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Original poster

Light hearted, animal related, autobiographical books

39 replies

BestIsWest · 14/04/2025 16:49

I’m looking for recommendations for my DM who is currently in hospital and has short term memory issues. She used to be a great reader but hasn’t read anything much for a few years until the hospital stay and she’s beginning to show a bit of interest in reading again.

She’s just finished and thoroughly enjoyed Nigel - Monty Don and is loving Paul O’Grady’s Country Life. Any ideas for something similar would be appreciated.

James Herriot is the obvious one but I know she’s read them all.

OP posts:
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purpleme12 · 27/04/2025 01:06

This is right up my street!
I must try remember to check my list tomorrow now!

Ellmau · 27/04/2025 00:49

Another older series of books if she hasn't read them is Derek Tangye's Minack Chronicles.

2pence · 27/04/2025 00:42

Anyone mentioned Born Free by Joy Adamson about Elsa the Lioness?

Papergirl1968 · 27/04/2025 00:13

Sorry, just realised a pp had already suggested Doreen Tovey.
The Yorkshire Shepherdess has written a series and googling those came up with one by the Yorkshire vet too.

2pence · 27/04/2025 00:12

Definitely James Herriot! Love those. Also Gerry Durrell’s My Family and other Animals as mentioned here.

Papergirl1968 · 27/04/2025 00:07

Just googled and Doreen Tovey was the Cats In The Belfry author.
James Middleton, Kate’s brother, has written one too about his dog Ella helping him with his mental health.

Papergirl1968 · 27/04/2025 00:04

WinterCarlisle · 18/04/2025 10:19

@Missey85 oh wow, childhood memory unlocked! I loved the Emma books. I wanted a chocolate Labrador for so long!

@BestIsWest - I thought of another. Kym, by Joyce Stranger. About a VERY loud and opinionated Siamese cat. This one is a true story but Joyce also wrote a lot of animal themed books.

We used to have a Siamese who I named Kym after reading that book. He was very opinionated too, typical Siamese.
There was also a series about cats by another author. One was called Cats In The Belfry.

Dappy777 · 26/04/2025 22:29

Brian Blessed wrote a great memoir about his love for animals. And Ted Hughes’ daughter also wrote a very good book about raising a magpie.

sodabreadjam · 26/04/2025 19:36

West with Giraffes by Lynda Rutledge. It's a novel based on a true story about a man who drove two giraffes across the USA to San Diego Zoo.

BrightWolf · 19/04/2025 20:22

Raising Hare is a newish book and lovely. Memoir about finding and rescuing a newborn hare. Takes place in the English countryside during covid.

Gall10 · 18/04/2025 10:28

For anyone who enjoys listening to ‘autobiographical animal stories’ there was a fabulous 30minute story on Radio 4 at 11.30pm Thursday 17th April…about a chiwouwa living in Paris…I thoroughly recommend it!

WinterCarlisle · 18/04/2025 10:19

@Missey85 oh wow, childhood memory unlocked! I loved the Emma books. I wanted a chocolate Labrador for so long!

@BestIsWest - I thought of another. Kym, by Joyce Stranger. About a VERY loud and opinionated Siamese cat. This one is a true story but Joyce also wrote a lot of animal themed books.

Missey85 · 16/04/2025 09:32

An old one but a good one is Emma and I about a blind woman and her guide dog ❤️

Original poster
BestIsWest · 15/04/2025 11:03

helpfulperson · 15/04/2025 09:24

If she is struggling with short term memory she might find it easier to read books that she has read before as they will be familiar.

Good point. I might take a James Herriot in as I have them here. I’m not averse to re-reading myself as I can never remember books but DM was never one for doing that in the past.

OP posts:
Vroomfondleswaistcoat · 15/04/2025 10:18

BestIsWest · 15/04/2025 09:21

I’ve followed Sophie from Romania’s story. They’ve been incredibly patient with her.

I cried the first time she went out for a walk...

Sorry, back to books.

TabbyM · 15/04/2025 10:15

Faith Addis books are good, Doreen Tovey also has a series about her cats/rural living and the early Tom Cox books (Talk to the Tail etc) are quite funny. If you can find the second hand Monica Edwards autobiographical books beginning with The Unsought Farm are also interesting.

Choccyp1g · 15/04/2025 09:27

Clare Balding's autobiography "My animals and other family" is themed around her families' animals, mainly horses and dogs.

helpfulperson · 15/04/2025 09:24

If she is struggling with short term memory she might find it easier to read books that she has read before as they will be familiar.

Original poster
BestIsWest · 15/04/2025 09:21

I’ve followed Sophie from Romania’s story. They’ve been incredibly patient with her.

OP posts:
Aworldofmyown · 15/04/2025 09:16

Penguin Lessons.
Not an autobiography but Remarkably Bright Creatures is an excellent animal centric fiction.

WinterCarlisle · 15/04/2025 09:14

Thought of another one: Sophie from Romania by Rory Cellan-Jones.

tobee · 15/04/2025 03:17

ShrimpBoil · 14/04/2025 19:49

Ted's pawtobiography from Gone Fishing with Paul whitehouse and Bob Mortimer.

I got this for my mum for Christmas and she loved this!

Original poster
BestIsWest · 14/04/2025 22:22

Oh yes, Olive and Mabel helped a lot during lockdown.
Cute owls!
Down to Earth sounds perfect. I know she’s read a few of the others.

I’ll have a read through these and make some suggestions to her. I can’t tell you how delighted I am to see her enjoying a book again.

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Xiaoxiong · 14/04/2025 22:02

Oh I remember a lovely one - Two Owls at Eton by Jonathan Franklin, about how in 1957 he brought two tawny owl chicks to boarding school with him.

Some lovely photos here: https://www.eadt.co.uk/news/21575246.raised-two-baby-owls-eton/

I raised two baby owls... at Eton

They lived in his boarding-school bedroom! These days, the inspectors might have something to say about that...

https://www.eadt.co.uk/news/21575246.raised-two-baby-owls-eton/

Shaggyinkcap · 14/04/2025 20:57

Our Zoo by June Mottershead maybe? A memoir about the foundation of Chester Zoo and how they got through WWII. I really enjoyed it.