/14/2008 8:46a	btw DAR, as the first reader (cough, victim, cough) to sign up for #5 you are officially in charge of number 6. I'm glad you liked it!!
17	alexbook Wed 6/25/2008 2:59p	How did I miss this? I haven't been spending as much time on LP lately, and didn't notice Mrs ElderP's post. Okay, so I read it, and I laughed out loud at some of it (which can be embarrassing if you're riding on a bus). At other times, I found the author a little bit, I don't know, smug? I'm not sure if that's the word I want or not, but it's close. I love the idea of setting out on a trip without a firm itinerary. Just getting in the car and driving through country you've read about, or walking through a city without a set list of sights. It's something I've always wanted to do more of, and I mostly enjoyed Bryson's descriptions of what happened when he did it. But... There were times when it seemed like he'd gone overboard. The walk through Perth, in particular, I found just annoying. What the heck was he thinking? I wanted to slap him when he started complaining afterwards about having gotten sunburned. I'm also a little nervous about his broad descriptions of Australia and the Australians based on his random wanderings. I have a feeling that if somebody wrote a similar book based on random wanderings around California, I'd get really annoyed by what was mentioned and what was missed, and by grand generalizations based on a few weeks' worth of experiences. I'd be very curious if any of our Australian LPers would care to chime in with reactions. Do you feel Bryson gets things right or wrong, or some of each?
18	Mrs ElderP Wed 6/25/2008 6:54p	I thought it was very funny too. However, I had a harder time because it didn't have much of a plot in a traditional sense: conflict, build, resolution. It was more like, now I'm seeing this place, now I'm seeing this other place, ect. I would like to know what an actual Austrailain thinks too, but I don't know how to get one of these people to read the book. :) And, it certainly made me interested in visiting Austrailia!!

All times are Pacific Time (US)

Note: Information on the discussion boards is sometimes based on rumors or incorrect information and should not be assumed true. Messages do not necessarily reflect the opinion of LaughingPlace.com or its editors.

More messages:

1-10

11-18

< Previous Topic

Next Topic >

You must be a registered user to post messages.
Click here to register.
After registration you will automatically be brought back to this topic

Now Playing
You've Got a Friend in Me
Goodman, Lyle / Martin, Amanda / O Mickey, Where Art Thou? (Toy Story)

What's on
The Latest
A Frightfully Good Time Awaits Disney Cruise Line Guests this Halloween
Disney’s Animal Kingdom Welcomes Fourth Baby Giraffe This Year
El Capitan Theatre presents The Nightmare Before Christmas Oct 17-23 and Oct 30-Nov 1
The NAMM Foundation and Disney Channel Announce Sequel to 'Disney's High School Musical: The Music in You' Grant Program
“Entertainment Facility Project” To Be Discontinued
Disney & More One Day Sale October 18th
High School Musical 3 European Premiere photos
Disney Cruise Line Sets Sail For Russia, Northern Europe and Mediterranean in 2010
LP Guide to Sleeping Beauty 50th Anniversary Platinum Edition update
Tokyo Disneyland Resort record attendance

Click here for The Latest