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trin's review
1.0
Mystery box book #33!
Unfortunately, this is a sequel to [b:The Overloaded Ark|111792|The Overloaded Ark|Gerald Durrell|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1408924737l/111792._SY75_.jpg|1894658] -- and unfortunately, it's just as racist! The occasional nice passage describing animal behavior can't make Durrell's condescending, colonialist attitude toward the Africans he encounters even remotely palatable. It's terribly disappointing to me to learn that Durrell, whose Corfu Trilogy I deeply love, was also capable of writing this.
Unfortunately, this is a sequel to [b:The Overloaded Ark|111792|The Overloaded Ark|Gerald Durrell|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1408924737l/111792._SY75_.jpg|1894658] -- and unfortunately, it's just as racist! The occasional nice passage describing animal behavior can't make Durrell's condescending, colonialist attitude toward the Africans he encounters even remotely palatable. It's terribly disappointing to me to learn that Durrell, whose Corfu Trilogy I deeply love, was also capable of writing this.
cmbohn's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
slow-paced
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Fatphobia, and Racism
frannyglasslover's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
informative
lighthearted
fast-paced
4.0
Every time I finish a Gerald Durrell book i want to grab a pair of binoculars and set off on a walk, which I think explains why I gave this book a high rating.
There are two instances where it falls short of five stars for me; some attitudes and methods were dated in a way that jolted me out of my engagement with the rest of the book, and it is simply not as good as the Corfu trilogy.
Having said that, Gerald Durrell will forever be one of my favourite writers, he has such an eye for describing the unique, small details that give so much life to the animals, landscapes and people described.
There are two instances where it falls short of five stars for me; some attitudes and methods were dated in a way that jolted me out of my engagement with the rest of the book, and it is simply not as good as the Corfu trilogy.
Having said that, Gerald Durrell will forever be one of my favourite writers, he has such an eye for describing the unique, small details that give so much life to the animals, landscapes and people described.
terrym10's review against another edition
3.0
I didn’t enjoy this as much as I did his Corfu trilogy. However, the monkey scenes in particular had me laughing out loud. I think the only reason I didn’t like it as much was because of all the pidgin English used in it. It was tiring to read it constantly. The animals were fascinating as usual though, and I always come away learning something new about nature.
andgineer's review against another edition
5.0
Натолкнулся на аудиокнигу, где были собраны отрывки из различных книг Джеральда Даррела.
Это как раз тот случай, когда не надо делать никакой скидки на воспоминания детства.
Книги великолепны.
Книги Джеральда Даррела относятся к тому уникальному случаю, когда хороший специалист оказывается талантливым литератором.
Чтение таких книг неизбежно приводит к тому, что хочется посвятить свою жизнь описываемой профессии, так увлекательно о ней рассказывается.
Естественно, увлекательна любая профессия, когда ей занимаются творчески, даже склеивание коробок ;) И конечно же увлекательна она оказывается обычно не по тем причинам, что делают ее выглядящей привлекательно в художественной литературе.
Но мы сейчас о книге, а не о профессии автора. Книга наполнена мягким юмором и человечностью. В ней море узкоспециальной информации о животных, которую при этом глотаешь, совершенно не затрудняясь ее объемом.
И перевод на русский, автора которого к сожалению не сохранили в данных аудиокниги, также великолепен.
Это как раз тот случай, когда не надо делать никакой скидки на воспоминания детства.
Книги великолепны.
Книги Джеральда Даррела относятся к тому уникальному случаю, когда хороший специалист оказывается талантливым литератором.
Чтение таких книг неизбежно приводит к тому, что хочется посвятить свою жизнь описываемой профессии, так увлекательно о ней рассказывается.
Естественно, увлекательна любая профессия, когда ей занимаются творчески, даже склеивание коробок ;) И конечно же увлекательна она оказывается обычно не по тем причинам, что делают ее выглядящей привлекательно в художественной литературе.
Но мы сейчас о книге, а не о профессии автора. Книга наполнена мягким юмором и человечностью. В ней море узкоспециальной информации о животных, которую при этом глотаешь, совершенно не затрудняясь ее объемом.
И перевод на русский, автора которого к сожалению не сохранили в данных аудиокниги, также великолепен.
kris45's review against another edition
One of my favourite and most influential books growing up – it inspired both a love of animals and of travel.
evagalilea's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
oldenglishrose's review against another edition
4.0
No matter how 'out of date' his books may be now, Gerald Durrell remains an absolute pleasure to read. Not only does he have a wealth of fascinating experience from which to draw, he has an excellent eye for detail. His style is dry, amusing, and full of that oh-so-English litotes which is so rarely seen in newer writing. I often found myself laughing out loud at his delightful way of phrasing things.
I did find the constant use of pigdin grated a little. However, this was mostly because it sounded like JarJar Binks, and I can hardly blame Gerald Durrell for something that was George Lucas' fault some 40 years after he wrote this book. I became used to reading it fairly quickly though, and it soon ceased to actively annoy me.
I did find the constant use of pigdin grated a little. However, this was mostly because it sounded like JarJar Binks, and I can hardly blame Gerald Durrell for something that was George Lucas' fault some 40 years after he wrote this book. I became used to reading it fairly quickly though, and it soon ceased to actively annoy me.