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Vet in the Vestry
The colorful, charming story of a country-veterinarian-turned-country-minister--a healer of body and soul. Told with wry Scottish wit, these stories are filled with the kind of hearty embrace of human and animal ways that are reminiscent of James Herriot. "Engagins . . . rich in local color. . . ".--Publishers Weekly. Martin's. (Animals)
320 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1987
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
February 18, 2023
Feb 17, 730pm ~~ Back during my years of prowling through used book sales almost every Saturday, I collected quite a few titles that were written by Veterinarians Other Than James Herriot. I haven't read any of these books since my first time through 35 or 40 years ago, so I created this little project for 2023.
With any rereading after so many years there is always a possibility that your tastes have changed, or you have become less patient with ramblings, or you simply cannot understand why you ever bought the book in the first place (even for fifty cents at a library sale). So I expected to have a few titles in this pile turn out to be less appealing than they had originally been.
Naturally it is a struggle not to compare any book written by a veterinarian to the James Herriot books. But in this case, the author was also from Scotland and became a veterinarian in the same era that James Herriot did, and faced the same issues in the beginning of his career. Cameron worked in Scotland, not the Yorkshire Dales, but he did still work with farmers who were very set in their ways and very used to their regular veterinarian. And he spent a lot of time mixing up medicines, something that was a major part of veterinary practice back in the day. I could never stop myself from thinking, "Oh, just like Herriot". That is not fair to Cameron, but there it is.
In his preface, the author says he did not intend to "do a James Herriot" and that most of the book had been written years earlier while recuperating from an illness. Apparently he dug out the manuscript and decided to finish it up and see about getting it published, managing that in 1987. He starts off by describing how he had just been selected for his first church job, then spends time remembering the day he learned about passing his veterinary exams and the early days on the job in his original chosen field. Later in the book he does go back to talking about the church job (I peeked).
But I simply could not keep myself interested, so I decided to give up. Chalk it up to a book that entertained me very much Back In The Day but not so much Now. (I worked in two different veterinary clinics myself in those particular book-collecting years and I'm sure that my jobs gave each book more personal appeal.)
This is the third selection from the VOTJH pile on my desk, and the first to be marked as a DNF. It might not be the last!
With any rereading after so many years there is always a possibility that your tastes have changed, or you have become less patient with ramblings, or you simply cannot understand why you ever bought the book in the first place (even for fifty cents at a library sale). So I expected to have a few titles in this pile turn out to be less appealing than they had originally been.
Naturally it is a struggle not to compare any book written by a veterinarian to the James Herriot books. But in this case, the author was also from Scotland and became a veterinarian in the same era that James Herriot did, and faced the same issues in the beginning of his career. Cameron worked in Scotland, not the Yorkshire Dales, but he did still work with farmers who were very set in their ways and very used to their regular veterinarian. And he spent a lot of time mixing up medicines, something that was a major part of veterinary practice back in the day. I could never stop myself from thinking, "Oh, just like Herriot". That is not fair to Cameron, but there it is.
In his preface, the author says he did not intend to "do a James Herriot" and that most of the book had been written years earlier while recuperating from an illness. Apparently he dug out the manuscript and decided to finish it up and see about getting it published, managing that in 1987. He starts off by describing how he had just been selected for his first church job, then spends time remembering the day he learned about passing his veterinary exams and the early days on the job in his original chosen field. Later in the book he does go back to talking about the church job (I peeked).
But I simply could not keep myself interested, so I decided to give up. Chalk it up to a book that entertained me very much Back In The Day but not so much Now. (I worked in two different veterinary clinics myself in those particular book-collecting years and I'm sure that my jobs gave each book more personal appeal.)
This is the third selection from the VOTJH pile on my desk, and the first to be marked as a DNF. It might not be the last!
May 11, 2013
I found this book while cleaning out my father's apartment after his death and picked it up this week while on vacation. Vet in the Vestry is the story of a Scottish vet who left a successful practice to become a minister in the Church of Scotland. Along the way, Alexander Cameron found out that caring for his human congregation is similiar in many ways to caring for his animal patients. There are more tales in this memoir about being a vet than stories about his experiences as a minister. A perfect book for fans of the James Herriot books.
September 29, 2013
A man goes a bit further from caring and loving animals to caring & loving human beings. A tender story of observations made while being a vet and how it carried him over to being a minister.
Having only kept dogs and one cat, I came away with more respect for people who earn their living dealing with all sorts of other animals. I may have to hang on to this book for a little while (which was purchased at a used book sale several years ago. Some books are not so easy to part with and this is one of them.
Having only kept dogs and one cat, I came away with more respect for people who earn their living dealing with all sorts of other animals. I may have to hang on to this book for a little while (which was purchased at a used book sale several years ago. Some books are not so easy to part with and this is one of them.
May 23, 2017
This is a simple, refreshing read, peopled with interesting characters and events in the life of a country vet turned parson.
June 10, 2023
A parishioner in the Frankford Neighborhood of Philadelphia had given me this book. I felt guilty that I'd never gotten around to reading it.
It is about a veterinarian in Scotland who gave up his practice to become a pastor. It is very much like the books by James Herriot. It's one distinction of course is that Alexander Cameron switched to being a pastor. Didn't feel that it was nearly as good - depth - as well as story telling. It is a feel good book and for those who want more of Herriot type fiction it will do in a pinch.
It is about a veterinarian in Scotland who gave up his practice to become a pastor. It is very much like the books by James Herriot. It's one distinction of course is that Alexander Cameron switched to being a pastor. Didn't feel that it was nearly as good - depth - as well as story telling. It is a feel good book and for those who want more of Herriot type fiction it will do in a pinch.
May 27, 2024
Full of wonderful stories of animals, people and faith. Cameron acknowledges James Herriot as the preeminent writer of veterinarian stories in Britain, but Cameron has his own flair and insight.
A delightful read.
A delightful read.
October 29, 2020
This was the 11th retirement read aloud book.
July 18, 2021
I loved this--true story of a country vet in England in the '50s who then becomes a pastor in Scotland. Really, really enjoyed and after I finished it I ordered his one of his other memoirs.
January 15, 2013
Fans of James Herriot would likely enjoy this book -- "the adventures of a country vet who is also a country minister." Understandably there is some Christian content, which was fine with me. It's not in the same league as Herriot, but it's of the same kind -- veterinary tales, colorful characters, wonderful setting (Scotland). The author's first career is as a vet, and then he later becomes a minister in the Church of Scotland, serving in the same region. A later installment is "Poultry in the Pulpit," which I'm on to next.
April 26, 2008
I really enjoyed this book! I loved the parallels between caring for sheep as a veterinarian and caring for "sheep" as a pastor. A delightful read!
October 11, 2009
I loved this book because in addition to his two jobs, Cameron also does a wonderful job describing the colorful personalities in his life.
September 17, 2012
Delightful book. Very like James Herriot's books, but this author is a Christian and he draws some great analogies from his experiences as a vet and as a minister.
February 24, 2016
A. nonfiction, animals, contemporary, mom's stash, keep
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews