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“What kind of Navy officer sits on his ship in the middle of the Mediterranean dreaming of gerbils?”
That’s the question t... read full description
That’s the question t... read full description
reviews
Feb 02, 2011
Julie
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My sister and I inherited some gerbils when we were little from a youth leader at our church. She was moving to another city, and I think my mother thought it would be a snub to God if we didn't help her out by taking her gerbils. Besides, they came free, along with a tank, extra bedding, food dishes, water bottles, and even a little bit of food to get us started. Free was a big thing at our house. So when I saw the title of this book, and considered what a Gerbil Farm might be, I was intrigued.
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Dec 03, 2010
Louise
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Holly Robinson’s father was a strict Navy man who insisted his children call him “Sir”. The children would ask or answer him as: “Please Daddy, Sir” or “No thank you Daddy, Sir”. He expected nothing but the best from his children. But this strict Navy man had a secret, one which Holly spent her childhood and teenage years trying to hide.
Holly’s mother was much more open, independent and often left the table during one of her husband’s “family meetings” giving updates on his “secr More...
Holly’s mother was much more open, independent and often left the table during one of her husband’s “family meetings” giving updates on his “secr More...
Jan 07, 2010
Shawna
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A nice story about the daughter of a Navy officier who moved around quite a bit and secretly raised gerbils for medical research. The memoir did read a bit as though the individual chapters had been written separately and then sewn together for the book. I also would have liked to know a little bit more about the aftermath of her sister's death, that had to have affected the family more than Holly lets on. I think it probably explains why her father grew so distant, and her mother had the iss
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Jul 07, 2011
Wendy
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Although I'd like to say I loved this book, the best I can say is it was okay. I'm sure the authors life wasn't easy, but the book feels very dark to me. Okay, her father was in the navy and was strict. It is not as if he beat her. Okay, he secretly raised gerbils and she and her brother had to work to help him. Many kids (at least back then) had to do a lot of chores. I know I had to weed the garden, pick stones out of the front lawn, etc. Her parents weren't blissfully happy, but they
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May 02, 2010
Lisa
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Given the number of family memoirs available which focus on dysfunction, this book is a delightful departure. The family is wonderfully quirky. While the home certainly has problems, the author tells the story with an optimistic tone, her military father's rigid inflexibility and penny pinching ways, her mother's zest for life, and her brother's wild ways are told with humor and affection. I found myself laughing out loud as the author recounted the one family vacation, the brief attempt at rais
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May 09, 2010
Natalie
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This book offers the reader an opportunity to spend time with the last(?) generation of parents who unselfconsciously spent their child-rearing years as grownups with their own pursuits.
These parents are surrounded with, and busy with family life to be sure, but their primary focus is on their own pursuits and work, not on their kids' schedules or activities.
A farm or an entrepreneurial endeavor (where the work truly is never done!) can still create this family dynami More...
These parents are surrounded with, and busy with family life to be sure, but their primary focus is on their own pursuits and work, not on their kids' schedules or activities.
A farm or an entrepreneurial endeavor (where the work truly is never done!) can still create this family dynami More...
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May 23, 2009
Jennifer
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A benign, gently humorous memoir of a woman who grew up on her military father's gentleman gerbil farm. Holly's father is a retired Navy man who decides to raise gerbils for laboratory testing purposes, a bizarre practice that influences the physical, emotional and financial stability of his family in ways he could never even imagine. The author tells several mildly amusing family tales that make this a pleasant read to pass the time on a summer afternoon, but don't expect any great epiphanies o
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Apr 05, 2010
Lori
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I had to read this book the moment I heard of it--which was while I was reading another nontraditional family memoir, "The Glass Castle." This book was well written--great humor and insight. You do get to learn a bit about gerbils and raising them--an added bonus :) Instead of labeling these types of books as "family dysfunction" themes--it's really about how some, who just so happen to be parents, follow their passions. Makes great stories for those children to write whe
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Feb 12, 2011
Deborah
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I hate rating memoirs, this one is interesting. A humorous novel about an unusual family. When I saw the title of this book, and considered what a Gerbil Farm might be, I was intrigued.
Rebecca my daughter was hoping this would help in her pursuit of getting a pet- and all she wants is one gerbil, hamster, ginney pig or dog. I must say I learnt a lot about gerbils- who knew that in the 60's the gerbil was not the common pet is is today. She should only know that for Robinsons father th More...
Rebecca my daughter was hoping this would help in her pursuit of getting a pet- and all she wants is one gerbil, hamster, ginney pig or dog. I must say I learnt a lot about gerbils- who knew that in the 60's the gerbil was not the common pet is is today. She should only know that for Robinsons father th More...
May 27, 2009
Andrea
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This author has a clear voice and vividly describes the setting of her childhood, but if you like gerbils, you may not like this book. If, like me, you are hoping for a funny animal story, this is not the book for you. The author's father is a naval officer who sets out to breed gerbils partly out of curiousity and partly out of a belief that there is money to be made in this. The gerbils are not pets, and are bred for sale to researchers.
Jul 24, 2011
Courtney
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As a gerbil owner myself, I picked up this book on title alone. As memoirs go, the dialogue was a little too contrived to sound realistic, but the author's childhood as she told it was entertaining enough that it was only a little distracting.
Gerbils are an under-appreciated animal, so I loved how the author (and the author's father) love for gerbils shined through. I learned a little more about gerbil history, too.
Gerbils are an under-appreciated animal, so I loved how the author (and the author's father) love for gerbils shined through. I learned a little more about gerbil history, too.
Mar 31, 2011
Jill
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Could not put it down, it reminded me of some of my strange growing up stories of being one of a large family with parents that were different from the everyday parents that other kids had. No wonder she is planning a wacky and exciting move to a windswept corner of Prince Edward Island with her family, it will be a piece of cake after that upbringing! She writes as easily as breathing.
Sep 21, 2009
Marilyn
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Once again, I never met a memoir I didn't like! This one is one of the best of the best. So well written. Hilarious at points. You KNOW the characters and feel like they're family. One of my students told me to get this for my class library. She'd read about it randomly in a magazine. Serendipity. That's what I love about reading-- how you "meet" the book!
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Aug 07, 2010
Melinda
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I find a peculiar rhythm in reading most memoirs- the good ones are hilarious, impossible to put down, and thought-provoking in a truth-is-stranger-than-fiction kind of way. But there always come a point, maybe two or three chapters from the end, where the wind-down leaves me inexplicable sad. This very, very funny book left me very sad for some reason.
Nov 29, 2010
Shari
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the mere fact that this is a true story, makes for an entertaining and enlightening read. Holly's father has a "secretive" business as he decides to raise and sell gerbils. he is very successful and publishes articles and books as he involves the entire family in his strange but lucrative scheme. I almost contemplated getting a gerbil!
Jul 19, 2010
Michele
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This book struck a chord with me, a former gerbil owner, and a member of the same generation as the author. Its the story of Holly and her family, and of her father, a navy commander who had a second career as a gerbil farmer. As most families are, this one has its quirks, and no one is perfect, but it makes for an entertaining read, aside from a little strong language, (stronger than I care for).
Nov 19, 2009
Sarah
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Well written coming of age book. The author evokes a great sense of the time period as well as the characters.
She does a great job of bringing out the voice of a "put upon" teenager without making the adult reader wanting to strangle her! It was well constructed, and a great read.
She does a great job of bringing out the voice of a "put upon" teenager without making the adult reader wanting to strangle her! It was well constructed, and a great read.
Jun 17, 2009
I read the book jacket while cataloging it and this memoir by a daughter about her father seems sweet. "...To support his burgeoning business, the family eventually settled on a remote hundred-acre farm with horses, sheep, pygmy goats, peacocks --and nearly nine thousand gerbils."
Nov 28, 2010
Dina
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I read this book because the author is the mother of one of Grace's classmates. It is a memoir of her childhood and father who was, in fact, a gerbil farmer. My only complaint would be that I would have been happy to read another two hundred pages.
Jul 28, 2011
Elizabeth
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A funny, poignant look at a family coming apart over grief and the everyday bumps of life with an eccentric father and an outspoken mother. I like the author's direct, clear voice and the unpredictable turns their life took.
Jan 21, 2010
Laura
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This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
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Jan 20, 2010
Amanda
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I enjoyed this and am not sure why it took me so long to read. It is not hard nor really long but it was nice to read a chapter a night. She is a good writer that had a fun childhood. (Although I am not sure she quite realizes that!)
Aug 21, 2011
Sharyl
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Holly Robinson's delightful memoir depicting her unusual childhood with a couple of eccentric parents. It's well written, well paced, and fascinating.
Oct 17, 2010
Nancy
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I don't read many memoirs, but this was delightful. Great descriptions, quirky family members, and growing up in the 50s and 60s--I could really relate!
Aug 17, 2010
Virginia
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This book was much more an autobiography and much less about gerbils themselves. But it was better that way! Although it did make me want to get some gerbils.
Apr 25, 2011
Betty
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This was so boring that I did not get very far. It was a memoir and I could've done much better myself. Trenton's Book Club list
Jul 13, 2009
Kjes
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military man raises gerbils in the thousands, secretly, as extra income. strange family. told by the daughter.
Sep 11, 2010
Alesia
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Fascinating look at how gerbils were introduced to the US, as well as a personal memior.
Jan 11, 2010
Jocelyn
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A humorous novel about an unusual family. The dad is obsessed with breeding gerbils. Not an animal's lover book - the gerbils are used for research.
Dec 30, 2009
I have two gerbils and my grandma said this book was great. I can't wait to read it :]
