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Product Description
Product Description
Here is the riveting tale of Gerald Durrell's adventures and misadventures in the enchanted forests of Madagascar, in search of the elusive Aye-aye.
Once thought to be extinct, the Aye-aye, the beast with the magic finger, still lurks, though in fast dwindling numbers, in the forests of Madagascar. Durrell's mission to help save this strange creature turns into a madcap journey in which you will meet not only the enigmatic Aye-aye, but the catlike Fosa, the Flat-tailed tortoise, the Gentle lemurs of Lac Alaotra, and the Malagasy chameleons, among others. Truly nothing escapes Durrell's sharp eye, whether he is describing the great zoma (market), the village dances, the treacherous bridges and river crossings, the strange foods and stranger music, or the vagaries of local officialdom.
As the San Francisco Chronicle noted, "It is impossible for Gerald Durrell to write anything that is less than exuberant, eccentric, and amusing." And in his account of this "rescue mission", Durrell is, quite simply, at his superb best. --This text refers to the Paperback edition.
From the Back Cover
'In the gloom it came along the branches towards me – its round, hypnotic eyes blazing; its spoon-like ears turning to and fro like radar dishes; its white whiskers twitching and moving like sensors; the thin, attentuated fingers on its black hands tapping delicately on the branches as it moved along, like those of a pianist playing a complicated piece by Chopin.'
Gerald Durrell's task was to capture some of the legendary Aye-aye, the beast with the magic finger that lurks in the forests of Madagascar, and bring them back to his famous Jersey Wildlife Preservation Trust for breeding. Although on a serious scientific expedition, Gerald Durrell describes his adventures with his own inimitable brand of humour. Nothing escapes his sharp eyes and talented pen. Whether he is describing the great 'zoma' market, village dances, dangerous bridges, the cat-like 'Fosa', the Gentle lemurs of Lake Aloatra, strange foods or stranger magic, his writing is always compelling.
This is Durrell at his best, as a serious scientific writer and a humorist who knows no equal in his field.
"I defy anyone not to fall in love with the aye-aye after this."
MANCHESTER EVENING NEWS
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
13 of 14 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Gerald Durrels passion for animals really shines through his writing. He see them as individuals, each with distinct personalities, which he describes so wonderfully well in this book. He can make the most normal events hilarious with his quirky take on the world around him and sory-telling abilty.Not be forgotten though, is the underlying lesson in all of his books, the need for increasing awareness on our part of the plight of his beloved animals.
0 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Had read this book before buying a copy for a friend, so already knew it was a really good read. The price was exceptionally good value, but once I saw the postage charge, I worked out why! I've mailed small paper-back books in the UK before for about 80p - £1, depending on the weight, so this is obviously where the mark-up is. Still made it an ok buy overall, so I went with it. Arrived in ok condition - the pages were a bit yellowing, but otherwise alright.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
9 reviews
9 of 10 people found the following review helpful
loquacious lemurs make good
24 Aug 2002
Format:Paperback
I thoroughly enjoyed this book, being already more than sold on the value proposition presented by lemurs of all shapes and sizes. I'm convinced that the lemur is destined to become the most popular primate of the millenium, and this book should be at the top of the charts for those wishing to catch the rising tide of lemur fanatics. The San Francisco Zoo's new Lipman Family Lemur Forest exhibit presents two of only twelve Aye-ayes in the United States, and having visited it recently I now plan to return next weekend to apply the newfound in-depth Aye-aye background I've gleaned from my reading of this book. Moreover, lemurs are but the tip of the iceberg here! Rife with hilarious descriptions of Giant Jumping rats, tortoises, and grubs of all shapes and sizes, Durrell's personal tone, dry wit, and entertaining presentation kept me amused and reading until the wee hours of the morn. I'll be seeking out more of his works, and would happily recommend this to anyone with an interest in lemurs, obscure regions of the world, travel, conservation, the Aye-aye, and furry or reptilian critters, period.
6 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Aye-aye!
8 Dec 2003
Format:Hardcover
With a career spanning decades and continents, and with a gift for writing witty and articulate accounts of his animal-catching adventures in so many different times & places, it seems predictable that the originality and enthusiasm which Gerald Durrell offers should vary from story to story or from book to book. And they do; some volumes are ecstatically joyous and quite fast-paced, while a few stories drag a bit or feature rather sarcastic caricatures of certain persons. Overall, however, I find Durrell's writing some of the most amusing and informative stuff that I've encountered in the last year. Therefore I have bought a copy of every Gerald Durrell title that I've located. It's quality stuff that I intend to keep long-term and reccomend to friends. "The AyeAye and I" is no exception, and I am pleased to have a hardcover edition. Thanks, Amazon!
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Wildlife Rescue for Madagascar
12 April 2010
Gerald Durrell has written many books on nature including "The Overloaded Ark", "My Family and Other Animals", and "A Zoo in My Luggage". I've greatly enjoyed reading some of these and have found his writing entertaining, informative and very humorous. This book seemed to be a step down compared to his previous writings, not to say this is a bad book, but it's not quite as funny or engaging as his others.
Most of this book is an account of an expedition to collect some of the rare lemurs of the island of Madagascar including the rare and fabled Aye-Aye a creature with a strangely elongated finger used for hunting its insect prey. Durrell and crew travel across the country and relate both a travel journey and a biological description of the land. The Jersey Wildlife Perservation Trust is the organization behind this effort and Durrell shows us the difficulties and almost insurmountable obstacles that must be overcome to collect these rare animals and bring them back to the facilities in England where they can be breed , studied and kept safe until reintroduction into their home habitat once that is protected. Also included is a short section on the Islands of Mauritius and projects there.
Although this may not be as entertaining as his previous books it is still and important read for those that care about the fate of threatened species and the people that work so hard for their protection.
Most of this book is an account of an expedition to collect some of the rare lemurs of the island of Madagascar including the rare and fabled Aye-Aye a creature with a strangely elongated finger used for hunting its insect prey. Durrell and crew travel across the country and relate both a travel journey and a biological description of the land. The Jersey Wildlife Perservation Trust is the organization behind this effort and Durrell shows us the difficulties and almost insurmountable obstacles that must be overcome to collect these rare animals and bring them back to the facilities in England where they can be breed , studied and kept safe until reintroduction into their home habitat once that is protected. Also included is a short section on the Islands of Mauritius and projects there.
Although this may not be as entertaining as his previous books it is still and important read for those that care about the fate of threatened species and the people that work so hard for their protection.
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