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Adventure Without End #1
That Bear Ate My Pants!
There comes a time in every man's life when he says to himself, "Holy Sh*t! I'm about to be eaten by a bear!"
Tony James Slater went to Ecuador, determined to become a man.
It never occurred to him that 'or die trying' might be an option...
The trouble with volunteering in a South American animal refuge is that everything wants a piece of you. And the trouble with being Tony, is that most of them got one.
Just how do you 'look after' something that's trying it's damnedest to kill you and eat you?
And how do you find love when you a) don't speak the language, and b) are constantly covered in excrement and entrails?
If only he'd had some relevant experience. Other than owning a pet rabbit when he was nine. And if only he'd bought some travel insurance...
That Bear Ate My Pants is the hilarious tale of one man's quest to better himself. Whether losing a machete fight with a tree, picking dead tarantulas out of a tank of live ones or sewing the head back on to a partially decapitated crocodile, Tony's misadventures are ridiculous, unbelievable and always entertaining.
Long before Sky One got involved, there were already plenty of Idiots Abroad. This is the story of one of them...
Tony James Slater went to Ecuador, determined to become a man.
It never occurred to him that 'or die trying' might be an option...
The trouble with volunteering in a South American animal refuge is that everything wants a piece of you. And the trouble with being Tony, is that most of them got one.
Just how do you 'look after' something that's trying it's damnedest to kill you and eat you?
And how do you find love when you a) don't speak the language, and b) are constantly covered in excrement and entrails?
If only he'd had some relevant experience. Other than owning a pet rabbit when he was nine. And if only he'd bought some travel insurance...
That Bear Ate My Pants is the hilarious tale of one man's quest to better himself. Whether losing a machete fight with a tree, picking dead tarantulas out of a tank of live ones or sewing the head back on to a partially decapitated crocodile, Tony's misadventures are ridiculous, unbelievable and always entertaining.
Long before Sky One got involved, there were already plenty of Idiots Abroad. This is the story of one of them...
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First published June 22, 2011
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About the author
Tony James Slater
22 books238 followersTony James Slater is a very, very strange man. He believes himself to be indestructible, despite considerable evidence to the contrary. He sometimes makes strange faces whilst pretending to be attacked by inanimate objects. But perhaps his single biggest problem is this; he has a mouth so big he is in danger of swallowing his own head. As a result he often ends up far from mainstream civilization, tackling ridiculous challenges and subjecting himself to constant danger. He gets hurt quite a lot.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 365 reviews
March 30, 2017
There is not much to say about this adventure story except that it was cute and funny (when Slater was not trying too hard). The author travels to Ecuador for three months to work in an animal rescue facility. He knows nothing about animal care (or how to weld) which will lead to a lot of funny moments. It is not the kind of book where you learn interesting information about animals and places but it is a nice account of his time spend with crazy and endearing animals (and people). I wished there were pictures because I did not hear of some of the species and I had to look them up. Also, I would have enjoyed to see how some of the characters (biped or not) looked.
December 25, 2012
4.5 stars
Well, I really didn't think I'd be reading, let alone recommending, a book about a young English guy traveling to Ecuador and volunteering in an animal rescue centre, but I AM! Wow! This was really fun. This book had me laughing throughout while really feeling like I was experiencing Tony's adventures. It made me want to travel to Ecuador and feed animals and build shelters. WHAT?! How did that even happen? Tony is very likeable and I definitely want to read more of his adventures. I laughed out loud many times and read with a huge smile on my face. It was also sweet and heart-warming. It was exactly what I needed to read and I never would have known that if I hadn't seen a FB friend recommend this. So, take a chance with something a little different. I think you'll be happy you did.
Some reviews have mentioned the editing errors but I've read many self-published books and have long since put away my red pen. I've discovered that I'd much rather read a book that's interesting and fun than one that is perfectly edited but dry as toast.
GR friends, you know who you are: You can read about hot,sexy guys later. Put down your books and read this!!! Wait, I don't want to imply that Tony isn't sexy! He very well may be when he's not covered in animal shit. ;)
Well, I really didn't think I'd be reading, let alone recommending, a book about a young English guy traveling to Ecuador and volunteering in an animal rescue centre, but I AM! Wow! This was really fun. This book had me laughing throughout while really feeling like I was experiencing Tony's adventures. It made me want to travel to Ecuador and feed animals and build shelters. WHAT?! How did that even happen? Tony is very likeable and I definitely want to read more of his adventures. I laughed out loud many times and read with a huge smile on my face. It was also sweet and heart-warming. It was exactly what I needed to read and I never would have known that if I hadn't seen a FB friend recommend this. So, take a chance with something a little different. I think you'll be happy you did.
Some reviews have mentioned the editing errors but I've read many self-published books and have long since put away my red pen. I've discovered that I'd much rather read a book that's interesting and fun than one that is perfectly edited but dry as toast.
GR friends, you know who you are: You can read about hot,sexy guys later. Put down your books and read this!!! Wait, I don't want to imply that Tony isn't sexy! He very well may be when he's not covered in animal shit. ;)
January 17, 2013
When I was much younger this book would probably have got 5 stars from me. Even in middle-age it would have got 4 stars if it hadn't been for some very basic schoolboy errors that distracted me from what I was reading and REALLY got on my nerves:
1 Spelling - my advice, don't trust spell-checkers: breathe and forth are real words. Unfortunately what was meant was breath and fourth.
2 Grammar - there were a handful of grammatical errors, including the use of the word "gotten" when it should have been "got" and "there's" when it should have been "there're" or better still "there are".
3 Punctuation - lots, and lots and lot's (oops, I mean lots) of incorrect apostrophes. Most importantly, please, please, PLEASE learn the difference between its and it's.
4 Language Timothy! I would have recommended this book to my 76 year old mother as it's right up her street if it wasn't for the huge quantity of bad language. I don't mind it in dialogue (after all, it's what people say) or at moments of stress such as the welding chapter. However, why do we need fucker this or shitting that? My mum wouldn't want to know that something was "stuck to him like shit to a blanket" and frankly, neither do I. It reads as if the book was written for an adolescent market, nothing wrong with that but a bit limiting, which is a shame as adults would enjoy it too if they weren't getting irritated with all the extraneous "noise" created by the issues highlighted above. At times if felt as if I was overhearing the teenagers in our local shopping precinct.
5 Galapagos Turtle - shouldn't that be a tortoise? Turtles live in the sea, tortoises on land.
Having said that, it made me laugh and outside the areas illustrated above, I thought it was well written with some lovely observations and very funny imagery. Get it properly edited and you may find you've got a modern day early Gerald Durrell style book on your hands.
1 Spelling - my advice, don't trust spell-checkers: breathe and forth are real words. Unfortunately what was meant was breath and fourth.
2 Grammar - there were a handful of grammatical errors, including the use of the word "gotten" when it should have been "got" and "there's" when it should have been "there're" or better still "there are".
3 Punctuation - lots, and lots and lot's (oops, I mean lots) of incorrect apostrophes. Most importantly, please, please, PLEASE learn the difference between its and it's.
4 Language Timothy! I would have recommended this book to my 76 year old mother as it's right up her street if it wasn't for the huge quantity of bad language. I don't mind it in dialogue (after all, it's what people say) or at moments of stress such as the welding chapter. However, why do we need fucker this or shitting that? My mum wouldn't want to know that something was "stuck to him like shit to a blanket" and frankly, neither do I. It reads as if the book was written for an adolescent market, nothing wrong with that but a bit limiting, which is a shame as adults would enjoy it too if they weren't getting irritated with all the extraneous "noise" created by the issues highlighted above. At times if felt as if I was overhearing the teenagers in our local shopping precinct.
5 Galapagos Turtle - shouldn't that be a tortoise? Turtles live in the sea, tortoises on land.
Having said that, it made me laugh and outside the areas illustrated above, I thought it was well written with some lovely observations and very funny imagery. Get it properly edited and you may find you've got a modern day early Gerald Durrell style book on your hands.
May 30, 2015
This book started out well. The author was witty if a bit goofy and definitely not cut out for working at an animal rescue in Ecuador. How does a grown man not no how to use a posthole digger? But unfortunately, while tales from the rescue were entertaining, the book soon dissolved into a recap of his pathetic love life which involved an affair with a married woman whom he could barely communicate with because he never bothered to learn Spanish. My interest went downhill and I gave up at 81%.
January 1, 2018
I have never been so disappointed to finish a book. I just wanted the stories to go on and on and on and on, but unfortunately Tony's trip had to end and so did the book.
I kind of wished the book had photos. The chapter where he meets the kinkajou and also the three- toed sloth really needed pictures, although I could well image them (once I'd looked up what a kinkajou was).
The book is set up in short chapters. That made it easy for picking up when you have a few minutes. But it made it hard to put down as you want to read "just one more chapter", "ok, just one more".
I know it's only February, but this is the best book so far this year and if I'd read it in December it would have been the best book in 2011. If you picked it up as a freebie, jump it to the top of your TBR list. It's worth it.
I kind of wished the book had photos. The chapter where he meets the kinkajou and also the three- toed sloth really needed pictures, although I could well image them (once I'd looked up what a kinkajou was).
The book is set up in short chapters. That made it easy for picking up when you have a few minutes. But it made it hard to put down as you want to read "just one more chapter", "ok, just one more".
I know it's only February, but this is the best book so far this year and if I'd read it in December it would have been the best book in 2011. If you picked it up as a freebie, jump it to the top of your TBR list. It's worth it.
September 7, 2015
When I read the title of this book by Tony James Slater I wasn’t sure whether I would enjoy it or not. In fact I loved it, but not in a way that I had expected at all. It’s true that I was giggling my head off even before I’d read halfway through the Preface, and thereafter I either smiled or chuckled on almost every page. But Tony makes many serious comments and observations too. These are interesting, and give the book an extra dimension.
This is the story of Tony’s three-month volunteer stint at an animal refuge high up in the mountains of Ecuador. But it is no ordinary refuge. The farm is home sometimes permanently, and sometimes temporarily, to a diverse group of wild animals. Most of them have been maltreated and, as we learn, caring for them isn’t easy. There isn’t a dull moment as Tony relates his attempts to prove himself as a courageous macho-man, his innumerable incidents with the animals, then his colleague relationships and complicated love life.
I immediately warmed to Tony whose self-effacing, roguish personality comes through very strongly in his writing style. I admired his (often ill-advised) courage and bravado, his tenderness and affection toward the animals in his care, and disarming honesty. All these things make the colourful way in which he tells his story work extremely well. It is a fast-paced, raucously-humoured read which I found thoroughly entertaining.
This is the story of Tony’s three-month volunteer stint at an animal refuge high up in the mountains of Ecuador. But it is no ordinary refuge. The farm is home sometimes permanently, and sometimes temporarily, to a diverse group of wild animals. Most of them have been maltreated and, as we learn, caring for them isn’t easy. There isn’t a dull moment as Tony relates his attempts to prove himself as a courageous macho-man, his innumerable incidents with the animals, then his colleague relationships and complicated love life.
I immediately warmed to Tony whose self-effacing, roguish personality comes through very strongly in his writing style. I admired his (often ill-advised) courage and bravado, his tenderness and affection toward the animals in his care, and disarming honesty. All these things make the colourful way in which he tells his story work extremely well. It is a fast-paced, raucously-humoured read which I found thoroughly entertaining.
June 21, 2020
In today’s world I would expect there to be more respectful language when talking about women. I have been around a lot of British men I understand that it comes with mean and vulgar humor, but it’s not funny.
December 7, 2022
That Bear Ate My Pants, a memoir by Tony James Slater, tells about his experiences in rural (I guess most of it is rural) Ecuador on a wild animal preservation compound. Tony, to give him the benefit of the doubt, was quite young when he experienced his time in Ecuador doing volunteer service in this facility. Most of his work time was spent feeding animals, building enclosures to secure the animals, many of which were dangerous, and caring for the animals which sometimes required retrieving those which had escaped or assisting in doctoring those that were hurt. The animals, in most cases had been abused or injured through the thoughtlessness or ignorance of locals thus they ended up at the facility because they simply could not survive on their own. To make the story even more interesting, some of those animals, as I previously mentioned, were extremely dangerous and included such residents as a jaguar, an ocelot, and a caiman, to name a few.
The expectation of this memoir was that it was a humorous narrative of his experiences, but actually most of the book, to me, was quite serious, and not really funny at all. Consequently, in order to amplify the humor, the author appeared to do so by adding crude language or anecdotes which many might believe was hilarious but I simply considered bad taste. Although I found the stories and episodes interesting (although how do you make a daily required feeding, cleaning, and cage construction interesting - it's not easy) sometimes it just seemed to be monotonous and repetitive. In addition, the outside of work activities all appeared to be a young man sewing a few wild oats (literally) through alcohol and extra marital relationships including the cheating on another man's wife who has children. Consequently, although Author Slater did seem to learn a few useful skills at the compound, I don't believe that he really learned much as a human being. In fact, as he finishes up his time at Saint Martha's the only thing he really resolves is that he will go do the same thing (i.e. drink and carouse I suppose) somewhere else.
That said, I did find some interesting events in the book, and it was written quite well. I simply didn't care for the author's determination to continue the same wild life in another country. At that rate, I don't believe he's going to live very long. Particularly if the next husband has a gun.
The expectation of this memoir was that it was a humorous narrative of his experiences, but actually most of the book, to me, was quite serious, and not really funny at all. Consequently, in order to amplify the humor, the author appeared to do so by adding crude language or anecdotes which many might believe was hilarious but I simply considered bad taste. Although I found the stories and episodes interesting (although how do you make a daily required feeding, cleaning, and cage construction interesting - it's not easy) sometimes it just seemed to be monotonous and repetitive. In addition, the outside of work activities all appeared to be a young man sewing a few wild oats (literally) through alcohol and extra marital relationships including the cheating on another man's wife who has children. Consequently, although Author Slater did seem to learn a few useful skills at the compound, I don't believe that he really learned much as a human being. In fact, as he finishes up his time at Saint Martha's the only thing he really resolves is that he will go do the same thing (i.e. drink and carouse I suppose) somewhere else.
That said, I did find some interesting events in the book, and it was written quite well. I simply didn't care for the author's determination to continue the same wild life in another country. At that rate, I don't believe he's going to live very long. Particularly if the next husband has a gun.
April 30, 2016
Abandoned. Could not get past HOW PAINFULLY HARD the author was trying to be cheeky and clever. And you would think that working at an animal rescue in South America wouldn't be boring but alas, somehow it was. He literally did nothing but wander around and try to be clever about it. I couldn't roll my eyes any harder so I gave up trying to finish this one.
November 5, 2020
I had to quit. It was good at first but my go’s this guy hates women. The hatred drips from every sentence he writes about them. The book isn’t about women and the first half is interesting and sometimes funny adventures with crazy rare animals. But then more women come on the scene and it becomes less readable.
February 20, 2013
Just a cute little story. Funny in parts
December 6, 2016
Misogyny, Homophobia, and Xenophobia
This guy is a jerk and not nearly as funny as he thinks. And the homophobic jokes are really way to much.
This guy is a jerk and not nearly as funny as he thinks. And the homophobic jokes are really way to much.
March 6, 2018
Another really funny book by Tony James Slater, I love reading his adventures!
January 22, 2023
FABULOUS READ, I HIGHLY RECOMMEND …I SO ENJOYED IT
I loved this story. From page 1 I started to chuckle and I haven’t stopped. Tony brought life in Ecuador so alive that I felt I was right there with him enjoying the magnificent vistas whilst dealing with the shocking initiation of living in a completely different culture and not speaking the language. As for the animals, the variety is so wide and the personalities are adorable.
If you want an hilarious read, about an ordinary young Townie facing his fears in an inhospitable and dangerous country, you will not go wrong with “That Bear Ate My Pants” which has enormous helpings of adventure and drama along with a little sweet romance.
I loved this story. From page 1 I started to chuckle and I haven’t stopped. Tony brought life in Ecuador so alive that I felt I was right there with him enjoying the magnificent vistas whilst dealing with the shocking initiation of living in a completely different culture and not speaking the language. As for the animals, the variety is so wide and the personalities are adorable.
If you want an hilarious read, about an ordinary young Townie facing his fears in an inhospitable and dangerous country, you will not go wrong with “That Bear Ate My Pants” which has enormous helpings of adventure and drama along with a little sweet romance.
August 27, 2011
This was probably one of the funniest books I have read. In fact, if I didn't have so many other books I want to read and enjoy, I'd probably go back to the beginning and read it all over again. But beware, it really is laugh-out-loud material. I would go so far as to say that I would recommend NOT reading this book whilst eating or drinking - snorting coffee and spraying your lunch around the place is most definitely not a good look and I would certainly not read this in a public place - trying to hide your hysterical laughter will probably result in those around you reaching for their phones and calling the men in white coats.
You can guess I really enjoyed this.
At a point in his early twenties, Tony was in limboland trying to decide what to do in his life that would provide him with some purpose: a few previous attempts hadn't quite provided him with the answers he was looking for. In pursuit of that lightbulb moment, he stumbled across a volunteer programme at an animal rescue centre in Ecuador: a refuge for animals rescued from cruelty. Without thinking twice about it, he signed up. What followed was for him a life-changing experience.
Tony Slater is very gifted at writing comically and laughter accompanied every page I read at the account of his daily routine looking after animals, birds and reptiles of all shapes and sizes and degrees of ferocity. Despite the tomfoolery of the writing, Tony never forgets the seriousness of the work carried out by the rescue centre, he never forgets to inform us of the beauty and uniqueness of Ecuador, and more importantly, never forgets to reveal not only how much the animals came to mean to him in the short time he was there, but also how much the whole experience touched him.
This is one I will read again if I ever need cheering up. It's a guaranteed tonic.
You can guess I really enjoyed this.
At a point in his early twenties, Tony was in limboland trying to decide what to do in his life that would provide him with some purpose: a few previous attempts hadn't quite provided him with the answers he was looking for. In pursuit of that lightbulb moment, he stumbled across a volunteer programme at an animal rescue centre in Ecuador: a refuge for animals rescued from cruelty. Without thinking twice about it, he signed up. What followed was for him a life-changing experience.
Tony Slater is very gifted at writing comically and laughter accompanied every page I read at the account of his daily routine looking after animals, birds and reptiles of all shapes and sizes and degrees of ferocity. Despite the tomfoolery of the writing, Tony never forgets the seriousness of the work carried out by the rescue centre, he never forgets to inform us of the beauty and uniqueness of Ecuador, and more importantly, never forgets to reveal not only how much the animals came to mean to him in the short time he was there, but also how much the whole experience touched him.
This is one I will read again if I ever need cheering up. It's a guaranteed tonic.
April 23, 2014
I won a copy of this book in a giveaway from the author, Tony Slater, when he joined The Book Bosses http://thebookbosses.blogspot.com/ for a Friday Night Foto Fight.
As a lover of all things british, I was a bit disappointed in myself. I had forgotten that "pants" in the UK does not mean what "pants" in the US means. I read nearly the entire book not truly appreciating the title. I loved this author, he cracked me up throughout the whole book. His one liners were top-notch. I laughed out loud quite a few times and had to read bits of it to my husband.
This book is about Tony Slater's experience volunteering at a wild animal rescue shelter in Ecuador. His description of the scenery made me want to go there. His description of the thugs and dangers made me want to stay snug and alive in my home. But I'm kind of a wimp. I have much respect for people who are brave enough to venture out and help in places like this animal rescue. I also have a lot of respect for the people where this is their livelihood. I love the idea of a gap year. People who take advantage of this have such opportunity! I wish wish wish it was more common here.
I love books that open my eyes to what it's like to live in different areas of the world. We know we have it good in the US but I think it's very easy to take what we have for granted. A book like this is a great reminder on perspective.
That Bear Ate My Pants! is also a great reminder not to take yourself too seriously. Again, Tony is hilarious. I can guarantee many good laughs throughout this book.
As a lover of all things british, I was a bit disappointed in myself. I had forgotten that "pants" in the UK does not mean what "pants" in the US means. I read nearly the entire book not truly appreciating the title. I loved this author, he cracked me up throughout the whole book. His one liners were top-notch. I laughed out loud quite a few times and had to read bits of it to my husband.
This book is about Tony Slater's experience volunteering at a wild animal rescue shelter in Ecuador. His description of the scenery made me want to go there. His description of the thugs and dangers made me want to stay snug and alive in my home. But I'm kind of a wimp. I have much respect for people who are brave enough to venture out and help in places like this animal rescue. I also have a lot of respect for the people where this is their livelihood. I love the idea of a gap year. People who take advantage of this have such opportunity! I wish wish wish it was more common here.
I love books that open my eyes to what it's like to live in different areas of the world. We know we have it good in the US but I think it's very easy to take what we have for granted. A book like this is a great reminder on perspective.
That Bear Ate My Pants! is also a great reminder not to take yourself too seriously. Again, Tony is hilarious. I can guarantee many good laughs throughout this book.
June 10, 2012
If you're not much of a traveller, aren't interested in looking after (or running after) wild animals, and are far too sensible to get yourself into bizarre, life-threatening situations... read this book. Tony has done all of the above, so that you don't have to!
This is a funny and addictive telling of the author's escapades in Ecuador, mainly centred around a somewhat ramshackle wildlife sanctuary. Assuming that every word of it is true, I'm not surprised that Tony was inspired to write a book about it. This is a proper adventure of the type that most of us will never experience. Although frankly I'm not too cut up about that, since Tony himself frequently gets cut up in a number of painful and humiliating ways, the poor sod!
The personalities of the wild animals are as well-drawn as those of the locals and the fellow travellers who come and go. I got a real sense of the Ecuadorian countryside and culture, and felt genuinely transported by the writing. Tony has a gift for self-deprecating humour and often comes out with giggle-worthy turns of phrase. I'd love to see him tackle a fictional story.
This is a very easy to read book, and since it's structured in small chapters almost like a series of very short stories, it's a good one to dip in and out of without getting lost. Recommended.
This is a funny and addictive telling of the author's escapades in Ecuador, mainly centred around a somewhat ramshackle wildlife sanctuary. Assuming that every word of it is true, I'm not surprised that Tony was inspired to write a book about it. This is a proper adventure of the type that most of us will never experience. Although frankly I'm not too cut up about that, since Tony himself frequently gets cut up in a number of painful and humiliating ways, the poor sod!
The personalities of the wild animals are as well-drawn as those of the locals and the fellow travellers who come and go. I got a real sense of the Ecuadorian countryside and culture, and felt genuinely transported by the writing. Tony has a gift for self-deprecating humour and often comes out with giggle-worthy turns of phrase. I'd love to see him tackle a fictional story.
This is a very easy to read book, and since it's structured in small chapters almost like a series of very short stories, it's a good one to dip in and out of without getting lost. Recommended.
December 24, 2011
After reading too many sci-fi and horror stories, I picked up "That Bear Ate My Pants!" and settled into my sofa for a light-hearted read. Tony Slater's commentary on his time spent volunteering in Ecuador was not only hysterical but filled with soulful recounts of friendship and love. From the moment he steps off the airplane in Ecuador with a couple of hours of the Spanish language under his belt until the time he boards the plane to head back to England, Tony captivates and draws you into his journey as he searches for something more meaningful in life than technology and a desk job. There were times I laughed so hard at some of the situations he got himself into that I had tears streaming down my face. He never backed down from a challenge, regardless of what it entailed. Other times, I wished I could hug him when he had to say good-bye to the animals, friends, and his Lady love. The whirlwind ride of volunteering in a foreign country can be difficult, but with the right attitude, it can change your entire life. I am looking forward to Tony Slater's next volunteering adventure and living vicariously through him!
August 23, 2012
Tony Slater’s book is an ideal ‘travelogue’ and another of those perfect antidotes to those who think that living a life of volunteering abroad is a cheap and easy way to see the world. The book opens with him chasing an escapee and it continues in much the same vein. The escapees in question though are rescued animals at an animal shelter in Ecuador. His writing captures your imagination immediately and paints a picture of a world I’m unlikely to see that is so vivid, that I feel I have been there with him, every step of the way. I sweated up and down the mountains, I avoided being eaten by the Jaguar, I too chased an unruly teenage bear around an enclosure and I felt every one of the blisters, the scratches and the bites he received; I loved every minute of it, laughing my way through the Spanish misunderstandings, the adventures, the encounters with locals (both human and animal), in fact as a result if I ever find myself in Ecuador, I will definitely visit the Santa Martha Animal Refuge (I have no intention of climbing into a bear enclosure though). I am really looking forward to his next book as I want to find out what happened next!
March 18, 2012
I stumbled on this book while browsing in the Kindle store and am I glad that I did. Tony James Slater was looking for opportunities to volunteer around the world, came across the Santa Martha Animal Rescue Center in Ecuador, and decided to spend a couple of months there. His description of that experience is a pure delight. This is a book that is laugh out loud funny, loaded with hysterical, tender, and heart-warming stories about the animals who have found refuge there, and a cautionary tale of why it might not be the best idea to arrive in a rural area of Ecuador with almost no Spanish language skills to draw on. But the fish out of water became a valued member of the team of volunteers working with the animals who had been abused and mistreated before being rescued and I'm sure that he was sorely missed after he left. This book also brings home the message of how much difference one person can make in this world. Now that I have discovered Tony James Slater, I'm eagerly looking forward to reading his next book.
May 17, 2020
Tony James Slater went to Ecuador to do his part in helping animals who have been harmed by people with the hope they can be rehabilitated and brought back to the wild.
He saw this as a chance to see how tough he was when he came to going into a panther’s cage and not being eaten. He learned the dangers of welding by not doing it correctly and being temporarily blind.
Then he faced the cultural differences of living in a Latin America and not knowing the language. He sometimes didn’t use the language correctly, which caused some funny incidents.
I found the book humorous at times and learned a lot about what it takes to run an animal refuge. It is not a perfect book, sometimes he seemed to ramble on a bit, but overall I enjoyed learning about Ecuador and the amazing animal world we don’t always see this up close.
He saw this as a chance to see how tough he was when he came to going into a panther’s cage and not being eaten. He learned the dangers of welding by not doing it correctly and being temporarily blind.
Then he faced the cultural differences of living in a Latin America and not knowing the language. He sometimes didn’t use the language correctly, which caused some funny incidents.
I found the book humorous at times and learned a lot about what it takes to run an animal refuge. It is not a perfect book, sometimes he seemed to ramble on a bit, but overall I enjoyed learning about Ecuador and the amazing animal world we don’t always see this up close.
November 14, 2012
Absolutely brilliant book! I loved every bit of it. It's split into lots of small chapters, which makes it easy to keep dipping into, but the problem is that it's so damn funny and well written that the temptation is always to read 'just one more chapter', and then you realise that you've been 'dipping in' for the past four hours and it's dark outside and you forgot to have lunch. Tony has such a fun, absorbing way of writing and you can't help but be swept along on his adventure with him. He might be a self-confessed idiot abroad, but he comes across as an extremely likeable idiot. Definitely the sort of person you would want to go for a beer with, or at least share a bit of fried, cheesy Ecuadorian street-food with.
Buy this book! You won't regret it.
Buy this book! You won't regret it.
August 16, 2020
I’m a sucker for humorous travel memoirs and this one was based around an animal refuge in Ecuador, so really, what’s not to like? Tony is quite crude and gives his reader a bigger peak into the thought process of a young guy than I really wanted, to be honest. But he’s also funny and entertaining. I won’t read more by him, but his experiences are pretty amazing, and I enjoyed the book for the most part.
February 4, 2021
This is an entertaining book with a little travel adventure and animals. The author is English, and tells of his adventures in Ecuador at an animal preserve. There is a lot of humor and basically tells of his time spent at the farm. You will learn a little bit about travelling there, but it is mostly about his interaction with the people and life on the farm. It was good enough for me to want and read some more of his work.
February 14, 2013
This book was free on Amazon kindle and I don't think I would have bought it if it wasn't. I f I had spent money on it I would have felt a bit disappointed.
It is the story of a young man who volunteers his services in an animal sanctuary in Ecuador. It is pretty slow in parts and didn't endear me to want to pick it back up.
On the plus side though some of the tales are pretty funny.
It is the story of a young man who volunteers his services in an animal sanctuary in Ecuador. It is pretty slow in parts and didn't endear me to want to pick it back up.
On the plus side though some of the tales are pretty funny.
February 26, 2021
I really liked this book. So, why not 4 or 5 stars? The author lets himself down with unnecessary misogynistic descriptions of a co-worker, his similes are crude at times, he lets his hormones rule in an uncontrolled manner and the grammar and punctation need a polish. But, to offset all of that is the author's description of his devotion to the animals - his warmth and good humoured nature shine through in the writing and that's what makes this book a winner. 3.5 from me and restoration of my belief that there are other good books out there on Kindle Unlimited.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 5, 2021
I have rather disliked this book. Do not get me wrong, it was fun reading until the book started repeating itself. It describes the life of a volunteer in a pet refuge and...that's it. The content is pretty same for the whole book and nothing changes:
1. Hey, there is a new volunteer in our team!
2. Oh no, [animal_name] has escaped the cage!
3. Yay, we have a new animal and it's so exotic!
4. Let's go to the market and buy something.
5. One of the volunteers left. But...
6. Hey, there is a new volunteer in our team!
This is basically the WHOLE book structure that repeats over and over. The book describes only what author sees every day in Ecuador and there are no attempts to describe the bigger picture.
There is nothing that describes the culture and overall mood of people living in Ecuador. There is a strong feeling that this book can be set anywhere else in the world and nothing will change (except the fauna, I guess).
The book contains only routine stuff (however, it is a funny stuff) nd describes very shallow views of the author: eating food, digging holes, playing chess, rescuing animals, describing women the author finds attractive, and that's all. The stories are interesting and funny, but there is no immersion in the author's world and experience. There is no context other than the things that author has witnessed with his own eyes.
I expected a virtual trip to Ecuador, the book is more about a virtual trip to animal refuge. But the problem is not with wrong expectations, it's the content itself that does not really change throughout the whole book.
1. Hey, there is a new volunteer in our team!
2. Oh no, [animal_name] has escaped the cage!
3. Yay, we have a new animal and it's so exotic!
4. Let's go to the market and buy something.
5. One of the volunteers left. But...
6. Hey, there is a new volunteer in our team!
This is basically the WHOLE book structure that repeats over and over. The book describes only what author sees every day in Ecuador and there are no attempts to describe the bigger picture.
There is nothing that describes the culture and overall mood of people living in Ecuador. There is a strong feeling that this book can be set anywhere else in the world and nothing will change (except the fauna, I guess).
The book contains only routine stuff (however, it is a funny stuff) nd describes very shallow views of the author: eating food, digging holes, playing chess, rescuing animals, describing women the author finds attractive, and that's all. The stories are interesting and funny, but there is no immersion in the author's world and experience. There is no context other than the things that author has witnessed with his own eyes.
I expected a virtual trip to Ecuador, the book is more about a virtual trip to animal refuge. But the problem is not with wrong expectations, it's the content itself that does not really change throughout the whole book.
January 10, 2013
The monkey-chasing episode is one of the funniest passages I've read for a long time.
When the author's thespian dreams are thwarted, and his career as an explorer ends in south-west France on a prune-picking project, he decides to volunteer at an animal rescue centre in Ecuador; as one does.
His exploits there are recounted with humour and great affection for the animals he cares for, even if they don't always show their gratitude as he might hope.
A thoroughly enjoyable read, despite a few sad passages. Nothing too distressing for people like myself who don't like reading about animal suffering.
I enjoyed his writing style, and was not offended by the language. If you are put off by obscenities, then you might not enjoy this. But if you are interested in wildlife and the human efforts to protect it, and enjoy a good laugh, then this is a book for you.
When the author's thespian dreams are thwarted, and his career as an explorer ends in south-west France on a prune-picking project, he decides to volunteer at an animal rescue centre in Ecuador; as one does.
His exploits there are recounted with humour and great affection for the animals he cares for, even if they don't always show their gratitude as he might hope.
A thoroughly enjoyable read, despite a few sad passages. Nothing too distressing for people like myself who don't like reading about animal suffering.
I enjoyed his writing style, and was not offended by the language. If you are put off by obscenities, then you might not enjoy this. But if you are interested in wildlife and the human efforts to protect it, and enjoy a good laugh, then this is a book for you.
November 1, 2017
An, at times, very funny book which details the author’s 3 months spent working at an animal rescue facility in Ecuador.
Whilst the book mostly devotes itself to the experiences he had among the many varied animals which he looks after, it comes into its own when describing his interactions with the other human inhabitants a the facility.
As a self-published book, the purists might argue that the pacing is a bit off at times but as evidenced by the wide following he now has, the writing is of a good quality. His self-effacing and heart-warming writing style dishes up plenty of bite sized morsels for our consumption and this will appeal to those who are after a travel-lite story which focuses on a series of incidents involving the author chasing escaping animals and his resultant injuries.
Whilst the book mostly devotes itself to the experiences he had among the many varied animals which he looks after, it comes into its own when describing his interactions with the other human inhabitants a the facility.
As a self-published book, the purists might argue that the pacing is a bit off at times but as evidenced by the wide following he now has, the writing is of a good quality. His self-effacing and heart-warming writing style dishes up plenty of bite sized morsels for our consumption and this will appeal to those who are after a travel-lite story which focuses on a series of incidents involving the author chasing escaping animals and his resultant injuries.
July 3, 2016
This book is about the author's trip to Santa Martha Animal Rescue Centre in Ecuador, South America to volunteer. The center takes in any animal that has been abandoned or abused and rehabilitates the ones that they can.
The story is told in first person and is hilarious. It kept me laughing the entire way through. I'm pretty sure it's non-fiction, but either way it's an enjoyable way to learn more about the animals of Ecuador.
There is a tiny bit of language for those who might be offended by such things, but the story is clean and fun. I'll definitely be passing this book on to my husband next and would recommend it to others.
I received this book free of charge in exchange for my honest review.
The story is told in first person and is hilarious. It kept me laughing the entire way through. I'm pretty sure it's non-fiction, but either way it's an enjoyable way to learn more about the animals of Ecuador.
There is a tiny bit of language for those who might be offended by such things, but the story is clean and fun. I'll definitely be passing this book on to my husband next and would recommend it to others.
I received this book free of charge in exchange for my honest review.
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