Nine To Noon Book review: How to be an Alien
Mar 18, 2026
Lynn Freeman, an experienced broadcaster and book reviewer, offers a lively review of Ann Beaglehole's memoir. She highlights the family's flight from Hungary, perilous refugee journeys, and cultural clashes in Wellington. She also touches on Beaglehole's work with refugees and sharp observations on New Zealand society.
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Family Escape From 1956 Budapest
- Anne Beaglehole's family fled Budapest during the 1956 uprising and lived in an Austrian refugee camp before choosing New Zealand as their new home.
- They crossed a minefield, paid a smuggler with jewellery and vodka, and selected New Zealand after being told it was paradise, illustrating the peril and hope of their escape.
Grandmother's Longing Creates Family Friction
- The memoir opens in Wellington with domestic tension as Anne's father clashes with a grandmother who yearns to return to Budapest.
- Granny's constant longing for Hungary and disdain for New Zealand culture and coffee creates long-term family friction in their new homes.
Childhood Struggle To Fit In At School
- Young Anne struggled at school: she had no English, different lunches, and an accent that marked her as other.
- Her quick learning made it worse socially because answering questions highlighted her difference and drew resentment.
