All Things Bright and Beautiful

Most true Herriot fan's will recall Christopher Timothy portraying James Herriot (the true-life Alf Wight) in the movies and series "All Creatures Great and Small". This, however, is a different experience. I found Timothy to be a bit harsher than I pictured Herriot on the series--even spoken as a devoted fan. In this audio format he does an amazing job on the unabridged version. His acting ability really shines here. His voices and accent range are amazing. If you need an escape and want to feel good, then go back to 1930's Yorkshire and re-live the early days of vet practice. Whether you are an animal lover or just need the relief of a book that will make you laugh and bring the beautiful moors to life, you'll never regret the James Herriot series. Christopher Timothy deserves an award for this one! Fantastic job!

This is one of the best authors and readers I've read. Both are 5 out of 5. The subject matter here is not something I thought I would like. I was pleasantly fascinated by it. I enjoyed each listening session very much. I am very happy I experienced it. You really need to experience one of these books and then evaluate for yourself if the subject matter will keep you coming back. The book contains a number of experiences of a country vet in Scotland. Some of the stories will stay with me the rest of my life. I never got the feeling that this book was repetitive, but I can see how future books may become that way.

Glorious story read by the very actor who brought James Harriot to life in the British series, how could anyone ask for more? How about a background free of indistinct chatter loud enough to be a significant distraction? The distracting verbage waxed and waned, and could only be ignored when I turned the volume down so soft that I then lost the nuances of Timothy's wonderful performance. I was disappointed to say the least. I do not recall hearing this noise on the CDs I borrowed from the library years ago, read by the same narrator. Is this a different edition, or just poor importing into the Audible data base?

Having been a lover of animal stories for several years, I picked up a copy of one of Herriot's books at a thrift shop. Since then I have been hooked. Herriot's writing is terrific and his sense of humor is ageless. He has great insight into human nature and his ability to put that into words makes him a writer worth reading and/or listening to.

"All Things Bright and Beautiful" is definitely worth the listening time. I have been taking Mr. Herriot with me in the car when I am out driving. His stories are perfect for that. They are not so complicated that I can drive and easily listen, and also light-hearted, sometimes sad, and really entertaining.

The narrator of his books, Christopher Timothy, is also excellent. He has the ability to give Herriot, his friends and the local people of Daroby (sp?) perfect voices. I have in the past had trouble understanding British accents, but Timothy makes it easy.

I plan on listening to the entire series.

Amazing stories of a pre-WWII animal doctor dealing with the country people deep in the English countryside. If you love animals, if you love unique interesting people and have a sense of humor you will love this book - narration is perfection.

This is a wonderful book and I love Christopher Timothy as the narrator. However, my dissatisfaction does not come from the book or its contents but the quality of the recording. I can hear background talking, at times the narrator slows down so he has a bass voice and then picks up again. I thought maybe it was my Kindle but it only does it with this book, and that is both part 1 and part 2. I was not happy at all with the quality of workmanship at all. I wanted to buy the other two books, but I am leary now.

For me, Christopher Timothy is James Herriot, Tristan and Seigfrid.
He is also the numerous farmers, horse racers and the bartender.
This is how you should narrate a book: make it lively with accents, inflections and enthusiasm.
Kudos to Audible for a Great presentation.

The wonder of Herriot's world is fascinating and at times heartbreaking. The confluence of people relating to their animals depending on personality and world view turns what could have been a book about animals and farmers of the early 20th century into a study of the psychology of people relating to animals and how sometimes poverty and ignorance inflict avoidable harm as well as helpless destruction. The vet's job is hard not only in terms of the hands on nature of dealing sometimes with a creature weighing half a ton but also with owners who may either be too careless, cruel or poor to deal adequately with an animal's basic needs. James Herriot is a sensitive man, but he is realistic about the animals and people he has chosen to work among. He does not make the animals into proto humans, and he tries not to teach people about themselves but only basic animal husbandry. However, the story he relates clearly teaches us how the way people relate to the world is more important to animals' health than nature.

I have loved the James Herriot collection for years and am now ecstatic to have it on my iPod. All his stories elicit a 'feel good' feeling for the listener with his brilliant writing and subject matter. Add Christopher Timothy's ability to make it all come to life in audio and you've got a winning combination over all.

I have always loved animals, particularly my 4 Seeing Eye dogs. In my teens, these books were new, and I read them all. This could be the best of the series, because of the wildly funny stories of Herriott, a smallish man, trying to party with Granville Bennett, an overpowering party animal no man can keep up with--though he obviously enjoyed trying. Add the tale of Herriott finally establishing a beach head with Helen, after a number of disastrous attempts, a tale to bring a smile to any man who chased, and finally won, a delightful woman, and you have a book to read repeatedly. I now know that Christopher Timothy, the narrator, played Herriott on TV, and that too brings back memories. The series was the last show Mom, Dad and I could watch together, and it made us all laugh--even Dad whose strength was nearly gone, and Mom who seldom found cause to laugh. Read again, and again, and enjoy.