What the Bird Sees in Flight: Collected Stories of a New Zealand Farming Family

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Set among the rolling green hills of New Zealand’s verdant Waikato District, this episodic collection of short stories opens a window into the life of a twentieth century dairy farming family. Nuanced and thought-provoking, the accessible tales highlight the emotions, disagreements and aspirations dwelling just below the surface in each member of the Hester clan.

From a fishing boat surrounded by a school of whales, to an unexpected kiss in a second-hand shop, to an overnight manhunt in the mountains, this series of poignant snapshots spans the Great Depression into mid-century, depicting the relationships between Duncan and Isla and their five children, Rangi, Anna, Joshua, Ron and Wally, as they navigate managing a farm, as well as loss, transition, identity, faith, estrangement and legacy-building.

Loosely based on the author’s great-grandparents, What the Bird Sees in Flight offers a creative perspective on the complexity of family relationships and the desire for belonging we all carry.

Joseph R. Goodall was born in Auckland, New Zealand and spent his childhood in Florida. An engineer by trade, Goodall’s writing focuses on the intersection of human relationships, place making and the environment. He lives in Atlanta with his wife.