Creatures of the Kingdom
by James A. Michener
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Book Summary Information
Author: James A. MichenerEdition: Mass Market Paperback
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 1995-08-01
ISBN: 0449220923
Publisher: Fawcett
Book Reviews of Creatures of the Kingdom
Book Review: A must for nature and animal lovers.
Summary: 5 Stars
This was my first introduction to the works of James A Michener. If you are an impatient reader, you may have trouble with other Michener works. But if you like an attention to detail Michener is the man for you. Since reading "Stories," I have read many other Michener novels and he has become a favorite. Readers who dislike his books often complain about the length. These are the same people who might cut you off in traffic and are always in a hurry. If you think getting there is half the fun, however, you will love a Michener novel. "Stories" is a book for everyone, however. It does not have the usual length of a full Michener novel and the subject matter shifts just enough to keep your attention. If you are impatient and still want to be well versed on your great authors, this is a great Michner book to read since you get an idea of his style and you also get exerpts from several of his books. If you like animals and nature, there is even more reason to love this book.
Summary of Creatures of the Kingdom
"DRAMATIC...ENTHRALLING...EXPERTLY CRAFTED...Michener treats each of these creatures with fundamental respect, and in many cases, admiration and awe, if not outright love."--The Virginian-Pilot & The Ledger-Star
In these sixteen wonderful stories, bestselling author James A. Michener lights up nature's most awesome and beguiling handiwork--from the sublime shaping and reshaping of earth's land and seas to the ridiculous armadillo whose assault on a bit of Texas real estate paid off handsomely. Chosen from Michener's most popular books--including one story never before published in paperback--these mini-masterpieces take us deep into the secret lives of animals and the hidden world of nature. In them we hear the music of the spheres and feel the heartbeat of creation.
"Contain[s] the dramatic elements of a life--the wonder of birth, rites of passage, lots of conflict, much of it physical and bloody, and death...As characters in a Michener novel, a beaver can know loneliness, a buffalo can bide his time, a salmon can feel encouraged, and a woolly mammoth can 'luxuriate' in the ecological rewards of a plains fire."
--Boston Sunday Herald
"Delightful...Nature writing at its most fluid and involving."
--Booklist
If you know James Michener solely for his entertaining, exhaustively researched epic novels, the short essays in Creatures of the Kingdom may come as a surprise, though all but one are excerpted from five of his most popular works. Mostly tales of animal life told in a strong narrative voice from the animal's anthropomorphized point of view, these 16 pieces evince a clear affection for their subjects and are told with an essential goodwill that is reminiscent of James Herriot. Good tales on their own (each piece stands alone and is not hampered by being taken out of context), the stories selected for this anthology also serve to showcase the gentle humor that infuses Michener's body of work, but which is generally overshadowed by the sheer weight of information and ideas in cumbrous books that could easily double as doorstops. By contrast, Creatures of the Kingdom clocks in at a digestible 281 pages and will appeal to anyone who enjoys reading about natural history or zoology. It is also likely to be a favorite with adolescent readers who favor animal stories but are getting too advanced for reading material aimed at their own age group--or who have depleted the available youth titles and are ready to move on. --Brenda Pittsley
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