cathmom Posted March 28, 2009 Share Posted March 28, 2009 Is there anything that could be objectionable in his books? TIA! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bonnie in VA Posted March 28, 2009 Share Posted March 28, 2009 These are some of my favorite, and I'm sure I had read them all by age 13. My 11y.o. ds has read them, too, and thoroughly enjoyed them. They do use the word sh**, but as a noun (i.e., what you'd find in a farmyard), not an exclamation. I hope this helps. Bonnie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plucky Posted March 28, 2009 Share Posted March 28, 2009 There is some language and drinking, including drunkenness. I just explained it away as a cultural thing to my kids. I think 13 is fine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeannie in NJ Posted March 28, 2009 Share Posted March 28, 2009 he and his fellow vets tend to drink a lot and quite a few pages are devoted to what happens when they drink excessively. Also in the first book , as a single man, he goes to a dance, meets a girl (not the one that will become his wife) and fairly soon after meeting this girl, he is kissing her quite a bit. This are the only parts I can remember that might be objectable. Obviously, most of the book is about his dealings with the various farmers and their animals Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hornblower Posted March 28, 2009 Share Posted March 28, 2009 If you haven't yet, do check out the BBC series too. Our entire family really enjoyed this one. The first few follow very closely with the books but after that they really diverge from James Herriott's stories - still good though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Virginia Dawn Posted March 28, 2009 Share Posted March 28, 2009 (edited) There are very graphic descripitions of quite a number of vetinary procedures, if someone is squeamish they might not enjoy some parts of the stories. I think they are wonderful. Earthy without being crude. That's *veterinary.* I think I can spell, most of the time. Edited March 28, 2009 by Virginia Dawn Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cathmom Posted March 28, 2009 Author Share Posted March 28, 2009 There are very graphic descripitions of quite a number of vetinary procedures, if someone is squeamish they might not enjoy some parts of the stories. I think they are wonderful. Earthy without being crude. My dd will love that! She is very science-oriented and wants to be a vet! I just wondered if there were anything else I should be worried about her coming across. Sounds like it would be fine! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mama Anna Posted March 28, 2009 Share Posted March 28, 2009 The Lord God Made Them All does include a description of early artificial insemination prep. that might be graphic, depending on your family. I love the books in general! Mama Anna Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Melinda in VT Posted March 28, 2009 Share Posted March 28, 2009 I read them between 10 and 12, and I don't remember finding anything that bothered me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mekanamom Posted March 28, 2009 Share Posted March 28, 2009 I love these books... I think I had read them all at about age 12. They did make me beg my parents repeatedly for a dog. ;) I found the books very entertaining and still do! Reading them again as an adult, though, the one thing that bothers me is all the drunk driving. :glare: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dangermom Posted March 28, 2009 Share Posted March 28, 2009 I read them when I was 11-12. Loved them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HRAAB Posted March 28, 2009 Share Posted March 28, 2009 I had read them all by the time I was 13/14 and have re-read them numerous times since. My dd will start reading them next year - she'll be 12. The most graphic thing in the books, imo, are the veterinary procedures, but those don't raise any red flags for me. They are what they are. Oh, and they are absolutely hilarious. Please do check out the TV series. Our library has the entire series, and our family re-watches them every couple years. Just absolutely delightful plus the beautiful Yorkshire Dales. Janet Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cathmom Posted March 28, 2009 Author Share Posted March 28, 2009 I didn't even know there was a TV series! Off to Netflix... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Catherine Posted March 28, 2009 Share Posted March 28, 2009 gave the first two to my 12 yo for Christmas, and he loved them too. Yes, they are stories of adults and include the silly and foolish things some adults do, like drinking too much and swearing, but the tone is very warm and loving. Just adore these books. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dangermom Posted March 28, 2009 Share Posted March 28, 2009 It's worth noting that pretty much every time he gets drunk, he also gets humiliated in some humorous way. So if you're concerned about the alcohol, you might like to know that. (I've never drunk alcohol, so clearly it didn't drive me to drink! :D) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GraceinMD Posted March 28, 2009 Share Posted March 28, 2009 We've been listening to all of these on audiobooks (narrated by the same actor who plays Herriott on the BBC series) and thoroughly enjoyed them. There was more "language" than I remembered (e.g., Siegfried Farnon seems to curse more than I remembered from when I had read them!), but most of it is appropriate use of earthy/farm- and animal-based terminology, and other parts are British curses that will not sound, to American ears, like "bad words." Bottom line, I found the language noticeable, since I don't typically hear it much, but the stories are wonderful, and your 13 yr old will most likely love them. (My 12 yr old did!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KrissiK Posted March 29, 2009 Share Posted March 29, 2009 I love James Herriot. I'm reading his "Treasury for Children" again to my 5 & 6 year old. They are the sweetest stories and he is the best writer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lizzie in Ma Posted March 29, 2009 Share Posted March 29, 2009 We did the first book as a read aloud for the family and we have adored the BBC series. This series is a not to miss classic for our family. Lightning Lit has it for 7th so dd will be reading it soon as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnnetteW Posted March 29, 2009 Share Posted March 29, 2009 :iagree: with what everyone has previously posted. For a child considering being a vet (especially for farm animals), I think this is a must read. Not because vet medicine is exactly like this but because "the heart" of a vet is well shown. Annette Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wulfbourne Posted March 29, 2009 Share Posted March 29, 2009 I remember I first tried to read them when I was too young. Not because of any content, but because the medical terminology frustrated me to the point where I didn't even finish the books. I think I was 9/10 at the time though. I didn't pick them back up again until I was 17 and didn't have any problems then. I would think a 13 would be fine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Catherine Posted March 29, 2009 Share Posted March 29, 2009 is up to his shoulder inside a cow's uterus. It's an amusing anecdote. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dangermom Posted March 29, 2009 Share Posted March 29, 2009 Yes, he does lighten it all up a bit. Rather like Laura Ingalls Wilder, making pioneer life look homey and fun--it's only when you're an adult that you realize how difficult and terrifying it all must have been. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pink Fairy Posted March 29, 2009 Share Posted March 29, 2009 I love these books myself--some of my absolute favorites! The only thing that has kept me from letting my almost 12yodd read them is the consistent use of God's name as a swear word (that would really bother her). I just wanted to throw that out in case it's a problem for you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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