My Family and Other Animals

[PutOnThePan]

Rereading this for local book club.

I thought I would enjoy it, but to say it is dull would be an understatement!

I don't think it is particularly helpful to nature even in the context of it's time and everyting is over described or inappropriately metaphorred!

Am I going to be universaly hated at my next meeting or can anyone say something to help me see the good?!

The only good bits are the "family" bits. I am not sure which of his books this incident is in, but I laugh till I cried every time I read about Leslie shooting swallows off the roof at the same time as mother was entertaining the local animal rights woman.

And Larry is always good for a laugh.

But yes, the "animals" bit was always dull.

Yes, I did laugh out loud when Larry tried to do a left-right and fell in the bog!

I loved all Gerald Durrell's books as a child - especially MFAOA, I loved the animal bits (but I was quite a nature geek - still am)

I think you really get a sense of the pace of life on a Greek island, local characters, the endless summer days of childhood, and a view of a quintessentially English family of eccentrics.

I loved it as a child, it made me long for living on a remote island. I have such fond memories of it, but now I would find it very boring. I don't think it is a book for adults, tbh.

ds1 (13) is reading it at the moment and enjoying it - surprising as he normally likes 'action' ...

it is published by Puffin though which I suppose gives you an idea of the publisher's target demographic

Loved it and all his books as a child and now probably because I can relate so closely to having a houseful of weird and wonderful creatures.
I grew up abroad and couldn't bare to turn away the waifs and strays that were orphaned and needed hand rearing.

I got into trouble at school for releasing all the toads the class had collected for dissection!
And I was made chief "rabbit sexer" as the school rabbits kept multiplying out of control!

it is on dds shelf to read.. I havent read it myself.

I loved the descriptions of all the animals - how can you not love 2 dogs called Widdle and Puke?

I enjoyed this, but think I was about ten when I read it!

I bought this for dd (10 yo) and read it myself on holiday this christmas. Enjoyed it though took a while to get into it, probably because of all the description. The mother was just so patient and laid back - not at all like myself .