For Love and a Beetle: A Tale of Two Journeys

by Ivan Hodge

This is the story of Beth and Ivan Hodge, a New Zealand couple who, in 1961, drove their Volkswagen Beetle from London to Calcutta. In 1996, 35 years later, they repeated their journey in the same Beetle. This book chronicles their experiences on both journeys, highlighting the political and social changes that have occurred in the meantime, and also how they themselves have grown, matured, and developed as individuals and as a couple.

Genres: Nonfiction, Travel, Memoir

296 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1999

Reviews

[Travelling Cari]

Got this at a secondhand shop in Melbourne.

Started this on the flight from Melbourne to Adelaide on Sunday (19/8)and finished it today (21/8). It was a wonderful read, a look at travelers my age 45 years ago and then much older when they did the second trip in 1996.

Some favourites:

-the tour of the factory in 1996 and viewing the following year of the so called 'new concept' beetle. Glad to see VW took an interest in them and their trip.
-it was great that on the second go around, t hey were able to see some previously inaccessible places, such as Prague. Interesting to see their description and surprise - quite similar to my own- that all the neighbourhoods didn't look the same.
-I liked the stories of those they met on both trips and whether they'd kept in touch. I know those feelings from my own trips. Also liked the email interludes from people following their stories from home, and how they were able to use them as go-betweens.

Reading this here with Helen and thinking about places I want to visit. I'd love to do the overland trip.

The couple was also featured on Australian Story although there isn't much information on where they (and the beetle!) are now.

May release this in Adelaide or at the meet-up in Brisbane.

[Patricia · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fabulous journey just in reading this book! It made me want to buy an old beetle and travel the world (some countries more than others). This couple rocks my world. Two journeys several years apart, same beetle, different points of view and ways of seeing things. Also, a cautionary tale of things to be more prepared for and learning the rules of the country. Fabulous!!!

[Ridwan · Rating 3 out of 5]

A true love story, a couple for lifelong!

[Jane E · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story should have been so good and in many ways it was but the narrator makes it hard to stick to appreciating just the story. I know this is 20+ years old but he comes across as an egotistical prat who denigrated his wife and courted publicity like a beauty queen. It gets 3 stars for some of the photos and the fact that I have done this journey and lived in India and it was nice to recall places along the road. (Purchased from a 2nd hand book shop in Napier, NZ)

[Andrea Broadhurst · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved this book and the adventurous stories of life's journey miss when you hit the road. I read this book in my 20s travelling around Europe as a NZer- its always stayed with me. Life is full of choices, boring moments and adventurous moments, sad and fun times. This book of life's choices sings to my heart

[Rebecca · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was super cute! Like 40 years ago, a couple from New Zealand got married and then did their OE in the UK. But instead of just taking a shit home, they bought a Bug and drove it home. And this book was about recreating that, as old people, in the same car! It was definatly an interesting read, but probabaly my least favourite thing about it was the Dude's need for media attention regarding it. It was like, they were driving through some pretty rough countries and having the media attention on them was both good and bad. The Girl definatly had a better outlook on it, but unfortunatly, it was the Dude who did all the talking. I liked how they interspliced it with memories of the olden days. Good read for travelers, especially since they were ending in Australia, even though they were from New Zealand. Plus throw in the UK, and I have been to all those places! (Except everywhere inbetween, almost).

Grade: C+

[Bree · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very interesting concept. Good on them for both of their trips, their great marriage, & their super cute car. DNF at page 109. It was a bit slow for me, or maybe the writing just didn’t hold me. It is interesting, but reads more like a list of how far they’d come that day & where they parked that night, & maybe what they did that day with or two short observations. More of a memory jogger for themselves or updates on their progress for their families back home. I would’ve like more detail about the surroundings, cultures, architecture, food, etc, so I could picture myself there, though it does mention some history. Also, it keeps swinging from 1961 to 1996 & back again, & I found it hard to keep track in my mind.

[Skyring · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book inspired me to write my own, about the two far less ambitious trips I made to New Zealand, the first with my bride, the second twenty years later with a couple of teenagers in the back seat.

These travels - two trips across Europe and Asia in the same Volkswagen Beetle, 45 years apart - are the stuff of legend. Brave enough to do it once in as carefree youngsters, but to retrace the steps in what is now a veteran car!

I enjoyed this immensely. Some of the photographs are taken at the same place on the two trips. The car is the same, the location recognisable, but the people have changed!

A quirky travel book - just the sort I like!

[Leslie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fantastic read! I learned to drive a standard in a VW Beetle and have wanted one ever since (I'm not mechanical and live rural!). This book brought tears to my eyes and a love story to boot! Being an "naturalised" Kiwi too made it even sweeter. Ivan's note on the above review is A+! Highly recommended.

[Meridee · Rating 3 out of 5]

A bit slow - like their trips, but interesting.

[Brian Sullivan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great travel book that is more a social history: seeing the same trip as two different worlds, the same geography at different times.