Is anyone out there love James Herriot's Books as much as I do? They are wonderful. If you haven't read them, give them a go.

-- Nancy (gndonley@hotmail.com), January 17, 2002

Answers

Sorry --- That's--- does anyone out there-----Typo!!!!

-- Nancy (gndonley@hotmail.com), January 17, 2002.

Love them....I've read them only about 20 times. Have you read his biography? "Siegfried" was actually kind of ticked that Herriot portrayed him the way that he did. I understand Jimmy has a book out about his dad too.

-- gita (gita@directcon.net), January 17, 2002.

Oh!! Yes!! Yes!! Yes!! My husband and I have both really liked them. We are also enjoying the PBS series "All Creatures Great and Small". It comes on every Saturday night here in northern MI and we love it. Since it is filmed in England we just love looking at all that beautiful countryside. Well I guess I have gushed enough.

-- Kathleen (dkruger@torchlake.com), January 17, 2002.

I like them too. I have a read a couple of the ones written for children to my son and they are good too. We just watched a video with two of the stories on it, I suppose it is what they are showing on PBS because it was made in England.

-- Terry - NW Ohio (aunt_tm@hotmail.com), January 17, 2002.

I loved the television series. I used to watch it every chance I got. I have thumbed thru the books but have never bought one or read one. I have been tempted but each time I am in the book stores it is to get something else to read. I always walk away say to myself I will get one of his books some other time. I could have read them all by now.

In the early 1980's I was addicted to the television series. I was visiting Vermont one year with a friend who used to work with a vet named Dr. Treat. We rode around with Dr. Treat all day. Everything about that day reminded me of the television series.

-- george (rcoopwalpole@aol.com), January 17, 2002.

I have only read the condensations in Readers Digest. I really liked the ones on his early days.

-- Jay Blair in N. AL (jayblair678@yahoo.com), January 17, 2002.

All creatures great and small, all things bright and beautiful, all things wise and wonderful, the Lord God made them all. That verse was on a Christmas greeting card that I received many years ago and still remember it. Soon after receiving the card, I realized that they were titles of books by Herriot and I soon had them on my bookshelves. I'd seen much of the TV series and then went to visit friends in Yorkshire. When I found that we were not far from where the series was filmed, we just had to pay a visit. That town is not a TV prop. It's named Thursk and has been kept "quaint" apparently forever and at the time, there was no signs or anything bragging about the town being "Darrowby". Besides, the main street through the town was made for horses, not car traffic. Herriot also enjoyed a few pints at one favorite watering hole in the middle of nowhere named Fox and Hounds. That name has been copied by many other puds and taverns around the world but the one in Yorkshire is the original and dates back many years. Yes, I also enjoyed a few pints when we visited it! For a pictorial look as his stomping grounds, get "James Herriot's Yorkshire". Great views. In all, there must be 8 or 9 books that he did. Great stories for anyone who's grown up on a farm that had a little of everything. Get quite a chuckle out of realizing that you've been there, done that!

Martin

-- Martin Longseth (paquebot@merr.com), January 17, 2002.

They are among my favorite books.I have read them all and love them all. What an inspiration he is. Read the one by his son too. Excellent!!

-- Jenny (auntjenny6@aol.com), January 17, 2002.

"All Things Bright and Beautiful

All Creatures Great and Small

All Things Wise and Wonderful

The Lord God Made Them All."

This is a great "children's hymn", although I like to sing it as an adult!

I love the James Herriott books. I initially read them about 30 years ago, and plan on reading them again some day. I watch the reruns on teevee when I get a chance (although I think they've stopped for a while) plus I work for a veterinarian and enjoy my small part of the work. While it's not exactly like some of the stories in the books, veterinary work is interesting and rewarding (and tiring sometimes) as I observe it.

Glad folks like Herriott's stories. Just remember that the current world is more complicated (and sometimes a little more heartbreaking and/or frustrating) than portrayed in fiction, even if it is grounded in historical fact. But I suspect you know that already! :-)

Thanks for posting this! I will watch for his books in thrift shops or the library (or the videos!)

-- sheepish (WA) (the_original_sheepish@Hotmail.com), January 17, 2002.

I loved those books!! And when I was younger and lived with my parents we used to watch the tv series all the time. Later, when I lived in Germany, they showed the series there as well, but dubbed with German voices, which really took a big chunk of the charm out of it! I miss Mrs Pumphrey and Tricky Woo and Tristan's antics.... *sigh*

-- Leslie A. (lashkani@hotmail.com), January 18, 2002.

Oh, gosh, yes! Though I'm never sure which of his characters I enjoy more...the two-footed, or the four.

If I'm not mistaken, Harriot (which was his penname, though I'm darned if I can remember his real name right now) passed away not all that long ago. What a fascinating life he led -- and how lucky all the rest of us are that he was so talented at describing it!

-- Christine (cytrowbridge@zianet.com), January 18, 2002.

Not only can't remember his real name...can't even spell his penname. That's what I get for playing on the computer this far past bedtime...

-- Christine (cytrowbridge@zianet.com), January 18, 2002.

Sheepish,

You're right! I had to get at all of my books and find the one where I stored the Christmas card. All these years, I had the first two lines transposed! CRS syndrome! Thanks for reminding me!

Marty

-- Martin Longseth (paquebot@merr.com), January 18, 2002.

James Herriot was the pen name of James Alfred Wight. He died in 1995. He was a practicing veterinarian near Thirsk in a house and clinic (Skeldale House) similar to the one shown in the TV series. The wrote 15 books in total. His first two were: "If Only They Could Talk" and "It Shouldn't Happen to a Vet" in Britian. In the U.S. they were combined in 1972 into "All Creatures Great and Small".

Siegfried Farnon is based on Donald Sinclair, the vet in Thirsk who gave him his first job out of the Glasgow Veterinary College in 1940. Sinclair's brother, Brian, is the model for Tristan.

-- Ken S. in WC TN (scharabo@aol.com), January 18, 2002.

I haved loved those books for years and years. You can read and re- read them and laugh and laugh. Wonderful books.

-- Cindy in KY (solidrockranch@msn.com), January 18, 2002.

We have two Lab mix dogs that remind us of the Boxer-I'm sure you know the story..... LOVE his books!

-- Jim NE KY (jedeweese@earthlink.ney), January 18, 2002.

We have loved those books for years but thanks for reminding me! I may read them again this winter!

During the Blizzard of 1993 in Alabama when we were COMPLETELY snowed in for nearly seven days and had no electricity, we put a mattress in front of the then-fireplace and slept there. Every night husband Roy would read outloud from a James Herroit book to Nathan (then 11) and me by the light of a kerosene lattern. It was one of the most special memories of our lives!

-- Suzy in Bama (skgt@yahoo.com), January 18, 2002.

I have read the Herriot series and several other books that he wrote and love them. I just finished a book called "Hero of the Herd" which was written by an American veterinarian. He has his own original style but I really enjoyed this book also. I can't remember the author's name, but I'll check when I'm at work next week (I work in a bookstore in the winter) and I'll get back to you.

-- Sheryl in Me (radams@sacoriver.net), January 18, 2002.

My Husband and I really enjoy James Herriot's books. We have a few, and have checked the others out from the library. I don't know how many times we have read each, but I know the front pages of a one are loose...

-- Marty (Mrs.Puck@Excite.com), January 18, 2002.

I'm another fan of the James Herriott novels. Found a big hardcover book that contained 3 of the books at one of these bookstore sales where they were selling "seconds", got it for about three bucks. Aside from a few crinkly pages, nothing wrong with the book. My parents and I all pick it up from time to time to read through portions of it, we've all read the stories right through.

My favourite part is where Tristan was put in charge of the piglets, and when they got loose at the market. Every time I read that it puts me in stitches.

-Chelsea

-- Chelsea (rmbehr@istar.ca), January 18, 2002.

Another fan here! We used to give the books away as gifts alot. One of my favorite memories is when he had to eat the "bacon", which was basically just a huge chunk of pork fat. So funny......

-- Earthmama (earthmama48@yahoo.com), January 18, 2002.

I'm in! Loved reading them, put me off vet work for life!! Lie down in the snow and put my arm WHERE??? I don't think so! Loved the show too.

-- gilly (wayoutfarm@skybest.com), January 18, 2002.

I loved all of the Herriot books ... have the three, in fact, and reread them periodically.

Also loved the "lie down in what and put your arm where??" ... I did a lot of that myself, growing up on a ranch ... it was always the 2 year old heifers but with range cattle, they weren't always that co- operative with assistance ...

I've also loved the books by Ben O. Green ... his first ones were about his pre-vet days (Horse Tradin' (2) and Wild Cow Tales) but he also became a vet and wrote about that as well. I think in some ways I related to his books even more than Herriot's as his experiences were closer to what I grew up with out west.

-- SFM in KY (timberln@hyperaction.net), January 19, 2002.

Any of you folks like Baxter Black's poetry? He's on NPR a lot.

-- sheepish (WA) (the_original_sheepish@hotmail.com), January 19, 2002.

Sheepish, I just got a 4 tape set of Baxter. It's really good! I will have to check out the James Herriot books, I love to read.

-- cowgirlone in OK (cowgirlone47@hotmail.com), January 19, 2002.