Due to a sudden, unexpected passing in the family a few years ago and another more recently and my subsequent (mental) health issues stemming from that, I was unable to download this book in time to review it before it was archived as I did not visit this site for several years after the bereavements. This meant I didn't read or venture onto netgalley for years as not only did it remind me of that person as they shared my passion for reading, but I also struggled to maintain interest in anything due to overwhelming depression. I was therefore unable to download this title in time and so I couldn't give a review as it wasn't successfully acquired before it was archived. The second issue that has happened with some of my other books is that I had them downloaded to one particular device and said device is now defunct, so I have no access to those books anymore, sadly.

This means I can't leave an accurate reflection of my feelings towards the book as I am unable to read it now and so I am leaving a message of explanation instead. I am now back to reading and reviewing full time as once considerable time had passed I have found that books have been helping me significantly in terms of my mindset and mental health - this was after having no interest in anything for quite a number of years after the passings. Anything requested and approved will be read and a review written and posted to Amazon (where I am a Hall of Famer & Top Reviewer), Goodreads (where I have several thousand friends and the same amount who follow my reviews) and Waterstones (or Barnes & Noble if the publisher is American based). Thank you for the opportunity and apologies for the inconvenience.

Thank you NetGalley for the chance to read and review this ARC!

Animals is the sort of book one should really like, but I found it hard to really get into. The author picked stories, and random tidbits, but sometimes tidbits went on for too long. I think I'd prefer a paperback rather than an ebook when it comes to this one.

‘Animals’ by Hebe Uhart is filled with zoological tales and snippets of the natural world. It’s a cute little book, without much flow or structure but nevertheless takes the reader through a series of anecdotes around nature, drawing from literature, personal experience and encounters with those in the zoological field.

It seemed a bit disjointed at times and occasionally I wasn’t quite sure why I was reading what I was reading but it was still a light little read to pass the time.

It’s a difficult book to review as I’m not really sure what I read. It wasn’t overly informative or educational (but had some interesting little facts at times) so can’t really be classed in that way and from that stance. It was more of the authors picking stories, notions from history and random tidbits. Occasionally a little rambling, I admit, I did expect something different before I started reading. The lower rating I’ve given is more on the part that I was expecting an educational and more academic book than it ended up being. Just personal preference there!

I also wasn’t that fond of the way this book depicted and spoke about autistic people in one particular chapter ... it wasn’t overly delicate or well penned on that front and left me feeling a little uncomfortable at the language used. Talking about autistic people and then comparing them to ‘ordinary people’ (were the words the book described) was perhaps a bit tactless and made it sound like autistic people were not ‘normal’, whatever normal is. They also blanketed the entire autistic community as being more or less the same and not acknowledging that it’s a spectrum (with no two autistic people being like another) liking one to all which kind of left me a bit offended! And comparing autistic children to wild animals did make me shudder! Yikes, I don’t think this should have been included.

I liked the illustrations and found them to be a nice little addition to the book, and I love the fact that the author did these to provide an extra personal touch. Overall, not a bad zoological account and compendium but not quite what I was expecting.

Animals and birds are weird and wonderful, eccentric, full of personality and such a joy to observe! Their quirkiness, many unusual facts and observations are the premise of this engrossing book. The author includes many topics such as how animals interact amongst their own species, other animals and humans; the lengths they go to to survive; their incredible cleverness and their keen ability (and desire!) to learn. Both wild and domestic are discussed.

The author describes a love for zoology which was heightened because of a wonderful teacher...if you are passionate about a subject, you want to do well and learn more. This compendium also includes expressions and sayings relating to animals. Many parts about this book stand out to me and include the meerkat aunt who will find scorpions for her nieces and nephews but remove the stinger for them first, which animals/birds will enter a house, the way a type of lapwing ensures intruders can't escape their nests, birds capable of tying knots, the special ability of the albino cobra and the crow which hides thousands and thousands of bits of food scattered over many kilometers and remember where they are.

We don't give critters enough credit in my opinion. As a nature person who loves nothing better than being immersed in a forest for hours, nature always astonishes me. My weirdest sighting ever was once late at night seeing and thankfully photographing a large hedgehog snuggled against an enormous toad of the same size, licking it all over. The toad shifted a bit but nothing more. They sat directly below the yard light so were easy to see. Early the next morning there was no sign of either. I would love to know what this meant. This book is about behaviours and odd stories like this.

Animal and bird lovers will find loads to inform them in this short book. It would also be wonderful reading for those who simply enjoy learning. Fascinating, fascinating stuff.

My sincere thank you to Archipelago and NetGalley for providing me with this fabulous book!

Interesting, but basically the writing seems to be rambling thoughts about memories and also different animals, both domestic and wild. Easy book to pick up and also to put down. Would recommend.