I was not aware that Gerald Durrell wrote about subjects other than animals. This is a collection of six short stories, two of which are amusing, two Laugh out Loud funny, one is funny with a twist, and another is one of the creepiest stories I've read in a long while. Needless to say, I enjoyed the reading of this work very much. Highly recommended if you have become jaded in your reading habits or plain dull. That's where I was, and now I'm all eager to open another book, seeking for a gem like this one. ( )

A very entertaining series of short stories covering the exploits of Gerald Durrell and his family. This had me giggling aloud at the airport – particularly the first tale, which covers the ill-fated picnic. The only downside for me was the ghost story at the end. I don't usually like ghost stories much, and this was no exception. Overall though, a perfect holiday travelling read. ( )

So you're reading merrily along, enjoying Durrell's sly humor, when all of a sudden you come upon the mirror story. Yes, it's a gothic horror story stuck in among a collection of comic tales. And of course I got to it, oh, around 11 o'clock at night. I still can't pass a mirror in the dark without shivering.

This is all incredibly complimentary, by the way.