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The Land Near Oz: Two Gay Yankees Move to New Zealand
In THE LAND NEAR TWO GAY YANKEES MOVE TO NEW ZEALAND, memoirist and humorist Aaron Allbright examines the mystical fringes of life with a side of love and a little hash. Filled with great affection, indescribable moments of serendipity, and a few cattle calls, this debut is a raucous spot of fun. When Aaron Allbright and his better half, Beau, buy a piece of paradise from the direct descendants of the first English missionaries to inhabit the far side of the Far North of New Zealand, they meet the offspring of whores, convicts, whalers, English pirates and those first missionaries. Their closest seaside neighbor is Australia, 2,000 miles away (known to everyone thereabouts as Oz). From Orange County to the land of cannibals and flightless birds, the Land Near Oz, two gay men decide to chuck it all and light our for the Territory—and to find what's over the rainbow. There are Maoris with traditional full face and body tattoos; a former member of Led Zeppelin; a Texan named Big Mama. And in the wild hinterland paradise of evermore, dreams are made and life is good, just not in the way either Aaron or Beau hoped, planned, or could have ever imagined.
- GenresNonfiction
350 pages, Paperback
First published June 16, 2011
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
June 29, 2011
In THE LAND NEAR OZ: TWO GAY YANKEES MOVE TO NEW ZEALAND, memoirist and humorist Aaron Allbright examines the mystical fringes of life with a side of love and a little hash. Filled with great affection, indescribable moments of serendipity, and a few cattle calls, this debut is a raucous spot of fun that just goes to prove that paradise has a lot of sheep and the natives spend just as much time getting caught up in a whodunit murder-mystery as they do raising money for the local primary school.
In sixteen lively chapters with titles like “Northern Exposure New Zealand Style,” “The Miss Mangonui Beauty Pageant,” and “Te Ika-A-Maui,” Allbright describes the edge of a life that’s rare. It’s what you see when you follow your dreams and all you ever hoped for explodes into what was meant to be—just not at all what was expected. When Aaron Allbright and his better half, Beau, buy a piece of paradise from the direct descendants of the first English missionaries to inhabit the far side of the Far North of New Zealand, they’ll meet the offspring of whores, convicts, whalers, English pirates and those first missionaries. Their closest seaside neighbor is Australia at 2,000 miles away (known to everyone thereabouts as Oz). From Orange County to the land of cannibals and flightless birds, two gay men—a college professor and an IBM exec who decide to chuck it all and light our for the Territory— will find what’s over the rainbow. For one thing there are Maoris with traditional full face and body tattoos. There’s a former member of Led Zeppelin and a Texan named Big Mama. And in the wild hinterland paradise of evermore, dreams are made and life is good—just not in the way either Aaron or Beau hoped, planned, or could have ever imagined.
In sixteen lively chapters with titles like “Northern Exposure New Zealand Style,” “The Miss Mangonui Beauty Pageant,” and “Te Ika-A-Maui,” Allbright describes the edge of a life that’s rare. It’s what you see when you follow your dreams and all you ever hoped for explodes into what was meant to be—just not at all what was expected. When Aaron Allbright and his better half, Beau, buy a piece of paradise from the direct descendants of the first English missionaries to inhabit the far side of the Far North of New Zealand, they’ll meet the offspring of whores, convicts, whalers, English pirates and those first missionaries. Their closest seaside neighbor is Australia at 2,000 miles away (known to everyone thereabouts as Oz). From Orange County to the land of cannibals and flightless birds, two gay men—a college professor and an IBM exec who decide to chuck it all and light our for the Territory— will find what’s over the rainbow. For one thing there are Maoris with traditional full face and body tattoos. There’s a former member of Led Zeppelin and a Texan named Big Mama. And in the wild hinterland paradise of evermore, dreams are made and life is good—just not in the way either Aaron or Beau hoped, planned, or could have ever imagined.
July 26, 2011
My thoughts:
I really enjoyed this book, and have recommended it to several people already.
Why do I like it so much?
It's real - I loved reading about the move to New Zealand and life there. The author didn't seem to hold anything back. I found the people and culture fascinating, and I learned so much from reading this book.
It's funny - Oh yes it is! I loved Dee. She sounded like she was a hoot. Some of the stories in the book made me cry because they were hilarious. I think the author is so lucky to have had all these great experiences in his life.
It made me think - I loved the run in with the archbishop. I was happy with what was said to him, and I'm glad you both had the balls to do that.
There's a recipe - Seriously, I'm going to try to make it. :)
Thank you for writing this book. I haven't read something I enjoyed this much in a long time. I truly hope you both continue to enjoy paradise for a long time to come....and that there is a lot more to this story because I want to read it.
I received this book for free through Goodreads First Reads.
I really enjoyed this book, and have recommended it to several people already.
Why do I like it so much?
It's real - I loved reading about the move to New Zealand and life there. The author didn't seem to hold anything back. I found the people and culture fascinating, and I learned so much from reading this book.
It's funny - Oh yes it is! I loved Dee. She sounded like she was a hoot. Some of the stories in the book made me cry because they were hilarious. I think the author is so lucky to have had all these great experiences in his life.
It made me think - I loved the run in with the archbishop. I was happy with what was said to him, and I'm glad you both had the balls to do that.
There's a recipe - Seriously, I'm going to try to make it. :)
Thank you for writing this book. I haven't read something I enjoyed this much in a long time. I truly hope you both continue to enjoy paradise for a long time to come....and that there is a lot more to this story because I want to read it.
I received this book for free through Goodreads First Reads.
July 21, 2011
Part biographical, part "Discovery Channel" part mystery this is a terrific book.
You can almost hear Aaron speak the lines as they happen. Intermingled with native "Kiwi" terms you cannot help but pronounciate them as you are reading...
As a Dutch Man...it is nice to read about such an amazing country discovered by Abel Tasman!
You can almost hear Aaron speak the lines as they happen. Intermingled with native "Kiwi" terms you cannot help but pronounciate them as you are reading...
As a Dutch Man...it is nice to read about such an amazing country discovered by Abel Tasman!
July 12, 2011
Somehow I just knew I was going to win this one (goodreads giveaways). It's highly unusual for me to read this kind of book but I thought I wouldn't mind reading about New Zealand.
I don't think I've ever read a memoir before, so I don't have anything to compare it to, but I enjoyed it whatever it was. Allbright is witty in the right places and a competent writer. I felt this was a love story and a coming-home story. The people met along the way were amusing, as was the insight into Maori culture. There were a lot of spiritual references which are not my cup of tea but would have some people in awe at the seemingly pre-destined nature of Allbright's journey.
I only wish it had a happy ending. Instead I am left wondering at Allbright's fate.
I don't think I've ever read a memoir before, so I don't have anything to compare it to, but I enjoyed it whatever it was. Allbright is witty in the right places and a competent writer. I felt this was a love story and a coming-home story. The people met along the way were amusing, as was the insight into Maori culture. There were a lot of spiritual references which are not my cup of tea but would have some people in awe at the seemingly pre-destined nature of Allbright's journey.
I only wish it had a happy ending. Instead I am left wondering at Allbright's fate.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews