The Penguin Lessons by Tom MichellSynopsis: “Penguin presents the unabridged, downloadable, audiobook edition of The Penguin Lessons by Tom Michell, read by Bill Nighy. ‘I was hoping against hope that the penguin would survive because as of that instant he had a name, and with his name came the beginning of a bond which would last a life-time.’ Tom Michell is in his roaring 20’s: single, free-spirited and seeking adventure. He has a plane ticket to South America, a teaching position in a prestigious Argentine boarding school, and endless summer holidays. He even has a motorbike, Che Guevara style. What he doesn’t need is a pet. What he really doesn’t need is a pet penguin. Set against Argentina’s turbulent years following the collapse of the corrupt Perónist regime, this is the heart warming story of Juan Salvador the penguin, rescued by Tom from an oil slick in Uruguay just days before a new term. When the bird refuses to leave Tom’s side, the young teacher has no choice but to smuggle it across the border, through customs, and back to school. Whether it’s as the rugby team’s mascot, the housekeeper’s confidant, the host at Tom’s parties or the most flamboyant swimming coach in world history, Juan Salvador transforms the lives of all he meets – in particular one homesick school boy. And as for Tom, he discovers in Juan Salvador a compadre like no other…. The Penguin Lessons is a unique and moving true story which has captured imaginations around the globe – for all those who dreamed as a child they might one day talk to the animals”

My Review

I loved this audiobook, the memoir of the author’s time in Argentina, and the lessons he learnt from a penguin.

I discovered it after watching a trailer for a new film, based on the book, starring Steve Coogan. The trailer was very funny so I decided I wanted to find out more by listening to the book, especially as Bill Nighy, one of my favourite actors was reading it.

The author was in his twenties when he went to teach in a boys boarding school in Argentina during the 1970s. Whilst on holiday in Paraguay, he came across the penguin ( he later called Juan Salvador), on a beach covered in oil from an oil slick. He took him back to his holiday apartment to would clean him up, expecting to return him to the ocean a day later. The penguin however had other ideas, and so began the ‘Penguin Lessons’.

This was such a lovely book, that had me laughing out loud and smiling a lot, as the author recounted his time with Juan Salvador. How he came to really enjoy being his friend and companion, and how other people including the boys and staff at the boarding school learnt import life lessons from the penguin as well.

Bill Nighy’s performance was superb. He brought all the characters and stories to life perfectly. I enjoyed every minute of my listening experience.

Highly recommended if you enjoy memoirs, especially on audio.