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cassiscrusades's review against another edition
4.0
Nice light read with some up beat animal lover stories. Great first hand depiction of the historical aspects of zoos, what they were about and about those that worked there.
annabannana's review against another edition
4.0
Another book that might be 5 star but it's been so long since I read it, I'm not sure.
beautifulandfullofmonsters's review against another edition
4.5
He’s a little racist and misogynistic but a good writer and genuinely really funny.
vaibhavi8's review against another edition
5.0
Delightful! This book is a collection of hilarious anecdotes of Durrell's time as a keeper at Whipsnade Zoo. Durrell's admiration and respect for animals is enchanting. As a naturalist he has wonderful observational skills and as a writer this translates well to paper. The result is a charming book about the wonderful world of animals along with an urgent message to save them. Recommended for anyone who loves animals and enjoys humor.
anastasiamakes's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
3.0
I'm not big on non-fiction, but Gerald Durrell is always a bit of fun. Following his year working at Whipsnade Zoo in his youth, we explore Durrell's experiences of and relationships with the different animals and keepers at the zoo.
I found the structure a bit random - they were very long chapters named after one particular animal but that meandered through all sorts. Personally I would have broken these up or introduced a clearer structure, but aware that's just my preference!
I also struggled a bit with some of the 'dated' knowledge - I read with some discomfort the 'humorous' descriptions of behaviours we now believe to be related to psychological distress in animals - but the overarching message of the necessity of conservation remains an important one to this day, unfortunately.
I found the structure a bit random - they were very long chapters named after one particular animal but that meandered through all sorts. Personally I would have broken these up or introduced a clearer structure, but aware that's just my preference!
I also struggled a bit with some of the 'dated' knowledge - I read with some discomfort the 'humorous' descriptions of behaviours we now believe to be related to psychological distress in animals - but the overarching message of the necessity of conservation remains an important one to this day, unfortunately.
guojing's review against another edition
4.0
Not as good as my first of his books, A Zoo in My Luggage, but it was still an always delightful read filled with funny anecdotes and details about the raising of animals, like giraffes (don't stand behind one), tigers (I pictured a cat playing with a mouse before eating it as he described the tiger's play), polar bears. The tales weren't quite as funny nor the scene quite as set as in the earlier work; one does get the impression that this is a work by a good author, written at a time other than his prime.
If anything else, it certainly did not dissuade me from intending to pick up yet another of his books before too long. Perhaps the inaugural work of the Corfu Trilogy would make for a good intermediary piece before returning back to his later stories of his zoo days.
If anything else, it certainly did not dissuade me from intending to pick up yet another of his books before too long. Perhaps the inaugural work of the Corfu Trilogy would make for a good intermediary piece before returning back to his later stories of his zoo days.
mybookishhedgemaze's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
5.0
bookhound's review against another edition
4.0
I love Gerald Durrell's writing- he is hilarious. This is an account of his experience as a student keeper at the Whipsnade Zoo in 1945 and includes priceless recollections of singing bears, tigers, sulky lions, camels, giraffes, and many others. The other zookeepers are too good to be true, especially Captain Beale.
The audio was delightful: narrator Rupert Degas.
The audio was delightful: narrator Rupert Degas.
bookhound's review against another edition
4.0
I love Gerald Durrell's writing- he is hilarious. This is an account of his experience as a student keeper at the Whipsnade Zoo in 1945 and includes priceless recollections of singing bears, tigers, sulky lions, camels, giraffes, and many others. The other zookeepers are too good to be true, especially Captain Beale.
The audio was delightful: narrator Rupert Degas.
The audio was delightful: narrator Rupert Degas.