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4.12 AVERAGE
4.12 AVERAGE
adventurous
emotional
funny
informative
lighthearted
slow-paced
torn between 3 and 4 stars. A jolly book that was an easy read. It didn't change my views on the world, but served as a fine distraction.
Wonderfully entertaining! Magical and colorful-it comes to life before you. I love this family. They're fantastic and the tolerance of the whole family is hysterical.
This is a book that encouraged me to look and listen and see the “world in a wall” (a la chapter 9). Durrell tells such a fanciful story that it’s hard to believe this fairytale childhood was real. His exploits with animals and nature were given equal page time as his family’s antics, and his glowing descriptions create a true sense of place.
I was of two minds reading this. On the one hand it is a charming, enjoyable memoir, peppered with British humor, that draws you in to a child's wonder at the natural world. (At times it was like a prose version of the Discovery Channel.) But my socially conscious side couldn't help wondering how the heck this family could afford its lifestyle without any of the adults having to lift a finger. I'm sure their Greek neighbors had it harder. At any rate, it will stay with me. I'm already looking at insects with a new perspective (i.e. not just disgust).
Well, this book had one fatal flaw. It was b-o-r-i-n-g! So boring I listened to it in the middle of the night during a SAR mission while lying in the dirt trying to sleep (it didn't work, but I did finish the book which was a relief). I don't know why this gets such good reviews on Goodreads. The Goodreads peeps let me down again!
I ended up more then I thought I would based on the first chapter but overall the style was not my cup of tea. The family and their antics were rather enjoyable but at times over the top. However Durrell's writing style got in the way of me enjoying the story and be able to feel immersed in the action.
funny
lighthearted
slow-paced
Delightful! This is such a well written book. Lots of funny stories. Beautiful descriptions for the naturalist. Corfu sounds idyllic. I have to remind myself that this takes place in the late 1930s before WWII and not rush off to Corfu expecting it to be as it is portrayed in the book. The PBS series was also wonderful but reading the book is so much richer. Durrell is a marvelously evocative writer with rich descriptions of nature. It made me laugh out loud as well. If you haven't read this book, definitely pick it up.
I did laugh out loud often while reading this book, the family was lovable, their situations quite funny and interesting, but the long descriptive passages regarding animals and insects got me down. Still, a very good book, but not one I'd read again.