Wednesday, March 6, 2013

The Picnic and Suchlike Pandemonium


Author:      Gerald Durrell
Published: 2006
Publisher:  Westland Ltd.
Paperback: 244 pages



The author Gerald Durrell was a well known naturalist and conservationist. He was also  a zookeeper and wrote lots of books based on his experiences with animals. Now I am not a great animal enthusiast but I had really enjoyed one of his stories which we studied in high school. It was really a very humorous piece of writing.
So I couldn't resist picking up this book at Landmark when they were selling it at a bargain price of Rs.99.  
This book does not have any animal stories (but I am not complaining !) but has six pieces on  different pandemonic ( utterly confusing and chaotic) situations which he encountered.
The stories are about - a picnic with his family;  then a cruise with his family; a chance meeting with his ex-girlfriend  during his holiday in Venice; the impact of his reading a textbook on sexuality, on the staff of the hotel he was staying; the origins of a exotic dish served by a restaurant in France; spooky mirrors. 
Stories have a great sense of "Wodehousian" humor (except one which though well written  is a horror story) and I thoroughly enjoyed them.
A great read to lighten up your mood and enjoy all the good and bad things in life !



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