Customer Reviews

The Best of James Herriot: : Favorite Memories of a Country Vet

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
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1 star:		(0)

 

 

I've read Herriott since I was a teenager - I won't go into critiqueing the material - if you've ever read Herriott, you know how brilliant it is; if you have not, please do yourself a favor and read a single chapter - you won't need these reviews after that.

But I want to comment on this edition - I bought it as a gift to introduce my girlfriend to Herriott, and I am in love with this book. It's a gorgeous work, adding excellent illustrations and beautiful photography of the places Herriott roamed as a veterenarian - what more could you possible ask for? A total immersive experience. Thank you!

Now, if they could only give this treatment to Gerald Durrell, most of whose work is inexplicable out of print. Why???

I wouldn't pass this book up for anything. I've read all of the James Herriot books, and was not at all disappointed by this collection of stories. I wouldn't suggest reading this in lieu of his other books, but it makes a nice addition to the collection. The pictures fit perfectly with the vidid descriptions in the text.

This is an absolutely wonderful book. Herriot's best stories are interspersed with photos and sketches both illustrating the stories and bring us to the beautiful land of Yorkshire. A great gift for any Herriot fan, or animal lover of any kind!

While I have no reservations whatsoever about praising the work of James Herriot, I do have some reservations about this collection, which boils down to a very attractive package for selections from Herriot's other books.

My main problem is that buying this collection won't replace the need to get the original books; the stories in here are wonderful, but it is an incomplete collecion, and any fan will want to read all of the stories. And yet, this book is the only place to get some of the supplemental "behind the scenes" information.

I think I liked it better when I could believe that every word was true as written, and that the stories were a faithful telling of Herriot's life. By allowing us to see the man behind the curtain, this book roots his stories in the real world, and thereby necessarily spoils the illusion that the books have maintained for so many readers for all of these years.

That being said, this book is a gorgeous compilation, full of rich, lush photographs of the Scottish countryside that Herriot so enjoyed, as well as interesting supplemental information. For example, there are line drawings and descriptions of many of the animal breeds and tools that Herriot mentions in passing. If you want to get a better idea of some nifty gadgets, including a turnip-cutter, a cake-crusher, and a horn trainer, then you will really enjoy this book.

There's no substitute for reading the series in chronological order, but this book can enrich that experience. Ideally, you would want to read all of the books, but refer to this tome when you hit a story that is included.

If you're a big fan, this is an ideal addition that can enhance your Herriot experience, but if you just want to read the stories as they were written, without the bells and whistles, stick with the novels.

Knowing the unabridged version of one of Herriot's books, I was disappointed at not being able to laugh as much with these, shortened versions of the stories and abridged collection in general. But even if you have Herriot's unabridged volumes, this book is still worth buying for the illustrations and descriptions of his tools and world, not to mention the photos. If you buy it and it makes you go out and buy the whole collection, just give this copy as a gift; it's that worthy.

What can one add to the already vivid detail of the life of Alfred Wight? Fortunately nothing except the illustrations for those of us with little perception of what the farming community and the towns around Yorkshire were like in the 30's and 40's. The fact too, that it's in hardcover will ensure it's permanent place on your bookshelf of treasured writings.

Even though the book was used, it was in excellent condition. The pictures throughout help to make this book a very good purchase for the money. James Herriot is a wonderful storyteller and the reader finds himself/herself able to have the experience of almost being there in person.

I've read this book a few times. Once I read it aloud to my family and they loved it! Personally I think some of the stories are absolutely hilarious and it gives a very accurate view of country life in England during the '30's and '40's.

This is my most treasured of the James Herriot books. It's coffee table book size with beautiful pictures interspersed between the stories. There's line drawings on nearly every page of the instruments & implements that were used during his early time as a vet as well as some recipes. While I have all of his main books as well as the picture book I like this one because you can look at the pictures as you read.

After seeing the PBS series, I was familiar with several of the stories in this book, but actually reading them made me chuckle aloud.....Herriot always articulates SO well..... a great book with lots of extras in the margins that would be of interest to anyone who loves the country life.