Travelher Book Club: Tracks by Robyn Davidson

Introducing the Travelher Book Club! Every month we will read a book about female travel and then exchange thoughts, reviews and general comments here on the blog, and on social media. Are you in?

We thought we’d kick things off with  Tracks    by Robyn Davidson, “One woman’s journey across 1,700 miles of Australian outback”.

The story of a woman who decided to walk across  the Australian desert, accompanied only by a dog and four camels,  Tracks  was described by Wild  ​author  Cheryl Strayed as  "an unforgettably powerful book".

We picked Tracks   because we can't go past a good solo adventure memoir, but also because of this fascinating Amazon review, which alludes to Davidson's struggle to come to terms with her quest.

"Tracks  is a quintessential adventure, yet the adventurer's own relationship to her own quest is ambivalent and nuanced. She never directly explains her motivations, but it's clear that she's been driven to the starkness  and  isolation of the desert by something so personally powerful that she may not understand it herself.   Ironically, when she accepts the financial backing of the   National Geographic,   her private 'trial by fire' is doused by the popular concept of romantic independence she represents to others: "I was beginning to see it as a story for other people, with a beginning and an ending."   She feels pursued and invaded by the photographer assigned to follow her, by the people who intercept her with questions and interpretations..."

Not only does the author grapple with the huge physical and mental challenge that lies before her, she also grapples with sharing this challenge with us - her audience.  We can't even imagine what it must be like to undergo a journey such as this, let alone when the lines between public/private become blurred.  All of this sets the scene for an incredibly fascinating tale. 

We can't wait to start reading - are you with us? ​ Follow #travelherbookclub on social to join in on the conversation, and check back here on July 1st for a recap.