- Paperback: 248 pages
- Publisher: Penguin Books (29 Jun 2004)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0142004405
- ISBN-13: 978-0142004401
- Product Dimensions: 19.2 x 12.8 x 1.2 cm
- Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 1,106,523 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Product Description
Synopsis
The Durrell family returns to live on the island of Corfu, and they continue the story begun in My Family and Other Animals. Already an ardent naturalist at the age of ten, the young Gerald lives in an unconventional and disordered household with his mother, sister and two brothers. Convivial and open, the family plays host to a constant stream of quirky guests. But for Gerald, the main attraction is the wildlife of Corfu. In the sun-lit olive groves or along the dusty roads lined with ancient cypresses, he spends hours observing and marvelling at the natural environment around him, watching busy lines of ants or peering down the burrows of trap-door spiders. He describes the midnight fishing trips, the collecting expeditions and the island's natural beauty with a child-like wonder that he never fails to impart to his reader.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
16 of 18 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio Cassette
This book is the "sequel" to "My Family and Other Animals" and contains stories which had been omitted. It continues recounting Durrell's magical years as a young boy in Corfu through a series of short stories which are characteristically wonderfully and evocatively written and often hilarious (especially the story about the turtle), however it is not as memorable as its predecessor and lacks structure in the sequence of the stories - these are more like isolated anecdotes. Still great and thoroughly enjoyable though!
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
The second book in the `Corfu trilogy' is just as charming and amusing as the first and had me laughing out loud in places, even on a crowded train, much to the consternation of fellow passengers.
This story of Gerry and his completely eccentric family is a further amusing chronicle of parts of his childhood spent growing up on the sun-drenched island of Corfu, (though is not actually a sequel) and I loved every word of it. It's funny and witty and by now you really do feel like you know Gerry and his madcap siblings and incredibly tolerant mother personally. Durrell has a vibrant, believable way with words and re-telling stories that really does make you think you were there, and is so humorous with it at the same time. He manages to bring people to life- the way he depicts his older brothers Larry (pompous) and Leslie (firearm crazy) is utterly hilarious and it never ceases to amuse me that his mother puts up with whatever insect/animal happens to end up on her veranda. I wasn't even allowed a hamster until I was a teenager, so I'm particularly envious of Durrell's assorted array of pets!
This book of course also recounts Durrell's exploits in studying and adopting the strangest of creatures that he finds on the island- in this book he quite happily watches tarantulas, captures seahorses and rescues more injured owls amongst other things. I'm also happy to report that Widdle and Puke, his naughty puppies are back, along with Roger the dog. There's also an abundance of eclectic characters introduced, from the drunkard Captain Creech (to whom the quote above is attributed to) to charlatan psychics to the hilarious Countess Mavrodaki. Spiro is also back- yay!
As much a study of characters as a book about the island and its animals, Birds, Beasts and Relatives really does immerse you into a young boy's wonderful sounding childhood. Durrell is one of my favourite writers and I really, really adore the Corfu books in particular. If you like funny, easy reading then I cannot recommend these highly enough.
This story of Gerry and his completely eccentric family is a further amusing chronicle of parts of his childhood spent growing up on the sun-drenched island of Corfu, (though is not actually a sequel) and I loved every word of it. It's funny and witty and by now you really do feel like you know Gerry and his madcap siblings and incredibly tolerant mother personally. Durrell has a vibrant, believable way with words and re-telling stories that really does make you think you were there, and is so humorous with it at the same time. He manages to bring people to life- the way he depicts his older brothers Larry (pompous) and Leslie (firearm crazy) is utterly hilarious and it never ceases to amuse me that his mother puts up with whatever insect/animal happens to end up on her veranda. I wasn't even allowed a hamster until I was a teenager, so I'm particularly envious of Durrell's assorted array of pets!
This book of course also recounts Durrell's exploits in studying and adopting the strangest of creatures that he finds on the island- in this book he quite happily watches tarantulas, captures seahorses and rescues more injured owls amongst other things. I'm also happy to report that Widdle and Puke, his naughty puppies are back, along with Roger the dog. There's also an abundance of eclectic characters introduced, from the drunkard Captain Creech (to whom the quote above is attributed to) to charlatan psychics to the hilarious Countess Mavrodaki. Spiro is also back- yay!
As much a study of characters as a book about the island and its animals, Birds, Beasts and Relatives really does immerse you into a young boy's wonderful sounding childhood. Durrell is one of my favourite writers and I really, really adore the Corfu books in particular. If you like funny, easy reading then I cannot recommend these highly enough.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This book, as with Durrell's other Corfu books, brings some real joy to life. Wonderful descriptive language that makes his environment come to life. I've been reading this book to my mother who is in a nursing home and it's one of the few things that have managed to keep her interest and make her smile.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
More enjoyable stories from Corfu
This sequel to "My Family and Other Animals" is enjoyable, riveting, educational and fun.
A word of warning though, it's not actually a sequel to My Family, but covers... Read more
A word of warning though, it's not actually a sequel to My Family, but covers... Read more
Published 19 months ago by Denzil Walton
Gerald Durrell is master of the anecdote
There are few writers who are as skilled at relating an anecdote as Gerald Durrell. His writing has a way of capturing the people, animals and situations that he encounters... Read more
Published 21 months ago by Katie Stevens
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