Neil Harton, p. 236.
During 2017, Renée Hollis interviewed 38 centenarians living in New Zealand. This book is the result, and what a delightful book it is, filled with the reminiscences of these New Zealanders! Apart from a short piece at the beginning of each interview in which Hollis introduces the person, tells of how she learned about them and a bit of their background, the rest is the centenarians’ own words. Each interview is accompanied by photographs, one taken on the day and the rest from each person’s photo collection.
One interview was with a married couple, both 101 years, born in India. Theirs was an arranged marriage. Others were born in the British Isles, and one from Canada, but most were born in New Zealand, and one was Māori.
In many cases, the men majored on the Second World War in their interviews, because that brief six years of a 100+ lifetime had made such an impact on them.
A good many lived in retirement villages, but others were still in their own homes, including the oldest New Zealander at the time of the interviews, now deceased. (A number of the interviewees passed away while the book was going through the publication process, and Hollis made a note of that at the end of each entry.) One was still driving her car, and another was still a practising JP!
I enjoyed this book. It was a great read. I will finish with this advice from Peter Densem:
During 2017, Renée Hollis interviewed 38 centenarians living in New Zealand. This book is the result, and what a delightful book it is, filled with the reminiscences of these New Zealanders! Apart from a short piece at the beginning of each interview in which Hollis introduces the person, tells of how she learned about them and a bit of their background, the rest is the centenarians’ own words. Each interview is accompanied by photographs, one taken on the day and the rest from each person’s photo collection.
One interview was with a married couple, both 101 years, born in India. Theirs was an arranged marriage. Others were born in the British Isles, and one from Canada, but most were born in New Zealand, and one was Māori.
In many cases, the men majored on the Second World War in their interviews, because that brief six years of a 100+ lifetime had made such an impact on them.
A good many lived in retirement villages, but others were still in their own homes, including the oldest New Zealander at the time of the interviews, now deceased. (A number of the interviewees passed away while the book was going through the publication process, and Hollis made a note of that at the end of each entry.) One was still driving her car, and another was still a practising JP!
I enjoyed this book. It was a great read. I will finish with this advice from Peter Densem:
“My advice is to get a boat – it will add ten years to your life. Plenty of fresh sea air and time in nature is the secret to a long life. Not smoking, and the odd brandy, also helps.”
Reviewed by Jessie
Catalogue link: Keepers of History
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