The Animal World of James Herriot
Audio Renaissance, $49.95 each
Tales from Watership Down
Random House Audio Books, $18, 3 hours
ISBN 067945795X
Watership Down
Soundelux, $19.95, 4 hours
ISBN 1559352310
Animal Tales
Review by Sukey Howard
An unabridged presentation of All Creatures Great and Small, James Herriot's beloved bestseller now celebrating its twenty-fifth year of publication, offers 16 hours of the genuinely warm and fuzzy adventures of a country veterinarian. All Things Bright and Beautiful, Herriot's equally popular sequel, provides another 13 hours of funny and touching encounters with animals of both the two-legged and four-legged variety.
Dog devotees may want to try a shorter collection, James Herriot's Favorite Dog Stories, that focuses on "man's best friend" alone. Christopher Timothy, who starred in the TV version of Dr. Herriot's work, makes an ideal narrator for all three titles.
The wonderful rabbits of "Watership Down," who also made their debut almost 25 years ago, capturing the imagination of millions, are back, munching grass at evening silflay and telling stories to each other in Tales from Watership Down, read by Nigel Havers who makes a fine rabbit raconteur. And if you or any of the younger generation missed the original, or want to hear it again, Watership Down is available in a delightful dramatized version, with music and sound effects, performed by the Australia Broadcasting Company's Renaissance Players.
Sukey Howard reports on spoken word audio each month. Don't miss her audio book reviews on CNN's Sunday Morning.
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