AUTHOR: Sy Montgomery (illustrated by Rebecca Green
PUBLISHER: Houghton, Mifflin Harcourt
PUB. YEAR: 2018
SETTING: N/A
FORMAT: - library/eGalley
RATING: 3.5/5 stars
FORMAT: - library/eGalley
RATING: 3.5/5 stars
How To Be a Good Creature is a different type of memoir. The author has traveled the world to study animals. Her memoir reflects her interactions with some (13) different animals: (4) dogs of her own, pigs, an octopus, a tree kangaroo, a trio of emu, a tarantula, an elephant and more. Each chapter is a personal essay of sorts about her interactions with the animal, observations and what the experience meant to her.
A slim book with a larger print for aging eyes and lovely illustrations, it might make a nice gift for the animal lover in your life.
Honestly, this book was not all what I was expecting. It's more of an intimate look into the author's life, her travels around the globe and how the animals she encountered along her life journey affected her. The author writes about love and loss, an abusive childhood, her struggles with depression and the way animals helped her to cope.
This sounds a bit like a book that couldn't quite decide what it wanted to be. I think I'd be expecting animal interactions and surprised to find the personal side of things.
ReplyDeleteThe array of animals was what surprised me the most I think.
DeleteI sure wouldn't have guessed it was about that either!
ReplyDeleteYes, the title threw me.
DeleteIt sounds delightful.
ReplyDeleteVery different.
DeleteThis book sounds wonderful, illustrations and memoir.
ReplyDeleteI think most animal lovers would enjoy it to some degree.
DeleteWhat an interesting idea for a memoir!
ReplyDeleteDifferent for sure, and not too long so it is worth a try.
DeleteI enjoyed one of her books - The Soul of the Octopus (which, coincidentally, I reviewed today!) - and will look for this one at the library!
ReplyDeleteToo funny, I think us Sagatarians are of like minds LOL
DeleteI bet you might Vicki.
ReplyDelete