There are some books I have read in my life which have left
me spellbound. For them, I don’t have the right words to convey my feelings. If
one can orgasm emotionally after
reading, then I did. After finishing this masterpiece, I sighed in content and
felt sated. I have been searching for a near perfect reading experience for
quite some time and finally my wait ended yesterday night. The cockles of my
heart were left warm and I can’t wait to read the other (rarely found in the
market) sequels of this classic.
The Durrell family gets tired of the British weather and
head to the Corfu Island in Greece. This book is the tale of their (mis)adventures.
Their clan is seemingly normal and may even appear boring.
There is Larry, who loves reading books and has amazing wit and his dialogues
drip with sarcasm. Leslie is a gun obsessed young man who loves hunting. Margo,
with her face full of acne, is a girl who is on the cusp of womanhood. Gerry,
the narrator, is a ten year old boy who adores all animals. They have a hapless
Mother who loves gardening. It is the interactions between these characters
which make this book such a joy to read.
The motley bunch of people they meet on the island are
amongst the most memorable protagonists I have ever encountered in any book.
The driver, Spiro, with his weird usage of English and Gerry’s animal-loving tutors,
Theodore and Karlesky, with their quirky mannerisms, are sheer delights.
However, the real stars of this unforgettable read are the
animals Gerry adapts/catches. They include Achilles the tortoise, Quasimodo the
pigeon, Ulysses the owl, scorpions, Alecko the gull, dogs named Widdle and
Puke, and the birds known as the Magenpies. They lead to many hilarious
situations which would amuse and pleasure the reader no end.
There are some passages which may rub the animal lovers the
wrong way and may seem insensitive. However, they should keep in mind this has
been written from a young boy’s point of view and for him catching animals to
keep them with him is akin to caring for them. Durrell’s lifelong work as an animal
preservationist is a testimony to his nature.
I don’t re-read books as a rule. There are so many to finish
and I am perennially short of time. But this is one I plan to keep on going
back to.
This is a classic in the true sense of the word. It is a book which
would grow on you and whose magic will lift your spirits and make them soar to
lofty heights.
This is available for only hundred and fifty odd bucks
online. Do yourself a favor and read this if you haven’t.
I agree..it should be on everybody's bucket list..one of my top tens.
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