Reviews

Pingvinlektionerna by Tom Michell

ecdereus's review against another edition

4.0

Vertederend verhaal over de vriendschap tussen een pinguïn, door een jonge, reislustige Engelse docent aan een Argentijnse kostschool op de laatste dag van diens vakantie in Uruguay gered van een wisse dood door olievervuiling en mee terug gesmokkeld naar Argentinië, en de mensen met wie hij in aanraking komt. Vlot en met humor beschreven, voorzien van enkele aardige pinguïntekeningen. En passant interessante beschrijvingen van de economische crisis en de enorme deflatie in de jaren '70 in Argentinië, het leven van gaucho's op de Argentijnse estancías, alsmede prachtige natuurbeschrijvingen van andere gebieden in Zuid-Amerika o.a. als Tom Michell op zoek gaat naar een geschikte plek om 'zijn' pinguïn Juan Salvador Pingüino de vrijheid terug te geven.

papernapkin's review against another edition

4.0

This is a sweet and charming story of two unlikely friends. Whenever I read a naturalism memoir-- people befriending animals, traversing earth, or surviving disaster, it always makes me reflect on what it means to be human, and how I can become a better one. Not in a moralistic sense, but in the sense of fulfilling my human-ness. It's easy to grasp the essence of penguin-ness, but harder to grasp fundamental human-ness, especially as we create a world where we are further removed from ourselves. This is why I relish a good naturalism memoir, and this one is entertaining and inspiring.

a_robin_reads's review against another edition

adventurous inspiring medium-paced

4.0

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Information:

• Library book

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Review:

I love penguins

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Review previously placed on my blog:

I have read The penguin lessons by Tom Michell. I read a Dutch copy from the library. Read this because I want to read more nature books. This is a memoir with nature and travel themes. 

This book was fun to read, but also had some more difficult parts in it. It was really fun to read about the penguin in this book, absolutely loved him. I do think it could have been a shorter book, because he wasn't in the whole book. Some parts really went indepth with the politics of the country this is set in. I did not really care for that, did skip some parts. Still a very hopeful and inspiring story. 

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bookmonster73's review against another edition

lighthearted medium-paced

4.0

A man and his penguin, what more do you want

rosali's review against another edition

4.0

Der junge Engländer Tom geht in den Siebzigern als Lehrer nach Argentinien. In seiner Freizeit unternimmt er Reisen in Südamerika. Bei einem Ausflug nach Uruguay liest der den Pinguin Juan Salvador (wie er ihn nennt) auf, fortan ist dies sein Begleiter.

Der Autor erzählt seine Geschichte und seine Abenteuer mit dem Pinguin. Anhand des Titels hätte ich erwartet, dass der Pinguin mehr im Zentrum der Handlung steht. Aber die Anekdoten waren sehr amüsant und süss, so konnte geschickt auch etwas schwerere Kost in die Erzählung miteingepackt werden. Ich habe einiges über die damalige politischen Unruhen (nahendes Ende der Peron-Äera) erfahren.

Sicher empfehlenswert, für wer eine gewisse Beziehung zu Argentinien hat oder wie ich Pinguine einfach nur putzig findet

arpitjo's review against another edition

emotional informative relaxing medium-paced

3.5

plankpot's review against another edition

hopeful inspiring reflective medium-paced

4.0

anwesha_s's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted relaxing medium-paced

5.0

ysabellamaria21's review against another edition

4.0

This novel reminded me of the Netflix documentary ‘The Octopus Teacher’, as it had a similar theme about the deep connection mankind can build with wild animals. It was such a wholesome story and it felt like I was starting to form a connection with the penguin I was reading about. I highly recommend it!

racheyohh's review against another edition

informative inspiring lighthearted sad medium-paced

4.0

I was not prepared for his early death 😭😭😭

but I did appreciate the epilogue and the additional knowledge and penguin encounters. 

Some parts were a bit slow (the chapter The Quest for El Dorado dragged for me) but overall it was lovely! The stories of Juan Salvado: his adorable mannerisms, his impressive intelligence, his loving attachment, and the joy he brought into everyone’s lives were so heartwarming 🥰. I did also appreciate the parts about Argentina, the culture and economy at the time. I thought it provided a nice context.