All Creatures Great and Small Book Review



        


All Creatures Great and Small: My Honest Opinion

    - Isaak Kumar


        All Creatures Great and Small is an autobiography written by James Herriot in 1972. Despite practicing veterinary medicine for over 40 years, this book is an account of his earliest experiences as a protégée under Dr. Siegfried Farnon in the quaint town of Yorkshire. The reader follows James around town, as he performs check-ups on the plethora of unique farm animals while meeting their interesting, and sometimes eccentric owners.

One thing I love about this book is its surprisingly realistic medical terms, with details that could only be written by a veterinarian themself. The author elaborates on each feature of his check-ups with technical language, including when he diagnoses a horse with a “Clean fracture of the radius and ulna”(246) and as he “[pushes] the needle [into] the [jugular] vein [of the cow]… as the calcium [begins] to flow”(167). This amount of detail immerses the reader in the story and helps the reader experience the book on a whole new level.

While on the job, James meets many unique and personable characters that help liven the story. From cranky farmers with outlandish accents to the affluent Mrs. Pumphrey, who pampers her Pekinese, Tricky Woo, just like a spoiled child, these distinctive characters add a comedic twist to James’ journey. One of the most entertaining dynamics is none other than the relationship between Dr. Siegfried Farnon and his younger brother, Tristan. Siegfried’s “strict and unmoving”(145) personality combined with Tristan’s blissfulness was always amusing to read, and I was able to relate to the many sibling problems and bickerings throughout the book.

Overall, this is one of my favorite books so far. Because of my love of animals and biology, I personally enjoyed this book’s nitty-gritty details on the different procedures performed on the animals throughout the story. The plot was always fast-paced, with each chapter ending with a dramatic cliffhanger, and humor is generously dispersed throughout the story. A plethora of unique characters keeps the book lively and comedic, and All Creatures Great and Small is a great book for passing time, learning new things, and having a good laugh!

Comments

  1. Ellix SimonsFebruary 7, 2022 at 9:21 AM

    Hey Isaak,

    Biology isn't really my thing, but this book sounds interesting based on your descriptions of the fast-paced plot and comedic details. Most autobiographies I've read tend to be somewhat bland, going through a person's life without including many of the details that ordinary readers might find interesting. I'm not sure if I'll read this book, only because of the large amount of medical details. I'm glad you found it interesting, though! Another somewhat fast-paced autobiography is Catch Me If You Can by Frank Abagnale and Stan Redding. I found it interesting and entertaining, and I think you might enjoy it (though maybe I'm a bit biased) :)

    - Ellix

    ReplyDelete
  2. Nibaw RobertsonMarch 8, 2022 at 8:26 AM

    This sounds like a quite interesting book. The medical details seem like they would be interesting and a treasure trove of opportunities to learn something new. All that information being interspersed with comedy would make it even more entertaining to read.
    -Nibaw

    ReplyDelete
  3. TristenMarch 11, 2022 at 9:55 PM

    I would love to read this book. It sounds descriptive with medical terms, but also comedically entertaining. Sounds like you could have fun and learn a lot at the same time. I'm not too keen on slow moving books, so I'm glad to have come across this one.
    -Tristen

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Cows and Communism: My Take on Animal Farm

Image
     Cows and Communism: My Take on Animal Farm Animal Farm is a Short Story written in 1945. Authored by George Orwell, a writer famous for his dystopian novels such as the book  1984 , this tale is set around a group of animals in a small English farm who, against the odds, overthrow their 'tyrannical' farmer and use the farm for themselves, tilling and farming the land to make their own food. Despite its unlikely plot and comedic animals, this story aligns quite well with the Russian Revolution and the rise of Soviet Communism, making for an entertaining read.      The entertaining, comedic aspects of the tetrapod characters in Animal Farm are great relief from the dystopian vibes this book gives off. Everything from "Benjamin, the cynical donkey" (Orwell 1) to the egotistical pig Napoleon, each animal whim adds much-appreciated pops of color to the plot. For example, Napoleon, after drinking "Half a gallon" of beer, runs around the farm in a drunk...
Read more

What Should Lawmakers Do About Guns and Gun Violence? By Timothy Park

Image
    The Unfortunate Reality of Gun Violence (Quick disclaimer: This can be a sensitive topic, so be aware of the content talked about below)      As you may know, proper gun control has been a significant issue in the United States. There have been many pushes toward the government to do something about guns because they harm society more substantially. However, the government has a significant role in deciding what to do with guns and gun violence.     I think the government should enforce stricter laws for gun purchasing and possession. With the rise of shootings and gun violence in the States, many shooters illegally purchase dangerous firearms. There are many ways you can illegally buy a gun. Purchasing from the black market, stealing, and even buying one underage are, for the most part, illegal. Also, illegally having possession can be like owning a gun without a license, or if you are a minor and own a firearm.  ...
Read more

Book Review: "Life of Pi" by Yann Martel - Isaak

Image
                                Life of Pi Book by Yann Martel Review by Isaak Kumar      "Life of Pi" is a fiction novel written by Yann Martel in September 11, 2001. It depicts the fascinating struggle of the main character and his companion, a fully grown Bengali Tiger, as they try to survive in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean. Piscine Molitor Patel, also known as Pi, is a zookeeper's son in Pondicherry. Due to his background, Pi grows up familiar with animals of all different shapes and sizes. By the age of 16, Pi's family and zoo are relocated to Quebec, Canada in the Japanese cargo ship Tsimtsum . However, in the middle of his trans-Atlantic voyage, a storm suddenly strikes and sinks the  Tsimtsum, with Pi barely escaping by lifeboat! As he comes to terms with his parent's death, Pi finds out that he is not the only one on in his drifting lifeboat. He is accompanied by Bengali Tige...
Read more