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4.44 AVERAGE
4.44 AVERAGE
I picked up this trilogy while drowning in some fairly hefty reading and trying to finish my degree. My mum recommended it to me as a bit of light relief, and for that it was simply perfect. Light, charming and cheerful, Gerry's memoirs of his childhood chronicle the life of his eccentric family on the Greek island of Corfu. There's nothing deep here; the reasons for their eventual departure (war) are left unspoken, but then I don't think that's what you'd be after if you wanted to read this.
The three books that make up the trilogy are fairly episodic and are not told chronologically. It's more like reading multiple, self-contained vignettes. You could read the episodes or books fairly out of order and it would make little difference. I question how true to life these stories really are; a quick search on wiki suggests that Larry, Gerry's eldest brother, did not even live with the rest of his family, but rather with a wife who is not mentioned once in these memoirs. Indeed, Larry's presence in his younger brother's books is perhaps most obvious out of all the personalities on Corfu, so it's strange to think Gerry ignored any of Larry's absences. But no matter if this trilogy is fairly anecdotal, the reading experience is very enjoyable, all the same. Perhaps, reading the whole trilogy at once would be slightly repetitive, but it's comforting knowing what you going into, each time you pick up to continue reading.
Most of the focus is on young Gerry's intense animal obsession. While there's no obvious examples of animal cruelty, I did feel slightly sorry for some of the wild animals, who presumably were being captured against their will. In that respect, I think these books are very much of their time and, perhaps, Gerry's methods in exploration and discovery would not be so accepted nowadays, but, having said that, it's clear how his experiences on the island sparked such an intense passion in the young boy and his later career in animal conservation and zoology.
The trilogy is of its time in many other ways as well. In fact, it's somewhat dated in some of its descriptions of both the foreign visitors to the island and the "natives", but it remains funny and charming if you can overlook that. I'd recommend it to those in need of a lighter read and I'm glad I read it when I did.
The three books that make up the trilogy are fairly episodic and are not told chronologically. It's more like reading multiple, self-contained vignettes. You could read the episodes or books fairly out of order and it would make little difference. I question how true to life these stories really are; a quick search on wiki suggests that Larry, Gerry's eldest brother, did not even live with the rest of his family, but rather with a wife who is not mentioned once in these memoirs. Indeed, Larry's presence in his younger brother's books is perhaps most obvious out of all the personalities on Corfu, so it's strange to think Gerry ignored any of Larry's absences. But no matter if this trilogy is fairly anecdotal, the reading experience is very enjoyable, all the same. Perhaps, reading the whole trilogy at once would be slightly repetitive, but it's comforting knowing what you going into, each time you pick up to continue reading.
Most of the focus is on young Gerry's intense animal obsession. While there's no obvious examples of animal cruelty, I did feel slightly sorry for some of the wild animals, who presumably were being captured against their will. In that respect, I think these books are very much of their time and, perhaps, Gerry's methods in exploration and discovery would not be so accepted nowadays, but, having said that, it's clear how his experiences on the island sparked such an intense passion in the young boy and his later career in animal conservation and zoology.
The trilogy is of its time in many other ways as well. In fact, it's somewhat dated in some of its descriptions of both the foreign visitors to the island and the "natives", but it remains funny and charming if you can overlook that. I'd recommend it to those in need of a lighter read and I'm glad I read it when I did.
Delightful. Fun. Sweet. Witty. I'm ready to go live on a Greek island.
Delightful laugh-out-loud tales of growing up in Corfu...loved it!
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
funny
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
*Real rating: 2.75 stars.*
A well-written, humorous triology of stories that dragged on perhaps a bit too long for my taste. While the descriptions were lovely, I'm not very animal inclined. Thus I preferrered the parts focused on Gerry, his family and their bizarre guests over his animal discoveries, though there was a certain charm to his observations of Corfu's wildlife. All in all, I quite enjoyed the majority of these stories, though certain events and occurences dragged on a bit too much for my taste.
A well-written, humorous triology of stories that dragged on perhaps a bit too long for my taste. While the descriptions were lovely, I'm not very animal inclined. Thus I preferrered the parts focused on Gerry, his family and their bizarre guests over his animal discoveries, though there was a certain charm to his observations of Corfu's wildlife. All in all, I quite enjoyed the majority of these stories, though certain events and occurences dragged on a bit too much for my taste.
emotional
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
slow-paced
My teacher/mentor Dr. Johnson dropped this on myself and my family to enjoy. He watched the PBS series and found the youngest son in the show reminded him of my youngest daughter...in his love and fascination with all things living.
I admit to reading the trilogy (ensconced in a single book) between viewings of the first and second seasons of the PBS series based on the book.
Thoroughly enjoyed them and didn't find anything utterly disagreeable with having the faces of the series actors in my head as I read their adventures in written form.
I admit to reading the trilogy (ensconced in a single book) between viewings of the first and second seasons of the PBS series based on the book.
Thoroughly enjoyed them and didn't find anything utterly disagreeable with having the faces of the series actors in my head as I read their adventures in written form.