Every Living Thing

Rating:
Summary: indescribable
Review: As gifted a story teller as he is a veterinarian, James Herriot has the rare ability to bring out every emotion known to the human race with a single magical flick of his pen. Every Living Thing is without a doubt one of the crowning achievements of a master, and is possessed by a single, true trait that is difficult to find in many commercial books- every single tale is told straight from the heart. You will never fail to laugh at the hilarious tales and cry at the most poignant moments. If you're an animal lover, or even just have a passing interest in animals, this is a book you will hold on to and re-read until the end of your days. Kudos, James Herriot, you are very much missed.

Rating:
Summary: Another warm winner from Herriot
Review: James Herriot has an easy-going and warm writing style that is incredibly suited to his stories. He chronicles the animals and people he helps as an active veternarian in Yorkshire, England. As such, the stories are usually more about the people and their attachment to their pets and livestock than they are about the animals themselves. Although the time period is not explicitly mentioned and he jumps around in time a great deal, this book seems to cover the period right after his preceeding book (The Lord God Made Them All), the late 50s and early 60s. Herriot's children are now 6-10 years old and play an increasing role in his practice. He also includes a touching series of stories about his and his wife's attempts to tame some farm cats. Every Living Thing was Herriot's final full-length original book, and it is an excellent end to an excellent series.

Rating:
Summary: More from the Yorkshire veterinarian the world loves
Review: The late Alf Wight aka James Herriot left a legacy of books that excites readers to this day (and I presume will do so for decades more.) His gentle, self-deprecating style of humor and the portraits of the Yorkshire Dales farmers and country people are amusing and interesting.

The four books, named after a hymn "All Creatures Great and Small" are joined by this fifth volume with similar stories. James (as Alf called himself) now has his own practice in Skeldale House, is married with two kids. The stories are very similar to the first four, with goof-ups, miracles, and funny tales. Somehow, these stories are not quite as hilarious as the first set, possibly because Mr. Herriot had written up most of the good stuff, or to represent the seriousness of raising two kids and having his own practice and being a settled man rather than a raw youth just out on his own. Nonetheless, if you lapped up all the "Creature" books, as I did, and you mourn the loss of Dr. Wight, who passed away in the 90's, then you will want to read these stories and vicariously enjoy more of the daily life of a country vet.