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Bypass

The Story of a Road
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( 135 ratings, 17 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
In Bypass by Michael McGirr, the author reflects on life by exploring the world of Australian roads, particularly the iconic Hume Highway. Combining personal anecdotes with cultural insights, McGirr delves into the stories of places and people encountered along the way, offering a poignant and often humorous meditation on travel, history, and identity.
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Format: Paperback / softback
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

If you're intrigued by personal journeys and enjoy exploring the complexity and humour of long-distance travel, this book may captivate you. It offers a reflective and insightful view into the life and experiences along one of the world's renowned highways, blending history, memoir, and a touch of adventure.

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A classic in its own right, this personal and public memoir by one of Australia's most observant and genial writers graces our bookshelves once again.

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

Forty and flabby, Michael McGirr hits the Hume Highway on a cheap bicycle. Having stopped working as a Jesuit priest, he is on a quest to find heaven knows what. Along the way, he is joined by Jenny.

Bypass is the story of Australia’s main street, the much-unloved highway between Sydney and Melbourne. The Hume has plenty of tales to tell—of bushrangers and bus drivers, publicans and poets, runners and refugees—and McGirr discovers he has one to add to the swag. The road is a source of wisdom and comedy, and maybe even a fine romance.

One of the most popular books by the author of Things You Get For Free and Books that Saved My Life, Bypass is both a personal memoir and an unconventional biography of the road most travelled. This edition includes ‘Passing By’, a new afterword bringing the story up to date.

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

Bypass by Michael McGirr is praised for its insightful and observant narrative, blending historical stories with eloquence, honesty, and humour. Reviews highlight its ability to evoke laughter and reflection through its quirky and intelligent writing style. Described as both heartwarming and edifying, it provides a rich, engaging experience for readers.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781922330888

Publisher: Text Publishing

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 05 January 2022

Country: Australia

Imprint: The Text Publishing Company

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Width: 129.0mm

Height: 198.0mm

Weight: 250g

Pages: 336

About the Author

Michael McGirr is the bestselling author of Books that Saved My Life, Snooze, Bypass and Things You Get for Free. He has reviewed almost one thousand books, his short fiction has appeared in publications in Australia and overseas, and he has been publisher of Eureka Street and fiction editor of Meanjin. His latest book, Ideas to Save Your Life, is due to be released in late 2021. Michael works in international aid and development for a large NGO and lives in Melbourne with his wife, Jenny, and their three teenage children.

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  • Books that Saved My Life: Reading for Wisdom, Solace and Pleasure
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