Pig in the Middle

by T. S. Learner Matt Whyman

The hilarious tale of how two minipigs took over one family's life..
What happens when a man wonders aloud if a pig would make a good pet? A great deal - once his wife discovers a kind the size of a handbag.
Matt Whyman is a writer and house husband. He enjoys the quiet life. His career wife, Emma, prefers the chaos a big brood can bring. On top of four challenging children, one freaked-out feline, a wolf-like dog and a wild bunch of ex-battery chickens, she brings minipigs Butch and Roxi into the fold.
But can the new arrivals really cuddle up on the sofa, or will their growing presence spark a battle of hearts, snouts and minds?
Funny, touching and entertaining, Pig in the Middle charts the trials and errors of one man and his menagerie. With help and advice from a seasoned local smallholder, Matt sets out to master the art of managing minipigs - inside the house and out. Then someone suggests breeding minipiglets, and Matt's understanding of marriage is tested in the most unexpected ways...

Previously published as Oink! My Life With Minipigs by Hodder & Stoughton.

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

357 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2011

Reviews

[Nicole · Rating 1 out of 5]

Read November 2019
I can’t be bothered to write a full review on this, but here are my reading status updates for those interested:

P.54
So far the author is doing a really great job of making himself very unlikable. Hoping to enjoy it more once they actually get the pigs..

P.121
Finished part 1.
Was expecting a story about some cute pigs, so far all I got are unlikable people who are irresponsible pet owners (&not just of the pigs). Also if I have to read the phrase “real men” one more time I’m going to scream..

P.194
Great, so now he's questioning whether the vet is qualified, because of the way she looks/is dressed. (high cheekbones, blonde / heels, pencil skirt & a blouse that should have had one more button closed.)
He even goes so far as to comment that he didn’t think his wife would be the type to hire a stripper for him so she must be the vet after all. Really dude? The only one not qualified here is you.

P.249
Wtf; they're already having trouble taking care of the two pigs (&other animals) they have, but now they want to start breeding them so they can make some money of them so they can afford for someone to take care of their pigs so they can go on a vacation.

P.308
Ugh, these chapters with Matt trying to artificially inseminate his pig are uh, well, very uncomfortable to read and not at all funny..

[Robyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

OINK: MY LIFE WITH MINI-PIGS
Matt Whyman

I have never read anything by Mr. Whyman, but I have now. The book is a bit of a slow roll and a great deal about the urban mini-farm family life. I raise goats, and baby goats are the cutest followed only by ugly little baby pigs. I know how little farm animals can grab your life and turn it upside down... I almost considered mini pigs and then I remembered the 32 goats in the back.

I actually enjoyed the book quite a bit. It was a downhome and realistic about an urban family that changes from city to rural. Sort of a Green Acers deal.

4 stars for a good story

Happy Reading!

[Kat V · Rating 1 out of 5]

My guess is you picked this book up because you like pigs; if that’s the case I recommend that you put this back down and read Esther the Wonder Pig instead. It’s hard for me to turn down a book about my favorite animal so against the advice of the people who reviewed this before me I read it anyway. Well the author is kind of a misogynist so I have that to forward to for the rest of the book. Oh gosh these people are so massively unprepared to have a pig. This is not good. These are not good parents. This family should not be allowed to own pets. This book is barely about pigs and mostly about incompetent adults. Additionally, I hate everyone in the book except the friend Tom. These people need therapy. I hate this. Don’t read it. 1 star

[Cade]

Mini pigs are ADORABLE, and I wanted to love this. But the guy writing...I just could not make myself like his vouce.

[Brandy Bacala · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars

I was so excited to receive Oink: My Life with Mini-Pigs in a goodreads giveaway, and couldn't wait to read it. My best friend grew up with a pet pig and has shared numerous funny pig stories over the years, so I expected this book would have no shortage of humorous anecdotes. While Matt Whyman does share funny stories about his pigs and the mischief they cause, this book lacks the loving tone that makes pet owner books enjoyable. For the majority of the book he seems to genuinely hate his new pets and his anxiety muffles a lot of the humor. I wish there had been more attention given to the cute and fun things the mini-pigs did instead of only hearing how stressful they are as pets.

I think I would have enjoyed the book more if it had covered more time. I would have liked to see how the pigs grew up with his kids and became a part of the family instead of just reading about the headaches they caused in their first year. The author eventually warms to the pigs and the book has a good ending, but it just wasn't enough for me. Maybe my hopes were too high in the beginning, but I found myself disappointed. It's an easy read if you have some extra time, but don't expect too much from Oink: My Life with Mini-Pigs.

[Jackie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is about a British family who adopts a pair of mini-pigs, and honestly it is as much about the family dynamics and politics as it is about the critters. Matt and his wife Emma have radically different ideas of what constitutes "acceptable" when it comes to household chaos, especially since Matt works at home and Emma does not. Then there are kids--two teenagers and two kids in the very early primary grades, which makes for some chaos all by itself. Add to that a huge Canadian Shepherd dog, a neurotic cat, some rabbits and some chickens, and you get the picture BEFORE anyone utters the word "mini-pig". Matt is already dubious about adding more pets, but caves in to his family's pleas. What he DIDN'T know was that his family expected the two tiny "trotters" to live in the house with them, and that he would lose his place on the couch because of it. And that was only the beginning of his life with the mini-pigs. There is lots of fun, lots of frustration, and lots to learn from this endearing tale. Anyone who has ever had kids and pets with strong personalities will find something for themselves in this book.

[Suzanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh boy this was funny!!!! Never had so many LOL's in one book. I will make sure to buy the follow up when it's out.

Would recommend reading it in English - I think. I read the Dutch version. It was very readable but sometimes I was not sure about te logical flow of some sentences and I wondered if it had anything to do with the translation.

Want a taste? http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/art...

Recommended for anyone thinking about getting pigs (reality check ahead!) and anyone just wanting to read a funny book on farm animals

[Stephanie Schatz · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was one of the few out there that truthfully details what it is like to own a pig. From the day it enters you life, until you realize that it's become your life in the best possible way. There were times when reading that I cried, or laughed, or had to run to the nearest person and tell them all about what just happened. It is a book that truthfully makes my heart pound with excitement and intrigue. Matt Whyman truly has a gift with connecting his words to his readers. Thank you for sharing your lives with us through this book. I look forward to reading "Oink: My Life with Mini-Pigs" again.

[Miss Bookiverse]

Cannot. Resist. The. Mini-Piggies.

[Fyrrea · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ocena: 3
Wrażenia: Fajnie, facet kupuje sobie świnki, które urastają do wielkich rozmiarów i opisuje związane z nimi doświadczenia. Buduje prosiakom zagrodę, traktuje jak członków rodziny. Uświadamia, że nie są to chrumkające pieski, ale stworzenia o zupełnie innych potrzebach bytowych i chyba zrozumiale przekazuje, że nie powinno się ich kupować/adoptować pod wpływem impulsu. Czemu nie więcej gwiazdek? Miałam wrażenie, że to zbiór przeredagowanych i sklejonych wpisów z bloga, a nie książka z logiczną i uporządkowaną strukturą.
Dla kogo: Dla miłośników zwierząt i tych, którym przez myśl przeszło kiedykolwiek przygarnięcie świnki, choćby i takiej miniaturowej.

[Kelley · Rating 1 out of 5]

Booring. I don't think the narrator helped, as there were a couple portions that I think were meant to be funny, but it didn't come across that way. I love animals, but make it interesting to read or listen to them. The family drove me nuts, where's the responsibility for every other person in this household, 4 kids, seriously?! They can do stuff. Was bummed by how much this book disappointed me.

[Elettra Petricola · Rating 5 out of 5]

Storia divertente, lettura leggera proprio adatta per l'estate. Il fatto che Matt Whyman abbia trascritto una parte della sua vita è stato proprio bello. Ho adorato leggere di Butch e Roxie i due mini maialini che hanno messo in so quadro la vita dello scrittore già affollata. Veramente una lettura da consigliare.

[Lucy T · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book Oink: My Life With Mini-Pigs written by Matt Whyman, was a heartwarming story of a family with two adopted miniature pigs. The story tells of how the family struggled to find the perfect pet. Then when the wife discovers the existence of mini-pigs, the decision was hazy at first, but with some persuasion it became clear.
The Whyman family is a large group of kids and animals. Matt Whyman, the author of this book, married his wife knowing her desire for a large family but did not realize how much care it would need. After their beloved cat, Misty, passes away the family is on a search for a new pet to fill their hearts. One day when the family is at the beach, Matt spies a dog so stunning, he barely noticed the bikini wearing owner. A Canadian shepherd it was, so soon Sesi was the new dog of the house, with her completely white shining coat, herding up the kids every now and then.
Emma is Matt’s wife. She is the creator of the house; bringing in more and more pets and children. It was her idea for the kittens that came after the dog, Sesi, and her idea to adopt two mini pigs. While doing her research on these small versions of swine, she found out that despite their name of ‘pigs’ they are rather intelligent animals. They’re rank of intelligence comes in right behind humans, chimps and dolphins. Emma discovered that they can even play video games with joysticks.
Butch and Roxi: the two mini-pigs that ran havoc throughout their new home. These two little pigs brought surprising joy to the Whyman family, that involved caring for them, playing with them, and even watching them get a little drunken on fermented apples.
Lou and May, the two oldest children and Honey and Frank who came almost a decade later are the four kids that roamed the home of the Whyman’s, helped with the two adorable “animals of mass distraction”, along with encouraging some of their bad, but funny, habits.
This book may be a perfect example of why to not judge a book by its cover. It may look like an easy-read, children’s book, but when you open its pages that tell tales of a family with all their animals; dogs, cats, chickens and two mini-pigs, you unfold a story that is delightful. Even I have now tried to persuade my parents into the adoption of a mini-pig.

[Librariann · Rating 3 out of 5]

At ALA this year, I set a rule to spare my aching back and my overburdened suitcase: no adult ARCs.

I broke that rule for four books: 1) Barnheart, 2) Chuck Palahniuk's newest (for Mike, then me), 3) Jacques Pepin's new cookbook (also for Mike, who I love enough to carry around a book that has 700 pages and a generous trim size), and 4) this book.

What do the books that I chose for myself have in common? They are memoirs about keeping livestock. LIVESTOCK! MINIPIGS!

Look, this book wasn't totally awesome, mostly because the whole situation as he writes it seems a little exaggerated/contrived. (Encounter with shirtless vet! Encounter with topless sunbather! Hilariously botched inseminations!) Also Matt Whyman is a little bit assy throughout the whole affair. But it did give a glimpse into the life of a minipig owner. Teacup pig, I can't be with you...right now. But your book was suitable plane-ride fare.

[Cathy · Rating 1 out of 5]

I picked up Oink: My Life with Mini-Pigs because it looked like a sweet and funny read. Sophie Kinsella's blurb on the back called it "a fabulous, funny read".

The book starts off with a dead cat and the author reminiscing how disrespectfully he treated the cat's body. I skipped forwards a bit to see if the book gets better and found the author making crass references to sexually assaulting animals.

If you enjoy funny books and/or love animals I would recommend skipping this book. Glad I borrowed this from the library instead of wasting money on it. What a piece of garbage.

[Pedro A.G. · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was entertaining and easy to read, but at the end it was hard to feel sympathy for anyone in that family. As far as memoirs go, the author does a decent job at portraying his life since the arrival of mini-pigs to his house, but he comes out as a whinny person in the end.

If anything, I want a memoir written by Tom, his best friend and handyman.

One last comment, this book reiterated my opinion that we (my wife and I) will never have mini-pigs.

[Sarah De Clercq · Rating 5 out of 5]

De cover alleen al zag er veelbelovend uit. Wie kan er nu niet weerstaan aan zo'n schattige varkentjes?
Het boek zelf was echt super. Het was een echt verhaal, niet verbloemd met mooie verhalen over lieve varkentjes. Integendeel. Maar het was ook een enorm grappig verhaal. Ik heb soms bijna luidop gelachen, wat mij nog nooit is overkomen bij een boek!
Echt een aanrader.

[Joanna · Rating 1 out of 5]

The only good thing I can really say about this book is that it is a great example of what not to do with pet ownership. At least he accurately described what a pain in the ass it is to own a pig but the way the book was written just made him sound like an idiot, his wife a needy bitch, and his kids horrible brats. Did not enjoy this book as much as I thought I would.

[Gillian · Rating 1 out of 5]

I got increasingly annoyed as I read this book at the irresponsibility of the author and his family over their knowledge of the animals which they decided to join their family and the author appeared to find it amusing. I thought if this book gave one message to its readers it is "don't do it like this".

[Cheryl Simmons · Rating 2 out of 5]

Given to me by a friend to read. Cute but I did not enjoy the author's style of writing. His wife ended up sounding like a shrew, and the author ended up sounding like an idiot.

[Janet · Rating 2 out of 5]

Seemed like it would be a fun read, but rather disappointing. Rather a strange, disjointed, not overly compelling read. His self-deprecating attempt at humor just made me want to shake him.

[Stefaan · Rating 4 out of 5]

De foto op de cover is vertederend, het boek zelf is geschreven met een flinke dosis humor. Mezelf er vaak op betrapt dat ik breed glimlachend zat te lezen. Aanrader !

[Misty Melsheimer · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would give this book 3 1/2 stars. It was funny, interesting, and convinced me I will never own a mini-pig :)

[Suzanne · Rating 2 out of 5]

This could have been so much better had Matt Whyman taken a journalistic approach and written with more detachment. More info, more voices, more about the bigger picture when it comes to mini-pigs and their growing (or is it?) role as pets. Or had he used the mini-pigs as an insight into himself and his family, more like a thoughtful memoir than a humourous endeavour. He wanders in that direction a bit, but always pulls back to focus squarely on his pets, both of which he resents for most of the book.

Parts of it were informative and entertaining, but otherwise, Whyman tried too hard to force humour. Too many quips, too many attempts to make jokes. He's anxious throughout the whole book, but not vulnerable enough to connect with the reader. He builds a wall if humour to hide behind.

It is an excellent lesson about why you must do thorough research before you adopt a pet.

[Joe Higashi · Rating 2 out of 5]

I had a hard time finishing this book, because by about a quarter of the way through I hated the author and his family. The only person who comes across well is the author's friend Tom, although I was frequently wondering why Tom was putting up with spineless whining of the author.
I think (hope?) the author was trying to be funny by exaggerating the weaknesses of him and his family, but we so rarely see their good sides, that it just comes across as bad people doing stupid and thoughtless things. I don't think they would be so bad in real life, but their treatment here, oddly, lacks love. Weirdly the only animals portrayed with affection are the chickens.
However, there are a couple of nice stories, and the writing is clear, so two stars.

[J · Rating 1 out of 5]

Two adorable little pigs on a cover and the title confirming that this book is going to be all about the minis. Now really who can say no to such a promise?

Unfortunately Oink: My Life With Mini-Pigs is anything but a charming story about living with mini-pigs. Instead the book itself is two-thirds complaints about his life combined with sexual connotations no matter how innocent they may have started out and the occasional inclusion of actual episodes of life with the mini-pigs. But then what can you expect from a book that starts and ends with the death of a pet.

The writing itself explains at the start as to how they Whymans came to such a large family, the financial careers of the adults and how the wife's ever necessary compulsion to have a large family that started with children then ended with the most unlikely of pets (although just since we closed on this chapter with the Whymans can we relaly say that it closed on the minis?)

As a result of the "exoticism" of the pigs the book does give the reader some information on raising pigs, which also includes how to tell whether a sow is ready to breed or a boar is a good stud. But otherwise the book is a catalog of one man's bad decisions along with that of his family when it comes to pets. Pair all this along with the lengthy stops about the topless Frenchwoman whose pet dog inspired the family to get their first dog, the vet coming to castrate the pig stripping as he watched her from the other side of the vehicle and then telling your teenage girls as soon as they got home and even the part about trying to yet grandiosely failing to artificially inseminate your sow while you definitely do not have a classic.

Although there may be some who may enjoy the circus of Matt Whyman's attempts at family domesticity I have a feeling that there will be far more who will just wish that they hadn't chosen to take this trip down the rabbit hole like myself.

[Alyssa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am obsessed with pigs, so when I saw this book in the library I quickly snatched it up!

With a drugged-up cat, a dog that might as well be a wolf, 4 gangster chickens and 2 robbing mini pigs, Matt certainly has his hands full at his house. Not to mention 2 teenage daughters, a younger daughter and son and his wife. This book is filled with comedy, telling the story of Matt's life with minipigs, his family and his helpful neighbours.

I giggled and smiled multiple times in each chapter and felt myself well up with tears in one. A heartwarming story that was a joy to read.

My favourite quote: "You see, Daddy drinks because you're being difficult."

[V · Rating 3 out of 5]

+ I like pigs very much, and Roxi and Butch certainly have lots of personality
+ has interesting glimpses at the smallholder, agricultural community

- I think this book is supposed to be a cheerful story, but it comes across more as a cautionary tale
- Dude was not prepared. at. all. I'm willing to cut him some slack because pigs are quite a big leap, but there was no attempt to learn how to handle pigs before he got them :/
- the very personal interludes seemed out of place (were they meant to serve as breathers?) and didn't really serve a purpose to advance the narrative,

[Dennis · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a decent book about a family raising mini-pigs with no prior experience. Comical at times but sometimes uncomfortable to read about the family conflicts that arise. In the mid-1990s my wife wanted to consider a pot-bellied pig so we went to the Humane Society where a very nice person set us straight. We had an opportunity to adopt a beautiful kitten soon after that so no more talk of pigs. That being said they are very cute. Recommended for Hallmark Channel viewers.

[Ginnine Josete · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVED this book! I laughed so much at this honest story about a family and their mini pigs. The shenanigans, the mishaps and the love were all so wonderful, funny and poignant. There are so many layers to this story besides just being funny. I highly recommend it to anyone. Thank you for sharing your words.