Review of Adventures of a Londoner who now calls Australia home
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Review of Adventures of a Londoner who now calls Australia home
A memoir of blunders, near disasters, and other hilarious incidents sounds interesting, doesn't it? In the field of memoirs, Mary Sanghvi's Adventures of a Londoner who now calls Australia home is truly unique. This humorous, entertaining, and exuberant book is about events that occurred before and after the author moved to Melbourne with her husband and three children in 1981. That, however, is not the only focus of this work. There are a lot more than just mishaps and near-disasters. Discover what occurs when a Londoner moves to Australia by reading the book.
The first thing that one notices about the narrative is the humor. The author narrates the events and facts with an interesting perspective that entertains the readers. Another notable aspect is the inclusion of historical tidbits of all the places mentioned in the book. The author indulges readers in the little-known stories and facts about places, cultures, and animals. Her evocative language paints a vivid picture of the flora and fauna of the countries she visited. I especially loved reading about the backstory behind Australia's discovery by Captain James Cook. She dubbed this prominent historical event as the result of a series of quirky decisions. Throughout the book, we get glimpses of the beautiful landscapes of several European countries and Australia. The author traveled a lot, and this book catalogs those experiences. While some events of her life are poignant, the others are downright hilarious.
Being the only continent of the Southern Hemisphere, Australia enjoys a very different culture and natural resources. The author talks, in detail, about the differences between European countries and Australia in terms of economy, society, culture, and ecosystem. The easy, conversational tone makes the book relatable, particularly when she talks about disasters like missing keys and struggles with technology. I admire that she did not paint an all-good picture of Australia and included the troublesome events like COVID-19, disastrous bushfires, and the mistreatment of the Aboriginals. Oh, and we get to learn a lot about spiders as well.
I found some minor errors throughout the book, but they did not disrupt my reading pace. I rate this book 5 out of 5 for being unique, hilarious, and enlightening. Those historical trivia are bound to fascinate. I recommend this book to all, particularly those who enjoy reading about travel memoirs, are interested in unusual trivia (who knew that the first flush toilets to be built in England were in the garrisons on Hadrian’s wall), and enjoy good humor.
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Adventures of a Londoner who now calls Australia home
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