My Family and Other AnimalsMy Family and Other Animals
Score Classic
What it's about
Naturalist Gerald Durrell's autobiographical account of the childhood years he spent with his family on the Greek island of Corfu between 1935 and 1939.
Why it's worth reading
It's on the Guardian's list of 1,000 novels everyone must read. It's a much-loved comic memoir of family life and the natural world.
You'll love it if you liked
Cold Comfort Farm
The Code of the Woosters
Anne of Green GablesGood to know
It's a memoir, not a novel, though it's often read as one. It's gentle and funny, and it suits a wide range of ages.
By the numbers
- Readers74 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics30 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Bestseller17 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Buzz0 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
- #85 of the 260 young adult books we rank
- #409 of the 924 classics we rank
- #1273 of the 3,057 books we rank
Why it made the list
Reads as
Funny, Adventurous, Thought-provoking
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Quick answers
Is My Family and Other Animals worth reading?
Yes. It's on the Guardian's list of 1,000 novels everyone must read. It ranks #1,273 of the 3,057 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 70.9 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is My Family and Other Animals about?
Naturalist Gerald Durrell's autobiographical account of the childhood years he spent with his family on the Greek island of Corfu between 1935 and 1939.
How long does it take to read My Family and Other Animals?
About 8 hours (320 pages), or about 2 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after My Family and Other Animals?
If you liked it, try Cold Comfort Farm by Stella Gibbons, The Code of the Woosters by PG Wodehouse or Anne of Green Gables by Lucy Maud Montgomery.