Book review: Welcome To The Outback by Sue Williams

A JAUNT through the Outback in search of the true heart of Australia has the potential to be an exciting and fascinating read. Sadly, Sue Williams book misfires in some crucial aspects.

Welcome To The Outback

A JAUNT through the Outback in search of the true heart of Australia has the potential to be an exciting and fascinating read.

Sadly, Sue Williams book misfires in some crucial aspects and fails to live up to its potential.

Journalist Williams undoubtedly has the feist factor and her decision to fight in a travelling boxing tent deserves credit.

Her wimpier side was irritating and she caused some consternation whenever steaks were offered. But worse was her insistence on whipping out her peppermint teabag every time someone tried to give her a billy-boiled cuppa.

The yarn is disjointed. I couldn't help feeling it should have been one complete journey, without frequent returns to Sydney.

Personal details of the folk she meets along the way are also delivered a little laboriously.

Her humour, sarcastic and nicely self-deprecating, is best suited to describing the scenarios that unfold with the people she meets on her travels, many of which are hilarious.

Descriptions of vistas, flora and fauna become repetitive.

We soon get the picture that the Outback is vast and awe-inspiring and its inhabitants happy and generous, though a cynic might suggest it may not be the same for those not writing a book.

The endearing features aside, I would struggle to recommend this book as an insight into the Outback.

Welcome To The Outback
Sue Williams
Michael Joseph, $29.95