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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:
Ddakji · 14/04/2025 20:52

Didn’t the sports commentator Andrew something write one about his dogs Olive and Mabel?

icelolly12 · 14/04/2025 20:06

If she likes birds, I highly recommend Bird Cottage by Eva Meijer. It's a very gentle and inspiring read and although not an autobiography is written as if it is. It is based on a true story of an inspiring lady Len Howard. There are some war time references which might be either nostalgic or upsetting though.

Also Noel Fitzpatrick - Becoming the supervet from growing up on a farm in Ireland to becoming a vet.

Can't beat James Herriot though!

Xiaoxiong · 14/04/2025 19:53

There are two sequels to My family and other animals about his family's time in Corfu, and then loads more books that Durrell wrote about animal collecting around the world and then setting up his zoo. The Batfut Beagles, Three Singles to Adventure, etc.

There are some quite touching & emotional animal stories like Jock of the bushveld and Tarka the otter.

All creatures great and small by James Herriot plus all the sequels.

WinterCarlisle · 14/04/2025 19:53

The Minack Chronicles by Derek and Jean Tangye are lovely if you can find them.

Another vote for the Cat who came in from the cold

Pippatpip · 14/04/2025 19:51

Warrior, Story of a Horse. About a horse who went through ww1. Is true.

ShrimpBoil · 14/04/2025 19:50

ArtTheClownIsNotAMime · 14/04/2025 16:54

I'm not sure how easy they are to find but I really loved the Down to Earth series by Faith Addis. She and her husband buy a cottage/farm and the books are about them adapting to country life and running a farm and B&B. Very funny and wholesome. It was turned into a TV series with Pauline Quirke in the early 2000s.

A Streetcat Named Bob is good but might could be a bit heavy/sad.

Down to Earth books are lovely!

ShrimpBoil · 14/04/2025 19:49

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

Original poster
BestIsWest · 14/04/2025 19:42

Lovely suggestions, thank you. I know she’s read My Family and other Animals. I will look up the others.

OP posts:
MidnightPatrol · 14/04/2025 18:20

Slightly left field - but has she read Roald Dahl’s autobiographical books?

‘Boy’ and ‘Flying Solo’.

Both enjoyable reads and quite lightweight ie manageable from a hospital bed!

Defiantly41 · 14/04/2025 18:18

Deric Longden The Cat who came in from the Cold
Syou Ishida We’ll prescribe you a cat
Battersea Dogs & Cats Home A Cat a Day
Hiro Arakawa The Travelling Cat Chronicles

OrsolaRosso · 14/04/2025 17:58

The Penguin Lessons
Elephant in my Kitchen

Both lovely.

AlphaRadiationIsHeliumNuclei · 14/04/2025 17:57

My Family and Other Animals

ArtTheClownIsNotAMime · 14/04/2025 16:54

I'm not sure how easy they are to find but I really loved the Down to Earth series by Faith Addis. She and her husband buy a cottage/farm and the books are about them adapting to country life and running a farm and B&B. Very funny and wholesome. It was turned into a TV series with Pauline Quirke in the early 2000s.

A Streetcat Named Bob is good but might could be a bit heavy/sad.

HonoriaBulstrode · 14/04/2025 16:54

Gerald Durrell?