Helpful Score: 22
While the stories were funny at times, and especially familiar to those of us who find ourselves with an ever-expanding circle of animal companions, I thought this book was more sad than funny. The author obviously struggles with chronic depression, and his collection of animals seems less the result of love than of the inability to control the chaos of his life or set limits on his own behavior. I wanted very much to like the book, but I didn't.
I expected this to be funnier than it actually was, although it had its moments. I did enjoy the tale of how the aninals (ducks, geese, turkey and myriad other birds -- oh, rabbits too) took over the house and turned Bob Tarte into a willing 'slave'. In many ways my cats have done that to me.
Helpful Score: 6
This story often caused me to roll my eyes, thinking: "What? Are you crazy to get yet another pet?!?" Most of them are acquired thanks to the author's wife, who seems to be heavily into anthropomorphization of animals. The author appears somewhat more rational, questioning why he does not put up more of a fight. Besides the fact that both have a genuine love of animals, he is also somewhat depressed, and the book also recounts his struggle with doctors who would just like to increase his Zoloft doses.
The main and most amusing part of the book (I would not say it's a laugh-out-loud book) are the descriptions of the daily chores, and the idiosyncrasies of the various animals - most of which are of the bird variety.
In part this book reads like a summarized journal - the author gains valuable insights about his personality, and one also learns quite a bit about parrots, bunnies, and ducks (and geese, turkeys, doves, starlings, parakeets). The bit about how there is a definite turning point in a relationship with an animal, once it finally trusts you, was quite touching (and true, I've had that experience myself).
Overall, I liked this book - the second half more than the first.
The main and most amusing part of the book (I would not say it's a laugh-out-loud book) are the descriptions of the daily chores, and the idiosyncrasies of the various animals - most of which are of the bird variety.
In part this book reads like a summarized journal - the author gains valuable insights about his personality, and one also learns quite a bit about parrots, bunnies, and ducks (and geese, turkeys, doves, starlings, parakeets). The bit about how there is a definite turning point in a relationship with an animal, once it finally trusts you, was quite touching (and true, I've had that experience myself).
Overall, I liked this book - the second half more than the first.
Helpful Score: 3
A fellow who wasn't a pet lover marries a lady who is a pet lover. They move to rural Michigan, and get a rabbit, then a canary. The menagerie grows to include ducks, geese, a parrot, a cat. The story is well-written with some humor on the author's part and some disbelief that they have so many pets and all that is involved in caring for the pets.
Helpful Score: 3
Thoroughly sweet and enjoyable story about becoming completely controlled by the animals you rescue.
Helpful Score: 2
Interesting here and there with some sparks of dry humor but not the laugh-out-loud read I expected from the book description. It got to be just too much.
Helpful Score: 2
a delightful read that depicts the enchantment many of us find when we open our homes and hearts to the animal kingdom. Humor and reality - a good read
Helpful Score: 2
Enslaved by Ducks is the story of how the author Bob Tarte (a bonafide city slicker) gave in to his country girl wife, Linda when it came to getting a rabbit named Binky. Binky ends up being a terror on 4 legs for Bob. Bob ends up getting attached to Binky despite his relentless testing of Bob's temper. Bob ends up allowing Linda to expand their "herd". Pretty soon they have ducks, parrots and turkeys. Soon Bob realizes he's at the very bottom of the pecking order in his own home. He ends up sharing his dinner with parrots, nursing ducks back to health in his living room, building perches for turkeys and being used as a chew toy for a parrot.
I really enjoyed this book and I'm now reading the sequel to it called "Fowl Weather" by Bob Tarte.
I really enjoyed this book and I'm now reading the sequel to it called "Fowl Weather" by Bob Tarte.
Helpful Score: 2
I thoroughly enjoyed this book! Bob Tarte's animal-loving wife convinces him that they should have a pet rabbit. And oh, what a rabbit he was! And thus begins their path leading to a petting zoo of ducks, turkeys, geese, parrots, and other various pets on their acreage. Also at center point is Bob's battle with his depression, which he treats with such humor that he provides real insight into how depression can cloud the view of things that should simply be normal parts of our lives.
His delightful sense of humor and hilarious animal tales centered around their pets that always seem to have some oddball behaviors will have you laughing at times and feeling sad with him at the inevitable passing of some of the animals.
If you enjoy a dry sense of humor with quotes like "wearing thick gloves that capable of repelling eagle talons" and other colorful descriptions, you will certainly enjoy this book. Also great for any animal lover you may know.
His delightful sense of humor and hilarious animal tales centered around their pets that always seem to have some oddball behaviors will have you laughing at times and feeling sad with him at the inevitable passing of some of the animals.
If you enjoy a dry sense of humor with quotes like "wearing thick gloves that capable of repelling eagle talons" and other colorful descriptions, you will certainly enjoy this book. Also great for any animal lover you may know.
Helpful Score: 1
This was a wonderful read. While there are poignant and even sad moments, the marvelous sense of humor of the author made me laugh out loud.
Helpful Score: 1
Very funny book and a must for all animal lovers out there. Loved it.
Helpful Score: 1
I absolutely HATED this book -- had to put it down halfway through. Story of well-meaning but clueless couple almost obsessively adding birds to their menagerie without taking the time to educate themselves about the different breeds needs. Bordered on hoarding to my mind. When they realized that they had to find a different breeder because they did not want their former breeder to know how many birds they had lost, injured or killed, I had had enough, especially since the intention of the author was that I would find all this funny!?!? No thank you!
Helpful Score: 1
What a wonderful book! I love pets and can appreciate all the work that goes into caring for them on a daily basis...but this really takes the cake!
Loved it overall. Though was confused as to why they would allow the parrots to be so destructive to their home. I have birds, they have rules, you have to treat them like a little kid and give them boundaries!
Cute book about a man his wife whose lives are taken over by a menagerie of animals.
I found this book to be enjoyable if a little disjointed and over-long. Bob really loved the animals he and his wife acquired; they were not the kind of people who get an animal because it's cute or unusual and then leave it to go stir-crazy in a cage. The amount of care (and money--vets aren't cheap) he lavished on the beasties would exhaust a normal person. Some of it was laugh-out-loud funny and some was sad. Animals die. Sometimes other animals eat them.
You can see some of the family in action at Bob's website, www.bobtarte.com.
Overall, the book really made me appreciate the amount of daily affection I get from my cats in exchange for two scoops of chow and a box of sand.
You can see some of the family in action at Bob's website, www.bobtarte.com.
Overall, the book really made me appreciate the amount of daily affection I get from my cats in exchange for two scoops of chow and a box of sand.
If you've ever had a pet, you'll be able to relate!
Enjoyable book for animal lovers.
Very enjoyable.
Since I'm not a "bird" person, the charm of turning one's life over to a succession of parrots, parakeets, doves, turkeys, ducks, starlings, and other miscellaneous feathered friends eludes me.
