Book Loving Kiwis discussion

Please leave a comment below if you intend to read A Land of Two Halves by Joe Bennett during July.

Also, use this thread to discuss the book.

Participating:
Angie
Ella's Gran
Kathleen
Mariana

I'll be reading this too. Just been notified my reserve is waiting to be collected along with Wooden man ... - if it doesn't rain ...!

I've read the first few chapters. Being a South Islander, I obviously know these areas well. I lived in Geraldine for over three years and now live not too far from Dunedin, Milton and Balclutha.
I have laughed out loud many times so far, but feel like Bennett isn't painting New Zealand in a particularly good light. I feel like he might have been more positive had he taken this journey during the summer months.

Count me in for this one. :)

So I've completed my journey of the South Island and am making a fair dent in the North Island. I've never been to Napier or Rotorua so I'm finding it quite fascinating. Still liking the humour but have come to the conclusion that Bennett is 'the glass is half empty' type.

Didn't get much reading done last night - too much else occupying the mind!

He is rather negative, so much so that I sometimes have found myself wondering why he has stayed in NZ. But I do find his observational style of writing easy to read.

Do you think he might find something positive when he gets to Northland?

Finished. Gave it three stars. Wish it had been a little more positive - after all he's British and I'm a Kiwi, and I love this little country of ours!

This was a little bit better than 'just okay' but as you can't award half stars I have given a generous three stars. While the writing style was easy to read, I don't feel it is the sort of travelogue that would have people putting our country on their must see list.