Walkabout

Rating:
Summary: Walkabout In A Nutshell
Review: The book Walkabout by James Vance Marshall portrays the difficulties that arise when two siblings find themselves lost in the Australian Outback fighting to stay survive. I thoroughly enjoyed this book because it showed how the children were guided and how the knowledge of an Aborigine boy provides a vital source of information that greatly increases their chances of survival. The story had an excellent flow to it, and the word choice is exceptional, Marshall's description of the land lets the readers imaginations' run rampant. My only complaint about this book would be the fact that it was a little slow at times, but overall it was an excellent, well-written book.
I would recommend this book to anyone who is captivated by the television show Survivor. There are so many descriptions of native plant life and species of animals that provide a source of nutrition for the children. Also, anyone who is interested in the outdoors and living in harsh, extreme conditions would be fascinated by the techniques that are used to stay alive by the Aborigine boy. These skills have been used for thousands upon thousands of years, but they still hold true even in the technologically advanced 21st century. This book was an excellent read, and it would most likely be enjoyed by anyone who read it.

Rating:
Summary: Walkabout In A Nutshell
Review: The book Walkabout by James Vance Marshall portrays the difficulties that arise when two siblings find themselves lost in the Australian Outback fighting to stay survive. I thoroughly enjoyed this book because it showed how the children were guided and how the knowledge of an Aborigine boy provides a vital source of information that greatly increases their chances of survival. The story had an excellent flow to it, and the word choice is exceptional, Marshall's description of the land lets the readers imaginations' run rampant. My only complaint about this book would be the fact that it was a little slow at times, but overall it was an excellent, well-written book.
I would recommend this book to anyone who is captivated by the television show Survivor. There are so many descriptions of native plant life and species of animals that provide a source of nutrition for the children. Also, anyone who is interested in the outdoors and living in harsh, extreme conditions would be fascinated by the techniques that are used to stay alive by the Aborigine boy. These skills have been used for thousands upon thousands of years, but they still hold true even in the technologically advanced 21st century. This book was an excellent read, and it would most likely be enjoyed by anyone who read it.

Rating:
Summary: Walkabout Again
Review: This book is short, which is mostly the kinds of books I like. I think it was neat how the "bush boy" offered to help the children live and adapt tothe awkward surroundings. Also how somehow the two cultures learned some of each others language.... overall I think the book was good. It shows that almost anyone can survive as long as they don't give up.

Rating:
Summary: An insightful adventure
Review: Two modern American school children from Charleston, South Carolina are trapped after a plane crash in the brutal desert of Australia where no one is around in miles. Their "civilized" destination, tens of miles away, is a small town by the name of Adelaide. Walkabout is a realistic adventure story that reminds us of the bitter wilds of Australia that have been forgotten. It also reminds us of how arduous it is to survive in the exhausting conditions of the desert, especially in Australia. Walkabout puts you in a defenseless little world where civilization is lacked. You even get to know about the Aborigines that live in the Australian outback. By the end of this exciting Walkabout readers will be quite thankful that they are alive comfortably at home reading this book. The vivid descriptions of nature and the wilds in this book make it a stunning success. It reveals and pictures in our mind the beauty and splendor of the Australian wild. There is no doubt that this story has left me with some beautiful images in my mind of the terrific wilds of Australia. I think that this thrilling adventure is so effective that when you finish reading the book, you will want to meet these to modern children who have survived many days of desert. There is also a film called Walkabout that is strongly recommended to see. You will love the film if you have read and enjoyed the book. "Walkabout is a small masterpiece...one of the most beautiful films I've ever seen" -Rex Reed, Daily News. If you like fiction then you'll enjoy this one. Give it a try, I'm sure that you will enjoy it as much as I did.

Rating:
Summary: A interesting survival story
Review: Walkabout is a book about to kids from south carolina that end up in the middle of Australia where they are away from society. They are trying to survive and on the way a boy from some tribe called Adelaide helps them find water and teaches them how to kill fish. This book was interesting to read and a type of book that i actually do not mind reading.

Rating:
Summary: everything you need in a good book......
Review: Walkabout is a dated novel. It contains many inaccurracies of animal and bird habitats. The Animals and birds referred to and written about in the novel could not possibly exist in the area in question. Further, references to appropriate "bush tucker" that the local people would take advantage of is not discussed.
It is extremely racist, the aboriginal protagonist does not get identified either by name or is he given the courtesy of being referred to with capital letters. The author continues to refer to the Aboriginal boy, as "bush boy" until his death. He refers to the Australian Aborigines as being "primitive", but does show how they have successfully lived in a hostile environment for 40,000 years or more. They had a very complex social organisation.
References to Afro Americans as negroes who only undertake menial tasks further highlights the author's insensitivity towards any group that is perceived as different to his ethnocentric nature.
References to the Aboriginal naming of topographical features in the Outback of Australia, further reinforces this point. The Dreamtime legends of the Australian Aborigines support the naming of water holes and mountains or rocky outcrops as being the result of mythical fights, or where the Dreamtime Serpent slept or made his toilet, a far more earthy approach than that proposed by the author, who waxes poetically about "the valley of waters under the earth."
Further diplays of the author's ignorance of the Aboriginal culture is shown with the whole idea of the Aboriginal people's battle with death. What an absurd idea! What culture lives continually in fear of death or dying? The idea of a medicine man pointing the bone has an element of truth, in which the author has taken advantage and used on a young boy. This boy has his life ahead of him and is undertaking his entry toward manhood with his walkabout, why should he even think about dying, what has he done to break a tribal taboo? We are not let into this secret, so we can only assume that the author is using his artistic licence.(Tribe is deemed by some people to be a politically incorrect word)
If this is the only view that some overseas students get of outback Australia and the beautiful Aboriginal people then I would have grave concerns about using this book as a class room text. My students research these details, find all the inaccuracies and come to their own conclusions.

Rating:
Summary: An insightful classic of its own kind.
Review: Walkabout is a story of the unification of two cultures that are 10,000 years apart. Peter and Mary, two American kids from Charleston, South Carolina, end up in the ruthless Australian outback where not one person is found in miles, just true desolation, after their plane crashes on a flight to visit their uncle in civilized Adelaide. However they don't encounter what we call civilized. Almost on the point of dying they find an aborigine who saves them from hunger. The boy teaches them how to survive in his habitat from finding alkaloola (water) to how to kill fish in a fresh water pond. The aborigine performs his tribal dances, taking them hand in hand through the weird and mysterious world of one of the most primitive cultures ever seen on earth. One of the most important customs performed by the aboriginal people is the "walkabout" really the initiation to manhood, just like the bush boy is doing in the story, Mary and Peter however are not on a walkabout to manhood but a walk for survival. The author explains the wonderful surroundings with such detail that you feel you are there living every moment. From Koalas to baby Wombats, reading this book is like diving into an ecological realm. A story of insight and warmth straight from the heart. The book accomplishes what it's set out for to teach us more about the aboriginal people, as each chapter, which might seem long but very informative. If you are being assigned this book get ready to consider it a gift and if you are reading by choice you are guaranteed to consider it a very smart move.