Published: 1986
Author: James Herriot
Genres: Animal & Pet Care Essays, Biographies, Real-Life Stories, Short Stories, Fauna, Veterinarian Stories, For Family, Dogs, Dog Lovers, Cat Lovers, Animal Lovers
For all the dog and animal lovers, plus for everyone who still has a human heart in these times.
This Review cannot start without telling the story of how I got this book and came to know about the beautiful, funny, happy, sad, heartwarming, heartbreaking, triumphant, uplifting, soothing, and much more but worth every second you spend reading these books and the writer who is behind all this great writing. If you love dogs and think you understand them, you'll find yourself seeing them in a whole new light after this book and any other book by Mr. James Herriot because he was not just a vet, he was a man with a big heart, I am sad I am already done with all his books and can't read new books by him because he is not with us anymore. His writing style was "Just tell the story."
He was not forcing the reader to be emotionally involved because his true stories were making a reader get involved automatically and that is an amazing trait in a writer. The joy and laughter and pain, the tears and smiles will make you want more of his books and I recommend you buy and read all of them and share with loved ones, especially dog lovers. In simple words, to feel happy, to laugh, to cry, to feel all the joy and absurdity of life, read Mr. James Herriot.
Dogs are a big part of many people's lives greatly. Truly their love is always pure and simple in health and in sickness; it is permanent, and longer-lasting than many human friendships. They are the motivation to get out of bed and keep going when sometimes you don't even want to move.
Okay, time for my story of how I got my first book of Mr. James Herriot...
It was crowded in the metro and I was sitting on a double seater with a male stranger. At the next station, a girl came in; I always give my seat to any female regardless of age. This includes old men, kids, students in uniforms, and young guys with books or school bags, so I pointed at her to come and take my seat. She said no but I insisted and she took my seat after saying thanks.
By chance on the next stop, the stranger left and this girl asked me to sit with her and I did. The moment I sat beside her, she said thank you again and asked why I gave her my seat? I told her that I always give my seat to females, kids, and old men. She laughed and said: "So, you are one of the last of the dying breed of true gentlemen?"
I smiled and said thanks because I know it is true, I get laughed at by people sometimes for doing these things and sometimes it is thought of as flirting and many other things that are not my intention. After that, we talked a bit, and after realizing that I was not flirting, she started reading her book. I saw a dog and an old man on the cover and asked her what is the title of this book. (I got interested because I read a lot of books and actually got a huge library of my own at home) She told me the name "Dog Stories" and asked do you read books? I said yes, I read a lot of books from almost all the genres except for porn. She smiled and said: "you can have this book because I am almost done."
I was shocked and happy at the same time to know a person like her still exists, but still, I said no. In the end, she basically forced me to take the book from her. We exchanged cell numbers on her request and talked a bit; once she finished the final few pages she gave the book to me.
My station was already three stops behind us by now but I had to sit with her because she wanted to finish the book and give it to me before we part ways. Her station was still far and she had plenty of time to finish the book.
Once she was done reading, she handed the book to me with a satisfied smile. Her station came after ten minutes and we both came out of the station. She asked me if I can walk her to her building, I said yes and started walking with her, she lived just two minutes walk away from the metro station. I knew I'll be having tea or coffee at her home, even if I want it or not and that is what happened. She invited me to her apartment for tea and I said yes because I smelled the beautiful smell of old books from inside her apartment. The moment she opened the door, I felt I am in book heaven. While she was preparing the tea, I was busy checking the books. One thing that I noticed was the books from Mr. James Herriot's book series (Not actually series but many books written by him.)
She came back with tea and saw me looking at her books; she smiled and asked if I found something that interests me?
I said, "Yes, this room."
We both laughed and she said yes you can have anything from this room. I almost had all the books she had but some books like the books from Mr. James Herriot, I didn't even know about. So I asked her about these books, and then she told me about the writer and the stories which I already mentioned above.
One thing that I understood from meeting this girl and reading the books of Mr. James Herriot was that everyone who loves animals turns out to be a good person with a big heart. Anyway, we talked for a long time without noticing it was already so late in the evening, so I asked her permission to leave but she insisted that I stay the night because it was like we were so alike and maybe she was missing good company that can talk and discuss same stuff that she loved. I really wanted to stay and talk nonstop; the same as she wanted but I had to leave because I was on strict training for an upcoming forty two Kilo-meter marathon, so I had to decline, but I promised to come again whenever she wants me to come. On that, she agreed to let me leave and invited me to come on the upcoming weekend with extra clothes for staying the whole weekend for book marathon, discussion, and my training if I had training day during the weekend. I left with a big smile, a warm hug, and many books that were all written by Mr. James Herriot.
We are best book buddies until now, starting from that day and I thank Mr. James Herriot for that. I feel everyone who reads his books, gets something from him and becomes a better version of oneself.
A little bit about the author...
James Herriot, a pseudonym for James Alfred Wight, he grew up in Glasgow and qualified as a veterinary surgeon at Glasgow Veterinary College. Shortly afterward he took up a position as an assistant in a North Yorkshire practice where he remained, except for his wartime service in the RAF, until his death in 1995. He wrote many books about Yorkshire country life, including some for children, but he is best known for his memoirs, which begin with If Only They Could Talk. The books were televised in the enormously popular series All Creatures Great and Small.
A bit from Media...
"His message is affectionate, and his four-footed creatures are irresistible." -- TIME MAGAZINE --
"There is no finer teller of dog stories in the world than James Herriot." -- KNICKERBOCKER NEWS --
"The tales can be read and re-read . . . What shines through all the stories is that dogs give us enormous pleasure." --
SUNDAY TIMES --
"James Herriot provokes a chuckle, or a lump in your throat, in every chapter." -- DAILY MIRROR --
I wish I was able to give thousands of points to these books. And yes I am going to...
Rating: 10000/10000
Recommended: 10000/10000 YES. (Unless you hate animals or are heartless)
I am sharing some links to the books written by Mr. James Herriot. Buy the books here:
James Herriot's Dog Stories: (The book in my story, I still got it on my table)
All Creatures Great and Small: https://amzn.to/3gqNbxB
All Things Bright and Beautiful: https://amzn.to/3gpviz7
All Things Wise and Wonderful: https://amzn.to/3nb4nZh
James Herriot's Cat Stories: https://amzn.to/3v60nMt
James Herriot's Favorite Dog Stories: https://amzn.to/3nbLaXy
James Herriot's Treasury for Children: https://amzn.to/3vaGvI9
James Herriot's Yorkshire: https://amzn.to/3n4N387
The Real James Herriot: A Memoir of My Father:
The Best of James Herriot: https://amzn.to/3goDKyL
THE COMPLETE JAMES HERRIOT Box Set 1-8:
Young James Herriot: https://amzn.to/3n4N8ZE
Real James Herriot: The Authorized Biography:
If Only They Could Talk: https://amzn.to/3goDFer
Lord God Made Them All: https://amzn.to/3tw4rVQ
Every Living Thing: https://amzn.to/3xatZKi
Moses the Kitten: https://amzn.to/3xb2NeA
The Christmas Day Kitten: https://amzn.to/3x6dRd3
Only One Woof: https://amzn.to/3atpLE6
Bonny's Big Day: https://amzn.to/3v4UTl1
Smudge, The Little Lost Lamb: https://amzn.to/2QAEaal
Blossom Comes Home: https://amzn.to/3eeZn1S
The Market Square Dog: https://amzn.to/2RLF9Fb
It Shouldn't Happen to a Vet: https://amzn.to/3xavSqm
Let Sleeping Vets Lie: https://amzn.to/3n46w8Z
Vet in a Spin: https://amzn.to/2P6q4gD
Vet in Harness: https://amzn.to/3tEmPMj
Vets Might Fly: https://amzn.to/3x4SGbf
The Life of a Country Vet: https://amzn.to/32x1NTS
Never Turn Your Back on an Angus Cow: My Life as a Country Vet: https://amzn.to/3dvHFrz
...and many more. Just use any of these links and check around for more, but I already added all the good books here so you don't have to search.
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Check other book reviews by me:
A Promised Land - Christ The Lord: Out of Egypt - Giles Goat-Boy - James Herriot's Dog Stories - Rich Dad Poor Dad - Steve Jobs: The Exclusive Biography - The Last Templar - The Book of Flying - Queen Of Egypt - Pharaoh's Destruction - A Non-Fiction Writing Machine - IMPROBABLE - The Eight - The Millionaire Next Door - Riley Thorn And The Dead Guy Next Door - Atomic Habits - DUNE - The False Mirror - From the Corner of His Eye - Nightmares & Dreamscapes - Captain Sinbad - Jaws of Darkness - JAWS - The Fifth Angel - Papillon - Nine Lives
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