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BOOK REVIEWS
Pathways To Harrow Various 2016 ISBN 978-0-9923566-1-3
Harrow is a tiny town in the far west of the Australian state of Victoria . A population of around just 100 people , Harrow was a town that needed to reinvigorate or perish , the people chose the former .
Pathways To Harrow was originally an idea of the staff of the Harrow Bush Nursing Centre , a way for the women of Harrow to reflect on their time in the small community , the resultant book has become a written history of those who reside , or once did , in Harrow .
Over a five-year period , the women who shared their stories regarding living in Victoria ’ s oldest inland town told of personal reflection , family histories , and how each was shaped by the town , its people , and the community . Pathways To Harrow is a beautifully compiled tome of pioneering women , those that have Aboriginal heritage , those that lived during colonial times and those that still call Harrow home . A 180 page large format reference book that details the day to day lives of ordinary people that are capable of extraordinary things , mostly just by calling Harrow home .
Twenty-five women , from backgrounds as diverse as ‘ lowerlevel royalty ’ to Indian migrants , Eastern Europeans , and more all have something interesting to say proving that one needn ’ t be famous nor rich to be interesting . The stories then flow on to other women , all with more anecdotes that will have you wanting to ride to Harrow … Harrow is a fabulous place to visit and if you need evidence then Pathways To Harrow will guide you there .
Mr Cotton Wanders Europe Michael Botan 2022 ISBN 978-1-4960049-1-8
Michael Botan is no stranger to travelling by motorcycle , his home , the USA , Canada , and South America , so when it was time to visit Europe he and his partner , Kim , did so of course by bike .
As a seasoned traveller you ' d expect more , yet unfortuntaley it doesn ' t come across as Botan fills a tenth of the Mr Cotton Wanders
Europe with details of lost luggage and complaints regarding flights , it sets a scene that isn ' t necessary .
A lack of detail or personal thought is evident in Botan ' s writing , it ' s such a shame as the premise is there and with a little more time spent could ' ve made Mr Cotton Wanders Europe so much more than it is .
It feels more like a book about first-world issues , fancy hotels and fine dining than the essence of travel , perhaps that is adventurous travel for some people ... each to their own , Mr Cotton is an apt name .
And yet , Mr Cotton Wanders
Europe lacks more , it is in essence fraught with the danger of selfpublishing through medium such as Amazon .
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