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ragsrags's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
beebonet's review
4.0
This is a sweet, heart-warming book.
It is a memoir of sorts, so there is no critical action or strong plot so to speak, but that does not mean it is not interesting.
A great read for all ages really. Anyone who has vactioned with their family will appreciate the way the characters squabble and reunite.
It is a memoir of sorts, so there is no critical action or strong plot so to speak, but that does not mean it is not interesting.
A great read for all ages really. Anyone who has vactioned with their family will appreciate the way the characters squabble and reunite.
maevebeck's review against another edition
2.0
ugh. this author decides to write about his family with their literal names and therefore refuses to interrogate their characters and their more toxic sides. it just kind of presents a family as “oh they’re so dysfunctional” without examining the dynamics any deeper. i understand this is supposed to be from his perspective as a child, but we definitely couldve shaved down a LOT of the animal talk for some investigation as to why the mother is subject to her son’s whims and why the characters act the way they do. absolutely nothing happens in this book and the artistic elements did not supplement enough for it to be no plot just vibes. i learned nothing!
bebina's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
informative
lighthearted
medium-paced
3.75
knod78's review
5.0
What a surprise this book was for me. I really didn't know what to expect when I put it on my list to read and then it showed up for free on Amazon Kindle.
It was so wonderful and quirky and absolutely funny. There were times that I laughed out loud. I couldn't believe the antics of the family; I mean they just up and decided to move to Corfu, because Larry was bored. Then, they would move house to accommodate a guest or two. I loved the descriptions of the animals and plants and the islands and the people and houses. I wanted to be there on the veranda listening to them talk. I would probably punch Larry in the face a few times, but I think the family would back me up on it. I just wanted to be there with them. I need a man like Spiro in our life to help take care of anything we needed. I need a Theodore who knows every life form and deliver the wonderfully brilliant and cheesy puns.
One complaint would be that, like Attenborough, he basically took baby animals (or sometimes mothers) out of their habitat to keep for themselves. At least Attenborough was doing it for a show. Gerry was doing it, because he wanted it for his collection in his room. His justification was since he touched the baby bird, the mother bird would reject it. Yes, he's a conservationist and has helped many endangered animals. But it doesn't make it right.
With that, I loved the book anyways. I need to watch the series and I will continue this trilogy to find out more about their wonderfully crazy adventures.
It was so wonderful and quirky and absolutely funny. There were times that I laughed out loud. I couldn't believe the antics of the family; I mean they just up and decided to move to Corfu, because Larry was bored. Then, they would move house to accommodate a guest or two. I loved the descriptions of the animals and plants and the islands and the people and houses. I wanted to be there on the veranda listening to them talk. I would probably punch Larry in the face a few times, but I think the family would back me up on it. I just wanted to be there with them. I need a man like Spiro in our life to help take care of anything we needed. I need a Theodore who knows every life form and deliver the wonderfully brilliant and cheesy puns.
One complaint would be that, like Attenborough, he basically took baby animals (or sometimes mothers) out of their habitat to keep for themselves. At least Attenborough was doing it for a show. Gerry was doing it, because he wanted it for his collection in his room. His justification was since he touched the baby bird, the mother bird would reject it. Yes, he's a conservationist and has helped many endangered animals. But it doesn't make it right.
With that, I loved the book anyways. I need to watch the series and I will continue this trilogy to find out more about their wonderfully crazy adventures.