Living the Dream

By Derek Morrison, Penguin Random House, $55 These were prophetic words from the author, written before this year’s lockdown: “There’s a craving for escape within all New Zealanders. It thrives in that gap between our work lives and where we indulge our passions, relax and play.” In a land surrounded by sea and rich with rivers and lakes, that escape often involves being by water. This book tells the fascinating stories of people and their waterside baches. Some are architectural, some rustic and some barely standing. Some have been passed down through generations and others are recently built boltholes. But all are a focal point for families and friends to gather and relax. They are seen through a photo-journalistic lens that captures not so much the buildings and spaces but the people, lifestyle and activities: surfing (lots of surfing!), gathering seaweed, kayaking and fishing. There are tall tales told, histories unveiled and experiences shared in the author’s easy conversational style of writing. It’s a heartwarming book that will be a delightful read whether you’re stuck in the city, at home or on holiday at the beach.