I though this looked as if it might be a bit of a fascinating tour round New Zealand while the author Polly Evans, attempts to find out why a recent survey (2002ish?) had claimed the last bastion of masculinity, the real Kiwi bloke, was about to breath his last. Just weeks after passing her motor bike test she was off on a biking tour of New Zealand, brave creature! I am going to get out my maps and enjoy following this tour, reliving grand memories of my own from an extensive tour of New Zealand made in 1991.

This was an intriguing and enjoyable read for me. Enjoyable because through it I could relive adventures in New Zealand with a boyfriend in 1991. Great memories were brought alive reading of the warms friendly New Zealand people, the places we had visited and descriptions of landscapes and towns we had seen. Also as Polly Evans motor cycle adventure was carried out in 2003, some 11 years after we had visited, I could reflect upon changes to various places. I remember while visiting noticing the obvious British heritage in the architecture and culture, being awed by the fantastic craft skills on display, dismayed by the massive rift, generally unheard of outside New Zealand, between the white people and the Maori’s, and delighting in the abundant home baking in cafes and homes.

I did find the fluffy premise of the book, an investigation of whether the ‘Real Kiwi Bloke’ was an endangered species, irritating. I thought Evans required us to endorse the idea that The Kiwi Bloke never had a thoughtful, caring, or contemplative aspect to his nature and I just could not go along with that. Especially not after having visited. So that aspect of the book was not successful as far as I was concerned, the enquiry was frustratingly superficial. Another aspect of this book I felt unsatisfactory was the way it read like excerpts pulled almost at random out of a diary which is fair enough but then couldn’t the sections just have been dated and labelled with the locations and this style been consistent. Instead some parts of the book showed much more reflection and work. Putting those aspects aside though I would definitely encourage others to read this for a taste of life in New Zealand.

So it’s with great delight that I am popping this into the post for Alejandro2244, from Virgina USA, who is planning a trip to New Zealand. Do have fun.

RELEASE NOTES:

off by post to Alejandro2244! Enjoy!

Got in mail today!

Just finished reading this today on a sick day on vacation in Spain. I really want to visit New Zealand now as the author has compelled me, both by the character of the people, as well as the natural beauty that New Zealand seems to possess everywhere. I did find some sections of the book to be a bit boring at some times, but that was only when the author was doing something on her journey that I personally would not have done, for lack of interest. However, now more than ever, I am compelled to hop on a flight to Auckland, sit in a cafe and indulge in a strong coffee with a muffin! Plan on releasing sometime before I leave Spain!

RELEASE NOTES:

left on a seat in the train.