book_nerd_1990's review against another edition
4.0
I am obsessed with pigs, so when I saw this book in the library I quickly snatched it up!
With a drugged-up cat, a dog that might as well be a wolf, 4 gangster chickens and 2 robbing mini pigs, Matt certainly has his hands full at his house. Not to mention 2 teenage daughters, a younger daughter and son and his wife. This book is filled with comedy, telling the story of Matt's life with minipigs, his family and his helpful neighbours.
I giggled and smiled multiple times in each chapter and felt myself well up with tears in one. A heartwarming story that was a joy to read.
My favourite quote: "You see, Daddy drinks because you're being difficult."
With a drugged-up cat, a dog that might as well be a wolf, 4 gangster chickens and 2 robbing mini pigs, Matt certainly has his hands full at his house. Not to mention 2 teenage daughters, a younger daughter and son and his wife. This book is filled with comedy, telling the story of Matt's life with minipigs, his family and his helpful neighbours.
I giggled and smiled multiple times in each chapter and felt myself well up with tears in one. A heartwarming story that was a joy to read.
My favourite quote: "You see, Daddy drinks because you're being difficult."
megankgates13's review against another edition
emotional
funny
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
3.25
Overall, this was a pleasant read that awakened my sense of adoration for and fascination with pigs that I’ve had from a very young age. Additionally, the picture painted by the author of a household humbled by the inevitable chaos created by having multiple children made me all the more firm in my decision to never have children of my own. It’s certainly not for everyone, and this memoir served as the perfect cautionary tale for entertaining a household brimming with offspring. Nevertheless, this brief look into the author’s life was heartwarming and wholly informative. I truly feel as though I’m left with more wisdom regarding the upbringing, caretaking, and breeding of pigs than I ever considered necessary or possible. All around a lighthearted read with educational benefits, just not necessarily high on the list of my favorite books I’ve ever read.
librariann's review against another edition
3.0
At ALA this year, I set a rule to spare my aching back and my overburdened suitcase: no adult ARCs.
I broke that rule for four books: 1) Barnheart, 2) Chuck Palahniuk's newest (for Mike, then me), 3) Jacques Pepin's new cookbook (also for Mike, who I love enough to carry around a book that has 700 pages and a generous trim size), and 4) this book.
What do the books that I chose for myself have in common? They are memoirs about keeping livestock. LIVESTOCK! MINIPIGS!
Look, this book wasn't totally awesome, mostly because the whole situation as he writes it seems a little exaggerated/contrived. (Encounter with shirtless vet! Encounter with topless sunbather! Hilariously botched inseminations!) Also Matt Whyman is a little bit assy throughout the whole affair. But it did give a glimpse into the life of a minipig owner. Teacup pig, I can't be with you...right now. But your book was suitable plane-ride fare.
I broke that rule for four books: 1) Barnheart, 2) Chuck Palahniuk's newest (for Mike, then me), 3) Jacques Pepin's new cookbook (also for Mike, who I love enough to carry around a book that has 700 pages and a generous trim size), and 4) this book.
What do the books that I chose for myself have in common? They are memoirs about keeping livestock. LIVESTOCK! MINIPIGS!
Look, this book wasn't totally awesome, mostly because the whole situation as he writes it seems a little exaggerated/contrived. (Encounter with shirtless vet! Encounter with topless sunbather! Hilariously botched inseminations!) Also Matt Whyman is a little bit assy throughout the whole affair. But it did give a glimpse into the life of a minipig owner. Teacup pig, I can't be with you...right now. But your book was suitable plane-ride fare.
ebalon's review against another edition
5.0
I am not a huge fan of pets/animals (so sue me), but I loved this book
spacewhombus's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
informative
lighthearted
medium-paced
3.5
Okay so I adore pigs with my whole heart and soul so when I found this book for less than five bucks at my local used book store you better believe it was coming home with me! As someone who also would love to have a pet pig one day, I was even more interested.
This book chronicles the author's adventure of raising two piglets in his backyard/house in rural England, without knowing a thing about raising farm animals beforehand. It was pretty informative, as the author writes all about things like the type of food pigs eat, what kind of habitat they need, the documents required to own them legally, the sounds they make (loud!), how to breed them, and the havoc they can wreak inside and outside as they explore their environment.
Since it was written as a memoir, it was also filled with the interactions of the author's wife and young kids with the piglets, and you got to see them become members of the family. The author's friend and neighborhood handyman was an especially endearing character, and he was vital to solving almost all of the issues encountered while raising the pigs. Everyone needs a friend like this guy!
The author has a writing style that is very casual and jokey, so if you enjoy that style then this would entertain you. My one complaint though was that I struggle to imagine anyone less secure in their masculinity than this guy, and it made me feel bad for him and cringe a lot while reading. Because he is a stay-at-home dad, a writer, and clueless about power tools or farming, he constantly (c-o-n-s-t-a-n-t-l-y) is trying to like prove he is still a macho, masculine dude.
Overall a pretty cute and entertaining read, and it did make me think seriously about if I really would want to own a pet pig myself.
This book chronicles the author's adventure of raising two piglets in his backyard/house in rural England, without knowing a thing about raising farm animals beforehand. It was pretty informative, as the author writes all about things like the type of food pigs eat, what kind of habitat they need, the documents required to own them legally, the sounds they make (loud!), how to breed them, and the havoc they can wreak inside and outside as they explore their environment.
Since it was written as a memoir, it was also filled with the interactions of the author's wife and young kids with the piglets, and you got to see them become members of the family. The author's friend and neighborhood handyman was an especially endearing character, and he was vital to solving almost all of the issues encountered while raising the pigs. Everyone needs a friend like this guy!
The author has a writing style that is very casual and jokey, so if you enjoy that style then this would entertain you. My one complaint though was that I struggle to imagine anyone less secure in their masculinity than this guy, and it made me feel bad for him and cringe a lot while reading. Because he is a stay-at-home dad, a writer, and clueless about power tools or farming, he constantly (c-o-n-s-t-a-n-t-l-y) is trying to like prove he is still a macho, masculine dude.
Overall a pretty cute and entertaining read, and it did make me think seriously about if I really would want to own a pet pig myself.
chiquita203's review against another edition
3.0
I would give this book 3 1/2 stars. It was funny, interesting, and convinced me I will never own a mini-pig :)
fyrrea's review against another edition
3.0
Ocena: 3
Wrażenia: Fajnie, facet kupuje sobie świnki, które urastają do wielkich rozmiarów i opisuje związane z nimi doświadczenia. Buduje prosiakom zagrodę, traktuje jak członków rodziny. Uświadamia, że nie są to chrumkające pieski, ale stworzenia o zupełnie innych potrzebach bytowych i chyba zrozumiale przekazuje, że nie powinno się ich kupować/adoptować pod wpływem impulsu. Czemu nie więcej gwiazdek? Miałam wrażenie, że to zbiór przeredagowanych i sklejonych wpisów z bloga, a nie książka z logiczną i uporządkowaną strukturą.
Dla kogo: Dla miłośników zwierząt i tych, którym przez myśl przeszło kiedykolwiek przygarnięcie świnki, choćby i takiej miniaturowej.
Wrażenia: Fajnie, facet kupuje sobie świnki, które urastają do wielkich rozmiarów i opisuje związane z nimi doświadczenia. Buduje prosiakom zagrodę, traktuje jak członków rodziny. Uświadamia, że nie są to chrumkające pieski, ale stworzenia o zupełnie innych potrzebach bytowych i chyba zrozumiale przekazuje, że nie powinno się ich kupować/adoptować pod wpływem impulsu. Czemu nie więcej gwiazdek? Miałam wrażenie, że to zbiór przeredagowanych i sklejonych wpisów z bloga, a nie książka z logiczną i uporządkowaną strukturą.
Dla kogo: Dla miłośników zwierząt i tych, którym przez myśl przeszło kiedykolwiek przygarnięcie świnki, choćby i takiej miniaturowej.
queerbillydeluxe's review against another edition
Mini pigs are ADORABLE, and I wanted to love this. But the guy writing...I just could not make myself like his vouce.
kristaann's review against another edition
3.0
I enjoyed this little book! At one point, when describing his experience buying new chickens, I almost got myself kicked out of the library for laughing out loud.
Some parts seemed contrived, but I suppose one needs to make mini-pigs more exciting.
Some parts seemed contrived, but I suppose one needs to make mini-pigs more exciting.
ofbooksandtrees's review against another edition
1.0
I can’t be bothered to write a full review on this, but here are my reading status updates for those interested:
P.54
So far the author is doing a really great job of making himself very unlikable. Hoping to enjoy it more once they actually get the pigs..
P.121
Finished part 1.
Was expecting a story about some cute pigs, so far all I got are unlikable people who are irresponsible pet owners (¬ just of the pigs). Also if I have to read the phrase “real men” one more time I’m going to scream..
P.194
Great, so now he's questioning whether the vet is qualified, because of the way she looks/is dressed. (high cheekbones, blonde / heels, pencil skirt & a blouse that should have had one more button closed.)
He even goes so far as to comment that he didn’t think his wife would be the type to hire a stripper for him so she must be the vet after all. Really dude? The only one not qualified here is you.
P.249
Wtf; they're already having trouble taking care of the two pigs (&other animals) they have, but now they want to start breeding them so they can make some money of them so they can afford for someone to take care of their pigs so they can go on a vacation.
P.308
Ugh, these chapters with Matt trying to artificially inseminate his pig are uh, well, very uncomfortable to read and not at all funny..
P.54
So far the author is doing a really great job of making himself very unlikable. Hoping to enjoy it more once they actually get the pigs..
P.121
Finished part 1.
Was expecting a story about some cute pigs, so far all I got are unlikable people who are irresponsible pet owners (¬ just of the pigs). Also if I have to read the phrase “real men” one more time I’m going to scream..
P.194
Great, so now he's questioning whether the vet is qualified, because of the way she looks/is dressed. (high cheekbones, blonde / heels, pencil skirt & a blouse that should have had one more button closed.)
He even goes so far as to comment that he didn’t think his wife would be the type to hire a stripper for him so she must be the vet after all. Really dude? The only one not qualified here is you.
P.249
Wtf; they're already having trouble taking care of the two pigs (&other animals) they have, but now they want to start breeding them so they can make some money of them so they can afford for someone to take care of their pigs so they can go on a vacation.
P.308
Ugh, these chapters with Matt trying to artificially inseminate his pig are uh, well, very uncomfortable to read and not at all funny..