Where the Birds Don't Fly

by David Farrell

A story of resilience, belonging, and the quest for acceptance. The Wilde family leave Africa in search of a home in this fictional memoir set during a time of global prejudice and intolerance. Shedding light on the struggles migrants endure while rebuilding their lives. The story focuses on the family's isolation and challenges to adapt to a new culture. They grasp the significance of acceptance and see it as necessary to gain approval. In New Zealand, they become friends with the Ncube household from Zimbabwe, who share the difficulties of raising a child there. A strong bond forms between Rorke and his colleague Tāne Williams. They uncover a common history of colonisation and explore the impact of immigration on indigenous communities. Their boss, Fran White, and regional manager, Hugh Biggete, intimidate employees who dare question the status quo. Despite encountering bias and mockery, the Wildes' remain undeterred in their journey. They stay away from fellow immigrants who resist change and continue to be rooted in their past. With the world's highest number of flightless bird species, will this foreign country, Aotearoa, offer them a comparable refuge?

Where the Birds Don’t Fly.

286 pages, Paperback

Published March 28, 2024

About the author

David Farrell, the author of The Wilde Collection fictional memoir series, lives in a rural village on the banks of the Mighty Waikato River.

While planning his next book, he walks through the magnificent landscapes of Aotearoa, New Zealand with his new muse, Zelda, by his side. A Kiwi Heading Dog rescued from the pound.

With his partner Jeanne and daughter Amy, they now live a harmonious life after a challenging journey from Southern Africa

Connect with David on social media he loves to connect with his readers.

Reviews

[Pauline Reid · Rating 5 out of 5]

7 July 2024
YouTube Review
https://youtu.be/stHsEQc2S_o?si=gEHCw...


26 June 2024 (a couple of days before Matariki)
Audio Book Review
https://reidpauline3.podbean.com/e/wh...



My goodness gracious me! When I picked up Where The Birds Don't Fly, I thought it was going to be a drab look into some swampy dark blue blah place in NZ, instead I got a well paced book, liking to a cat on a walking tread mill. Solid, never falling off and keeping track. Yes, no birds were flying there!

Instead a bird flew to kiwi land to nest there, but convincing fellow members in SA to go to NZ was not an easy task! And not without problems of course, 'cos you got to have problems, otherwise life would be pretty damn boring, although my Dad of 98 doesn't agree with me there (pssssst, probably something to do with his age perhaps).

Working in NZ wasn't cracked up to be at first, a rotten egg always smells. So lots of dramas that stank.
.
So you get the gist of the story I feel and speaking of feelings, there is one quote that stood out like a sore thumb to me (figure of speech, readers I didn't really hurt my thumb)
.
"Promise you will always abide by your heart and steer with your mind"

Which is actually the moral of the story.... and that ain't a spoiler.

So if this has you intrigued, just go with it and buy it and see what you get from it.

Well with that I'm going to have to give this a pitter patter of a cats paws 5 stars and a swish of a tail for extra goodness (can you tell I'm a cat lover).

Recommending to ones who are adventurous and want to know more about SA and NZ.

Genre - Historical Fiction - South Africa/New Zealand


Thank you to the author, David Farrell for gifting me a paperback version of his book in exchange for a honest review.

[Sarah the reading addict · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is really intriguing. It took me a minute to get into it but once your in and following the family as they travel separately and then together it's really interesting.

I love reading about different cultures and places and the descriptions of the people and the places and how they behave and react is really well written.

The discussions around COVID and lockdown that they experience is so relatable. It was a universal thing that everyone went through regardless of where you lived so it was really interesting how others coped.

[C. Fitton · Rating 4 out of 5]

“A story of resilience, belonging, and the quest for acceptance.” A fictional memoir about a family emigrating from South Africa to New Zealand. Not the usual genre that I read, but Farrell is an earnest writer.

[Mrs Moa · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75⭐️

A story of the realities and challenges faced when moving to a new country.

In seeking a safer environment to raise his family, Rorke and Rose make the heartbreaking decision to leave their extended family and beloved motherland, Africa and migrate to New Zealand.

An extraordinary tale of heartbreak and resilience in navigating migration legal battles, cultural differences, facing racism and prejudice yet the triumph and joy in found family and the feeling of freedom and community.

While this story is fiction, it reads in the beautiful style of a memoir as I believe David has drawn on his own personal experiences.

I was sent this book by the author and all opinions are my own.

[Vicki Antipodean Bookclub · Rating 4 out of 5]

Where The Birds Don’t Fly is David’s second book that follows central character Rorke Wilde as this time, he moves from South Africa to Aotearoa New Zealand in search of work and opportunity for himself and, most importantly, his family


The novel explores tensions between remembering your cultural heritage whilst not dwelling in the past as well as thinking what it means to become a New Zealander in a country with a damaging history of colonisation. It was an unusual style in that it’s a fictionalised biography and I kept pondering where the author’s experiences intersected with those of his main character. However, this also meant that there was an immediacy and an authenticity to the novel that made it a touching read
Thank you to both David and Kingsley publishers for sharing Where the Birds Don’t Fly with me

[Naomi Shippen · Rating 4 out of 5]

A moving story about escaping political unrest to find a better life. Rorke Wilde and his family face many challenges along the way when they leave their homeland of South Africa to immigrate to New Zealand. Rorke’s devotion to his family underpins everything he does, and his love for them spurs him on to create a better life. This second book in the series, it is a reassuring read in these troubled times.

[Jeanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m always drawn in by this author’s writing. His stories are profound and moving. Enjoyed this as much as The Chameleon. Hope there is more to come. Well worth a read

[C.A. Powers · Rating 5 out of 5]

I want to start off saying that I can never explain the beauty of this book with my review.

Where the Birds Don’t Fly is the sequel to The Chameleon. Here we follow Rory Wilde and his family as they leave South Africa and head to New Zealand.

This story is a heartfelt, and thought-provoking read. It’s one of those books that gently pulls you in with its beautiful writing and keeps you hooked with a story that feels both personal and universal.

The Wilde family’s journey from Africa to New Zealand, a place famous for its flightless birds, makes for such a rich and symbolic backdrop. Farrell captures their emotional and cultural struggles as they try to find a new sense of home in a land that’s as foreign as it is fascinating. You really feel for them as they navigate isolation, the longing to belong, and the tricky balance between adapting to a new culture and staying true to their roots.

What I loved most about the book is its underlying sense of hope. Despite all the challenges the Wilde family faces, Farrell manages to convey that even in the toughest situations, there’s a path toward connection and understanding.

Where the Birds Don’t Fly stands as a testament to the resilience of the human spirit. It is a timely and timeless exploration, inviting readers to peer through the window of the migrant experience with empathy and grace.

[Justine Gilbert · Rating 5 out of 5]

This novel is a sequel to the Rorke Wilde story as told in The Chameleon. Having read both, the story stands on its own, but readers may want to read the previous story. The main character, Rorke Wilde, has been forced to leave his place of birth, (Rhodesia/Zimbabwe). After seeking out Europe, he returns to Africa to settle in South Africa. But for him and his family, South Africa is not a place of safety. In choosing to emigrate to New Zealand, Rorke Wilde may be White and English speaking, but he faces the difficulties of all immigrants, regardless of language, colour or creed. To separate from friends and wider family, and encounter local prejudice, as well as dealing with the inevitable culture shock of a different country, is a tale worth telling. It raises the fundamental questions of how society treats those who are regarded as ‘foreigners’. Some people have never experienced this, but for those who have, (and I am one of them), they will recognise the experience. Part philosophy, part anecdote, this novel is eye-opening, and told with passion. A very interesting tale, eloquently written and well worth reading.

[Staci Andrea · Rating 5 out of 5]

Once again, David has eloquently guided his readers on an expedition that is more than just a harrowing tale of a family trying to find their place in this world, but also giving the reader a sweet taste of life that may be worlds away, and the beautiful courage that it takes to leave everything that you have ever known in order to not only change the course of your life path, but also to bravely encounter the injustices and unknown landscape of new worlds without wavering in your decision to trudge forward. Resilience is key for the Wilde family, and Where The Birds Don't Fly beautifully echos a family's history as the second book in a series lays out this leg of their life's tale. I am looking forward to seeing where the Wilde family lead me in the next book of the series.

[Sue M · Rating 1 out of 5]

I decided to read this book as I also emigrated from South Africa to New Zealand and I’ve also lived on three continents. I was very disappointed. The grammar and sentence structure are poor and detract from the parts of the story which are interesting. I wondered if the author was Afrikaans speaking and wondered whether I should make allowances for someone writing in his second language, but this does not appear to be the case. The final chapters of the book are particularly painful and pretentious. The protagonist’s wife comments that his writing is ‘wordy and highfalutin’. I found his pseudo philosophy trite and repetitious.