My Family and Other Animals by Gerald DurrellMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
Highly fictionalized story of the Durell's on Corfu but even more interesting and hilarious than the PBS version. Certainly not for anyone who isn't fascinated by the natural world, since so much of the book is dedicated to intense scrutiny and lengthy, poetic descriptions of creatures from scorpions and mantises to water snakes and black backed Gulls. But Durrell's descriptions while as colorful and precise as any artist's rendering are also, in many cases, uproariously funny--laughing out loud does not describe the snorting and tearing of eyes that accompanies the reading of such passages as the launching of the birthday boat built by his brother, Leslie.
Speaking of Leslie and the rest of the Durrells, as well as Spiro and other residents of Corfu, be prepared to be surprised at the lack of physical resemblance described here to the actors playing the parts. Also, so as not to be totally distressed by the real Leslie, Margo, Larry, and Gerry, as well as mother Durell, do NOT read any biographical sketches of them. This and the TV show are indeed fictional, BUT the portrayal of the Durrell family members by the actors is spot on.
Although I like them all, my favorite character is Theodore and he is my favorite on the show as well. He is a wonderful mentor to Gerry in both the written and acted rendition of this, the first book, in the Corfu Trilogy. On to the next!
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