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bargainsleuth's review against another edition
5.0
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I did not have pets growing up but longed for one to call my own. Maybe that’s what drew me to James Herriot’s books. I’ve read his books several times over the years and last year, when PBS Masterpiece relaunched the series, I was all in. I loved the series from the get-go and listened to the original audiobook last year. Now the first two books in the collection can be found narrated by Nicholas Ralph, star of the current TV series. I gladly burned an Audible credit to listen to the second volume in the series.
“All Things Bright and Beautiful is the beloved sequel to Herriot’s first collection, All Creatures Great and Small, and picks up as Herriot, now newly married, journeys among the remote hillside farms and valley towns of the Yorkshire Dales, caring for their inhabitants–both two- and four-legged. Throughout, Herriot’s deep compassion, humor, and love of life shine as we laugh, cry, and delight in the portraits of his many varied animal patients and their equally varied owners.”
Unlike the TV series, James and Helen married at the end of All Creatures Great and Small, so there’s a married James Herriot in this volume. The stories of the young newlyweds are sweet, and usually James is the butt of the joke. The story of trying to buy furnishings for their little apartment is comical, and just shows that he should stick to treating animals and leave the shopping to someone else. He rarely says anything derogatory about his wife, other than to describe her as “big”, which just reflects the time in which these stories were written and the times about which they are told.
While I enjoyed listening to the original All Creatures Great and Small, I think I enjoyed listening to Nicholas Ralph’s interpretation of Herriot’s work more because he so embodies the young Scottish veterinarian turned Yorkshire vet. He gives the same measured performance with his narration as he does to his acting on TV. The fictional town of Darrowby and the surrounding communities are so charming, as are the people portrayed. Some of the stories in the book have made their way onto the small screen, and I can’t wait to watch all the episodes this season (I’m a little behind on viewing because of the Olympics and the fact that Masterpiece also chose to air David Tennant’s Around the World in 80 Days at the same time as All Creatures Great and Small. Too much good TV to watch lately!)
As always, the Sigfried and Tristan stories are great, and are part of the continued charm of the television series, but there are plenty of other stories to make you smile, laugh and yes, even cry. The gamut of emotions one goes through while reading or listening make this volume just as enjoyable as the original book.
I did not have pets growing up but longed for one to call my own. Maybe that’s what drew me to James Herriot’s books. I’ve read his books several times over the years and last year, when PBS Masterpiece relaunched the series, I was all in. I loved the series from the get-go and listened to the original audiobook last year. Now the first two books in the collection can be found narrated by Nicholas Ralph, star of the current TV series. I gladly burned an Audible credit to listen to the second volume in the series.
“All Things Bright and Beautiful is the beloved sequel to Herriot’s first collection, All Creatures Great and Small, and picks up as Herriot, now newly married, journeys among the remote hillside farms and valley towns of the Yorkshire Dales, caring for their inhabitants–both two- and four-legged. Throughout, Herriot’s deep compassion, humor, and love of life shine as we laugh, cry, and delight in the portraits of his many varied animal patients and their equally varied owners.”
Unlike the TV series, James and Helen married at the end of All Creatures Great and Small, so there’s a married James Herriot in this volume. The stories of the young newlyweds are sweet, and usually James is the butt of the joke. The story of trying to buy furnishings for their little apartment is comical, and just shows that he should stick to treating animals and leave the shopping to someone else. He rarely says anything derogatory about his wife, other than to describe her as “big”, which just reflects the time in which these stories were written and the times about which they are told.
While I enjoyed listening to the original All Creatures Great and Small, I think I enjoyed listening to Nicholas Ralph’s interpretation of Herriot’s work more because he so embodies the young Scottish veterinarian turned Yorkshire vet. He gives the same measured performance with his narration as he does to his acting on TV. The fictional town of Darrowby and the surrounding communities are so charming, as are the people portrayed. Some of the stories in the book have made their way onto the small screen, and I can’t wait to watch all the episodes this season (I’m a little behind on viewing because of the Olympics and the fact that Masterpiece also chose to air David Tennant’s Around the World in 80 Days at the same time as All Creatures Great and Small. Too much good TV to watch lately!)
As always, the Sigfried and Tristan stories are great, and are part of the continued charm of the television series, but there are plenty of other stories to make you smile, laugh and yes, even cry. The gamut of emotions one goes through while reading or listening make this volume just as enjoyable as the original book.
beckapk's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
slow-paced
4.0
emasvingerova's review against another edition
5.0
Byla to krásná knížka plná humoru. Sice nejsem moc na knihy o zvířatech, tahle mě ale úplně uchvátila. Je ještě hodně dalších dílů, a hodlám si je přečíst :) Další autor, kterého můžu protřepat.
Knížka to byla i smutná, zvlášť když se nějaké zvíře neuzdravilo. Musím ale říci, že jsem v každé další kapitole měla pocit, že Herriot ví všechno. Na každou otázku odpověď, na nemoc lék.
Skvělá kniha, doporučuji zvláště milovníkům zvířat.
Knížka to byla i smutná, zvlášť když se nějaké zvíře neuzdravilo. Musím ale říci, že jsem v každé další kapitole měla pocit, že Herriot ví všechno. Na každou otázku odpověď, na nemoc lék.
Skvělá kniha, doporučuji zvláště milovníkům zvířat.
vibeke_hiatt's review against another edition
5.0
This series has been wonderful so far. Herriot is a captivating writer with descriptions and metaphors that paint his stories beautifully. He has a knack for seeing the humor in many different situations, yet he can also be very serious and heartbreaking. But either way, the life he shows us is always real.
wanderingmole's review against another edition
5.0
A supremely satisfying second instalment of adventures from the life of a country vet. High quality story-telling. Understated comedy, specificity and charm.
*listened to the audio; great narration from Christopher Timothy.
*listened to the audio; great narration from Christopher Timothy.
kryten4k's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
3.75
ultravioletrose's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
5.0
I love James Herriot's books. They're just wholesome and very funny. This second installment was more of the same as the first and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I listened to the audiobook read by Nicholas Ralph which was a joy.