Gerald Durrell's "My Family and Other Animals": A Heartwarming Tale of Nature and Family

mukesh: I read the book the first time drawn by the quirky title. Then the back cover told me that it was about animals. I had found a kindered spirit. That was way back in the early seventies.

What the book gave me is, not only the animals, but also a crazy family, like most families are. Gerald brings all them to your drawing room, while taking you to the quaint Corfu.

Really a great read. I was not so much impressed by Durrel's later books. May be because they don't have much of his family.

India on Feb 21, 2024

Massimo: Molto utile per migliorare il proprio inglese per la grande varietà di vocaboli e modi di dire desueti e poco utilizzati nel linguaggio comune. Aggiungo che è una lettura gradevole e molto divertente.

Italy on Dec 22, 2023

Agnès NOVELLA: Ce livre est un bijou de fantaisie British, d’émerveillement pour la nature, chaque page est un enchantement - à lire et relire (a été adapté en une série charmante également).

France on Nov 27, 2023

knowwhatilike: My book arrived quicker than I expected and in good condition. And it was very cheap.

United States on Nov 19, 2023

Mamabotanica: This was a mostly entertaining read. I had co flicking feelings about Gerald’s fascination with animals. He loved them but (at this age anyway) in a very possessive way. It also made me wistful for the way the Island was when he lived there. The descriptions of the flora and fauna were incredible. The human characters weren’t as full as the natural history.

United States on Aug 26, 2023

Shirley L. RobertsonShirley L. Robertson: Kudos to the seller. The book was even nicer than described. The condition is excellent. It arrived very quickly, just a few days after I ordered it, and I've just started to read it, but it's enjoyable already -- even the introduction is funny. I saw the Amazon Prime video series, so I know what to expect, and from what I've read so far, I am very pleased. Thank you !!!

United States on Jun 24, 2023

Constant Reader: What a delightful surprise this book was! We loved the Durrells in Corfu on Masterpiece Theater, but it never occurred to me that little Gerry who spent much of his boyhood running wild around the island would be such a gifted writer. The language is beautiful and evocative without ever being pretentious. He has a wonderful talent for writing humor. Granted he, his family, and the inhabitants of Cordu provide ample source material for the humor but writing it down in a way that can delight a reader and inspire laughter takes talent. The book covers part of the time that the British Durrell family (widowed mother Louise and her four children) lived on the island of Corfu. It is charming, engaging, and highly diverting. The book is set in the middle 1930’s and that adds interest. It is not remotely dated. I can practically guarantee that you will finish this book and feel less stress and anxiety than you did before you read it. And, if you are like me, you will plunge forward into the rest of the trilogy.

United States on Oct 23, 2022

Cliente de Amazon: había visto algunos episodios de la serie televisiva y me encantó....el libro igualmente. La presentación del este libro en especial me pareció excelente. Ando buscando otros de esta misma editorial porque valen la pena.

Mexico on Aug 06, 2022

Valerie H.: Gerald Durrell and David Attenborough are my two favourite naturalists. I followed Gerald’s documentaries when I was a kid, and of course re-watch Mr Attenborough as often as I can. I discovered Durrell’s books years ago; this one gives you insight into his delightful, carefree formative years. I had most of his books and foolishly loaned them and never got them back. I’m saving to afford the hard copies of the trilogy. For now, I’m vicariously enjoying the digital version. Probably not for everyone, but if you like nature shows, give the book a try.

Canada on Jul 06, 2021

Melissa Jo Sites: I was recommended this book to read on a trip to Greece. It has a number of hilarious anecdotes, and the author is very irreverent in descriptions of his family members, including his brother, author Lawrence Durrell. I laughed out loud many times. As a boy the author lived on the Greek island of Corfu for five years with his mother and three siblings. While he was there he spent most of his time studying and catching wild animals. The antics of his family and the animals are uproariously funny. Warning: some of the animals don't survive; such is life. Also, his brother Leslie is portrayed as an avid hunter and gun enthusiast, so if hunting shocks or offends you, it does occur in this book. The author grew up to be a respected wildlife advocate and conservationist, and this is a very fun memoir of his unorthodox childhood and the attempts of his various tutors to give him a solid educational grounding when all he wants to do is run around the island trying to catch animals. It is not meant to be a natural history of Corfu but more the adventures of a curious boy and his growing numbers of animal companions. It paints a glowing picture of the free rambles of a boy set loose on an...

United States on Jul 23, 2019