Songlines and Fault Lines – Epic walks of the Red Centre. G. Morrison. 2017. Melbourne University Press

Absolute crap. Less about the trails and more about the failings of those historical figures (non-indigenous) who trod the trails in the distant past.  There were some chapters about indigenous songlines and people however this was overshadowed by the apparent distain the author had for all things non-indigenous.

Reading this book was comparable to listening to a gaggle of first year philosophy students / psychology minors who having completed their first year now have the answers to all the worlds major issues.

The author ridicules the efforts of explorers such as Stuart (from the comfort of 21^st century technology, knowhow, support and knowledge). Complains about Stuarts reference to God and yet does so himself. Heckles Stuart for writing of extreme hardship in a self-aggrandising way and yet does so himself when he does his walks. Mocks Stuart for not knowing how to survive of the land as the indigenous people did and yet what is his own level of knowledge 160 years later?

Morrison also relegates first-hand accounts of life and times in the remote culturally rich areas of central Australia (Strethlow) to the ‘stories’ category (due to a supposed self-interest motive in the compilation of the account. Does this detract from the value of the facts within the story?

To add salt to the wound Morrison fails to acknowledge any bias he has or discussion on the current social/political/ cultural landscape that shaped his book and views in presenting his opinions / ‘objective’ assessments contained in ‘Songlines and Faultline’s).

At this point I must admit I became so incensed by the hypocrisy in this book I vowed not to waste any more of my life reading.

One positive … it appeared grammatically correct (although I am the worst spella and writa so maybe there might be a cople of mistakes).