The Thumbnail Book Reviews
by John Q McDonald --- 18 February 1998
by Gerald Durrell
This is a highly entertaining memoir of a boy (Durrell) growing up on the island of Corfu, Greece early in the 20th century. Durrell has a gift for natural history, and explores the birds, lizards, and small animals living on that hot island. The tales of owls and hoopoes serve as fine cushioning around extremely humorous tales of his family. Durrell's characters are well drawn and animated, headstrong brother Larry to silly sister Margot and trigger-happy brother Leslie to their indulgent mother. The tales are as memorable as they are improbable.