Thursday, May 20, 2021

Rosy Is My Relative by Gerald Durrell

 
First Line: Unaware that doom was overtaking him, Adrian Rookwhistle, in his shirt sleeves, was occupied in making faces at himself in his looking-glass.
 
Adrian Rookwhistle is a young man who's led an extremely quiet, circumscribed life, and his thirst for adventure is slaked when his uncle dies and leaves him an elephant named Rosy. Rosy is affectionate, but she eats a lot and has a penchant for drunken binges whenever she's in the vicinity of a pub. Adrian can't keep her, so he devises a plan to take her to the coast to find a circus to take her in even though his uncle's will forbade him to do that. 

What Adrian didn't realize is just how much of an adventure his trip with Rosy would be-- and that he'd be facing a prison term by the end. 
 
~
 
Gerald Durrell's cautionary tale for those who get what they wish for was the perfect book to read in order to raise my spirits. Durrell swore that the whole thing actually happened and that he merely clarified and embellished, but I really don't care one way or the other. The entire story played out on the movie screen of my mind, and I found myself laughing many times as I turned the pages. I'm even smiling as I type this review.
 
Adrian has a tough time steering Rosy clear of pubs on the way down to the coast, and they also come a cropper when meeting up with a local hunt club, a country house ball, and the stage at a seaside theater. Durrell's Dickens-esque names for his characters give this story the required light and charming touch that it needs, and he includes several turns of phrase that kept me laughing. You want examples, you say? Here are two. "Lady Fenneltree had "eyes like those of a particularly maladjusted python." "He bristled and quivered like a small, alert terrier at a rabbit hole."

If you're in need of something light, fun, filled with a lovable elephant and other brilliant cartoon-like characters, as well as a legal trial that will have you laughing with glee, pick up a copy of Rosy Is My Relative. I can feel her trunk tapping me on my shoulder now.

Rosy Is My Relative by Gerald Durrell
eISBN: 9781504042628
Open Road Integrated Media © 2016
Originally published in 1968.
eBook, 234 pages
 
Humor, Standalone
Rating: B+
Source: Purchased from Amazon.

14 comments:

  1. Oh, this does sound like fun, Cathy! And there's something so appealing about Rosy! I don't know why, but the fact that she's an elephant just really tickles me. Glad you enjoyed this.

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  2. This does sound fun. I'm curious about how an elephant goes on 'drunken binges' at pubs? LOL

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    1. You'll have to read the book to find out, Kay. Good to see you!

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  3. He gets an elephant? I love elephants. And that first line is great. :)

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    1. Rosy is very lovable, and that first line give you an excellent idea of how the story is going to unfold.

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  4. Gerald Durrell can be trusted to give you a laugh! I agree with you about his turns of phrase, they crack me up. This one sounds fun!

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    1. I really enjoyed it, as I have his other books that I've read.

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  5. Sounds like a lot of fun. Up my alley: It has humor and an elephant. What's not to like?

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