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4.12 AVERAGE
4.12 AVERAGE
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
My Family and Other Animals is a charming though highly exaggerated account of a young boy’s life amidst the natural and familial wonders of Corfu. I did harbor some skepticism about this book, as I wasn't terribly impressed by the recent public television adaptation. However, after reading the first book in the series, it seems clear to me that what the television adaptation lacked was the best part of the book — the narrator’s deprecating and playful voice. I can often be harsh on an overly deprecating writer (especially a male, English one), but if the reader takes this writing with a grain of salt as its intended accompaniment, it really is quite a humorous and transporting read. The writer’s tone and delightful re-imagining of his family’s time in Corfu weaves together what could otherwise be awkwardly juxtaposed topics in a (kind of) memoir: familial conflict and intricate, indulgent descriptions of the natural life on Corfu. The author does manage to shield himself a little by giving every character the same treatment, whether family or local — no one comes off as flawless or even particularly lovable. I don’t know that I will rush to pick up the other books in this series, but this first book did allow me to imagine, for a few hours, a world in which everything can fall to pieces in one moment but somehow work out swimmingly on the next page.
I think this was an ideal book for me to read during the pandemic. Normally I might struggle more with the 10-year-old capturing animals and be thinking about the class differences, capitalism, colonialism etc. and I still struggled a bit with these issues. But overall I was so envious of the author's life on Corfu, the descriptions of the olive groves, the crystal clear water, the animals everywhere, and his dog companions was a very happy place to be.
This is a seriously good book if you like British humor and are interested in animals and insects. The author has a knack for blending moments so that they are, at times, laugh out loud funny.
I listened to the audio which was an adorable radio play with a whole cast of actors. Fun read.
funny
hopeful
informative
lighthearted
relaxing
slow-paced
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
I've read this several times and never regret it. I thought it was hilarious when I was a kid and I still do. The Durrells move to Corfu, and the youngest son, Gerry (who adores animals beyond all reason) starts to fill up their various houses with all the wild and domestic pets that he can. There are field trips in the surrounding countryside, often with the local naturalist, but as appealing as the nature writing is, the real draw here is the family itself, all of whom are slightly mad in one way or another.
I always wonder, when I read this, what they were actually like. I'm sure there's some truth in their almost-caricatures, but I can't help but picture Larry or Margo or one of the rest, reading this memoir some decades later - reading it for the first time - and their immediate responses.
I'd pay good money to see that.
I always wonder, when I read this, what they were actually like. I'm sure there's some truth in their almost-caricatures, but I can't help but picture Larry or Margo or one of the rest, reading this memoir some decades later - reading it for the first time - and their immediate responses.
I'd pay good money to see that.
Very entertaining, even for someone like me who doesn't care about natural history a great deal!
Very sweet story, laugh out loud funny. I picked this series to accompany me on my trip to Greece and was not disappointed. Binged the book and finished it in 2 days, without a pause before beginning Book 2.