Joe Bennett (1) (1957–)
Author of A Land of Two Halves
For other authors named Joe Bennett, see the disambiguation page.
About the Author
Julian Bennett was born on April 20, 1957 in England. He is a New Zealand writer and columnist. He emigrated to New Zealand when he was twenty nine. Before his writing career, he worked as an English teacher at one of Christchurch's leading high schools, Christ's College. During this time, Bennett show more wrote the words to the musical "Tramps" which was presented as a co-production between Christ's College and St Margaret's College in 1994. Bennett is a columnist for Christchurch's newspaper The Press and for New Zealand Gardener as well as being an author. His titles include: Just Walking the Dogs, Unmuzzled, Hello Dubai, and Fish like a Drink. His title King Rich made the New Zealand Best Seller List. (Bowker Author Biography) show less
Image credit: Joe Bennett
Works by Joe Bennett
Associated Works
Tagged
Common Knowledge
- Legal name
- Bennett, Julian
- Birthdate
- 1957-04-20
- Gender
- male
- Nationality
- England, UK
- Birthplace
- Brighton, Sussex, England, UK
- Places of residence
- Christchurch, New Zealand
Lyttelton, New Zealand - Occupations
- writer
columnist
teacher - Organizations
- The Press, Christchurch
- Short biography
- Joe Bennett is an English-born travel writer and columnist who lives in New Zealand with dogs. His columns are syndicated in newspapers throughout New Zealand. He has published eleven collections of columns in New Zealand and three worldwide with Simon & Schuster UK. Simon and Schuster UK have also published 'A Land of Two Halves', the story of a journey around New Zealand, 'Mustn't Grumble', the story of a journey around England in the footsteps of H.V.Morton and, most recently 'Where Under Pants Come From', in which Joe traces a pair of Warehouse underpants from store shelf in New Zealand through all the stages of their manufacture and eventually to the Chinese cotton fields near Afghanistan.
Members
Reviews
Double happiness : how bullshit works by Joe Bennett
pseudo intellectual self congratulatory masturbation. if you have already seen through modern life's bullshit, there is nothing new you will get out of this book except a few amusing turns of phrase. if you haven't researched the lines of bullshit that he discusses, you'll just have to take his word that it's bullshit, because he doesn't back up a single claim, and is actually wrong a couple of times. a few chuckles, nothing more.
The best part of this book, for me, was how well I thought the setting served the plot/characterization (such as it was). I was also able to really visualize post-earthquake Christchurch and it felt very real, however not having any experience with it I'm curious how those directly affected by the earthquakes reacted. What continuously put me off was the terrible characterization of all the women (ranging from unrealistic to caricature) and the really awkward dialogue. Every time I felt like I was finally able to get into it, I would once again find myself kicked out of the story by my annoyance. On a broader note, I thought it was a bummer that Bennett chose to add yet another tragic gay character to the body of literature featuring main characters who are gay. Feels like we're already over-flowing with that option. I'm definitely curious as to why he made that choice.… (more)
Joe Bennett hitchhikes across New Zealand, and lives to write about it.
Bennett, a transplanted Brit living and working in New Zealand since 1987 (the book was published in 2004) clearly loves his adopted country, even though the conceit of this book is that it's about a quest to determine whether he should stay on in NZ after his elderly dog passes on, or return to England.
Written in a breezy style this travelogue follows the acerbic, middle-aged author as he makes his way first around the South Island, then the North. While Bennett's wit can come across as sarcastic or negative, the strength of the book are the stories of the people he meets and the sense of place you get from them.
Not quite a Bill Bryson or Tim Cahill, but an enjoyable read, especially if, like me, you've had an opportunity to travel in New Zealand yourself and so can compare notes (so to speak).… (more)
Bennett, a transplanted Brit living and working in New Zealand since 1987 (the book was published in 2004) clearly loves his adopted country, even though the conceit of this book is that it's about a quest to determine whether he should stay on in NZ after his elderly dog passes on, or return to England.
Written in a breezy style this travelogue follows the acerbic, middle-aged author as he makes his way first around the South Island, then the North. While Bennett's wit can come across as sarcastic or negative, the strength of the book are the stories of the people he meets and the sense of place you get from them.
Not quite a Bill Bryson or Tim Cahill, but an enjoyable read, especially if, like me, you've had an opportunity to travel in New Zealand yourself and so can compare notes (so to speak).… (more)
(8.5)I thoroughly enjoyed this novel. the setting is the weeks following the Christchurch earthquake in 2011.
Annie living in London is shocked by the devastation in her home city and decides to return to try and locate her father whom she hasn't seen for 20 years.
Meanwhile, her father Rich, now an alcoholic, thinks himself a King as he stumbles into the realm of the tallest hotel in Christchurch, now on a lean and deserted. The hotel offers unexpected luxury with access to food and unlimited alcohol.
This was an original storyline and the writer doesn't fall into the trap of a happy ever after ending. It is nonetheless satisfying.… (more)
Annie living in London is shocked by the devastation in her home city and decides to return to try and locate her father whom she hasn't seen for 20 years.
Meanwhile, her father Rich, now an alcoholic, thinks himself a King as he stumbles into the realm of the tallest hotel in Christchurch, now on a lean and deserted. The hotel offers unexpected luxury with access to food and unlimited alcohol.
This was an original storyline and the writer doesn't fall into the trap of a happy ever after ending. It is nonetheless satisfying.… (more)
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HelenBaker | 1 other review | Dec 27, 2017 |
HelenBaker | 1 other review | Dec 27, 2017 | Awards
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- Works
- 23
- Also by
- 1
- Members
- 599
- Popularity
- #41,952
- Rating
- 3.4
- Reviews
- 15
- ISBNs
- 112
- Languages
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