Tracks by Davidson, Robyn published by Vintage

by Robyn Davidson

Genres: Nature, Animals, Nonfiction, Survival, Adventure

Unknown Binding

About the author

Robyn Davidson was born on a cattle property in Queensland, Australia. She went to Sydney in the late sixties, then spent time studying in Brisbane before moving to Alice Springs, where the events of this book begin. Since then, she has traveled extensively, living in London, New York, and India. In the early 1990s, she migrated with and wrote about nomads in northwestern India. She is now based in Melbourne, but spends several months a year in the Indian Himalayas.

Reviews

[Jane]

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.

[Bidasari · Rating 3 out of 5]

Penulis seorang wanita 20an mengembara seorang diri bersama 3 ekor unta dan seekor anjing sejauh 2000 km perjalanan merentasi padang pasir Australia selama 9 bulan dan berakhir di Lautan Hindi pada 1972.

Macam-macam yang dia lalui bermula dengan belajar cara-cara membela dan menguruskan unta, dibuli oleh pemilik unta, cukup-cukup makan aje duitnya, proses menyediakan unta-unta untuk mengembara dengan dia, tersalah baca peta, jalan pintas yang tiba-tiba ditemui, membunuh unta liar, melarikan diri daripada pelancong dan wartawan, hospitality penduduk asal (orang asli), persahabatan yang tidak disangka, patah hati apabila anjing mati keracunan sebab makan bangkai haiwan, unta sakit dan cedera, penulis jatuh sakit, dsb.

Belajar survive dan menghayati kehidupan seorangn diri dengan sumber paling minima. Kadang kala dia rasa menyesal mengembara sebab banyak cabaran.

Bila mindanya waras, dia sedar semua apa yang dilalui memantapkan lagi jati dirinya.

[Afnan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awfully in love these moments in time described in such honest way.

My stand with people who abandon "politics" out of their so comfy life, is that it is such disheartening thing that currently will play part in the problems happening in this world right now. Well, why is that important to address after reading this seemingly innocent traveling book? Because this author had struck out that sensitivity and attitude that people desperately need while traveling alone DURING such imminent era where the earth and technology aren't getting the expose and taking over parts of our lives the way it is now. This woman goes alone, the world doesn't leave her alone, she understands the harshness and although obviously still in need for comfort in her search of purpose, she GETS that ignorance is not the way, she looks around and sees kindness above all but never bows down to call out the uglies.

[Addy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a really enjoyable read for me. I most enjoyed reading about Davidson's time in Alice Springs, where she spent years training wild camals for her trip to Western Australia. Reading about her experience as a woman in this remote town was very eye-opening and unfortunately relatable.

Despite her extraordinary accomplishment of walking from Alice Springs to the Western Australia sea, Davidson is a very authentic and relatable character. She gets angry and frustrated, she questions her abilities, and she finds solace in being alone and unbothered by anyone.

Favorite quote:
'The question I'm most commonly asked is "Why?" A more pertinent question might be, why is it that people don't attempt to escape the limitations imposed upon them?'

[Sue · Rating 5 out of 5]

How had I managed not to read this wonderful book till now? It's a lifetime spent turning away from the hardest things, the lessons I needed but wasn't ready to understand. I walked a pilgramage of my own, but didn't read this book, still wasn't ready for it. Now it says it all. The outer journey mimics the inner journey. To connect, Take them both.

[Em · Rating 5 out of 5]

Epic story of a tough woman, her dog, and camels. I found particularly interesting the lengths at which one goes to feel fulfilled or happy, only to realise what we were looking for isn’t what we initially thought. Her endurance is unbelievable. It is very interesting gaining insight into how she views her trip and self. It is something to be admired, though she doesn’t want it to be.

[Ariane Bélanger · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tellement un beau récit, wow ! Je me suis vraiment attachée à Robyn. J'ai même pleuré en lisant son histoire : sa relation avec ses animaux, les Autochtones, le désert... Tout m'a full touchée, drette dans le mile. J'ai maintenant une nouvelle fascination pour les chameaux, et que dire de son chien ! Omg, j'ai envie de pleurer juste à y penser...

[Julie Strietelmeier · Rating 2 out of 5]

I had high hopes for this one because I love adventure, hiking, survival stories. This book didn't deliver enough on that promise. One part did bring me to tears, but the story diverged too often into history lessons that it became tedious to read.

[Juliet Kerrell-Vaughan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Girl bossing her way ON FOOT from NT to WA….a true Aussie queen

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Words are the memory twitching after the reality of the dance ...

[Rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'll defend this book with my life. Love her. Want to be her. Strong and honest and loving and a little insane when events call for it. Maybe I already am her.

[Jennifer Dawson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful!!

[Sanduni · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an incredible book. I loved reading this and I definitely think that I will read it again sometime. An incredible story about a woman that is so resilient and down to Earth and honest and courageous. I also really loved learning more about Australia and the culture in the Northern Territory. It seems like such a foreign place compared to the city of Melbourne, even though it's in the same country. I was hooked throughout the entire book and I never wanted her journey to end. There were so many funny moments where I was laughing with her and so many moments where I was crying (RIP Diggity). I loved how Robyn seemed so open to new experiences and meeting new people and dealing with the uncertainty ahead. It felt really refreshing to read about someone who was someplace because they wanted to learn and listen and do. Will definitely be reading this again and I really want to buy the photo book!