Very interesting!, 26 Dec 2008
I saw a couple of episodes of the TV series that ran in tandem with this book (why can't I get that on DVD?), and was fascinated to see how much depth the book gave to someone who, to be honest, came across as a bit of a chancer on the TV show.
I have no doubt that the passion shown by the family will see them through the rough patches and that they will turn their zoo into a place to be proud of-I will definately visit when I'm in the area!

Brilliant..totally worth the read and the £££, 01 Sep 2008
I picked this up first in Waterstone's and the first few pages had me smiling and then almost crying. So I bought it on here!

Just couldn't put it down, read it cover to cover. Really liked the style of writing, humorous, vulnerable and revealing in that wonderful English way. Felt included in the journey and privvy to the most fascinating parts of the revamp of the zoo and the authors life.

I have given this book to 3 friends and I am so impressed with it no doubt it will be making an appearance under several Xmas trees this year!

I bought the book!!, 07 Aug 2008
Exceedingly well written, Benjamin's style grips you from page one.
His mother sounds such a wild-card person, l would love to meet her.
be honest how many ladies of 76, decide to sell everything they
own and go in with their son and buy a Zoo.
The Zoo they took on, was in a dire state, and didn't have a licence
to let people see any of the animals, so hope of opening soon as
they bought it went out of the window.
The story tells of his/their ups and downs (and mainly downs),
of getting the zoo together, right up to going to the council
office and seeing if he had passed all the tests councils
require. I read it in 3 days which is quick for me. Very easy
to read, and very entertaining.

They bought a zoo, you should buy this book!, 20 Jul 2008
Having visited the place (Dartmoor wildlife park) pre-Mee, I was shocked by the state of the enclosures and the park as a whole. So when I saw that the park had been taken over and that the guy had written a book about his exploits during the renovation and re-opening I was intrigued. This book held me as captive as Mr Mee's animals are (I occasionally escaped to other areas of the house for refreshments etc!), I was unable to put this book down. It is superbly written, filled with interesting titbits of info about animal and human behaviour, adventure, sadness and is sprinkled with humourous moments (I laughed out loud at least 20 times). I thoroughly enjoyed this book and recommend reading it.

Very interesting!, 26 Dec 2008
I saw a couple of episodes of the TV series that ran in tandem with this book (why can't I get that on DVD?), and was fascinated to see how much depth the book gave to someone who, to be honest, came across as a bit of a chancer on the TV show.
I have no doubt that the passion shown by the family will see them through the rough patches and that they will turn their zoo into a place to be proud of-I will definately visit when I'm in the area!

Brilliant..totally worth the read and the £££, 01 Sep 2008
I picked this up first in Waterstone's and the first few pages had me smiling and then almost crying. So I bought it on here!

Just couldn't put it down, read it cover to cover. Really liked the style of writing, humorous, vulnerable and revealing in that wonderful English way. Felt included in the journey and privvy to the most fascinating parts of the revamp of the zoo and the authors life.

I have given this book to 3 friends and I am so impressed with it no doubt it will be making an appearance under several Xmas trees this year!

I bought the book!!, 07 Aug 2008
Exceedingly well written, Benjamin's style grips you from page one.
His mother sounds such a wild-card person, l would love to meet her.
be honest how many ladies of 76, decide to sell everything they
own and go in with their son and buy a Zoo.
The Zoo they took on, was in a dire state, and didn't have a licence
to let people see any of the animals, so hope of opening soon as
they bought it went out of the window.
The story tells of his/their ups and downs (and mainly downs),
of getting the zoo together, right up to going to the council
office and seeing if he had passed all the tests councils
require. I read it in 3 days which is quick for me. Very easy
to read, and very entertaining.

They bought a zoo, you should buy this book!, 20 Jul 2008
Having visited the place (Dartmoor wildlife park) pre-Mee, I was shocked by the state of the enclosures and the park as a whole. So when I saw that the park had been taken over and that the guy had written a book about his exploits during the renovation and re-opening I was intrigued. This book held me as captive as Mr Mee's animals are (I occasionally escaped to other areas of the house for refreshments etc!), I was unable to put this book down. It is superbly written, filled with interesting titbits of info about animal and human behaviour, adventure, sadness and is sprinkled with humourous moments (I laughed out loud at least 20 times). I thoroughly enjoyed this book and recommend reading it.

Not as good as "my family" but still a great book, 29 Aug 2008
Enjoyed this as with all Durrell's writing. Not as good as My Family but still told with his great attention to detail and wit.

rediscovering Gerald Durrell, 04 Feb 2008
I have recently rediscovered the pleasures of reading Gerald Durrell when I came across these reprints from Summersdale publishing. It has been a wonderful experience revisiting these magical true life stories stories and even more poignant in today's climate. A Man ahead of his time.

Very interesting!, 26 Dec 2008
I saw a couple of episodes of the TV series that ran in tandem with this book (why can't I get that on DVD?), and was fascinated to see how much depth the book gave to someone who, to be honest, came across as a bit of a chancer on the TV show.
I have no doubt that the passion shown by the family will see them through the rough patches and that they will turn their zoo into a place to be proud of-I will definately visit when I'm in the area!

Brilliant..totally worth the read and the £££, 01 Sep 2008
I picked this up first in Waterstone's and the first few pages had me smiling and then almost crying. So I bought it on here!

Just couldn't put it down, read it cover to cover. Really liked the style of writing, humorous, vulnerable and revealing in that wonderful English way. Felt included in the journey and privvy to the most fascinating parts of the revamp of the zoo and the authors life.

I have given this book to 3 friends and I am so impressed with it no doubt it will be making an appearance under several Xmas trees this year!

I bought the book!!, 07 Aug 2008
Exceedingly well written, Benjamin's style grips you from page one.
His mother sounds such a wild-card person, l would love to meet her.
be honest how many ladies of 76, decide to sell everything they
own and go in with their son and buy a Zoo.
The Zoo they took on, was in a dire state, and didn't have a licence
to let people see any of the animals, so hope of opening soon as
they bought it went out of the window.
The story tells of his/their ups and downs (and mainly downs),
of getting the zoo together, right up to going to the council
office and seeing if he had passed all the tests councils
require. I read it in 3 days which is quick for me. Very easy
to read, and very entertaining.

They bought a zoo, you should buy this book!, 20 Jul 2008
Having visited the place (Dartmoor wildlife park) pre-Mee, I was shocked by the state of the enclosures and the park as a whole. So when I saw that the park had been taken over and that the guy had written a book about his exploits during the renovation and re-opening I was intrigued. This book held me as captive as Mr Mee's animals are (I occasionally escaped to other areas of the house for refreshments etc!), I was unable to put this book down. It is superbly written, filled with interesting titbits of info about animal and human behaviour, adventure, sadness and is sprinkled with humourous moments (I laughed out loud at least 20 times). I thoroughly enjoyed this book and recommend reading it.

Not as good as "my family" but still a great book, 29 Aug 2008
Enjoyed this as with all Durrell's writing. Not as good as My Family but still told with his great attention to detail and wit.

rediscovering Gerald Durrell, 04 Feb 2008
I have recently rediscovered the pleasures of reading Gerald Durrell when I came across these reprints from Summersdale publishing. It has been a wonderful experience revisiting these magical true life stories stories and even more poignant in today's climate. A Man ahead of his time.

Heartwarming, 21 Oct 2007
A truly honest account of the most fascinating tale and passion for animals. I couldn't put this book down.

Humanity in the time of war, 02 May 2007
Mr. Lawrence is a courageous and brave man to go into Iraq to save the animals at the Baghdad Zoo. His determination and organizational ability to pull everyone together for such a noble cause is heartwarming. The Iraqi's, the soldiers, and Mr. Lawrence's passion for saving the animals makes this book such a great read. The writing is outstanding, the story is riveting. I highly recommend this book to everyone.

A Real Perspective on the War in Iraq, 10 Mar 2007
Firstly I will admit to buying this book for two reasons.

I know Lawrence personally and we even got married at Thula Thula, his Game Reserve near Empangeni, in South Africa. We have seen the work he puts into bringing together all the different communities and the environment at home, so we were not surprised at all when we heard he was in Iraq trying to rescue the animals that had been affected by the war.

What can I say about this book?

This is a totally different perspective on the Iraq War to the usual, everyday stories that you hear. Buy it, read it and embrace one of the true success stories to come out of a war that we are all probably sick of hearing about by now! This book is totally unique, genuine and extremely heart warming.

Very interesting!, 26 Dec 2008
I saw a couple of episodes of the TV series that ran in tandem with this book (why can't I get that on DVD?), and was fascinated to see how much depth the book gave to someone who, to be honest, came across as a bit of a chancer on the TV show.
I have no doubt that the passion shown by the family will see them through the rough patches and that they will turn their zoo into a place to be proud of-I will definately visit when I'm in the area!

Brilliant..totally worth the read and the £££, 01 Sep 2008
I picked this up first in Waterstone's and the first few pages had me smiling and then almost crying. So I bought it on here!

Just couldn't put it down, read it cover to cover. Really liked the style of writing, humorous, vulnerable and revealing in that wonderful English way. Felt included in the journey and privvy to the most fascinating parts of the revamp of the zoo and the authors life.

I have given this book to 3 friends and I am so impressed with it no doubt it will be making an appearance under several Xmas trees this year!

I bought the book!!, 07 Aug 2008
Exceedingly well written, Benjamin's style grips you from page one.
His mother sounds such a wild-card person, l would love to meet her.
be honest how many ladies of 76, decide to sell everything they
own and go in with their son and buy a Zoo.
The Zoo they took on, was in a dire state, and didn't have a licence
to let people see any of the animals, so hope of opening soon as
they bought it went out of the window.
The story tells of his/their ups and downs (and mainly downs),
of getting the zoo together, right up to going to the council
office and seeing if he had passed all the tests councils
require. I read it in 3 days which is quick for me. Very easy
to read, and very entertaining.

They bought a zoo, you should buy this book!, 20 Jul 2008
Having visited the place (Dartmoor wildlife park) pre-Mee, I was shocked by the state of the enclosures and the park as a whole. So when I saw that the park had been taken over and that the guy had written a book about his exploits during the renovation and re-opening I was intrigued. This book held me as captive as Mr Mee's animals are (I occasionally escaped to other areas of the house for refreshments etc!), I was unable to put this book down. It is superbly written, filled with interesting titbits of info about animal and human behaviour, adventure, sadness and is sprinkled with humourous moments (I laughed out loud at least 20 times). I thoroughly enjoyed this book and recommend reading it.

Not as good as "my family" but still a great book, 29 Aug 2008
Enjoyed this as with all Durrell's writing. Not as good as My Family but still told with his great attention to detail and wit.

rediscovering Gerald Durrell, 04 Feb 2008
I have recently rediscovered the pleasures of reading Gerald Durrell when I came across these reprints from Summersdale publishing. It has been a wonderful experience revisiting these magical true life stories stories and even more poignant in today's climate. A Man ahead of his time.

Heartwarming, 21 Oct 2007
A truly honest account of the most fascinating tale and passion for animals. I couldn't put this book down.

Humanity in the time of war, 02 May 2007
Mr. Lawrence is a courageous and brave man to go into Iraq to save the animals at the Baghdad Zoo. His determination and organizational ability to pull everyone together for such a noble cause is heartwarming. The Iraqi's, the soldiers, and Mr. Lawrence's passion for saving the animals makes this book such a great read. The writing is outstanding, the story is riveting. I highly recommend this book to everyone.

A Real Perspective on the War in Iraq, 10 Mar 2007
Firstly I will admit to buying this book for two reasons.

I know Lawrence personally and we even got married at Thula Thula, his Game Reserve near Empangeni, in South Africa. We have seen the work he puts into bringing together all the different communities and the environment at home, so we were not surprised at all when we heard he was in Iraq trying to rescue the animals that had been affected by the war.

What can I say about this book?

This is a totally different perspective on the Iraq War to the usual, everyday stories that you hear. Buy it, read it and embrace one of the true success stories to come out of a war that we are all probably sick of hearing about by now! This book is totally unique, genuine and extremely heart warming.

Chaotic and Inspriring, 09 Sep 2007
I imagine that if one sat down to afternoon tea at Stone Hills with Bookey Peek each afternoon for a month one would be regaled with the stories in this book.

The style of writing itself is much like that a friendly and frenetic chat.

The story of Poombi though, as the previous review also states - is the core of this book and one well worth reading.

If a story can MAKE one do anything Bookey Peek's book made me want to buy a bit of land in Southern Africa and rescue orphaned animals and birds.. and manage a slice of heaven and hell all rolled into one...

I recc. it to all those who have been to Africa (or long to go) and who spend their weekends wishing they were back there...

"All the Way Home" is a lovely book - just a whole heap of tales from Stone Hills, Zimbabwe pulled together by the recollections of the author and thoroughly immerses one in the sights, sounds and smell of her land. Would also make a great gift for any Africaphile or expat.



Captivating, 24 Apr 2007
This is a fantastic book, i have recommended it to all my friends. I loved reading about all the different wildlife and the way of life in Africa, especially Poombi the warthog, who you cant help but fall in love with.

Very interesting!, 26 Dec 2008
I saw a couple of episodes of the TV series that ran in tandem with this book (why can't I get that on DVD?), and was fascinated to see how much depth the book gave to someone who, to be honest, came across as a bit of a chancer on the TV show.
I have no doubt that the passion shown by the family will see them through the rough patches and that they will turn their zoo into a place to be proud of-I will definately visit when I'm in the area!

Brilliant..totally worth the read and the £££, 01 Sep 2008
I picked this up first in Waterstone's and the first few pages had me smiling and then almost crying. So I bought it on here!

Just couldn't put it down, read it cover to cover. Really liked the style of writing, humorous, vulnerable and revealing in that wonderful English way. Felt included in the journey and privvy to the most fascinating parts of the revamp of the zoo and the authors life.

I have given this book to 3 friends and I am so impressed with it no doubt it will be making an appearance under several Xmas trees this year!

I bought the book!!, 07 Aug 2008
Exceedingly well written, Benjamin's style grips you from page one.
His mother sounds such a wild-card person, l would love to meet her.
be honest how many ladies of 76, decide to sell everything they
own and go in with their son and buy a Zoo.
The Zoo they took on, was in a dire state, and didn't have a licence
to let people see any of the animals, so hope of opening soon as
they bought it went out of the window.
The story tells of his/their ups and downs (and mainly downs),
of getting the zoo together, right up to going to the council
office and seeing if he had passed all the tests councils
require. I read it in 3 days which is quick for me. Very easy
to read, and very entertaining.

They bought a zoo, you should buy this book!, 20 Jul 2008
Having visited the place (Dartmoor wildlife park) pre-Mee, I was shocked by the state of the enclosures and the park as a whole. So when I saw that the park had been taken over and that the guy had written a book about his exploits during the renovation and re-opening I was intrigued. This book held me as captive as Mr Mee's animals are (I occasionally escaped to other areas of the house for refreshments etc!), I was unable to put this book down. It is superbly written, filled with interesting titbits of info about animal and human behaviour, adventure, sadness and is sprinkled with humourous moments (I laughed out loud at least 20 times). I thoroughly enjoyed this book and recommend reading it.

Not as good as "my family" but still a great book, 29 Aug 2008
Enjoyed this as with all Durrell's writing. Not as good as My Family but still told with his great attention to detail and wit.

rediscovering Gerald Durrell, 04 Feb 2008
I have recently rediscovered the pleasures of reading Gerald Durrell when I came across these reprints from Summersdale publishing. It has been a wonderful experience revisiting these magical true life stories stories and even more poignant in today's climate. A Man ahead of his time.

Heartwarming, 21 Oct 2007
A truly honest account of the most fascinating tale and passion for animals. I couldn't put this book down.

Humanity in the time of war, 02 May 2007
Mr. Lawrence is a courageous and brave man to go into Iraq to save the animals at the Baghdad Zoo. His determination and organizational ability to pull everyone together for such a noble cause is heartwarming. The Iraqi's, the soldiers, and Mr. Lawrence's passion for saving the animals makes this book such a great read. The writing is outstanding, the story is riveting. I highly recommend this book to everyone.

A Real Perspective on the War in Iraq, 10 Mar 2007
Firstly I will admit to buying this book for two reasons.

I know Lawrence personally and we even got married at Thula Thula, his Game Reserve near Empangeni, in South Africa. We have seen the work he puts into bringing together all the different communities and the environment at home, so we were not surprised at all when we heard he was in Iraq trying to rescue the animals that had been affected by the war.

What can I say about this book?

This is a totally different perspective on the Iraq War to the usual, everyday stories that you hear. Buy it, read it and embrace one of the true success stories to come out of a war that we are all probably sick of hearing about by now! This book is totally unique, genuine and extremely heart warming.

Chaotic and Inspriring, 09 Sep 2007
I imagine that if one sat down to afternoon tea at Stone Hills with Bookey Peek each afternoon for a month one would be regaled with the stories in this book.

The style of writing itself is much like that a friendly and frenetic chat.

The story of Poombi though, as the previous review also states - is the core of this book and one well worth reading.

If a story can MAKE one do anything Bookey Peek's book made me want to buy a bit of land in Southern Africa and rescue orphaned animals and birds.. and manage a slice of heaven and hell all rolled into one...

I recc. it to all those who have been to Africa (or long to go) and who spend their weekends wishing they were back there...

"All the Way Home" is a lovely book - just a whole heap of tales from Stone Hills, Zimbabwe pulled together by the recollections of the author and thoroughly immerses one in the sights, sounds and smell of her land. Would also make a great gift for any Africaphile or expat.



Captivating, 24 Apr 2007
This is a fantastic book, i have recommended it to all my friends. I loved reading about all the different wildlife and the way of life in Africa, especially Poombi the warthog, who you cant help but fall in love with.

A must for anyone going to the Galapagos, 02 Feb 2004
This book really is a must. It's not too heavy or bulky but provides a great outline of these magnificent islands and their flora and fauna. I did not find the species descriptions hard work or difficult to get to grips with, in fact the whole book is filled with comic touches and little ancedotes which make it an easy read for professional biologists and people just wishing to visit this spectacular place. I loved both the islands and this book and it will become a treasured part of my library!

Very interesting!, 26 Dec 2008
I saw a couple of episodes of the TV series that ran in tandem with this book (why can't I get that on DVD?), and was fascinated to see how much depth the book gave to someone who, to be honest, came across as a bit of a chancer on the TV show.
I have no doubt that the passion shown by the family will see them through the rough patches and that they will turn their zoo into a place to be proud of-I will definately visit when I'm in the area!

Brilliant..totally worth the read and the £££, 01 Sep 2008
I picked this up first in Waterstone's and the first few pages had me smiling and then almost crying. So I bought it on here!

Just couldn't put it down, read it cover to cover. Really liked the style of writing, humorous, vulnerable and revealing in that wonderful English way. Felt included in the journey and privvy to the most fascinating parts of the revamp of the zoo and the authors life.

I have given this book to 3 friends and I am so impressed with it no doubt it will be making an appearance under several Xmas trees this year!

I bought the book!!, 07 Aug 2008
Exceedingly well written, Benjamin's style grips you from page one.
His mother sounds such a wild-card person, l would love to meet her.
be honest how many ladies of 76, decide to sell everything they
own and go in with their son and buy a Zoo.
The Zoo they took on, was in a dire state, and didn't have a licence
to let people see any of the animals, so hope of opening soon as
they bought it went out of the window.
The story tells of his/their ups and downs (and mainly downs),
of getting the zoo together, right up to going to the council
office and seeing if he had passed all the tests councils
require. I read it in 3 days which is quick for me. Very easy
to read, and very entertaining.

They bought a zoo, you should buy this book!, 20 Jul 2008
Having visited the place (Dartmoor wildlife park) pre-Mee, I was shocked by the state of the enclosures and the park as a whole. So when I saw that the park had been taken over and that the guy had written a book about his exploits during the renovation and re-opening I was intrigued. This book held me as captive as Mr Mee's animals are (I occasionally escaped to other areas of the house for refreshments etc!), I was unable to put this book down. It is superbly written, filled with interesting titbits of info about animal and human behaviour, adventure, sadness and is sprinkled with humourous moments (I laughed out loud at least 20 times). I thoroughly enjoyed this book and recommend reading it.

Not as good as "my family" but still a great book, 29 Aug 2008
Enjoyed this as with all Durrell's writing. Not as good as My Family but still told with his great attention to detail and wit.

rediscovering Gerald Durrell, 04 Feb 2008
I have recently rediscovered the pleasures of reading Gerald Durrell when I came across these reprints from Summersdale publishing. It has been a wonderful experience revisiting these magical true life stories stories and even more poignant in today's climate. A Man ahead of his time.

Heartwarming, 21 Oct 2007
A truly honest account of the most fascinating tale and passion for animals. I couldn't put this book down.

Humanity in the time of war, 02 May 2007
Mr. Lawrence is a courageous and brave man to go into Iraq to save the animals at the Baghdad Zoo. His determination and organizational ability to pull everyone together for such a noble cause is heartwarming. The Iraqi's, the soldiers, and Mr. Lawrence's passion for saving the animals makes this book such a great read. The writing is outstanding, the story is riveting. I highly recommend this book to everyone.

A Real Perspective on the War in Iraq, 10 Mar 2007
Firstly I will admit to buying this book for two reasons.

I know Lawrence personally and we even got married at Thula Thula, his Game Reserve near Empangeni, in South Africa. We have seen the work he puts into bringing together all the different communities and the environment at home, so we were not surprised at all when we heard he was in Iraq trying to rescue the animals that had been affected by the war.

What can I say about this book?

This is a totally different perspective on the Iraq War to the usual, everyday stories that you hear. Buy it, read it and embrace one of the true success stories to come out of a war that we are all probably sick of hearing about by now! This book is totally unique, genuine and extremely heart warming.

Chaotic and Inspriring, 09 Sep 2007
I imagine that if one sat down to afternoon tea at Stone Hills with Bookey Peek each afternoon for a month one would be regaled with the stories in this book.

The style of writing itself is much like that a friendly and frenetic chat.

The story of Poombi though, as the previous review also states - is the core of this book and one well worth reading.

If a story can MAKE one do anything Bookey Peek's book made me want to buy a bit of land in Southern Africa and rescue orphaned animals and birds.. and manage a slice of heaven and hell all rolled into one...

I recc. it to all those who have been to Africa (or long to go) and who spend their weekends wishing they were back there...

"All the Way Home" is a lovely book - just a whole heap of tales from Stone Hills, Zimbabwe pulled together by the recollections of the author and thoroughly immerses one in the sights, sounds and smell of her land. Would also make a great gift for any Africaphile or expat.



Captivating, 24 Apr 2007
This is a fantastic book, i have recommended it to all my friends. I loved reading about all the different wildlife and the way of life in Africa, especially Poombi the warthog, who you cant help but fall in love with.

A must for anyone going to the Galapagos, 02 Feb 2004
This book really is a must. It's not too heavy or bulky but provides a great outline of these magnificent islands and their flora and fauna. I did not find the species descriptions hard work or difficult to get to grips with, in fact the whole book is filled with comic touches and little ancedotes which make it an easy read for professional biologists and people just wishing to visit this spectacular place. I loved both the islands and this book and it will become a treasured part of my library!

Heartwarming, 21 Oct 2007
A truly honest account of the most fascinating tale and passion for animals. I couldn't put this book down.

Humanity in the time of war, 02 May 2007
Mr. Lawrence is a courageous and brave man to go into Iraq to save the animals at the Baghdad Zoo. His determination and organizational ability to pull everyone together for such a noble cause is heartwarming. The Iraqi's, the soldiers, and Mr. Lawrence's passion for saving the animals makes this book such a great read. The writing is outstanding, the story is riveting. I highly recommend this book to everyone.

A Real Perspective on the War in Iraq, 10 Mar 2007
Firstly I will admit to buying this book for two reasons.

I know Lawrence personally and we even got married at Thula Thula, his Game Reserve near Empangeni, in South Africa. We have seen the work he puts into bringing together all the different communities and the environment at home, so we were not surprised at all when we heard he was in Iraq trying to rescue the animals that had been affected by the war.

What can I say about this book?

This is a totally different perspective on the Iraq War to the usual, everyday stories that you hear. Buy it, read it and embrace one of the true success stories to come out of a war that we are all probably sick of hearing about by now! This book is totally unique, genuine and extremely heart warming.

Very interesting!, 26 Dec 2008
I saw a couple of episodes of the TV series that ran in tandem with this book (why can't I get that on DVD?), and was fascinated to see how much depth the book gave to someone who, to be honest, came across as a bit of a chancer on the TV show.
I have no doubt that the passion shown by the family will see them through the rough patches and that they will turn their zoo into a place to be proud of-I will definately visit when I'm in the area!

Brilliant..totally worth the read and the £££, 01 Sep 2008
I picked this up first in Waterstone's and the first few pages had me smiling and then almost crying. So I bought it on here!

Just couldn't put it down, read it cover to cover. Really liked the style of writing, humorous, vulnerable and revealing in that wonderful English way. Felt included in the journey and privvy to the most fascinating parts of the revamp of the zoo and the authors life.

I have given this book to 3 friends and I am so impressed with it no doubt it will be making an appearance under several Xmas trees this year!

I bought the book!!, 07 Aug 2008
Exceedingly well written, Benjamin's style grips you from page one.
His mother sounds such a wild-card person, l would love to meet her.
be honest how many ladies of 76, decide to sell everything they
own and go in with their son and buy a Zoo.
The Zoo they took on, was in a dire state, and didn't have a licence
to let people see any of the animals, so hope of opening soon as
they bought it went out of the window.
The story tells of his/their ups and downs (and mainly downs),
of getting the zoo together, right up to going to the council
office and seeing if he had passed all the tests councils
require. I read it in 3 days which is quick for me. Very easy
to read, and very entertaining.

They bought a zoo, you should buy this book!, 20 Jul 2008
Having visited the place (Dartmoor wildlife park) pre-Mee, I was shocked by the state of the enclosures and the park as a whole. So when I saw that the park had been taken over and that the guy had written a book about his exploits during the renovation and re-opening I was intrigued. This book held me as captive as Mr Mee's animals are (I occasionally escaped to other areas of the house for refreshments etc!), I was unable to put this book down. It is superbly written, filled with interesting titbits of info about animal and human behaviour, adventure, sadness and is sprinkled with humourous moments (I laughed out loud at least 20 times). I thoroughly enjoyed this book and recommend reading it.

Not as good as "my family" but still a great book, 29 Aug 2008
Enjoyed this as with all Durrell's writing. Not as good as My Family but still told with his great attention to detail and wit.

rediscovering Gerald Durrell, 04 Feb 2008
I have recently rediscovered the pleasures of reading Gerald Durrell when I came across these reprints from Summersdale publishing. It has been a wonderful experience revisiting these magical true life stories stories and even more poignant in today's climate. A Man ahead of his time.

Heartwarming, 21 Oct 2007
A truly honest account of the most fascinating tale and passion for animals. I couldn't put this book down.

Humanity in the time of war, 02 May 2007
Mr. Lawrence is a courageous and brave man to go into Iraq to save the animals at the Baghdad Zoo. His determination and organizational ability to pull everyone together for such a noble cause is heartwarming. The Iraqi's, the soldiers, and Mr. Lawrence's passion for saving the animals makes this book such a great read. The writing is outstanding, the story is riveting. I highly recommend this book to everyone.

A Real Perspective on the War in Iraq, 10 Mar 2007
Firstly I will admit to buying this book for two reasons.

I know Lawrence personally and we even got married at Thula Thula, his Game Reserve near Empangeni, in South Africa. We have seen the work he puts into bringing together all the different communities and the environment at home, so we were not surprised at all when we heard he was in Iraq trying to rescue the animals that had been affected by the war.

What can I say about this book?

This is a totally different perspective on the Iraq War to the usual, everyday stories that you hear. Buy it, read it and embrace one of the true success stories to come out of a war that we are all probably sick of hearing about by now! This book is totally unique, genuine and extremely heart warming.

Chaotic and Inspriring, 09 Sep 2007
I imagine that if one sat down to afternoon tea at Stone Hills with Bookey Peek each afternoon for a month one would be regaled with the stories in this book.

The style of writing itself is much like that a friendly and frenetic chat.

The story of Poombi though, as the previous review also states - is the core of this book and one well worth reading.

If a story can MAKE one do anything Bookey Peek's book made me want to buy a bit of land in Southern Africa and rescue orphaned animals and birds.. and manage a slice of heaven and hell all rolled into one...

I recc. it to all those who have been to Africa (or long to go) and who spend their weekends wishing they were back there...

"All the Way Home" is a lovely book - just a whole heap of tales from Stone Hills, Zimbabwe pulled together by the recollections of the author and thoroughly immerses one in the sights, sounds and smell of her land. Would also make a great gift for any Africaphile or expat.



Captivating, 24 Apr 2007
This is a fantastic book, i have recommended it to all my friends. I loved reading about all the different wildlife and the way of life in Africa, especially Poombi the warthog, who you cant help but fall in love with.

A must for anyone going to the Galapagos, 02 Feb 2004
This book really is a must. It's not too heavy or bulky but provides a great outline of these magnificent islands and their flora and fauna. I did not find the species descriptions hard work or difficult to get to grips with, in fact the whole book is filled with comic touches and little ancedotes which make it an easy read for professional biologists and people just wishing to visit this spectacular place. I loved both the islands and this book and it will become a treasured part of my library!

Heartwarming, 21 Oct 2007
A truly honest account of the most fascinating tale and passion for animals. I couldn't put this book down.

Humanity in the time of war, 02 May 2007
Mr. Lawrence is a courageous and brave man to go into Iraq to save the animals at the Baghdad Zoo. His determination and organizational ability to pull everyone together for such a noble cause is heartwarming. The Iraqi's, the soldiers, and Mr. Lawrence's passion for saving the animals makes this book such a great read. The writing is outstanding, the story is riveting. I highly recommend this book to everyone.

A Real Perspective on the War in Iraq, 10 Mar 2007
Firstly I will admit to buying this book for two reasons.

I know Lawrence personally and we even got married at Thula Thula, his Game Reserve near Empangeni, in South Africa. We have seen the work he puts into bringing together all the different communities and the environment at home, so we were not surprised at all when we heard he was in Iraq trying to rescue the animals that had been affected by the war.

What can I say about this book?

This is a totally different perspective on the Iraq War to the usual, everyday stories that you hear. Buy it, read it and embrace one of the true success stories to come out of a war that we are all probably sick of hearing about by now! This book is totally unique, genuine and extremely heart warming.

Could be better, 06 Aug 2007
A better title for this book would probably be 'The Development of London Zoo'. The main angle of its approach is how the zoo was built up from its early beginnings as an animal display to the nucleus of a vast conservation organisation that it is today, with particular focus on the development of buildings and of finance.

For me this was the wrong approach to take. I would have preferred greater emphasis on the animals within the zoo and the development of conservation initiatives implemented. More detail of the ways the animals were kept and the success of breeding programmes would, I think, have been of greater interest.

One aspect of the book which I was impressed by was the attention given to various zoo personalities. There are many excellent anecdotes about individual animals as well as proper coverage given of the major human contributors to the zoos progress without whom the zoo may never have become what it was.

One drawback is that although the book is written chronologically the author skips between dates very frequently so it is easy to get confused about what period of the zoos history he is referring to. It is difficult to write the stories of individual structural developments without this but it could have been improved by better editing or placing less attention on buildings.

Another disappointment is the reluctance to confront difficult issues. There is very little coverage of the unsuitable conditions the animals were kept in in early years, and none at all on the question of the zoos long-lasting use of wild-caught animals - a highly controversial matter. It would have been nice to see these issues addressed rather than being deflected with the claim (albeit an fair one) that the zoo was covering new ground and had to learn from its mistakes.

This is a good book and does give a concise history of the zoo in a suitably sized volume. However I believe it could have been more interesting had t been approached from a slightly different angle. If you have an interest in the history of animals in captivity you'll probably like this. But if you're looking for a book on conservation efforts in zoos look elsewhere.

Very interesting!, 26 Dec 2008
I saw a couple of episodes of the TV series that ran in tandem with this book (why can't I get that on DVD?), and was fascinated to see how much depth the book gave to someone who, to be honest, came across as a bit of a chancer on the TV show.
I have no doubt that the passion shown by the family will see them through the rough patches and that they will turn their zoo into a place to be proud of-I will definately visit when I'm in the area!

Brilliant..totally worth the read and the £££, 01 Sep 2008
I picked this up first in Waterstone's and the first few pages had me smiling and then almost crying. So I bought it on here!

Just couldn't put it down, read it cover to cover. Really liked the style of writing, humorous, vulnerable and revealing in that wonderful English way. Felt included in the journey and privvy to the most fascinating parts of the revamp of the zoo and the authors life.

I have given this book to 3 friends and I am so impressed with it no doubt it will be making an appearance under several Xmas trees this year!

I bought the book!!, 07 Aug 2008
Exceedingly well written, Benjamin's style grips you from page one.
His mother sounds such a wild-card person, l would love to meet her.
be honest how many ladies of 76, decide to sell everything they
own and go in with their son and buy a Zoo.
The Zoo they took on, was in a dire state, and didn't have a licence
to let people see any of the animals, so hope of opening soon as
they bought it went out of the window.
The story tells of his/their ups and downs (and mainly downs),
of getting the zoo together, right up to going to the council
office and seeing if he had passed all the tests councils
require. I read it in 3 days which is quick for me. Very easy
to read, and very entertaining.

They bought a zoo, you should buy this book!, 20 Jul 2008
Having visited the place (Dartmoor wildlife park) pre-Mee, I was shocked by the state of the enclosures and the park as a whole. So when I saw that the park had been taken over and that the guy had written a book about his exploits during the renovation and re-opening I was intrigued. This book held me as captive as Mr Mee's animals are (I occasionally escaped to other areas of the house for refreshments etc!), I was unable to put this book down. It is superbly written, filled with interesting titbits of info about animal and human behaviour, adventure, sadness and is sprinkled with humourous moments (I laughed out loud at least 20 times). I thoroughly enjoyed this book and recommend reading it.

Not as good as "my family" but still a great book, 29 Aug 2008
Enjoyed this as with all Durrell's writing. Not as good as My Family but still told with his great attention to detail and wit.

rediscovering Gerald Durrell, 04 Feb 2008
I have recently rediscovered the pleasures of reading Gerald Durrell when I came across these reprints from Summersdale publishing. It has been a wonderful experience revisiting these magical true life stories stories and even more poignant in today's climate. A Man ahead of his time.

Heartwarming, 21 Oct 2007
A truly honest account of the most fascinating tale and passion for animals. I couldn't put this book down.

Humanity in the time of war, 02 May 2007
Mr. Lawrence is a courageous and brave man to go into Iraq to save the animals at the Baghdad Zoo. His determination and organizational ability to pull everyone together for such a noble cause is heartwarming. The Iraqi's, the soldiers, and Mr. Lawrence's passion for saving the animals makes this book such a great read. The writing is outstanding, the story is riveting. I highly recommend this book to everyone.

A Real Perspective on the War in Iraq, 10 Mar 2007
Firstly I will admit to buying this book for two reasons.

I know Lawrence personally and we even got married at Thula Thula, his Game Reserve near Empangeni, in South Africa. We have seen the work he puts into bringing together all the different communities and the environment at home, so we were not surprised at all when we heard he was in Iraq trying to rescue the animals that had been affected by the war.

What can I say about this book?

This is a totally different perspective on the Iraq War to the usual, everyday stories that you hear. Buy it, read it and embrace one of the true success stories to come out of a war that we are all probably sick of hearing about by now! This book is totally unique, genuine and extremely heart warming.

Chaotic and Inspriring, 09 Sep 2007
I imagine that if one sat down to afternoon tea at Stone Hills with Bookey Peek each afternoon for a month one would be regaled with the stories in this book.

The style of writing itself is much like that a friendly and frenetic chat.

The story of Poombi though, as the previous review also states - is the core of this book and one well worth reading.

If a story can MAKE one do anything Bookey Peek's book made me want to buy a bit of land in Southern Africa and rescue orphaned animals and birds.. and manage a slice of heaven and hell all rolled into one...

I recc. it to all those who have been to Africa (or long to go) and who spend their weekends wishing they were back there...

"All the Way Home" is a lovely book - just a whole heap of tales from Stone Hills, Zimbabwe pulled together by the recollections of the author and thoroughly immerses one in the sights, sounds and smell of her land. Would also make a great gift for any Africaphile or expat.



Captivating, 24 Apr 2007
This is a fantastic book, i have recommended it to all my friends. I loved reading about all the different wildlife and the way of life in Africa, especially Poombi the warthog, who you cant help but fall in love with.

A must for anyone going to the Galapagos, 02 Feb 2004
This book really is a must. It's not too heavy or bulky but provides a great outline of these magnificent islands and their flora and fauna. I did not find the species descriptions hard work or difficult to get to grips with, in fact the whole book is filled with comic touches and little ancedotes which make it an easy read for professional biologists and people just wishing to visit this spectacular place. I loved both the islands and this book and it will become a treasured part of my library!

Heartwarming, 21 Oct 2007
A truly honest account of the most fascinating tale and passion for animals. I couldn't put this book down.

Humanity in the time of war, 02 May 2007
Mr. Lawrence is a courageous and brave man to go into Iraq to save the animals at the Baghdad Zoo. His determination and organizational ability to pull everyone together for such a noble cause is heartwarming. The Iraqi's, the soldiers, and Mr. Lawrence's passion for saving the animals makes this book such a great read. The writing is outstanding, the story is riveting. I highly recommend this book to everyone.

A Real Perspective on the War in Iraq, 10 Mar 2007
Firstly I will admit to buying this book for two reasons.

I know Lawrence personally and we even got married at Thula Thula, his Game Reserve near Empangeni, in South Africa. We have seen the work he puts into bringing together all the different communities and the environment at home, so we were not surprised at all when we heard he was in Iraq trying to rescue the animals that had been affected by the war.

What can I say about this book?

This is a totally different perspective on the Iraq War to the usual, everyday stories that you hear. Buy it, read it and embrace one of the true success stories to come out of a war that we are all probably sick of hearing about by now! This book is totally unique, genuine and extremely heart warming.

Could be better, 06 Aug 2007
A better title for this book would probably be 'The Development of London Zoo'. The main angle of its approach is how the zoo was built up from its early beginnings as an animal display to the nucleus of a vast conservation organisation that it is today, with particular focus on the development of buildings and of finance.

For me this was the wrong approach to take. I would have preferred greater emphasis on the animals within the zoo and the development of conservation initiatives implemented. More detail of the ways the animals were kept and the success of breeding programmes would, I think, have been of greater interest.

One aspect of the book which I was impressed by was the attention given to various zoo personalities. There are many excellent anecdotes about individual animals as well as proper coverage given of the major human contributors to the zoos progress without whom the zoo may never have become what it was.

One drawback is that although the book is written chronologically the author skips between dates very frequently so it is easy to get confused about what period of the zoos history he is referring to. It is difficult to write the stories of individual structural developments without this but it could have been improved by better editing or placing less attention on buildings.

Another disappointment is the reluctance to confront difficult issues. There is very little coverage of the unsuitable conditions the animals were kept in in early years, and none at all on the question of the zoos long-lasting use of wild-caught animals - a highly controversial matter. It would have been nice to see these issues addressed rather than being deflected with the claim (albeit an fair one) that the zoo was covering new ground and had to learn from its mistakes.

This is a good book and does give a concise history of the zoo in a suitably sized volume. However I believe it could have been more interesting had t been approached from a slightly different angle. If you have an interest in the history of animals in captivity you'll probably like this. But if you're looking for a book on conservation efforts in zoos look elsewhere.

Ruti: everyone's favourite giraffe, 06 May 2008
A great read. You cannot fail to develop a real fondness for Dr Sami, the vet / visionary at the Qalqilya zoo. It is a real story about the struggles of Dr Sami and the team at the zoo (the last remaining zoo currently operating in the Palestinian Territories) to keep it up and running in these times of adversity, to entertain and more importantly to educate the people, especially the children, of the Palestinian Territories. The book is written in a very humorous, endearing way which makes you want to laugh and cry reading about the day to day life of the people and animals. When you have finished reading the book, you will want to meet Dr Sami and shake him by the hand for being so determined and resourceful in his quest to grow Qalqilya into his dream of an International zoo. Let's hope that this book raises our awareness of the struggles facing the civilian people in the Palestinian Territories in a similar way to which the Kite Runner did for Afghanistan. This is the book for you if you are looking for an easily accessible way to learn about a troubled part of the world in a very different context to that you will pick up from the international news media. It is is informative and insightful about the Palestinian Territories, the psyche of the people and the history and daily lives of the animals of this unique zoo.

Very interesting!, 26 Dec 2008
I saw a couple of episodes of the TV series that ran in tandem with this book (why can't I get that on DVD?), and was fascinated to see how much depth the book gave to someone who, to be honest, came across as a bit of a chancer on the TV show.
I have no doubt that the passion shown by the family will see them through the rough patches and that they will turn their zoo into a place to be proud of-I will definately visit when I'm in the area!

Brilliant..totally worth the read and the £££, 01 Sep 2008
I picked this up first in Waterstone's and the first few pages had me smiling and then almost crying. So I bought it on here!

Just couldn't put it down, read it cover to cover. Really liked the style of writing, humorous, vulnerable and revealing in that wonderful English way. Felt included in the journey and privvy to the most fascinating parts of the revamp of the zoo and the authors life.

I have given this book to 3 friends and I am so impressed with it no doubt it will be making an appearance under several Xmas trees this year!

I bought the book!!, 07 Aug 2008
Exceedingly well written, Benjamin's style grips you from page one.
His mother sounds such a wild-card person, l would love to meet her.
be honest how many ladies of 76, decide to sell everything they
own and go in with their son and buy a Zoo.
The Zoo they took on, was in a dire state, and didn't have a licence
to let people see any of the animals, so hope of opening soon as
they bought it went out of the window.
The story tells of his/their ups and downs (and mainly downs),
of getting the zoo together, right up to going to the council
office and seeing if he had passed all the tests councils
require. I read it in 3 days which is quick for me. Very easy
to read, and very entertaining.

They bought a zoo, you should buy this book!, 20 Jul 2008
Having visited the place (Dartmoor wildlife park) pre-Mee, I was shocked by the state of the enclosures and the park as a whole. So when I saw that the park had been taken over and that the guy had written a book about his exploits during the renovation and re-opening I was intrigued. This book held me as captive as Mr Mee's animals are (I occasionally escaped to other areas of the house for refreshments etc!), I was unable to put this book down. It is superbly written, filled with interesting titbits of info about animal and human behaviour, adventure, sadness and is sprinkled with humourous moments (I laughed out loud at least 20 times). I thoroughly enjoyed this book and recommend reading it.

Not as good as "my family" but still a great book, 29 Aug 2008
Enjoyed this as with all Durrell's writing. Not as good as My Family but still told with his great attention to detail and wit.

rediscovering Gerald Durrell, 04 Feb 2008
I have recently rediscovered the pleasures of reading Gerald Durrell when I came across these reprints from Summersdale publishing. It has been a wonderful experience revisiting these magical true life stories stories and even more poignant in today's climate. A Man ahead of his time.

Heartwarming, 21 Oct 2007
A truly honest account of the most fascinating tale and passion for animals. I couldn't put this book down.

Humanity in the time of war, 02 May 2007
Mr. Lawrence is a courageous and brave man to go into Iraq to save the animals at the Baghdad Zoo. His determination and organizational ability to pull everyone together for such a noble cause is heartwarming. The Iraqi's, the soldiers, and Mr. Lawrence's passion for saving the animals makes this book such a great read. The writing is outstanding, the story is riveting. I highly recommend this book to everyone.

A Real Perspective on the War in Iraq, 10 Mar 2007
Firstly I will admit to buying this book for two reasons.

I know Lawrence personally and we even got married at Thula Thula, his Game Reserve near Empangeni, in South Africa. We have seen the work he puts into bringing together all the different communities and the environment at home, so we were not surprised at all when we heard he was in Iraq trying to rescue the animals that had been affected by the war.

What can I say about this book?

This is a totally different perspective on the Iraq War to the usual, everyday stories that you hear. Buy it, read it and embrace one of the true success stories to come out of a war that we are all probably sick of hearing about by now! This book is totally unique, genuine and extremely heart warming.

Chaotic and Inspriring, 09 Sep 2007
I imagine that if one sat down to afternoon tea at Stone Hills with Bookey Peek each afternoon for a month one would be regaled with the stories in this book.

The style of writing itself is much like that a friendly and frenetic chat.

The story of Poombi though, as the previous review also states - is the core of this book and one well worth reading.

If a story can MAKE one do anything Bookey Peek's book made me want to buy a bit of land in Southern Africa and rescue orphaned animals and birds.. and manage a slice of heaven and hell all rolled into one...

I recc. it to all those who have been to Africa (or long to go) and who spend their weekends wishing they were back there...

"All the Way Home" is a lovely book - just a whole heap of tales from Stone Hills, Zimbabwe pulled together by the recollections of the author and thoroughly immerses one in the sights, sounds and smell of her land. Would also make a great gift for any Africaphile or expat.



Captivating, 24 Apr 2007
This is a fantastic book, i have recommended it to all my friends. I loved reading about all the different wildlife and the way of life in Africa, especially Poombi the warthog, who you cant help but fall in love with.

A must for anyone going to the Galapagos, 02 Feb 2004
This book really is a must. It's not too heavy or bulky but provides a great outline of these magnificent islands and their flora and fauna. I did not find the species descriptions hard work or difficult to get to grips with, in fact the whole book is filled with comic touches and little ancedotes which make it an easy read for professional biologists and people just wishing to visit this spectacular place. I loved both the islands and this book and it will become a treasured part of my library!

Heartwarming, 21 Oct 2007
A truly honest account of the most fascinating tale and passion for animals. I couldn't put this book down.

Humanity in the time of war, 02 May 2007
Mr. Lawrence is a courageous and brave man to go into Iraq to save the animals at the Baghdad Zoo. His determination and organizational ability to pull everyone together for such a noble cause is heartwarming. The Iraqi's, the soldiers, and Mr. Lawrence's passion for saving the animals makes this book such a great read. The writing is outstanding, the story is riveting. I highly recommend this book to everyone.

A Real Perspective on the War in Iraq, 10 Mar 2007
Firstly I will admit to buying this book for two reasons.

I know Lawrence personally and we even got married at Thula Thula, his Game Reserve near Empangeni, in South Africa. We have seen the work he puts into bringing together all the different communities and the environment at home, so we were not surprised at all when we heard he was in Iraq trying to rescue the animals that had been affected by the war.

What can I say about this book?

This is a totally different perspective on the Iraq War to the usual, everyday stories that you hear. Buy it, read it and embrace one of the true success stories to come out of a war that we are all probably sick of hearing about by now! This book is totally unique, genuine and extremely heart warming.

Could be better, 06 Aug 2007
A better title for this book would probably be 'The Development of London Zoo'. The main angle of its approach is how the zoo was built up from its early beginnings as an animal display to the nucleus of a vast conservation organisation that it is today, with particular focus on the development of buildings and of finance.

For me this was the wrong approach to take. I would have preferred greater emphasis on the animals within the zoo and the development of conservation initiatives implemented. More detail of the ways the animals were kept and the success of breeding programmes would, I think, have been of greater interest.

One aspect of the book which I was impressed by was the attention given to various zoo personalities. There are many excellent anecdotes about individual animals as well as proper coverage given of the major human contributors to the zoos progress without whom the zoo may never have become what it was.

One drawback is that although the book is written chronologically the author skips between dates very frequently so it is easy to get confused about what period of the zoos history he is referring to. It is difficult to write the stories of individual structural developments without this but it could have been improved by better editing or placing less attention on buildings.

Another disappointment is the reluctance to confront difficult issues. There is very little coverage of the unsuitable conditions the animals were kept in in early years, and none at all on the question of the zoos long-lasting use of wild-caught animals - a highly controversial matter. It would have been nice to see these issues addressed rather than being deflected with the claim (albeit an fair one) that the zoo was covering new ground and had to learn from its mistakes.

This is a good book and does give a concise history of the zoo in a suitably sized volume. However I believe it could have been more interesting had t been approached from a slightly different angle. If you have an interest in the history of animals in captivity you'll probably like this. But if you're looking for a book on conservation efforts in zoos look elsewhere.

Ruti: everyone's favourite giraffe, 06 May 2008
A great read. You cannot fail to develop a real fondness for Dr Sami, the vet / visionary at the Qalqilya zoo. It is a real story about the struggles of Dr Sami and the team at the zoo (the last remaining zoo currently operating in the Palestinian Territories) to keep it up and running in these times of adversity, to entertain and more importantly to educate the people, especially the children, of the Palestinian Territories. The book is written in a very humorous, endearing way which makes you want to laugh and cry reading about the day to day life of the people and animals. When you have finished reading the book, you will want to meet Dr Sami and shake him by the hand for being so determined and resourceful in his quest to grow Qalqilya into his dream of an International zoo. Let's hope that this book raises our awareness of the struggles facing the civilian people in the Palestinian Territories in a similar way to which the Kite Runner did for Afghanistan. This is the book for you if you are looking for an easily accessible way to learn about a troubled part of the world in a very different context to that you will pick up from the international news media. It is is informative and insightful about the Palestinian Territories, the psyche of the people and the history and daily lives of the animals of this unique zoo.

Outstanding Overview, 04 Jan 2006
Ideal for those who think London is devoid of wildlife.Myself included. Buy this book...you will not be disappointed.