Book: Tracks: A Woman’s Solo Trek across 1700 Miles of Australian Outback


Livro: Tracks: A Woman’s Solo Trek across 1700 Miles of Australian Outback
By Robyn Davidson

(Translation Celina C. Falck-Cook)

I read Robyn Davidson‘s book the days before I started my track on Pati. Reading made my adventure seem so easy and simple. I had seen the movie (Tracks) and read a review of the film saying that the book was much better. So, I decided to buy the book. I opted for the Portuguese version so I could borrow the book later. When I like a book, I always lend. Pass on to others this joy of reading.

It is amazing the story of this woman who – in the 90s – decides to cross the desert of Australia walking for almost 3 thousand kilometers in the company of 4 camels and a dog. I’ve been to Uluru, near Alice Spring, and we only hiked from 5am to 11am. After that, the sun was so strong and the weather so dry that the park advised against trekking.

The writing is easy but not monotonous. A good part of the book is about the time of preparation of the trip – about the decision and the doubts of going, the relationship with the camels, the Aborigines, with her dog … I believe that a trip does not start the day we take the plane, it starts much earlier, on the day we decide we want to make this trip.

One of the highlights of the book is Robyn’s opinion, it’s her political and social positioning on Australian culture. While walking for months in the desert, the author reflects on her status as a white Australian woman in that territory. She also criticizes the society in which she grew up that devalues the culture and knowledge of local aborigines. The book is a reflection on life, about our challenges, about what we are capable of doing, about overcoming. The story of this woman is incredible. I recommend.

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