- Paperback: 304 pages
- Publisher: Penguin; New Ed edition (25 Feb 1999)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0140282599
- ISBN-13: 978-0140282597
- Product Dimensions: 18 x 10.4 x 2.2 cm
- Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (49 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 296,120 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
My Family and Other Animals
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Product Description
Amazon.co.uk Review
As a self-described "champion of small uglies," Gerald Durrell (1925-1995) devoted his life to writing and the preservation of wildlife, from the Mauritius pink pigeon to the Rodriques fruit bat. My Family and Other Animals was intended to embrace the natural history of the Greek island of Corfu, but ended up as a delightful account of his family's experiences that were, according to him, "rather like living in one of the more flamboyant and slapstick comic operas".
As a 10-year-old boy, Gerry left England for Corfu with "all those items that I thought necessary to relieve the tedium of a long journey: four books on natural history, a butterfly net, a dog, and a jam-jar full of caterpillars all in imminent danger of turning into chrysalids". Durrell's descriptions of his family and its many eccentric hangers-on (he stresses that "all the anecdotes about the island and the islanders are absolutely true") are highly entertaining, as is the procession of toads, scorpions, geckos, ladybugs, glowworms, octopuses, the puppies Widdle and Puke, and the Magenpies. This is a lovely book. --Christine Buttery --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Product Description
Soaked in the sunshine of Corfu, where the author lived as a boy, this delightful book tells of Gerald Durrell's early life with his 'family and other animals'.
Brought vividly to life are the extraordinary members of the Durrell family and theirmany eccentric hangers-on, as well as the bizarre menagerie Gerry adopts for closer study. The procession of creatures he brings back to the strawberry-pink, the daffodil-yellow or the snow-white villa includes toads and tortoises, bats and butterflies, scorpions and geckos, ladybirds, glow-worms, octopuses and rose-beetles, Quasimodo the pigeon, the puppies Widdle and Puke and, of course, the Magenpies.
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First Sentence
JULY had been blown out like a candle by a biting wind that ushered in a leaden August sky. Read the first page
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Back Cover
JULY had been blown out like a candle by a biting wind that ushered in a leaden August sky. Read the first page
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Concordance
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Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Back Cover
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
30 of 30 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
What can I say about this wonderful book that can possibly do it justice? I first read it 30 years ago, and I am convinced that it was on the strength of this book that I passed my English Literature G.C.E!! It is an incredible book. It is full of funny, warm characters, and of course, the amazing animals! It must have been like heaven to be a small boy on the island of Corfu. It was this book which made me determined to visit Corfu one day, and when I did, I wasn't disappointed. It evoked for me wonderful images of a country I had never visited, and made me long to see it. The Durrell family are a delight, and the way that Gerald tells the story makes you feel as though you are actually there! I loved it, and still do.My children have read it
and they also love it. It is I think an enduring book, one which will continue to delight readers for many years to come.
and they also love it. It is I think an enduring book, one which will continue to delight readers for many years to come.
18 of 18 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This book is absolutely, brilliantly funny. The wit and unique characterizations are woven with great descriptions of the animals and plants of Corfu. That Durrell can hold the attention of readers who have no interest in biology simply demonstrates what a fine work this is. Gerald's depiction of a larger-than-life expatriate family on a larger-than-life Greek island is a tremendous celebration of life. The variety of different Greek characters parading through this book rivals the variety of Corfu's flora and fauna. Absolute great read!
13 of 13 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I was surprised there were no reviews for this warm and funny book. I feasted on Gerald Durrell's animal books in my early teens and enjoyed revisiting this recently when I bought as a present for a friend's daughter. Those of his books that feature his rather zany family are always particularly delightful. Recommended for anyone who likes animals, Greeks or taking the mickey out of Lawrence Durrell.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Still wonderful
I first read My Family and Other Animals as a kid in the 70s, and I loved it. Tonight I just finished reading it to my kids (11 & 13). Read more
Published 18 days ago by MoQingbird
WOW! Amazing!
I got given this book and was unsure about whether I would like it or not. Why I had doubts I dont know!! This book made me laugh soo much! Read more
Published 25 days ago by Mr. D. E. Crawford
Fabulously funny!
A brilliantly funny read, what his poor family had to go through! I first read this book as a child and loved it, probably because I used to spend most of my time in the garden... Read more
Published 1 month ago by Bree
A sunny, happy book
This is the only book that I thought was great when I was 10 years old that I still think is great now I'm 50. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Stephen Hudson
Visually entertaining and captivating
My 9yr old and 6yr old did not want me to stop reading this book. I am reminded now and again to read to them as the imagery captured by the writer is so visual. Read more
Published 3 months ago by tinky winky
My Family and Other Animals
My original introduction to "My Family and Other Animals" was when the BBC production was aired in the eighties. Read more
Published 4 months ago by C. ANTJOULE
An inspirational book
I first read My Family And Other Animals as a ten year old and it inspired me to take an interest in the world around me. Read more
Published 5 months ago by Adrenalin Streams
Entertaining, illuminating, joyful.
Wonderful prose. Redolent of the sunny, carefree days of childhood.
A marvellous book by a great writer. Read more
A marvellous book by a great writer. Read more
Published 5 months ago by DEG
Excellent for young readers
Love the book. I've read it as young child and now have ordered it for my daughter who is almost 9. We absolutely love the stories. Read more
Published 9 months ago by Katherine
What's the Point
This is a review simply about price. What's the point? I was so, and I mean, soooooo, thrilled to receive a Kindle as a Christmas present. Read more
Published 16 months ago by The Word
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