36 Views of Mount Fuji

Author: Cathy N. Davidson

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This delightful, autobiographical book leapt out at me from the shelves of the gift shop at the Museum of Contemporary Art. It is a poignant and sometimes funny account of the author’s various stays in Japan, where she worked as an English teacher at a university. While the edition I have was published in 2006, the book was written in 1993, so the Japan we meet is not the 21st century Japan. Having been fascinated by the country, culture and people all my life, I found this book touched on many of the complexities of Japan that I have pondered, and I identified strongly with some of her experiences.

At the same time, this is not simply a travelogue. She describes in painful detail sad events in the lives of some who she got close to in Japan, and also the upheaval and devastation of losing unexpectedly a close family member. The book certainly has some amusing and entertaining travel tales, but also deploys some motifs and images that link different scenes.

This is unlikely to attract younger readers but older teens and adults who are interested in Japan or simply the complex interface between cultures will find this stimulating. Several of her stories refer to blown green glass fishing net floats that she used to collect… and I was moved to find just such a float advertised on the website of a Sydney vendor of all things Japanese the other night.

Andrew Lack
Head of the Odell Learning Resources Centre

The Shadow of the Sun : My African Life

Author: Ryszard Kapuscinski

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Those who plan to travel usually research destinations on line, in guide books or through travel agencies. Then, when they reach their destination, they are surprised by the attitude and life-style of its people. Reading this book will give those planning travel in any African country an understanding of why Africa and its people are the way they are.


Ryszard Kapuscinski is a Polish journalist. This book is a collection of his reports from Ghana (1950) and, more recently, Tanzania. Kapuscinski has covered a revolution in Zanzibar, a coup in Nigeria, civil war in Liberia, and genocide in Rwanda, wars in the Sudan and Ethiopia, child soldiers and refugees. He gives insights about the causes and effects of these brutal and tragic events. He investigates the reasons why colonising Europeans ignored the fact that Africa is a collection of thousands of mini kingdoms. He sheds light on the power struggles and politics, deprivations and survivals, and the constant inflow of foreign aid that never can satisfy the millions of refugees whose survival depends on it.


There are no visuals in this book, just word pictures, with beautiful descriptions, even if the subjects are not so lovely. There is no simple solution to Africa’s troubles. It is a country where the majority of people just want food in their bellies, land to farm, and complete annihilation of their enemies.


Reviewed by Gayle Davidson
Odell Learning Resources Centre

To the top end : our trip across Australia

by Roland Harvey
Wish you were here! This is just one of the clichés Roland Harvey uses in this delightful travelogue of a holiday from Tassie to the very tip of the Top End.


Henry, Penny, Frankie, Mum and Dad embark on their most exciting adventure yet. Travel with them on the ferry across Bass Strait to the mainland, through Kelly country, along the Murray, into the Flinders Ranges, underground at Coober Pedy, overhead at the Olgas, overland to the Great Sandy Desert, with the fishes at the Great Barrier Reef, deep into the Daintree, out to the islands, kayaking at Kakadu and finally frolicking on the beach at the very top.


Roland Harvey is a great observer of humanity and nature. He uses watercolour to illustrate the diversity of the Australian landscape, and black ink to write for observations through Penny’s eyes. If you have never had the privilege of seeing Australia in real life, enjoying this book will whet your appetite for and Australian road trip. It is so Australian.


Shortlisted for the Children’s Book Council picture book of the year.


Reviewed by Gayle Davidson

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