Customer Reviews

It Shouldn't Happen to a Vet

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Great book. I would have liked to have known that these are not "new" stories, but part of his larger volumes. I enjoy the small size and I don't mind rereading his stories.

I have been a long time fan of James Herriot's "All Creatures Great and Small" series of books, so was excited when my dad got me "It Shouldn't Happen to a Vet" and "Vet in a Harness" for Christmas this year. Turns out they are just book containing excerpts of the larger books. The stories are still good of course, but I much prefer the original books because they have a more coherent story line and contain the same stories. I was very disappointed that these didn't contain new material.

It was the first James Herriot book I read, and I think the best. It was funny at times and serious at others. It introduced me to a English Countryside vet's life. Sqeamish people might want to skip over parts. (He is a vet!) But over all, I really think this book is a wonderful must read.

I agree with the reviewers who were upset, as I was, to find out that these are merely retitled Herriot books, in fact, just PORTIONS of the original books, retitled. It should be made more clear by the publisher!

However, I do have a reason to buy these: they come in large print which the usual Herriot set does not, and it is helpful for my elderly mother.

By looking over the "combo" editions of these "retitled" books, I think the order is:

1. If Only They Could Talk
2. It Shouldn't Happen to a Vet
3. Let Sleeping Vets Lie
4. Vet in Harness
5. Vets Might Fly
6. Vet in Spin
7. The Lord God Made Them All

BEWARE, I purchased this series thinking they were a continuation of James Heriot's first four but to my disapointment the publisher riped off the public by reprinted the original stories under a new title. I tryed to return them but gave up and donated them to the local library

Love love love this whole series! I cant say enough about it. i have enjoyed reading and re-reading this series for several years and there is just nothing like it. Great stories of a Vets life in the olden days of england. Colorful descriptions and comedic and gripping writting. I would suggest this book for anyone looking for a chuckle or aspiring veterinarians... like me!!

I wish people would know what they were talking about before they wrote something ridiculous. The "All Things Great and Small" series was created AFTER this series. Each book in Great and Small is two of the other books combined. When James Herriot got his books published in America, it was on the condition that each American edition would be two of the other books. Just read The Real James Herriot: A Memoir of My Father by James Wight. Again, please know what you're talking about before you get all rude about something.The Real James Herriot: A Memoir of My Father

If you have enjoyed his other books as much as I have, you will want to read this one as well. It is great light reading.

It's not an amazingly well written story. It's a bunch of fun, feel-good anecdotes that are woven together to give you an idea of the author's daily life as a young vet. A good thing to write on the inside cover: a pound was equivalent to 20 shillings or 240 pence and a British pound in 1930 was worth about $270 American dollars today.