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3.74 AVERAGE
3.74 AVERAGE
The Aborigines' way of navigating, communicating and negotiating by 'Songlines' is absolutely intruiging, and I thank this book for shedding some light on this subject. For example, between chapter 14 and 15 there's a beautiful creation myth. I wish Chatwin had written more text like that.
However, most of the book is not about the songlines, but about Chatwin himself, eating and drinking with Australians, most of which have nothing to do with the Aborigines and their plight. Chatwin paints a vivid, if very shallow picture of the inhabitants of the outback, but is often close to simplification (racist white trash vs. noble savages). Moreover, as he insists this book is a work of fiction, I cannot grasp why he didn't write anything more interesting than this plotless book.
But it gets worse: after 160 rather aimless pages, the book suddenly disintegrates in loose jottings, as if Chatwin had lost interest in making something more ambitious out of his travel notebooks himself. At that point I left it, without finishing it.
However, most of the book is not about the songlines, but about Chatwin himself, eating and drinking with Australians, most of which have nothing to do with the Aborigines and their plight. Chatwin paints a vivid, if very shallow picture of the inhabitants of the outback, but is often close to simplification (racist white trash vs. noble savages). Moreover, as he insists this book is a work of fiction, I cannot grasp why he didn't write anything more interesting than this plotless book.
But it gets worse: after 160 rather aimless pages, the book suddenly disintegrates in loose jottings, as if Chatwin had lost interest in making something more ambitious out of his travel notebooks himself. At that point I left it, without finishing it.
informative
reflective
medium-paced
Nice accounts with good sayings and historical extracts.
The Songlines by Bruce Chatwin is a free NetGalley ebook that I read in early October.
Several dozen characters, several more dozen inputs and opinions - it all adds up to a full-fledged story about the Aboriginal culture of Australia, but it's exceptionally dense and fairly long without much bevying respite.
Several dozen characters, several more dozen inputs and opinions - it all adds up to a full-fledged story about the Aboriginal culture of Australia, but it's exceptionally dense and fairly long without much bevying respite.
informative
reflective
slow-paced
Was better when it was trying to discuss the Songlines, but the entire chapters dedicated to excerpts from Chatwin's own notebooks were extremely difficult to get through. Plus extremely outdated and offensive viewpoints on the Aboriginal people, and every female character must have her breast size mentioned when she's described.
The first two thirds of the book is classic travellogue as Bruce Chatwin explores around the Australian centre. The Songlines of the title criss-cross the Australian continent, a lot of the Aboriginal culture is secret to the outsider, and one wonders how truthful the aborigines he talks to are: “What’s that over there? That landmass?” Bruce Chatwin asks his guide. “That’s Shit. That’s Shit Dreaming,” the guide replies and breaks into hysterical laughter.”
Then the book strangely goes walkabout and becomes a copy of Chatwin’s notebook with miscellaneous quotes and thoughts relating to evolution and nomadic existence.
Chatwin extols the virtues of his moleskin notebooks, and we feel his disappointment when the supplier dies and his French stationer tells him ’Le vrai moleskine n’est plus.’
Chatwin shares with us lots of reflections on walking, travelling, singing, the origins of man and evolution.
Chatwin was in Australia researching his book in 1984, I was in the red centre of Australia four years later in 1988, reading this brings back memories of that time. I was there at an unusual time when the usually dry Todd River was in full spate.
Then the book strangely goes walkabout and becomes a copy of Chatwin’s notebook with miscellaneous quotes and thoughts relating to evolution and nomadic existence.
Chatwin extols the virtues of his moleskin notebooks, and we feel his disappointment when the supplier dies and his French stationer tells him ’Le vrai moleskine n’est plus.’
Chatwin shares with us lots of reflections on walking, travelling, singing, the origins of man and evolution.
Chatwin was in Australia researching his book in 1984, I was in the red centre of Australia four years later in 1988, reading this brings back memories of that time. I was there at an unusual time when the usually dry Todd River was in full spate.
a meandering account of Chatwin’s own journey through australia, in search of truths about the aboriginal songlines - origin stories sung across landscapes, effectively mapping the land and creation. there is a LOT of wandering from what i’d understood to be the primary topic (the songlines!), but not in a manner that caused me any angst; Chatwin is a fascinating guy and great writer.
challenging
reflective
adventurous
funny
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced