"Esio Trot" by Roald Dahl, 1989. Generally considered a children's story, but more of a light comedy romance.
"Esio Trot" is one of the few stories in which tortoises play a major role and that do not involve hares. It often comes up when one searches for tortoise books, and I like Roald Dahl, so I decided to include it here.
The plot is a lonely man who is secretly in love with the woman downstairs. When he overhears her concern that her pet tortoises (species unsaid, probably a Greek or similar) is not growing, he hatches a rather elaborate scheme.
The title comes from the 'magical words' he tells her to say over her tortoise. The words are a chant to grow bigger, written backwards.
The book includes several care guidelines that are almost all wrong and familiar to anyone who kept tortoises in the 70's and 80's (like the old 'all they need is cabbage and water' bit.) I am sad that Mr. Dahl did not see fit to include at least SOME accurate care info considering how widely read most of his stuff is.
Of course, his relationship advice is about as bad as the tortoise care advice, so I guess it somehow evens out!
Anyone familiar with Mr. Dahl's work (Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, James and the Giant Peach, and some rather risque' adult stuff as well) knows he is at least a slightly warped person so none of this should be a surprise.
Caveats in place, it is still a kinda cute story!
"Esio Trot" is one of the few stories in which tortoises play a major role and that do not involve hares. It often comes up when one searches for tortoise books, and I like Roald Dahl, so I decided to include it here.
The plot is a lonely man who is secretly in love with the woman downstairs. When he overhears her concern that her pet tortoises (species unsaid, probably a Greek or similar) is not growing, he hatches a rather elaborate scheme.
The title comes from the 'magical words' he tells her to say over her tortoise. The words are a chant to grow bigger, written backwards.
The book includes several care guidelines that are almost all wrong and familiar to anyone who kept tortoises in the 70's and 80's (like the old 'all they need is cabbage and water' bit.) I am sad that Mr. Dahl did not see fit to include at least SOME accurate care info considering how widely read most of his stuff is.
Of course, his relationship advice is about as bad as the tortoise care advice, so I guess it somehow evens out!
Anyone familiar with Mr. Dahl's work (Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, James and the Giant Peach, and some rather risque' adult stuff as well) knows he is at least a slightly warped person so none of this should be a surprise.
Caveats in place, it is still a kinda cute story!