Winning the 2023 Age Book of the Year Award for Nonfiction, this book presents a compelling exploration of its subject matter, blending meticulous research with engaging narrative. It delves into significant themes and offers fresh insights, making it a standout in contemporary nonfiction. The author’s unique perspective and storytelling prowess invite readers to reflect deeply on the topic, ensuring an impactful reading experience.
The narrative invites readers to view the text as a map, rich with history and wear, suggesting an exploration of uncharted territories. As the reader engages with the content, they encounter unexpected revelations and hidden dimensions, symbolizing a journey into the unknown. The torn edges of the map reflect the fragility of discovery, emphasizing the blend of adventure and vulnerability in the pursuit of understanding new landscapes, both literal and metaphorical.
Since the publication of her prize-winning memoir, Craft for a Dry Lake, in 2000, writer and artist Kim Mahood has been returning to the Tanami desert country in far north-western Australia where, as a child, she lived with her family on a remote cattle station. The land is timeless, but much has changed: the station has been handed back to its traditional owners; the mining companies have arrived; and Aboriginal art has flourished. Comedy and tragedy, familiarity and uncertainty are Mahood's constant companions as she immerses herself in the life of a small community and in groundbreaking mapping projects. What emerges in Position Doubtful is a revelation of the significance of the land to its people -- and of the burden of history