Seriously Mum, What's an Alpaca?

By: Alan Parks

Narrated by: Nigel Patterson

Length: 4 hrs and 46 mins

Publisher's summary

Seriously Mum, What's an Alpaca? is the frank and charming story of a brave couple who risk everything to move to Spain to breed alpacas. Their intention is to make a living, but first they must negotiate their way through the Spanish property market, local characters, rogue builders and the worst weather Andalucía has seen for 100 years.

Alan and Lorna experience the joy, but also the heartbreak of alpaca breeding, picking up an assortment of stray animals on the way.

©2012 Alan Paks (P)2014 Alan Parks

Very funny :)

Any additional comments?

This is a light read and I recommend it for anyone who loves animals and humor. Lots of laugh out loud moments.

Light Entertainment

Nigel Patterson, as always, does a great job as narrator. He makes this mildly interesting story quite entertaining.

Fun and interesting read

What made the experience of listening to Seriously Mum, What's an Alpaca? the most enjoyable?

I loved the story and the adventuresome spirit of the couple who raised the Alpacas.
I also learned a lot about animals I knew nothing about. It is always fun to read (or listen in this case) and learn real facts at the same time. I love stories about animals because they are so real and interesting.

What other book might you compare Seriously Mum, What's an Alpaca? to and why?

No idea.

Which scene was your favorite?

There were so many and all involved the antics of the Alpacas.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Not necessarily. I enjoyed listening anytime and being able to pick it up. I looked forward to listening to it when life was quiet around me.

Interesting

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

An interesting biography of moving from the UK to Spain and becoming farmers (no previous experience). I'm impressed with their fortitude!

What did you like best about this story?

It was a biography, but some of the farm animals told their side of the tale now and again.

What about Nigel Patterson’s performance did you like?

Great!

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

When they dug in and spent the night with the new baby, feeding her for most of the night.

Any additional comments?

As a farmer's daughter, and being raised in a barn, I'm impressed with the success of their venture! Way to go!

Enchanting Alpaca Adventure

What did you love best about Seriously Mum, What's an Alpaca??

This was a wonderful, funny & touching story. A grand adventure by an English couple as they learn the ups & downs of becoming rural farmers in a new country. As an alpaca farmer myself, still in the beginning of my alpaca odyssey, I fully appreciated all the highs and lows of their tale.

Who was your favorite character and why?

I so enjoyed hearing from the perspectives of the animals on the farm as well as the humans! Quite fun. But the people in this story are beautifully flawed, and willing to persevere through all their obstacles. And what obstacles!

What about Nigel Patterson’s performance did you like?

Well done. Clearly read.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Truly wished I could have! As it was I finished in just a couple of days.

Any additional comments?

I hope more audiobooks are forthcoming about these intrepid farmers!

Seriously CUTE Essay

I thought this audiobook was awesomely cute. I love the way Alan and Lorna decided to pick up from Brighton and move to Spain to raise alpacas. What a neat thing to do. This was also a fairly short listen. But adorable!

It was cute how they kept gathering animals and named two of their chickens Beyonce and Jay-Lo because of their butt wiggling. They lived in a town filled with mostly ex-pats and their Spanish was formal while the locals spoke slang making for somewhat of a language barrier.

Overall I would recommend giving this a listen as it was a neat glimpse into what it would be like to make such a huge decision as this. Along the way, the story goes over the trials they endure along with their always growing animal family.

Nigel Patterson did a wonderful job voicing this audiobook. He was perfect with great accents. I found it a relaxing and enjoyable listen. I hope to hear more from both him and Alan Parks.

Audiobook gifted in exchange for an unbiased review.

Didn't even finish it

I just did not like the story or performance. I don't even want to finish it.