Parkland- when caravan is home

This is a book review of Parkland‚Äö- when caravan is home.Newton provides an enticing glimpse into a rarely explored world. Sociologically informed and using an interpretive and interactionist approach, Newton (2014) strives to understand how individuals living in caravan parks invest sense and purpose into their lives. Caravan park living is an increasingly important part of the Australian permanent housing rental market and includes traditional caravans, mobile homes, manufactured and relocatable homes which may be leased from the park owner/operator or supplied by the resident. Newton's research debunks the myth that residents are a significantly disadvantaged group living on the fringes of homelessness and experiencing multiple social, emotional and economic problems. Her interviews indicate a hierarchy of tenants within the parks. Central to this is the type of rental agreement entered into with park management - rental of the land only or building and land, and size of the mobile home.