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dukeofbacon's review
5.0
This was, as opposed to other books on otters that I have read so far, highly informative in a more narrative documentary style. Although the focus was mainly on the female otter Kuschta, I appreciated the historical notes on the endurance of the European Otter species as well as their larger role in the ecosystem. Something about the style made the information easier to digest than say, a rote scientific publication or field guide which states bare facts and statistics.
This is something in which I may go back to in audiobook form, I got the impression the format would be very fitting.
This is something in which I may go back to in audiobook form, I got the impression the format would be very fitting.
britters68's review
4.0
This was a very quaint, sweet book that intertwines the story of an otter’s life and the history of her species and the countryside around her.
I really enjoyed the way that information about the English countryside and other wildlife were interspersed throughout the story. It was such an interesting and engaging way to learn all of these facts about British wildlife, from rivers, to animals, to plants, whilst having the connecting thread of the story of Kuschta to guid us through. There were moments where I felt the information given became a little too detailed, or deviated too far away from the relevance to the otters, at which point the writing became a little bit of a slog to read. But, overall, I did like how the writing was done.
The story of Kuschta and her family was also tackled really nicely. The writing was very descriptive, and so gave us a clear idea of the settings and action that featured in the lives of the little family. Cooper also manages to walk the fine line of keeping me interested and invested in the lives of the otter family, but without breaking the illusion that these are wild creatures with animal instincts. His creation of little details about the family really got me invested in the story, and yet the otters were never personified to the point that I could forget that they were wild creatures. For example, reading about the family chirruping back and forth to each other as they travelled as a group, only for this to result in the gruesome descriptors of the animals tearing their prey apart.
Overall, this was a very educational and yet entertaining book about the lives of otters and other animals in the British countryside. Cooper’s writing magnificently blended interesting and engaging storytelling, with informed and detailed descriptions of facts about the otters and the place they call home.
I really enjoyed the way that information about the English countryside and other wildlife were interspersed throughout the story. It was such an interesting and engaging way to learn all of these facts about British wildlife, from rivers, to animals, to plants, whilst having the connecting thread of the story of Kuschta to guid us through. There were moments where I felt the information given became a little too detailed, or deviated too far away from the relevance to the otters, at which point the writing became a little bit of a slog to read. But, overall, I did like how the writing was done.
The story of Kuschta and her family was also tackled really nicely. The writing was very descriptive, and so gave us a clear idea of the settings and action that featured in the lives of the little family. Cooper also manages to walk the fine line of keeping me interested and invested in the lives of the otter family, but without breaking the illusion that these are wild creatures with animal instincts. His creation of little details about the family really got me invested in the story, and yet the otters were never personified to the point that I could forget that they were wild creatures. For example, reading about the family chirruping back and forth to each other as they travelled as a group, only for this to result in the gruesome descriptors of the animals tearing their prey apart.
Overall, this was a very educational and yet entertaining book about the lives of otters and other animals in the British countryside. Cooper’s writing magnificently blended interesting and engaging storytelling, with informed and detailed descriptions of facts about the otters and the place they call home.
krisandburn's review
4.5
This was such a delightful read. Beforehand, I knew the author wrote it about the otters that live around the river by his Mill home, but that was all.
The book starts out with a fictional account of the otter Kuschta being abandoned by her mother and going in search of her own territory. The story goes on from there.
I love how fact and fiction are interwoven in this beautifully and realistically written book. The author has a way of describing the riverside and landscape throughout the seasons with all that lives and grows on it that brings it alive for me. I could see the river through the seasons, the plants, the animals, the sights and sounds.
Descriptions of otter behaviour delight, shock and surprise and I love how the otters depicted do stay true to their animal nature.
It truly is a wonderful way of telling the story of the otter’s story from birth to adulthood and the trials and tribulations that come with that.
I am still not quite sure whether to class this as fiction or non-fiction. It is a bit of both and I love it. If you are interested in the natural world, this is a gorgeous book and I would thoroughly recommend it.
The book starts out with a fictional account of the otter Kuschta being abandoned by her mother and going in search of her own territory. The story goes on from there.
I love how fact and fiction are interwoven in this beautifully and realistically written book. The author has a way of describing the riverside and landscape throughout the seasons with all that lives and grows on it that brings it alive for me. I could see the river through the seasons, the plants, the animals, the sights and sounds.
Descriptions of otter behaviour delight, shock and surprise and I love how the otters depicted do stay true to their animal nature.
It truly is a wonderful way of telling the story of the otter’s story from birth to adulthood and the trials and tribulations that come with that.
I am still not quite sure whether to class this as fiction or non-fiction. It is a bit of both and I love it. If you are interested in the natural world, this is a gorgeous book and I would thoroughly recommend it.
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