Because the previous book I read ('The Choice') was a bit on the heavy side emotional wise, I wanted a lighter read and found this first book in this series (6 books or even more followed) among my nature books on my bookshelves.

To be honest, I was quite disappointed by this book. He talks way too much (in my opinion) about the weather, the ongoing discussions between his boss and his brother, their secretary and the animal owners instead of going into more details about treating the animals and the animals themselves, it's all quite superficial to me. I even struggled to finish this book.Example. A teacher asks what i am reading. '1984' i reply, a classic, well known work, and one of George Orwell's greatest pieces. Instead, i vaguely describe of how

Nezinu nevienu citu grāmatu, kur galvenais varonis lielāko daļu epizodēs ir iebāzis roku kādā lielā mājdzīvniekā. Nesavieb seju nepatīkamā grimmasē, galu galā tāda ir skarbā realitāte, ja esi nolēmis savu profesionālo ceļu brist lauku dubļos. Jā, jā, vetārsts ar mīļiem mājdzīvniekiem sterilā kabinetā, atrodas lielpilsētā. 1930.gadi jaunam vetārstam no universitātes sola dziļos laukos nozīmēja negulētas naktis, nogurdinoši attālumi un nebeidzami izsaukumi, pieņemot dzemdības govīm, zirgiem, aitām, kā arī ārstējot neskaitāmus mājlopus. Bet, ja vien visas rūpes aprobežotos ar dzīvniekiem. Izrādās, ka tikpat liela noņemšanās ir ar to saimniekiem. Skarbo lopkopju visgudrība un lielā mīlestība pret saviem četrkājainajiem draugiem bieži vien izrādās traucējoša un kurioza. Nav iespējams nelasīt šos jaunā vetārsta emuārus nesmejoties, brīžiem izdvešot tādas skaņas, it kā smiekli nāktu no aploka. Heriots, kurš visu dzīvi veltījis smagajam vetārsta darbam, māk tik ironiski izstāstīt savus piedzīvojumus, ka brīžiem gribas viņu apskaust. Ne gluži par negulētām naktīm un spītīgām ragainēm vai trakiem kumeļiem, bet gan aizraujošo ikdienu, kurā viņam palaimējies nodoties savam sirdsdarbam. Bet, kas gan būtu viņa ikdiena, ja viņš nebūtu tik prasmīgs rakstnieks. Savās grāmatās viņš brutiski uzbur lauku dzīvi, robustos cilvēkus, mūždien saspringto darbošanos. If you are even slightly interested in animals, stories, people, romance, England, and Vets, this is the book for you. I should mention that you will COMPLETELY fall in love with the settings, and if you do enjoy the books, they made a rather good, and very accurate, series of it. Of course, the books are better, but a noble effort to do justice to a magnificent piece. Ja esi sirdī dzīvnieku mīlis, šī grāmata ir jāizlasa- humors savijoties ar ikdienas skarbumu pavērs durvju šķirbiņu uz 30.to gadu lauku šarmu.Ada kisah keberhasilan saat Herriot dan tim secara cerdas atau secara kebetulan dapat mendiagnosis penyakit dan menyembuhkannya. Ada kisah mengharukan saat Herriot harus memberikan penenang permanen kepada hewan yang terkena kanker untuk melepas penderitaannya. Ada banyak sekali kelucuan saat Siegfried yang sok efisien harus terperangkap prinsip-prinsipnya, atau sekedar oleh kepikunannya yang luar biasa. Dan banyak hiburan akibat keusilan Tristan yang tak pernah habis. Tapi yang tak pernah membosankan adalah komitmen Herriot untuk setiap saat membantu makhluk hidup yang menderita, biarpun kadang ia harus melampiaskan kekesalan dan kemarahan; dan selalu diakhiri oleh kembalinya kesadaran bahwa hidup itu ajaib, lucu, agung, dan tak pernah membosankan.

While that childhood dream did not come true, I have never lost the fondness for Herriot's work. So, when this book turned up on our office swap shelf, I nabbed it. If only they could talk’ undoubtedly is at its pinnacle when it comes to the descriptions of the landscape in which the book is set and is among one of the best countryside books I have ever read. These wonderful tales with their morsels of emotions like elation, sorrow, and humiliation all flamboyantly honeyed with humor can delight both the general reader and lovers of animal stories. James Alfred Wight, the British veterinary surgeon and writer, is renowned for his semi-autobiographical works written under the name ' James Herriot', which chronicle some of the most amusing moments from his life as a veterinarian. His reminiscences as a surgeon are pleasantly mild and warm to read and his style of narration that describe his adventures with the animals and their owners is of the most hilarious form that can make even the most serious of the reader burst out in a laugh. Apart from being incredibly entertaining, Herriot’s books also offer a historical perspective at the practice of veterinary science that was followed in Britain during the time period. James Herriot, or in truth, James Alfred Wright, is a master storyteller, whose ability to paint scenes and emotions with only his words is truly astounding. How anyone can write so elegantly, and truthfully, is a rare and astonishing thing. His memoirs should truly be cherished, this first book setting an excellent scene for many humorous and poignant works. The imaginative power of James Herriot and his capacity as a storyteller are praiseworthy as these amusing stories are not dry descriptions of incidents from his days as a veterinary surgeon, but they are often spruced up by the author with smartly crafted elements of humor to evoke absolute joy and laughter in the reader. He is also a sharp observer of the people, animals and their association in an agrarian society as these stories offer a delightful insight born out of his observations into the country life of Yorkshire. The life of the farmers and the role of animals in their emotions of happiness, accomplishment, sadness and even heartbreak are all portrayed by Herriot with the flair of a master narrator.I grew up reading James Herriot's book and I'm delighted that thirty years on they are still every bit as charming, heartwarming and laugh-out-loud funny as they were then.' – Kate Humble I thought I had read pretty much read all of James Herriot’s books, so stumbling across this one—and the name didn’t ring a bell—I was all excited about a ‘new’ Herriot. I didn’t even bother to read what it was about. This observation, which lightens the mood along with some comical dialogs that ensues with cow’s owner, sets the tone for the book. Even while at the end of his wits, we find a character who finds amusement from simple things from his surroundings which adds that extra bit of appeal even in his descriptions of surgeries and other animal medical conditions, which can be a bit squeamish if described in dry medical terms. Fresh out of Veterinary College, and shoulder-deep in an uncooperative cow, James Herriot’s first job is not panning out exactly as expected . . .

Arriving in the small Yorkshire village of Darrowby newly qualified veterinary surgeon, James Herriot has no idea what is in store for him. Having only been qualified for the last seven months, James knew it wouldn't be easy, but he was up to the challenge or so he believed. As long as I can remember , I always wanted to be a vet till I was around 17 when I found out , I wasn't doing too well with seeing the insides of animals. Many years later my vet needed some urgent assistance during a surgery on one of my dogs and I had no problem with seeing what I saw so maybe I missed my calling after all. James Herriot adalah anak muda yang pemalu tapi kreatif dan bersemangat tinggi. Lulus sebagai dokter hewan di Skotlandia, ia memperoleh tempat kerja di sebuah kota kecil bernama Darrowby di daerah Yorkshire di Inggris. Atasannya seorang dokter hewan Siegfried Farnon, yang cerdas namun eksentrik dan pelupa, dan hidupnya sering diwarnai dengan paradoks. Tak lama, bergabung pula Tristan Farnon, adik Siegfried yang memiliki sifat jauh berbeda — ia periang, ceroboh, namun selalu beruntung. Mereka membentuk persahabatan yang unik dan hangat, sambil bekerja keras (kadang siang malam) menyembuhkan bermacam hewan besar dan kecil, milik para petani dan peternak di Yorkshire, yang umumnya pekerja yang jujur, keras, namun tulus. But about the book now. It's James Herriot (not his true name) telling about his life in the UK as a country vet in the 1930s. I remember watching in the 1980s some little tidbits of the British TV series 'All Creatures Great and Small', which is based on this book (and later ones as well).Nothing on the masterpiece of words, the thought out plot, the detail that Orwell describes extensively, not even mentioning the main characters. Or the ending....