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Summary: Enjoyable Work For James Herriot Fans
Review: James Herriot is a compelling writing to many of his readers. But there is a veil of idealism that hangs about his life and times in Yorkshire.This work gives us a glimpse behind the veil. But, perhaps, it is better to keep it in place.
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Summary: Food for the Herriotophile
Review: Jim Wight has a warm and endearing style, revealing a fuller picture of this kind and gentle man, his father. The content is fascinating, taking the reader, again, to the beauty of the Yorkshire dales and moors, bringing tears of laughter and episodes of touching reality of simpler times that so many of us long for. Through this book, Wight shares with the reader many more events in his father's most interesting life. We come to know James Herriot more intimately, even after his death. The narrative is a beautiful tribute to a deep love of a son for a father. While reading "The Real James Herriot...", ever present was the memory of my unexpected chance meeting with him while walking along the path in front of his home a few years ago. This book reveals the gracious, polite and feeling man we were introduced to all those years ago in "All Creatures Great and Small".
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Summary: A "One sitting" book
Review: Loved the Herriot stories. This book explains the real personal lives of the characters. Although not autobiographical, the Herriot books were based on real incidents. His son adds a lot to my enjoyment.
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Summary: The Real James Herriot
Review: The Real James Herriot by Jim Wright is a great memoir to his father. The book written about Alf Wright also known as James Herriot, is a great written history of his life. James Herriot is the author of All Things Great and Small, which is one of his best literary works. James was also a well-known veterinarian in the small Yorkshire town of Thrisk. He has based many of his works on the experiences he had as a veterinary. I would highly recommend this biography to people who appreciate all animals.
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Summary: "Aye, he were a right decent feller"
Review: This is a poignant and earthy memoir of a man beloved by his family and friends as much as by his countless thousands of fans the world over. James Wight, son of the famous "James Herriot", does an admirable job of filling in the often less than idyllic real-world background for an idyllic life and phenomenal literary success, without spoiling the effect of a humble, sensitive, and rewarding life. James Herriot often averred that he was 99% vet, and 1% writer, but he was 100% human, and beloved for his warmth and concern for all creatures great and small. I thoroughly enjoyed this book as an insightful and readable account of the Yorkshire vet known the world over, and find it a fitting conclusion to the Herriot stories. How pleasant to think that it might also be the beginning of a literary career for yet another "Herriot", as James Wight's aptitude with the written word moves the account along admirably, and does his father proud.
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Summary: From the heart..
Review: This was a beautiful book, poignant, amusing, terribly funny at times, but most of all - realistic (I think!) Jim Wight's rendition of his family's life is brilliant and his rendition of 'Good old Glasgow Town' is so realistic. My dad's family lived in Anniesland Road (where 'Pops' and grandma lived). They had a grocer's shop in the area at that time. Name of 'Donnelly'. We all agree that the descriptions of Glasgow, portrayed by Jim Wight, are excellent! He may have been too kind though! We were lucky we lived in the 'West End' and in an even posher place than Yoker! His descriptions of the 'Dales' are completely accurate. One gets 'taken in' by the freshness and 'innocence' of the country side. I love to visit the area and make it a regular habit. The atmosphere in this market town has an energy about it! We usually stay at a B&B in Topcliffe Rd. (After the fourth 'bump' past the Tesco's Roundabout). Lovely place. Have read ALL James Herriot books and still feel warmth and humour when I re-read. But I was so pleased to read J. Wight's book about his father. It is a book one must read if one is interested in the life of A.J. Wight (James Herriot). I met Jim about 8 weeks ago at 23 Kirkdale in Thirsk, whilst my husband and I were being 'tourists'. He is a lovely man and one whom I would like to meet again. We talked a bit about Glasgow. Thank you for the wonderful reading! Would like to read more! Cheerio! P.S. How do you actually SEND this message?!
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Summary: The Son Inherits His Father's Ability
Review: This was the first biography that I can remember reading in decades. I've usually found biographies to be rather dry. In this case, however, "little Jimmy" has inherited some of his father's writing ability. Having enjoyed the books and the TV series I was very pleased to enjoy the biography as much. While fans of the "James Herriot" books know they are not largely autobiographical, it was fun to be let in on how James Wight got his stories and what the real stories were. If you've read and enjoyed Wight's books and/or seen and enjoyed the TV series, pick up this book. I hope and expect that for "All Creatures Great and Small" James' son is following in his father's footsteps as a Vet as well as he's done as a writer of this book.
Rating:
Summary: The Son Inherits His Father's Ability
Review: This was the first biography that I can remember reading in decades. I've usually found biographies to be rather dry. In this case, however, "little Jimmy" has inherited some of his father's writing ability. Having enjoyed the books and the TV series I was very pleased to enjoy the biography as much. While fans of the "James Herriot" books know they are not largely autobiographical, it was fun to be let in on how James Wight got his stories and what the real stories were. If you've read and enjoyed Wight's books and/or seen and enjoyed the TV series, pick up this book. I hope and expect that for "All Creatures Great and Small" James' son is following in his father's footsteps as a Vet as well as he's done as a writer of this book.
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Summary: A wonderful insight into James Herriot!
Review: Well do I remember the day back in the 1980s when I stopped in Thirsk on my way from York to Edinburgh. As we headed for the door of the most famous veterinary surgery in the world just to stand and look at it, a local man passed us. The expression on his kind face was amused, as if he knew a secret that we didn't. Our stunned reaction was the same - was that who we thought it was? By the time we concurred and turned to have a second look, he had disappeared into the alleyway behind the building. That man was none other than James Herriot! I received the biograpy of James Herriot as a gift from a friend who knew I loved his books. I was going to Europe, and one of the tour stops (all too brief) was once again to be in Thirsk. I was captured the moment I opened the book and read the first paragraph of the introduction. But before digging into the meat of the story, I had to study the pictures, and I referred to those pictures regularly as I read and was reintroduced to James & Helen, Sigfried & Tristan, and met other characters - in particular, the many pets that Alf Wight called his own. It got a little embarrassing as I read the book on tour because suddenly I'd burst out laughing in front of everyone - or worse yet, dissolve into tears! The story is told with a warmth and humor that, like the James Herriot books, makes the reader run the gamut of emotion. Yet unlike the Herriot books, the reader knows that this is "the rest of the story", the behind-the-scenes truth that created the basis for Herriot's books. The book portrays Alf Wight as a humble, hard-working person, persisting in the attempt to achieve his goal of writing a book despite numerous disappointments, a man whose greatest ambition was his occupation as a veterinarian, who did not let stardom get in the way of his love of his work or his love of the beautiful area in which he lived. In a day where so many capitalize on their stardom, it is refreshing to know that Alf Wight was totally unaffected by it, continuing to do what he loved the most. Thank you, Jim Wight, for giving such an honest and wonderful insight into "The Real James Herriot"!
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Summary: Like Bringing Closure to an old friendship
Review: When it comes right down to it, Jim Wight, should feel proud at not only furthering to preserve the memory of his beloved father in print, but, saying one last thank you to hus loyal fans as well. James Herriot touched my heart with his writing and shining example of loving life and those youa re lucky to know in it. I thank Jim for writing the book. My only "complaint" is that the opening few chapters were a little difficult to read and I wished there were more pictures!
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