Helpful Score: 1
Beautifully written descriptions make this book a pleasure to read; however, parts of it are dull and the travels to the American South, India, Australia and Kenya are chopped into segments rather than told chronologically. This makes the book hard to follow in some places. But still worth a read for the beautiful writing and interesting topic.
Helpful Score: 1
Great stories! A very engaging book that is well written, interesting, and fun.
Tara R. (portabellopig) reviewed The Snakebite Survivors' Club: Travels Among Serpents on + 40 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
Though the organization of "Snakebite" is a bit odd at first, it makes sense within the context of the story. Seal travels to the US, Africa, Australia and India in an effort to encounter the world's dealiest snakes and cull his fear of them. Had the book been organized into four sections by continent/country, the reader would be travelling through Seals journey from practically paralytic phobia to gentle awe of these creatures four times - as the book is, we're taken on the journey once across four continents, and the result is quite beautiful.
Along with coping with his own phobia, Seal provides colorful (and often hilarious in that "Oh my God I shouldn't be laughing at this" way) historical anecdotes. From attempted murder by rattler to actual death by mamba, from hunting the snakes down purposefully to unfortunately stumbling upon them, the tales are entertaining and lend some concrete reality to things (like 9 foot venomous reptiles) that most of us have never encountered.
Along with coping with his own phobia, Seal provides colorful (and often hilarious in that "Oh my God I shouldn't be laughing at this" way) historical anecdotes. From attempted murder by rattler to actual death by mamba, from hunting the snakes down purposefully to unfortunately stumbling upon them, the tales are entertaining and lend some concrete reality to things (like 9 foot venomous reptiles) that most of us have never encountered.
