A Wife on Gorge River

by Catherine Stewart

Robert Long has told his story about living in a remote part of New Zealand in 'A Life on Gorge River'. Now his wife, Catherine, has given us her version of what it is like to live and raise a family two days walk away from the nearest road.

Genres: Nonfiction, Biography, Memoir

326 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2012

Reviews

[Jill Sergeant · Rating 2 out of 5]

This woman has had an interesting life, but the telling of it is not so interesting. The book conveyed very little of Catherine's motivations or philosophy - which is surely what you most want to read about, when a person has made the decision to raise a family in such a remote area: the mouth of a river in south west New Zealand that is only accessible by air, or a 2 day walk. It's more a series of anecdotes, loosely arranged by theme (food, education, wildlife, etc.) than the thoughtful introspection I hope for, when I read a memoir.

The book doesn't even explain why Catherine chose to live at Gorge River; she just seems to have stumbled into it, and stayed. A chapter heading, 'Signposts along the way' suggests that this is exactly what happened, but the book leaves to many questions unanswered. Why did Catherine exchange a career as a pathologist, for a life as wife and mother that is in many ways very traditional? What attracted her about this life? What was it about her husband Robert that drew her to him? What was the role of her faith, that she barely mentions? Has she had regrets, and how has she resolved them? I suspect this reticence is because she is a very private person - but it doesn't make for a great read.

I realise Wife at Gorge River is a companion volume to her husband's book, but there seems to also be an assumption that the reader will know a whole lot of things - like what 'The Roar' is (rutting season for deer), or the fact that (unlike in Australia), possums are a major pest in New Zealand. I would also have liked to know more about why Robert chose to live there in the first place, without having to go look for his book.

In spite of these gripes, the book does open a window into an unusual life. Many of the anecdotes about home-schooling, making-do, and how the family make a living, are interesting and even inspiring - showing what people are capable of when thrown almost entirely on their own resources. Do I have what it takes to live a life like Catherine's? Probably not. Even though as a city-dweller I envy the experience of living so close to sea and bush, and wish I'd raised my own child closer to the natural world, I think I would have gone stir-crazy, virtually alone with two small children for months on end. So the book at least has the capacity to trigger self-reflection in the reader, and may be worth reading for that.

[Rachel · Rating 2 out of 5]

The book was reasonably well-written and the subject matter fairly interesting, but the style didn't really grab me. Chronologically it jumped around a lot, even within one chapter, which made it confusing. Being a teacher I am biased, but I disagreed with her many of her comments about homeschooling. I'm not against it, but I don't think anyone with a decent education themselves can teach well and it certainly isn't necessarily the best option for children with learning disabilities. Finally, just when I was thinking it was nice that she wasn't one of those gushy parents who go on and on about their children, the last couple of chapters were about the children. It seemed more like a book written as thanks for all the people who had helped them over the years (there were a lot of random names in it). I'm sure I would have enjoyed it more if I actually knew them or at least had heard of them before.

[Karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have not read A Life on Gorge River, but my husband and mother-in-law have so I had some idea about the background. I found A Wife on Gorge River to be an engaging read with lots of detail, but I ended up with more questions. I don't feel that I understand the motivation or personality of either Catherine or Robert. This makes me wonder whether the writing was more about making money than explaining.

[Nadine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Almost finished it. Had already read her son’s book earlier in the year and although I was enjoying it, it became a bit of a chore to read toward the end. Nothing to do with the book, just that I think I’ve read enough of their story. Or maybe it was just too soon after the Boy from Gorge River. Might have another go later on. It’s worth reading esp the beginning before she goes to live at Gorge river. May be it’s different if you have had kids too? Because I haven’t endless stuff about raising kids - even if it is completely different way to raise them than in town - gets a bit jaded for me. I’m not particularly maternal. Besides I put aside one of my fav authors to read this book as it is a library book. And all I’ve really wanted to do was get back to the book I put aside. So read this review with all the “issues” out and transparent to anyone reading this. It is an interesting book, just, for me, maybe not at this particular place and time.

[Rae · Rating 2 out of 5]

Interesting to get Catherine's perspective after reading Robert's account of their life on Gorge River. The best part for me was her life in West Australia before she came to NZ and met Robert - living on a small boat as a student, in the Perth River!

[Bronwyn Rykiert · Rating 3 out of 5]

Parts of Catherine's story were interesting, what I did not like the most was the backwards and forwards. This is a true story and I would like for it to be in order but Catherine kept going backwards and forwards, as if she had remembered something that the they had done earlier.

[Kathryn Fathers · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thoroughly enjoyed this book

[Lena · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thoroughly enjoyable read – calm, comforting, and a lovely insight into life off the grid. It gave such a peaceful sense of remote living.

[Carol · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book should be read as a companion to "A Life on Gorge River"
by Robert Long, Catherine's husband. Gorge River, on the SW coast of the South Island of New Zealand, is an isolated area, two days walk from the nearest road - if the weather is fine. Both books are mostly the same story from a different perspective.
The book starts with her earlier life and how she came to meet Robert (known as Beansprout). It then goes on to describe living in a very isolated area with all its trials and triumphs. It is about life stripped bare of all the frills and facades we surround ourselves with and becomes a compelling story about raising a family in a wilderness.
I struggled to get through the first hundred or so pages, but then was caught up in the day to day living and how they coped.

[Brigida O’Donnell · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this so much because Catherine has a very practical nature and is non complaining even when the going is very tough. I imagine that not many women would be able to live so remotely and be able to do everything that Catherine is capable of such as foraging and fishing and hunting, providing for a family with a huge vegetable garden, and collecting all the firewood for the household. Plus she traps possums and uses the fur for her business in making possum fur products. What an amazing life!

[Verena Berger · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting story but a bit repetitive. It also showed me that, as interesting as it is to live so remote, one still relies on society for certain things. Catherine's style of writing comes across a bit dry at times.

[Nathan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A bit better than Robert Longs version of the story.

[Kiwileese · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would LOVE this lifestyle living in my dream part of the world