| Title | : | Tracks by Davidson, Robyn published by Vintage (1995) |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | - |
| Format Type | : | Unknown Binding |
| Number of Pages | : | - |
Tracks by Davidson, Robyn published by Vintage (1995) Reviews
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I was given this book as a gift and it's not a genre I would normally go for. This is a true life memoir of a young woman who traversed the outback of Australia largely alone (aside from the company of four camels and her dog) in 1977. The book celebrated it's 40th anniversary in 2012 and was subsequently adapted into a film (which passed me by at the time). Whilst on the one hand applauding the endeavour, I struggled with the story and never really connected with the author. The writing style felt crude and elements of the story jarred with me. There was a lot a self castigation, but worst was the relentless violence towards the animals in her care that she professed to love. Maybe that is the only way camels will respond to the rigours of training, but I like to think techniques have moved on since then. Even her cherished dog Diggity suffers at her hands. As a record of the time, place and attitudes it is undoubtedly thought provoking. Davidson describes an empathy with indigenous people, but some of her reflections make for uncomfortable reading in 2024. However, if one takes into account that this was the first book for an author then in her late twenties (now in her seventies) who went onto make a career from writing, that puts things into context. For anyone with a penchant for reading travelogues, it may just fit the bill.
