Funny Farm is a wonderful read about family, relationships, overcoming hardships, and of course animals.

I loved how the animal stories were stored throughout giving a break from some of the emotional sections of this memoir.

Laurie Zaleski gives an honest, raw look into her life, and especially her relationship with her mother.

Beautiful writing full of heartbreak, love, and hope.

domestic-violence, escape, primitive-living, rescue-animals, adaptation, abusive-spouse, adversity, animal-welfare, bravery, calling, cancer, criminal-acts, biography, love, situational-humor*****

There is a lot to laugh with in this book.
In spite of the hardships caused by a wealthy abusive father and her mother's solution of taking three children under ten with her poorly employable self with her to live in a primitive setting (when the kids were not at school), this biography is a story of love. Her mother loved all animals and began the rescues within their home even though they had little enough. Laurie has the same calling. Alternating between stories of each early adoptee into the home they called The Funny Farm because of all of the farm animals, and the trials and tribulations of the humans this compelling story has no room for self pity but is of strength and perseverance and accomplishments against all odds for the good of animals. All of the children grew to obtain the education each wanted and found success in their own way. For Laurie that was to expand the Funny Farm and make it a shared place that she did not have to finance alone even though that last bit came after her mother's untimely death. In spite of many bad things, the overall feeling after finishing is very, very good.
I requested and received a free temporary ebook copy from St. Martin's Press via NetGalley, Thank you!

This memoir was fantastic. It is all about a young woman who suffered through a troubling childhood and grows up to run an animal sanctuary. What I liked about this books was it doesn't focus to much on the trauma however it focuses on all of the cute animal stories that Laurie got to experience. With all of the trauma that Laurie experienced in her childhood it makes complete sense to me that she connects to animals they way that she does, and it was nice to see that her trauma didn't completely jade her to growing up and maturing. This book was very easy to read and I really enjoyed how it was told in little stories and anecdotes instead of one long read, it was very compelling and I just flew through it as a reader I couldn't get enough.

This was emotional AF. Laurie's father does not deserve her or her mom, Annie. What terrible person, despicable person to hear your wife and kids and also harm innocent animals on top of this. Animals of all kinds have always been in and out of Laurie's life because of her mom's love for rescuing and having these precious lives adopted to loving homes. Annie always wanted to have a large non-profit rescue for all varieties of animals, and her daughter makes it a reality, too bad her mom never saw this dream become a reality. The name of the rescue is Funny Farm.

A lot of this book was a bummer because of the cruel father BUT there is also love and compassion. I love the different stories about a rescued animal at the end of each chapter. That was most enjoyable. Rescuing/saving any living creature from a bad situation is emotionally exhausting work and this book highlights this from start to finish. I am glad it ends with a happy note.

Recommended for anyone who loves animals and is considering doing this and or adopting from a rescue/shelter. Remember: adopt, don't shop!

Thanks to Netgalley, Laurie Zaleski and St Martin's Press for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Available: 9/7/21

"Funny Farm: My Unexpected Life with 600 Rescue Animals" is written by Laurie Zaleski, owner of the Funny Farm Animal Rescue. In her autobiography, Zaleski recounts her childhood with vulnerability and authenticity. Her childhood was equal parts happy and traumatic, and I was inspired by the bravery and courage she developed through the hardest of times. In between each chapter, Zaleski would provide stories about some of the most memorable animals she has cared for over the years. I enjoyed reading about the special bonds she created with each animal, and the selfless way that she cared for them. There were some parts of the book that I felt went a little long, but overall I enjoyed this book!

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

Such a heartbreaking and hopeful memoir of abuse, abandonment and rescue. Laurie Zaleski’s mother Annie had a special heart for animals who needed a safe home, as she did when she left her abusive husband. She had three kids, no money and an unrealized dream of building an animal refuge. Laurie opens Funny Farm Animal Rescue in New Jersey just after her mother’s death realizing Annie’s dream in her honor.

This is a beautifully written tale that grabbed me from the start. I adore animals too and cannot stand the idea of any being hurt or abandoned. Laurie draws a word portrait of her mom that’s so real you feel you know her. And the stories of the rescued animals — 600 currently at Funny Farm — touched my heart deeply, as I devoured the book in one setting. Highly highly recommended!

5 of 5 Stars
Pub Date 07 Sep 2021
#FunnyFarm #NetGalley

Thanks to the author, St. Martin's Press, and NetGalley for the review copy. Opinions are mine.

Funny Farm is the story of a mother who did everything in her power to protect her children from an abusive father while raising her young children in poverty. But also a story of love, both for rescued animals and rescued individuals and a daughter who kept her mother’s dream of establishing a farm to house all the rescued animals.

From a rough early childhood, Laurie Zaleski was able to become a successful businesswoman and finally establish her mother’s dream – the Funny Farm Animal Rescue. Unfortunately, Laurie’s mother died two weeks before Laurie closed on the 15-acre farm. I was amazed at the lengths Laurie went to in supporting the farm and the animals in her care. The physical work involved, the financial sacrifices, and the love for the animals. I was fascinated by the wounded animals that thrived under her care.

I really enjoyed this book, especially the animals’ tales in each chapter. Going to social media and seeing some of the actual animals and the farm was more than I expected.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for this ARC of Funny Farm. This is my honest review.

I enjoyed this book for the most part, it wasn’t anything that I thought it would be. That being said it is a story of a woman’s chaotic life growing up. An abusive father and her time growing up with her mother, a huge animal lover who in turn turned her daughter into a life long animal lover and gatherer. The animal tails at the end of each chapter are really entertaining.

Book Review for Funny Farm
Full feature for this title will be posted at: @cattleboobooks on Instagram!

Thank you to the publisher St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for this ARC of Funny Farm. I really enjoyed this book. Most of the book described the author's chaotic upbringing with an abusive father and her time growing up with her mother, a huge animal lover who got the author started on her lifelong journey to saving and taking care of mistreated or otherwise unlucky animals. This was a heartwarming and reassuring book to read as a fellow animal lover. One of the most uplifting parts of the novel were the short "Animals Tails" at the end of each chapter, which described an unlucky animal the author had come into contact with and, most often, their subsequent recovery and thrive on the Funny Farm. As the author says, being involved in the animal rescue community in any form is emotionally and physically tiring, and it was an uplifting change of pace to read about the animals' resilience and recovery, as well as the author's special bond with and deep understanding of them. I wish that I lived closer to NJ so I could visit the Funny Farm, but for now I'll settle for following on social media.

Part personal memoir, part anecdotes about unusual animals on her farm, Laurie Zaleski and her mother and siblings escape an abusive father and move to an abandoned house with lots of land. They renovate the house and become a sanctuary for animals in need. The father attacks the family, including the animals, throughout the years. Very little is mentioned regarding this distressing ongoing situation.

But the home becomes a farm for unusual animals- not just cats and dogs, but sheep, cows, horses, llamas. Every chapter involves a story about one of the more memorable animals and the family's attachment to their mission.

Laurie’s mother Annie had a deep love for all animals, especially those that had been abandoned or abused. It was her life’s dream of setting up a sanctuary where she could care for those lost souls, but just after Laurie purchased a farm and 15 acres for her mother to do just that, Annie suddenly passed away. Determined to fulfill her mother’s dream, even though it wasn’t hers, Laurie went about setting up the Funny Farm, a place where lost and abused animals could find safe shelter. Laurie tells the story of all the animals she’s rescued, some amusing, some heartbreaking, but she also shares the story of her mother, a woman fled an abusive husband with three children and no money. Laurie shares with us the remarkable story of a woman who refused to give up, on herself, her children, or the animals who so desperately needed her. Zaleski left me wishing I could have met her mum, a most extraordinary woman