Another kid lit favorite.

When my kids were in school, I would always read or listen to the books they were reading on their reading lists so we could discuss them, thus build comprehension and understanding. There was a time when the majority of my reading was kid lit, since they were rarely on the same book, and I needed to keep up with each of them. Audiobooks became a must for me. And, this is one of many of the kid lit books that I loved. This story cracked me up. This book is laugh out loud funny, and full of dry humor. And, I still repeat listen to it for the simple entertainment. The narrator, Nigel Davenport has perfect delivery for cracking you up, evoking emotions, and keeping you captivated.

33 people found this helpful

A thoroughly delightful book!

I found this superb, well-written and extremely well-narrated audiobook to be a delight. The tale itself is a riviting "page-turner" unlike any other. And the fantastic reader/narrator truly made me believe I was hearing each and every character very distinctly, as he is a marvel with accents and intonation and deadpan humor. I laughed out loud many, many times as I followed the very eccentric ex-pat English family into - and out of - their adventures in Greece, as seen through their naive and wonderfully animal-crazy young son. I could relate so much to this story, as I was a similar, very curious ex-pat child myself, driving my family to distraction with stray and wild critters I brought home, marveling at each one. But I would recommend this audiobook to anyone, ex-pat or not, at any age above 12, and even whethor or not they've traveled a bit with their families. Anyone can appreciate the quirks of other cultures and people as told in this book. There are many memorable moments in the book, but I will never forget "Boodle Trinketbottom" as long as I live! This book absolutely earns five stars!

98 people found this helpful

The original dysfunctional family

Having first read this book over 30 years ago I was eager to relive the experience. The audio book did not disappoint. Durrell writes one anecdote after another and all of them are a delight. This book is light, witty, wonderful entertainment.
His writing is deliciously descriptive and makes Corfu sound completely irresistible. It also makes his family sound gloriously insane. I loved every minute of it just as I did the first time around. This book made me an instant Durrell convert who then went on to read every book of his that I could find.

76 people found this helpful

Best book ever!

This is the funniest book I have ever read. The narrator was perfect with excellent accents for the variety of characters. I have never laughed so much from a book. I was terribly sad it ended.

15 people found this helpful

Still charming

Davenport reads this beautifully, and I can see why, in my junior high school days, I was such an enthusiastic Gerald Durrell fan: the jolly tone, the exotic locale, the focus on wildlife, the amusingly eccentric family, the occasional slapstick misadventure, the seemingly carefree existence that the boyish hero enjoys, etc. Today I'm a little more resistant to the book's relentless sunniness, but no one does it better than Durrell.

15 people found this helpful

Different and interesting

I didn't find this as funny as it was purported to be, but it was lively and interesting. Narrator does an excellent job - I particularly loved Spiro's gravelly voice. I didn't mind the nature bits, as they were part and parcel of the overall story ménage. The mother must have been one of the most sanguine people ever - I wouldn't have put up with half of what she did but if she hadn't been so malleable, half the fun wouldn't have happened!

13 people found this helpful

Totally mesmerizing !

Very interesting & entertaining. A great companion to the PBS series "The Durells in Corfu",which is brilliant. Looking forward to listening to the entire Trilogy! Incredible narration. Not to be missed by any Masterpiece Theater fans.

11 people found this helpful

Hilarity ensues

This is really Gerry's story, and as seen from the perspective of a child whose main interest is animals, all the adults appear ridiculous (unless they know something about nature and animals), and Corfu is a glorious, sunny range for his explorations. Durrell would become an internationally known advocate for conservation of endangered animals. His sense of humor may be a bit dated, but having grown up with his books, I find it charming. Nigel Davenport's narration is excellent.

9 people found this helpful

Charming, hilarious memoir

This is one of my favorite books of all times. I've read it over and over. It is the story of a very eccentric family that decides to move to Corfu to escape the dreary English winters. Each person in the story is unique in his or her own way. The true story is narrated by the youngest member, a boy of nine or ten at the outset. His love of native animals, which he brings home and attempts to raise in the household will make you cry with laughter. An absolute classic.

19 people found this helpful

HILARIOUS!

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

I'd recommend this book to anyone who likes eccentric English families and/or animals, Corfu or a good laugh.

What about Nigel Davenport’s performance did you like?

The performance by Nigel Davenport was superb and lent a great deal to the enjoyment of the book.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

If you want a good time, listen to this book. I laughed throughout.

Any additional comments?

This book is a real gem and I'm moving on to the next one.

8 people found this helpful