Fillets of Plaice

"Fauna and Family" (also published as "The Garden of the Gods") is the last of the three books Gerald Durrell wrote focusing on his bohemian childhood on Corfu. As with the two previous books ("My Family and Other Animals" & "Birds, Beasts, and Relatives"), we encounter local family friends Spiro and Theodore, and spend time with Gerry, watching and collecting new natural specimens for examination and enjoying the locals.Sister Margo acquires her own collection, of suitors, who visit unannounced, providing a source of angst for her mother but endless amusement for her unsympathetic brothers (not to mention the animals, who always exacerbate a disaster in some creative way). Brother Larry continues to have his interesting friends visit. Brother Leslie has not stopped shooting anything that moves. Mother has not stopped cooking under stress. While Gerry brings home any and all living animals, from snakes to owls to goats, in large quantities. In short, the characters remain the same, with endless possibilities for entertainment - and those possibilities do not fail to produce.I'm familiar with Durrell, having started with "Bafut Beagles," years ago and enjoyed it so much that I've never passed up a G. Durrell offering since. His delight in every type of nature, his interest in the world and people around him, and his amusement in what he sees all comes through in his writing - and I have to believe his unconventional childhood heavily influenced both his outlook and ability. His descriptions are unfailingly interesting, and he is always such a fun read. The Corfu Trilogy has been made into several television efforts, most recently "The Durrells in Corfu" on Masterpiece Theatre. So worth the investment.

Wonderful writing, as always, from Mr. Durrell. He makes you feel as if you are there, living with the family; observing, participating. I love all the stories (okay maybe not the ones about the snakes!) and wondered many times whether I was going to wake up my family in the middle of the night from laughing too loudly.I can't pick a favorite chapter, but the last one, about their big party had me laughing the most, esp Captain Creech's bawdy songs and driving mother crazy.As in all of his books, I love how Gerry pretty much has free reign of the Island. He has all his animals in his room and those he collects more of, and his dogs and his donkey. He meets friends along the way and he gives them the gossip of the islanders and they give him food. (not that he's not being fed at home, but he gets hungry staying out all day in his travels!) And of course there's the ever patient yet exasperated Mother, Margo with her guy-craziness, Leslie with his love of all things hunting and shooting, and Larry-probably my favorite character besides Gerry, Spiros, the family savior and also Theo, who he says was "all things to us".Someday I'm going to finish all the Durrell books and then have to start over. I know, I know, #FirstWorldProblems.

I will probably never tire of the wit and charm of the Durrell family as chronicled by Gerald, the youngest child of said family, in these lovely three books about his childhood and his family's misadventures on the exquisitely beautiful island of Corfu in Greece. I promise you that even though this last piece of the "trilogy" is honestly just more of the same, I was still quite pleased with it because, after all, sometimes one WANTS more the of same. I have already ordered the first of another series he wrote about a little zoo or preserve or something he sets up in the beginnings of his young married life. These books are still popular after all these years because they are, well, interesting (he really does know an awful lot about all the living creatures he studies on the island and makes even stick insects fascinating for the rest of us and funny. They are funny in a nice kind of way; the laugh is never at anyone’s expense, really. The family really does love each other and that’s nice these days when we are surrounded by books and tv that seem to celebrate dysfunctional families as the norm, and therefore normal. But don’t you go thinking they don’t disagree and argue, they certainly do, and their arguments make up a hefty percentage of the laughs. Be prepared to laugh. Out loud. You will, I promise.

Gerald Durrell is my favourite author. I have read almost all of his books, so it’s hard for me to find one I haven’t read. I enjoy his style of writing, so much detail and information written in a delightful way! I can’t help but exploding with laughter when he describes his anecdotes. He’s brilliant!!

My all time favorite author is Gerald Durrell. The first book in this series, My Family and Other Animals, made me laugh harder than any other book I have ever read. This book continues the story of the Durrell family while Gerry was growing up. I am thankful that Amazon allows me to make purchases of books that may no longer be in print and get them at good prices. I recommend!

I know this author well so, while I haven't read it yet I know I shall like it. I have read the first of his trilogy "My Family & Other Animals" and it was delightful. These types of books and authors, however, aren't easily found in Chapters/Indigo etc. so I turn to Amazon... they are great, especially for books - good prices and excellent, prompt delivery.

An interesting snapshot of life in prewar Europe.

A crazy, delightful family. I loved the TV series and this book tops it off very nicely.

excellent book I love it

I ordered this thinking it was a new book. I was surprised to find it is The Garden of the Gods under another title. This seems to be a growing thing. Why can't a book be published in all English speaking countries under the same title? Or maybe there should be a note to this effect in the description. I gave 4 stars on the content of the original.

:)