My Family and Other Animals

By: Gerald Durrell

Narrated by: Nigel Davenport

Length: 10 hrs and 17 mins

Publisher's summary

This memoir is soaked in the sunshine of Corfu, where Gerald Durrell lived as a boy, surrounded by his eccentric family - as well as puppies, toads, scorpions, geckoes, ladybugs, glowworms, octopuses, bats, and butterflies.

©1956 Gerald Durrell (P)2016 Audible, Inc.

Critic reviews

"A lot of frolic, fun, and charming ribaldry, as well as the warm feeling of having been transported to a lovely spot where worry is unknown and anything is believable." ( The New York Times)

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.

Wonderful, descriptive writing

While some reviewers tired of the animal descriptions, I found them very interesting. Anyone who has an above-average love for animals will enjoy Mr. Durrell's descriptive book. I particularly enjoyed his descriptions of people and their behavior. The narrator could not have done a better job, A+.

brain food

wit and humour and beautiful prose. a perfect picture of a time and place .

so good!

I can't be totally sure if I'd have loved this book so much if I hadn't enjoyed the show already, and been learning for a more of the Durrell's story. However, as it is, it is a super sweet listen.

What a delight!

I love the way the author writes. His characters are richly developed, the lush island colorfully described all of which took me in a wonderful journey.

A Great Listen

Well written. Well narrated. Witty humor and brilliant descriptions of the locale, flora, and mostly fauna. Captures your imagination and places you in the very places the writer describes. Expertly narrated - the perfect voice and cadence for this book. All around enjoyable.

Best Narration

This is the perfect lighthearted read. The author paints pictures with words and the narrator brings all of the characters and settings to life. Full of humor. The best audiobook I’ve listened to in years.

Second Listen

Delightful book. Enjoyed my second listen. Highly recommended. Love all characters that will stay with me for a long time. Maggenpies.

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!

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.