Birth in a Chicken House: A Collection of Stories (Hardcover)

~ James Lucas DVM (Author), Michael Lynch (Illustrator)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Dr. Lucas takes you on his journey depicting the beauty and serenity of Southern Iowa, the memorable characters and unheard of experiences. Relive humorous day-to-day stories of this small town veterinarian dealing with people and animals alike. This is the story of his family and the career he chose which fulfilled his goal of love for the country, animals, people and life.

Dr. James Lucas was born and raised on a farm in Southern Iowa. In his early high school years, he vowed to go to veterinary college and return to his hometown to provide veterinary service. He later married his high school sweetheart who also made the promise to make this life's goal with him. Dr. Lucas spent 36 years in the veterinary medical field. In 1986, he was diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease causing him to take an early retirement, yet allowing him to retell his stories. A portion of the proceeds from this book will go to benefit the American Parkinson's Disease Association, Nebraska Chapter. This chapter includes the states of Iowa, Nebraska, Kansas and South Dakota.

From the Publisher

Dr Lucas kept notes of his experiences about the people and animals he worked with throughout his career. For several years he has been busy transforming those notes into stories. Stories, which he wanted to leave to his children and grandchildren about his life. The humorous tales are true and the chapter title depict their nature.

It's time to laugh and Birth in a Chicken House will do just that! Remember the time you tried to help pull another person's vehicle? How about the first dent in your brand new car? All you needed was a good night's sleep and those dogs across the way won't hush for even a second! From large animals to small and people of all walks of life, you will be able to relate to the stories.

Birth in a Chicken House is a very descriptive book regarding the characteristics of animals and culture. Dr. Lucas not only explains the veterinary process, but he describes the beauty and history of Southern Iowa. As the pages are turned readers will laugh, cry and start planning their next vacation to this unforgettable land.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 280 pages
• Publisher: Stone Tablets; 1 edition (August 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0967182301
• ISBN-13: 978-0967182308
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 5.7 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #858,537 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars True life of a rural veterinarian, October 18, 2000

By	"farmkid" (Pennsylvania) - See all my reviews

As a farm kid and a veterinary student, I found this book to be extremely realistic and funny. I enjoyed his stories recalling veterinary school and farm calls. Dr. Lucas tells it how it is. It is a good eye opener for people interested in large animal veterinary medicine and the life one has because of it. If you come from a farm you will certainly enjoy this book.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars a must for short-story lovers who need a laugh, November 20, 1999

By	jk stensland ([e-mail]) (iowa) - See all my reviews

Birth in a Chicken House is a great read for anyone who has experienced life in a rural setting, and it's a must read for anyone in the 50s' plus era. As you read the stories, it's as if Dr. Lucas is sitting across the table from you telling a story. He writes it just like it happened. I found myself laughing out loud many, many times as he related his personal accounts of people and animals...I think almost everyone can identify with his experiences. The short story format makes it a great book for busy people to pick up for a few minutes and read a story. However, once you start reading it, you'll probably not want to put it down.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Perceptive, funny, wonderful reading., July 3, 2000

By	Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

James Lucas is a seasoned veterinarian playing his trade in southern Iowa for more than 36 years. He kept notes of his experiences with the people and animals he encountered throughout his career. In Birth In A Chicken House, Lucas draws upon those personal reminiscences to spin out his humorous true-life tales that will engage the reader's rapt attention from first page to last. Highly recommended reading for anyone who loves a good yarn well told, Birth In A Chicken House provides perceptive and very funny descriptions of the animals and culture, the beauty and history of a rural farming community, and the dedicated veterinarian that served their needs.