There are times when I figure I could live just about anywhere. I mean, anywhere different. I LOVE trying out new
places. I’ve lived all over this country and several places overseas, and I still can’t get enough. Even though New
York City has been ruthlessly addicting, I still think almost everyday about moving to Europe or Australia or China…or
New Zealand.
And so it was that I discovered this new book called
Slipping into Paradise by Jeffrey Moussaieff Masson. The book is said to be in the tradition of
Under the Tuscan Sun or
A Year in Provence. That is, writer heads to somewhat obscure, but culturally rich (in a parochial sense)
locale, lives with the locals, makes some fun of them, but comes to appreciate their simple ways (and their food), and
writes about it. Normally, I might pooh-pooh such a thing, believing that much of this Provence writing is trendy and
uninteresting. But New Zealand has long been on my list of places I’d like to live. And so this one may just make it to
my reading list.