Nusta: Hoe een lama een gezin er weer bovenop hielp

by Ruth Janette Ruck

In the traditional setting a a Welsh hill farm, with her husband and two children and surrounded by their sheep, cattle, poultry and ponies, the author pursues the interesting business of raising a baby llama.

Genres: Nonfiction, Memoir, Animals, Nature, Biography Memoir

Paperback

First published October 16, 1978

Reviews

[Olive Fellows (abookolive) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Back in the '70s, before the internet existed to help us learn about everything and take on any task we can Google, a family in Wales adopted a llama without knowing what they were doing, possessing very few methods to learn about the creature. They decided to learn along the way and gathered information where and when they could, inviting a poised quadruped onto their farm who proceeded to work her way directly into their hearts. I wish this was 100 more pages. I wish it was a series. It's a DELIGHT and I want to inject it into my veins.

Click here to hear more of my thoughts on this book over on my Booktube channel, abookolive!

[Carolyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the delightful account of how a Llama came to reside on a small Welsh mountain farm in the 1970s. The author, Ruth Janette Ruck, had previously written Hill Farm Story, an account of her ex-military father deciding to buy Carneddi, an 83 acre farm in Snowdonia when animal mad Ruth was seventeen. This was followed by Place of Stones where Ruth and her husband buy their own small farm nearby where they farm sheep and Welsh Black cattle. Now settled on the farm with two small children Ruth and her mother decide to buy a Llama to cheer themselves up after the death of Ruth’s father and while her sister Mary is undergoing treatment for terminal brain cancer.

The young female Llama obtained from a private zoo proves to be a delightful addition to the farm becoming more of a family pet than a farm animal. In the 1970s there were few Llamas in Britain and not much information of caring for them so Ruth and her family had to work out most details of Llama care for themselves - what it liked to eat, how to shear herwhen its coat got too hot in summer and how to know when to breed her (and find her a suitable mate). Ñusta (or Um as she was nicknamed due to the sound she made) became very domesticated. Always interested in what Ruth and the family were doing, she loved nothing better than going for walks with them or joining them in their living room in the evenings where she would sit on the hearth rug and enjoy treats of biscuits or maltesers. The memoir is full of anecdotes about daily life on a small farm as well as tales of life with a Llama.

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

(3.5) Originally published in 1978 (now reissued with a foreword by John Lewis-Stempel), this is an enjoyably animal-stuffed memoir reminiscent of Gerald Durrell and especially Doreen Tovey. Ruck (d. 2006) and her family – which at times included her ill sister, her elderly mother and/or her sister-in-law – lived on a remote farm in the hills of North Wales. On a visit to Knaresborough Zoo, Ruck was taken with the llamas and fancied buying one to add to their menagerie of farm animals. It was as simple as asking the zoo director and then taking the young female back to Wales in a pony box. At that time, hardly anyone in the UK knew anything about llamas or the other camelids. No insurance company would cover their llama in transit; no one had specialist knowledge on feeding or breeding. Ruck had to do things the old-fashioned way, finding books and specialist scientific papers.

But they mostly learned about Ñusta (the Quechua word for princess) by spending time with her. At holidays they discovered her love of chocolate Easter eggs and cherry brandy. The cud-chewing creature sometimes gave clues to what else she’d been eating, as when she regurgitated plum stones. She didn’t particularly like being touched or trailed by an orphaned lamb, but followed Ruck around dutifully and would sit sociably in the living room. Life with animals often involves mild disasters: Ñusta jumps in a pool and locks Ruck’s husband in the loo, and the truck breaks down on the way to mate her with the male at Chester Zoo.

From spitting to shearing, there was a lot to get used to, but this account of the first three years of llama ownership emphasizes the delights of animal companionship. There were hardships in Ruck’s life, including multiple sclerosis and her sister’s death, but into the “austere but soul-rewarding life of a hill firm … like a catalyst or a touch of magic, the llama came along.” I was into llamas and alpacas well before the rest of the world – in high school I often visited a local llama farm, and I led a llama in a parade and an alpaca in a nativity play – so that was my primary reason for requesting this, but it’s just right for any animal lover.

Originally published on my blog, Bookish Beck.

[Hyarrowen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed my re-read of this book. Twenty years ago I read it because I was about to take on two alpacas with a property we were buying and had basically no idea what I was doing. 'They're really easy!' said the owner of the property. This book convinced me that they are in fact really easy; rather too convincingly because two fully-grown male alpacas are not quite the same as a small female llama cria you can raise from a six-month-old. Still, I persevered and our two alpacas had just as much personality as Nusta, the 'princess.' There was Duke, the white full male, aka 'Mr Spitty' and Jak, the fawn gelding, who used to nip playfully at Duke's ankles and then run hell for leather screaming his head off. Nusta was much more well-behaved and fitted right into the Welsh hill farm where her animal-loving owners lived. Gentle and charming, this book is a happy read, despite the things life throws at the author and her family.

[julie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Joar, war halt ein Buch über eine Familie, die in Nordwales einen Bauernhof besaß und sich eines Tages, ohne viel Wissen, ein Lama zulegte. In der Geschichte wurde deutlich, dass auch ungewisse Dinge, einige Sachen auf ihre eigene Art wieder ins Rollen bringen.
War nett, aber leider nicht mehr.

[Martijn van Bruggen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Een lama in Noord-Wales

Een ruim veertig jaar oud verhaal over de komst van een lama naar een boerderij in Wales. Kan dat nu nog boeien? Jazeker! Ñusta (de recentelijk uitgegeven Nederlandse vertaling van Along came a Llama) van Ruth Janette Ruck is een heerlijke memoire die wat mij betreft met stip bovenaan het lijstje komt van boeken om tot ontspanning te komen.

In 1978 kwam in het Verenigd Koninkrijk Ñusta van Ruth Janette Ruck uit. Het was het derde non-fictie boek over het bijzondere leven van haar familie, die zich gevestigd had in het Noord-Welshe natuurgebied Snowdonia en een traditionele boerderij genaamd Carneddi runde. Waar de boerenbedrijven rondom de familie aan de automatiseringsslag waren gegaan, bleven zij zoveel mogelijk vasthouden aan het traditionele boeren. In Ñusta zijn Ruths ouders met hun welverdiende pensioen en runt ze samen met haar man Paul en de kinderen de boerderij. Het gezin wordt achtervolgd door ziektes en sterfgevallen; zo krijgt Ruth zelf multiple sclerose. Ze slaan er zich met typisch Britse onderkoelde humor doorheen (leven met MS is niet praktisch, want Carneddi ‘is niet bepaald rolstoelvriendelijk gelegen’), maar toch komen Ruth en haar weduwe geworden moeder tot de conclusie dat er iets nodig is om de boel op te vrolijken. Een lama it is.
De aankoop van de lama gaat nog wel: een dierentuin is bereid een jonkie af te staan. Als de lama op Carneddi aankomt beginnen de problemen pas echt, want hoe voed je een zo’n dier op? Niemand heeft een lama als huisdier in het ruige Noord-Wales en internet bestaat nog niet. Dat de beste informatiebron die Ruth en Paul kunnen krijgen het tweehonderd jaar oude boek Animated Nature is van een schrijver die zeer waarschijnlijk zelf nooit een lama in het echt gezien had, zegt genoeg. Wat volgt is een verrukkelijk verslag van het gezin over het proefondervindelijk samenleven met een lama, die ze Ñusta (spreek uit: Njoesta) noemen, wat prinses betekent in de taal van de Inca’s. Moet een lama geschoren worden? Kan Ñusta zwemmen? Wat vindt ze lekker? Blijkbaar paaseieren, want die weet ze eerder te vinden dan de kinderen.
Steeds beter leren Ruth en co Ñusta kennen en steeds meer wordt de lama onderdeel van het gezin. Ondertussen gaat het boerderijleven door en gebeuren er allerlei banaliteiten, zoals het weglopen van een schaap, of een koe die staarten begint te eten, die zo leuk beschreven zijn dat een brede glimlach onvermijdelijk is. Zelden heb ik zo’n vrolijk, pretentieloos boek gelezen dat zo goed geschreven is. Als een kop thee deze winter niet voor een warm gevoel gaat zorgen, dan zorgt Ñusta er wel voor. De meeste literatuur beweert het tegendeel, maar door Ruck ga je erin geloven: ‘Vreemd, hoe dromen vaak uiteindelijk uitkomen.’

(In aangepaste vorm eerder verschenen in Boekenkrant juli 2021)

[Warwick Stubbs · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyable!
Easy to read, simply told stories of a Llama becoming a part of a farmer's family. Toe-nail clippings and shearing are definitely highlights, while at other times the Llama is there as a companion to other farm stories of lost lambs and horse-jumping. Recommended!

[Gremily · Rating 4 out of 5]

Absolute loved this book! I felt encapsulated by the family’s story and fell in love with Nusta from the very start of the book. Would highly recommend!

[Fern A · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a really lovely book that is perfect for a rainy day when you can stay inside under a pile of blankets armed with a cup of tea and some cake (or malteasers).
Ruth and her family who live on a farm in rural Wales decide to get a llama. As this book is set in the 1970s, this was (as often were llamas) unheard of. Having acquired a llama from a zoo they had the ambitious task of caring for it while having no advice on how to do so and very little information out there. It doesn’t all go without mishap however there is plenty of fun along the way. An enjoyable read.

[greyt_things · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you’re like me and the book ended too abruptly and you want to know a little of what happens with Ruth and Nusta, go to page 2 of this

https://llamas.yolasite.com/resources...

[Claire · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was so chuffed when I received a copy of Along Came a Llama from Faber Books - thank you very much. I live in Wales and love Llamas! Along Came a Llama is a sequel to Place of Stones and Hill Farm Story. Such an inspirational read, a delightful and heart-warming tale of life in the Welsh country and the Ruck’s family fun adventures in raising a baby Llama who they called Ñusta! Who would have known that a Llama would love to eat Easter eggs and drink cherry brandy and enjoy curling up in front of the fire in the family living room! Ñusta gets up to all sorts of mischief! I loved hearing about Ñusta's Christmas festivities! Ruck’s family had their fair share of sadness and hard times but the arrival of Ñusta to their family farm definitely transformed their family and brought them a great deal of fun and happiness. Ñusta absolutely loves the Ruck’s family and you can tell that she is so happy with them on their hill farm. Ñusta's happiness and the Ruck’s family happiness shines through this wonderful book. Such a lovely lovely read.

The book was originally published in 1978 and has been re-issued by Faber with a foreword by nature writer, John Lewis-Stempel. If you love animals, and love reading about their fun antics then this is definitely the book for you.

[Daan2003 · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this so much!

I bought this book thinking I would like it for partially the same reasons as 'Tracks' (by Robyn Davidson). I was right on this. Ruth Janette Ruck fell in love with her pet llama like Robyn Davidson fell in love with her camels. Both of the authors were extremely capable of conveying this love with words.
Moreover, I was suprised to learn that llamas and camels are from the same biological family: Camelidae

It suprised me how nice the writing style was. The writer said in the book that she did not often make the time to write and that when she wrote, she was often distracted. Nevertheless, it'a such a good book with a very good writing style.

The ending felt quite abrupt, but I can't really blame her. She had to get on with the farm, the animals, the children and what not.

Unfortunately I was not able to find anything about the life of the author after she wrote this book. I guess it makes sense, because I'm quite sure she lived the rest of her life working on the hill farm. She didn't write a book after this one. I assume that her life overall stayed pretty much the same. I unfortunately cannot ask her anymore. Rest in peace

[Brian · Rating 4 out of 5]

I saw this in a bookshop, recognised it from a long time ago and bought it on a whim. Rather shocked that is doesn't seem to be better known.

As book it meanders along in a pleasant way, telling the story of bringing a baby llama to a welsh hill farm and it growing up. In the background, there is a portrait of a way of life that was very much fading then (mid-1970s) and has probably all but disappeared now. The author acknowledges this change, sad at its loss but accepting of the way things are.

The llama itself has more character than several major ones in novels! The stories are wry, more amusing rather than laugh out loud and occasionally sad. There is little drama, but the book (and the llama) has a distinct charm.

[Ingrid Self · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lovely easy-to-read relaxing book which transports the reader to North Wales in times gone by, and the advent of a llama into their lives. Written in a style which is not used anymore, but it's missed. I can think of a few good books I've read (or am reading) which do this. The Llama is a lovely animal and misjudged by many. As usual, I wanted to find everything by this author as soon as I'd finished - always a good sign.

[Aimee · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a cute story about a llama raised on a farm in Wales. Having visited Wales, I don't think it's unusual to raise a llama, but the family had other challenges as well. This story reads more like a memoir, like the author wrote it for her children. I didn't really connect with any of the characters but the whole llama mating scene was interesting, in a scientific sense.

[Tsering · Rating 2 out of 5]

Rating- 2.5 stars
Being an animal lover, as much as I wanted to love this book, it came across as dry, but because I had picked it up, I finally managed to complete it somehow.
The premise is interesting on raising a llama on a Welsh farm, however the book revolves around how elegant and exotic the animal is, and does not go much beyond that. As a reader, I was invited to walk through their experience but to be kept at an arm-length distance. Seems like the author was so consumed by the llama's elegance and exotic-ness that intimate exploration of this interspecies bond is overlooked. It is mainly- this happened, that happened- she did this, she did that- kind of over-simplistic trope. An intimate glimpse into the bond shared with the animal are found in two chapters- Mooey and Mr. Widdle- which are about their farm sheep (and somewhat in the last chapter, To Chester Zoo wherein the author gives a peek into uncertainty and excitement of what lay ahead for them.) The experience of llama is foregrounded on how starstruck the author is with the animal, but does not delve deeper than that. Seems like an incredible opportunity missed alas.

[Hil Chap · Rating 4 out of 5]

Delightful and a 'must read' if you have followed the story of Ms Ruck's life in her other two books.
Lots to learn about the history of llama keeping... especially in North Wales.
As this was her final book, the question of what followed... has no answer.

[Pat · Rating 5 out of 5]

This charming little book tells the story of a family in Wales that adopts a llama to add to their farm. The llama takes over their lives, sitting by the hearth, rubbing her teeth on the window, following them all over the farm. I didn't want the story to end.

[Sue Prain · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute descriptions of the llama and very quick to read.

[Brenda]

Charming.

[SB · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5⭐️

[Line Magnus · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was cute, but there wasn't really enough story here for a full book.

[Debs · Rating 4 out of 5]

Adorable 🦙❤

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely charming. Llamas are def on my shortlist of wanted farm animals now. Fun read and interesting info. Small photo section in the middle of the book - love the llama sitting in front of the wood stove while the author reads her paper! Might be fun to read aloud to kids, too.

[Liza · Rating 3 out of 5]

A rather sweet book, about a family of hill farmers in Wales who decided to buy a llama. St in the 1970s, way before llamas were as relatively commonplace as they are today. A must for llama lovers!

[Magpie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not putting into bookclub .. Delightful memoir of a family that adopt a young llama, Nusta/um while working a hill farm in Wales in the 1970s.

[Mushy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Een boerenfamilie in Wales koopt een lama. Deze Lama wordt deel van het gezin en hun belevenissen worden in dit boek gelezen. Dit is een waargebeurd verhaal en een genot om te lezen!