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Down Under
- Narrated by: William Roberts
- Length: 12 hrs and 8 mins
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Down Under
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Buy it with
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Notes from a Small Island
- By: Bill Bryson
- Narrated by: Bill Bryson
- Length: 5 hrs and 39 mins
- Abridged
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Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 48
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 38
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 38
After nearly two decades in Britain, Bill Bryson took the decision to move back to the States for a while but before leaving his much-loved home in North Yorkshire, Bryson insisted on taking one last trip around Britain. His aim was to take stock of the nation's public face and private parts (as it were), and to analyse what precisely it was he loved so much about a country that had produced Marmite, a military hero whose dying wish was to be kissed by a fellow named Hardy....
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5 out of 5 stars
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Another excellent Bryson book
- By Anonymous User on 05-02-2022
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A Short History of Nearly Everything
- By: Bill Bryson
- Narrated by: William Roberts
- Length: 18 hrs and 59 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 5,227
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Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 4,456
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Story4.5 out of 5 stars 4,440
A Short History of Nearly Everything is Bill Bryson's quest to understand everything that has happened from the Big Bang to the rise of civilization. He takes subjects that normally bore the pants off most of us, like geology, chemistry, and particle physics, and aims to render them comprehensible to people who have never thought they could be interested in science. In the company of some extraordinary scientists, Bill Bryson reveals the world in a way most of us have never seen it before.
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5 out of 5 stars
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Not what I expected but brilliant!
- By Michael on 27-11-2015
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At Home: A Short History of Private Life
- By: Bill Bryson
- Narrated by: Bill Bryson
- Length: 16 hrs and 32 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 997
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Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 863
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Story4.5 out of 5 stars 858
Bill Bryson was struck one day by the thought that we devote more time to studying the battles and wars of history than to considering what history really consists of: centuries of people quietly going about their daily business. This inspired him to start a journey around his own house, an old rectory in Norfolk, considering how the ordinary things in life came to be.
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5 out of 5 stars
-
Best use of a credit
- By Rachel on 29-07-2015
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A Walk in the Woods
- By: Bill Bryson
- Narrated by: William Roberts
- Length: 9 hrs and 43 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 485
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Performance5 out of 5 stars 432
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Story4.5 out of 5 stars 431
The Appalachian Trail covers 14 states and over 2,000 miles, snaking through some of the most spectacular landscapes in America. Reluctant adventurer Bryson recounts his gruelling hike along the longest continuous footpath in the world.
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4 out of 5 stars
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A realists view into hiking long distance
- By Peter on 30-08-2018
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Made in America
- By: Bill Bryson
- Narrated by: William Roberts
- Length: 18 hrs and 10 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 214
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 188
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 188
In Made in America, Bryson de-mythologizes his native land, explaining how a dusty hamlet with neither woods nor holly became Hollywood, how the Wild West wasn't won, why Americans say 'lootenant' and 'Toosday', how Americans were eating junk food long before the word itself was cooked up, as well as exposing the true origins of the G-string, the original $64,000 question, and Dr Kellogg of cornflakes fame.
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4 out of 5 stars
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Very entertaining account of American vocabulary
- By Aileen on 03-07-2015
-
The Body
- A Guide for Occupants
- By: Bill Bryson
- Narrated by: Bill Bryson
- Length: 14 hrs and 47 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 618
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 497
-
Story5 out of 5 stars 491
In the best-selling, prize-winning A Short History of Nearly Everything Bill Bryson achieved the seemingly impossible by making the science of our world both understandable and entertaining to millions of people around the globe. Now he turns his attention inwards to explore the human body, how it functions and its remarkable ability to heal itself. Full of extraordinary facts and astonishing stories, The Body: A Guide for Occupants is a brilliant, often very funny attempt to understand the miracle of our physical and neurological makeup.
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3 out of 5 stars
-
Not Bryson’s best
- By Chelsea on 08-10-2019
-
Notes from a Small Island
- By: Bill Bryson
- Narrated by: Bill Bryson
- Length: 5 hrs and 39 mins
- Abridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 48
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 38
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 38
After nearly two decades in Britain, Bill Bryson took the decision to move back to the States for a while but before leaving his much-loved home in North Yorkshire, Bryson insisted on taking one last trip around Britain. His aim was to take stock of the nation's public face and private parts (as it were), and to analyse what precisely it was he loved so much about a country that had produced Marmite, a military hero whose dying wish was to be kissed by a fellow named Hardy....
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Another excellent Bryson book
- By Anonymous User on 05-02-2022
-
A Short History of Nearly Everything
- By: Bill Bryson
- Narrated by: William Roberts
- Length: 18 hrs and 59 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 5,227
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 4,456
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 4,440
A Short History of Nearly Everything is Bill Bryson's quest to understand everything that has happened from the Big Bang to the rise of civilization. He takes subjects that normally bore the pants off most of us, like geology, chemistry, and particle physics, and aims to render them comprehensible to people who have never thought they could be interested in science. In the company of some extraordinary scientists, Bill Bryson reveals the world in a way most of us have never seen it before.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Not what I expected but brilliant!
- By Michael on 27-11-2015
-
At Home: A Short History of Private Life
- By: Bill Bryson
- Narrated by: Bill Bryson
- Length: 16 hrs and 32 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 997
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 863
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 858
Bill Bryson was struck one day by the thought that we devote more time to studying the battles and wars of history than to considering what history really consists of: centuries of people quietly going about their daily business. This inspired him to start a journey around his own house, an old rectory in Norfolk, considering how the ordinary things in life came to be.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Best use of a credit
- By Rachel on 29-07-2015
-
A Walk in the Woods
- By: Bill Bryson
- Narrated by: William Roberts
- Length: 9 hrs and 43 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 485
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 432
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 431
The Appalachian Trail covers 14 states and over 2,000 miles, snaking through some of the most spectacular landscapes in America. Reluctant adventurer Bryson recounts his gruelling hike along the longest continuous footpath in the world.
-
4 out of 5 stars
-
A realists view into hiking long distance
- By Peter on 30-08-2018
-
Made in America
- By: Bill Bryson
- Narrated by: William Roberts
- Length: 18 hrs and 10 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 214
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 188
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 188
In Made in America, Bryson de-mythologizes his native land, explaining how a dusty hamlet with neither woods nor holly became Hollywood, how the Wild West wasn't won, why Americans say 'lootenant' and 'Toosday', how Americans were eating junk food long before the word itself was cooked up, as well as exposing the true origins of the G-string, the original $64,000 question, and Dr Kellogg of cornflakes fame.
-
4 out of 5 stars
-
Very entertaining account of American vocabulary
- By Aileen on 03-07-2015
-
The Body
- A Guide for Occupants
- By: Bill Bryson
- Narrated by: Bill Bryson
- Length: 14 hrs and 47 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 618
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 497
-
Story5 out of 5 stars 491
In the best-selling, prize-winning A Short History of Nearly Everything Bill Bryson achieved the seemingly impossible by making the science of our world both understandable and entertaining to millions of people around the globe. Now he turns his attention inwards to explore the human body, how it functions and its remarkable ability to heal itself. Full of extraordinary facts and astonishing stories, The Body: A Guide for Occupants is a brilliant, often very funny attempt to understand the miracle of our physical and neurological makeup.
-
3 out of 5 stars
-
Not Bryson’s best
- By Chelsea on 08-10-2019
Publisher's Summary
What listeners say about Down Under
Average Customer RatingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall3 out of 5 stars
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Performance2 out of 5 stars
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Story3 out of 5 stars
- Extraordinary Gent.
- 26-04-2015
It's OK but --------------------
It would have been much better, for me at least, if the book had been narrated by Bill Bryson himself, who has a delightful narration style and voice, or at least an Australian with an Aussie accent.
For one thing Australian pronunciations and stresses are, in many cases, a lot different from those practised by Americans (citizens of the USA)
This is not intended as 'Yankee Bashing' but a simple statement of fact. To hear some of the mis-pronunciations is at best laughable -------- at worst off putting.
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33 people found this helpful
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Overall3 out of 5 stars
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Performance1 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Henry
- 26-06-2015
Excellent content, xenophobic reading
The content of the book is about spot on for what a visitor to Australia should expect and experience. Some of the information is a little dated (written in 1999) but is generally still quite relevant.
There is a lot of information in the book that many natives will not know or have forgotten.
The reading of it is a joke. It is clear that the only Australian that William Roberts has actually heard is from Crocodile Dundee. The accents for men, women and children, some characters of whom are well educated and respected people are all the stereotypical drawl that borders on offensive.
A great book heavily marred by the reading.
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22 people found this helpful
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance1 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Proud Mum
- 31-08-2015
Great story but the narrator let it down.
Bill Bryson is definitely a gifted story teller. It was such a shame he wasn't the narrator as I feel Roberts didn't do the book justice. As an Australian I cringed at his poor Aussie accent and his inability to correctly pronounce many words but none more so than Uluru. Of course I'll buy more of Bryson's books, but not the audible version (especially if William Roberts is the narrator).
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20 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Anonymous User
- 23-07-2018
Bill is better!
Great book, however I do prefer Bill narrating his own books! Personal preference of course!
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9 people found this helpful
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance2 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Whyme
- 02-06-2020
Not his best
An amusing account if you can stand the irritating fake Aussie accent of the reader which to an Australian ear is awful. The book is a skilful blend of embellished anecdote and odd facts. Bill serves up his usual recipe of telling us he loves almost everything about his subject except when it comes to the ‘woke’ bits when he lectures us about Australia’s social problems. People getting indignant about history is hypocritical at worst and virtue-signalling at best. Bill could have done better in his silly treatment of this aspect of his subject.
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3 people found this helpful
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Overall3 out of 5 stars
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Performance1 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Hannahjanecomic
- 27-08-2019
Great book, shame about the narrator
Be great to get another voice actor to voice this excellent book. Bryson is a writer of great humour and empathy - this fellow has an abrasive voice that almost spoils the fun. He also, misguidedly, attempts Australian accents. I wish he wouldn't.
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3 people found this helpful
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- droimar
- 11-04-2015
Fun and informative
All-round great, but some inaccuracies, and the narrator's Australian accent sounded more like a Brooklyn accent at times. And, strangely, all Australians sounded almost identical. But it was part of the charm.
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3 people found this helpful
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance1 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Anonymous User
- 14-08-2019
Irritating narration of an otherwise enjoyable audiobook
Bill Bryson has written an excellent memoir/history of Australia that’s sadly let down by the narration. William Roberts’s overtly melodramatic reading style my be better suited to re-enactments of 1950’s radio commercials. He unnecessarily attempts to imitate the Australian accent and delivers a middling to below average performance. I suffered through about 20mins before deleting and returning my order, which was a shame as I was looking forward to listening to this one. If a version narrated by the author became available I’d happily purchase again, but unless i come across it I’ll steer clear of this one.
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2 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- BDB
- 28-04-2016
Perfect match!
Thanks Bill for a wonderful account of your travels and thank you William for your great narration. I think this author and narrator are the perfect match. While some of my fellow Aussies might grumble at the mispronunciation of some of people and places - I don't mind. It adds to the charm of the book. Besides, who is to say who's right or wrong...? Keep up the great work and thank you again!
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Bruno
- 24-04-2015
It is an amazing review of what is Australia
I must say that I am a fan of Bill Bryson and this book helped me a lot to understand a little bit more about the country I'm living now. I really recommend it for those who are curious about why this country is so peculiar...
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Ryan
- 18-02-2010
A safe bet!
I was first introduced to Bill Bryson, and first read Down Under during a 2 year holiday in the UK (I am Australian). It has been a long time since then and I thought this would be a great book to revisit and to cut my teeth on Audible as a new subscriber. The book was a great laugh and Bill portrays Australians and Australia in a way that makes me want to go there! :)
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3 people found this helpful
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Overall2 out of 5 stars
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Performance1 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Ian
- 30-01-2013
Bryson Books Need Bryson Narration
I love Bill Bryson's writing, really I do. His books, audiobooks included, are some of my favourite and most revisited. And Down Under is a great book that is wholly ruined by the narrator, a whiny, pinch-voiced man who manages to take Bryson's wit and give it an air of smugness, sometimes bordering on spite. I don't know if I just despised the narrator because he was awful or because he was so utterly unsuitable to read Bryson. It doesn't help that he attempts accents and can't do them, making both English and Australian voices grating and high-pitched.
Honestly, the narrator ruins the book, but if you want this or several of Bryson's other, earlier, books, then this is the standard you get. I loathe abridged books but at least they're read by the man himself.
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2 people found this helpful
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Pete frier
- 02-07-2012
great read
Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?
As all Bill Bryson books I have read so far this is full of interesting facts that show the countries good and bad points in detail.
What did you like best about this story?
His time spent on the Barrier Reef
What about William Roberts’s performance did you like?
His diction and clearity of voice
Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?
Just pure interest
Any additional comments?
Looking forward to listening to his other books having read most already
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2 people found this helpful
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- lloyd
- 15-10-2011
alonzo
Very funny,entertaining , please Bill stay with an American accent, your Australian could cause a diplomatic incident, loved the book
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2 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
- Joe
- 17-02-2011
Got it Right Mate
This is an extremely insightful, very funny journey through a magnificent continent. Bryson captures the essence of the Australian landscape and the characters that make it a singularly extraordinary place to travel and live. I acknowledge his outstanding penmanship and appreciate his honest humour and natural affinity for all that is quirky. Well read and captivating. Well done.
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2 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Rayson Wiggill
- 21-01-2019
Brilliant work.
Bill Bryson has a way of explaining things in a very humorous way. His passion for history really helps the listener or reader to experience his journey with him. I can't wait to go to some of the places that he described!
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- H.B. Teicher
- 17-02-2014
Bryson and Roberts - a match made in Heaven
If you could sum up Down Under in three words, what would they be?
Sublime. Wonderful. Superb.
What did you like best about this story?
Thew combination of Bryson's wit and Robert's talent.
Have you listened to any of William Roberts’s other performances before? How does this one compare?
Yes!!! This is perhaps the best - his Australian accent is superb!!
Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?
Yes - again and again!
Any additional comments?
Bryson and Roberts in combination are perfect! As sad as I am to have read the last of the Bryson/Roberts works, I am so pleased I can hear them again and again when I need reminding that the world is a grand and wonderful place!
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Overall3 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story3 out of 5 stars
- Reuben
- 09-03-2013
A first Bill Bryson for me
The story itself held little appeal to me however the viewpoint of Australia from another culture sold me. Bryson does well to make a rather boring story into a mostly entertaining listen.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Thomas
- 31-01-2013
Great
What was one of the most memorable moments of Down Under?
Is it so through and so well written
Have you listened to any of William Roberts’s other performances before? How does this one compare?
He is good. I mean realy GOOD !!!
Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?
No, no extreme reaction but fun all the way and yes my tear was flowing by laughter.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Garry
- 30-12-2012
Making history easier for all
Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?
I listened to this after being recommended to me, it told me more about Australia than I learned in school back n England. I think this should be oven to every migrant. Or at least a migrant book Like it as it would be less dry than official books.
What was one of the most memorable moments of Down Under?
Plenty, but especially Eureka stockade
Have you listened to any of William Roberts’s other performances before? How does this one compare?
Notes from a small island which is a perfect companion
Any additional comments?
Very enjoyable, listen to this to give you some detail of the history of OZ but also about he people and places and then make that book you first step to more on Australia
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Overall1 out of 5 stars
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Performance1 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- S
- 18-05-2016
Awful accent - buy the author-narrated version
What would have made Down Under better?
Either an Australian narrator, or the American not attempt a dreadful accent
What did you like best about this story?
Bryson's writing is superb
What didn’t you like about William Roberts’s performance?
His 'Australian' accent
You didn’t love this book--but did it have any redeeming qualities?
The story is great, the performance is dreadful
Any additional comments?
Buy the version ('In a sunburned country') that's narrated by Bryson himself instead!
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/055350259X/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1
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34 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
- Lynette Morris
- 24-12-2012
Hilarious
Bill Bryson is witty, entertaining and thought-provoking and this book is all of those. It's easy to read, makes you laugh out loud and gets the grey matter working. I am from Down Under and it was fun hearing about Australia from a foreigner's perspective. I would thoroughly recommend it.
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20 people found this helpful
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Overall2 out of 5 stars
- Dafydd
- 02-06-2010
Great book, Shoot the narrator.
Very enjoyable script, but the attempts at accents, Yorkshire and pivotally Australian of which the narrator clearly has no knowledge leaves you leaping for the fast forward button.
He truly is excruciating, an excellent book ruined
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17 people found this helpful
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
- Amazon Customer
- 16-06-2011
Excellent - makes you want to go down under
Just finsihed down under and thoroughly enjoyed Bryson's travelogue with random facts and bemusing anecdotes. The narrator is fantastic.
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9 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Iris
- 10-04-2015
Perfect roadtrip activity
We listened to this during our own roadtrip around Australia, which made it a really great listening experience as places we had just been to (or were headed to) were described to us in a light-handed yet informative manner.
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7 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
- John Smith
- 14-04-2013
Go down under with Bill Bryson
Bill Bryson’s style of writing is quiet and understated. He draws you in so that you find yourself travelling with him and enjoying his insights into the lives of others from a mid Atlantic perspective. He includes a lot of factual information about the country and his understanding of the Australian psyche. I especially enjoyed his interpretation of the game of cricket and the story of house building in Melbourne. So if you do not want to go to all the trouble of having to travel to Australia yourself then sit back and let Bill Bryson take you there instead.
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7 people found this helpful
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Overall1 out of 5 stars
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Performance1 out of 5 stars
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Story3 out of 5 stars
- MEP
- 25-03-2019
A narration so bad it almost adds to the humour
Except that it doesn’t, because it is so terribly distracting. Surely the ability to execute even a passable Australian accent should have been a job requirement here?
If you’ve never been to Australia or heard an Australian speak, then perhaps you will love this narrator. Everyone else will be reaching for their earplugs... (warning to any Yorkshire folk, a passage around chapter 4 will have you calling your local police to report a crime against your accent)
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5 people found this helpful
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Overall3 out of 5 stars
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Performance2 out of 5 stars
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Story2 out of 5 stars
- Jason
- 05-08-2013
Rather a let down (under)
What did you like best about Down Under? What did you like least?
I have enjoyed some of Mr Brysons efforts before and being a sometime resident of Australia wanted to listen to this one, rather late to the party I confess.
I found it to be a bit of let down, rather poorly researched with limited references to source material. Furthermore some of the comments I found xenophobic at best, a little racist at worst. ' A Land where men are men and sheep are scared' Is that kind of comment really the best you can offer?
The worst part I'm sad to say was the narration. Rather an excitable and high pitched American voice. The biggest problem though was the insistence on providing an Australian accent at certain points that was truly dreadful, off putting and a little offensive.
So not a terrible book and did have some good parts but overall not my favourite.
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5 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Roderic
- 02-10-2015
Delightful and informative as always
This Bryson travelogue was quite different for me since, being Australian, I could compare his acute observations with my own experience of many years.
Bryson's considerations are interesting though necessarily limited and I entertained with great affection William Roberts's numerous and resonant mispronunciations of Australian towns.
I love Bryson's humour and his humanity, noting both the sometimes ghastly foibles of behaviour and our deep sins as a culture.
I will now listen to any Bryson works that I may somehow have missed.
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4 people found this helpful
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Overall2 out of 5 stars
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Performance1 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Al
- 30-12-2016
Intriguing/funny but let down by awful narration
Would you try another book written by Bill Bryson or narrated by William Roberts?
I'd buy another Bill Bryson book, but it'd have to be in written form as I found William Roberts' narration wholly off-putting.
His accent grated on my nerves and his pitch, tone, and timbre demanded continual focus and attention and resulted in the inability to relax during listening.
I much preferred the hard copy of the book which I found intriguing and well-flowing.
Based on my experience of this purchase, I can whole-hearted say that I intend to never buy another title narrated by William Roberts.
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