Straying from the Flock: Travels in New Zealand
Selected Book Details
- Paperback
- Author: Dr. Alexander Elder
- Publisher: Wiley
- Release Date: April 2005
- ISBN-10: 0471718637
- ISBN-13: 9780471718635
- List Price: $14.95
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Summaries and Customer Reviews provided by Amazon
SummaryAn illuminating road trip through the history, life, and attractions of one of the most beautiful countries in the southern hemisphere |
Customer Reviews
Average Rating: 
Thankful to the One Who Strayed
Rating:
I read Dr. Elder's book in preparation for my own upcoming golf trip to NZ. Before I read "Straying From The Flock" I thought I would rent a motor home and travel from golf course to golf course for the few months I will be there. But now, after enjoying an up-close-and-personal view of NZ through Elder's delightfully penned experiences, I have altered my game plan and will take advantage of homestays...much less isolating and much more fun to experience the human side of NZ.
Elder's book is the only one of its kind that I could find on New Zealand and it did not disappoint. Quite the opposite. From the chapter-matching map in the front of the book to the references at the end, "Straying" is wonderfully and creatively structured for practical usability. I found myself underlining whole paragraphs to be used later as reference. It wasn't until savoring the last chapter that I realized Elder had already done my work for me by including helpful resources like a list of homestays; favorite guides; web sites and guidebooks; and even a few recipes.
Unlike some other reviewers, I appreciated Elder's uncensored view of the places he visited and the people he met (including chapter 41). It's what made this book and this author real to me. I also enjoyed his references to wine and food which, after all, is one of the sensual aspects of travel that we all anticipate. I felt that I was sitting beside him sharing the experience. Isn't that what great writing is all about?
Enjoy this book; then pack your bag....he even helps you with that.
Felt as if I was there, too
Rating:
Straying from the Flock; Travels in New Zealand made me feel as if I'd actually visited the country. Each time I put it down, I was surprised to find that I was not in New Zealand.
This is not a guidebook; it is a description of a trip taken by a wealthy person. Mr. Elder's vacation included comfortable lodgings, sampling wines, renting fishing boats, and taking a helicopter trip to a volcano. (Mine would include backpacking, sleeping outdoors, visiting a couple of museums, and only one extravagance: swimming with dolphins.) Even though this book won't help me plan my trip, I found it worth reading because it conveyed the beauty of the country and friendliness of its inhabitants.
I enjoyed the book, but I can understand why it received some negative reviews. Several times, the author puts in writing comments about people that most of us would only whisper-- if we said them at all. The very first chapter starts with several unkind observations. Fortunately for readers, he admires nearly all of the people he meets and he loves New Zealand. (Perhaps his "honesty" put me inside his head, and that is the reason I felt as if I was sharing his trip through New Zealand.)
It is nice when Mr. Elder mocks his own foibles. One of them is his obsession with the lack of guard rails at the sides of New Zealand roads; he mentions the topic so many times that it made me laugh, too.
His comparison of Australia's and New Zealand's histories and cultures is intriguing, but almost certainly exaggerated and unfair to Australians. The kiss-and-tell in chapter 41 seemed out of place; I did not want to know about it and I'm sure the object of his affections would prefer that he hadn't shared their private evening, her real name, and the town she lives in.
So why did I give the book four stars?
~ He spoke with many different people and he must be a great conversationalist because he learned an amazing amount about New Zealand, including its culture, economy, history, politics, and agriculture.
~ He is a very good writer. The fact that English is his second language only highlights that fact. His descriptions of scenery are vivid, whether he is in the mountains or on a beach, in someone's living room or on a boat.
~ While many of his travel suggestions are extravagant (only fly business class?! $$$), all of them strike me as good advice.
~ His recollections of his earlier trips to New Zealand with his children are very sweet.
~ Finally, his love of New Zealand is palpable.
The book was so engaging that I feel as if I have visited New Zealand. And I can't wait to visit again.
Engaging and motivating: ready to visit
Rating:
Dr. Elder's book engages the reader to want to travel to New Zealand. Even if you don't have the time he had to travel or the connects to be hosted, I loved the way daily life is captured and the beauty of the terrain is etched in the readers' minds. I can really understand why he loves the country so much.
Loved the Homestay Referrals
Rating:
I thoroughly enjoyed Straying from the Flock, which I read before going to New Zealand recently. The recommendation of the Country Homestay in Wellsford, with Colleen and Tony Moore greatly appealed to me, and I made arrangements to stay with them for a couple of nights, with my granddaughter who was travelling with me. Thank you so much for the recommendation! They are a delightful couple, and we had a marvellous time with them. The lovely meals, the beautiful garden, the chance to knit with Colleen and bring home some of her soft, lovely yarn from her sheep -- it all made for a highlight of our trip. I thought of Alex often as we travelled in the beautiful country.
Insightful if sometimes grumpy
Rating:
Elder offers helpful insights for travelers to NZ with heavy emphasis on good wines and comfortable bed and breakfast places. He is definitely a city boy, not a naturalist. From time to time he gets a bit snarky and is particularly fond of recounting his triumphs over those who fail to meet his expectations. For a guy who tolerates few mistakes, he makes a few of his own. For instance a fabric sample is a swatch (not a snatch) throughout the English-speaking world. I'm glad he explains that NZ is too cold for growing good red wine grapes but produces splendid white wines.
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