Wet & Wild Paperback – January 31, 2015

Discovering new talent in writing is a joy when that new talent happens to bear the moniker of David Ellis. Dr. Ellis, according to the brief bio at book's end, `has worked as a physician in the UK's National Health Service for more than 25 years. He was an undergraduate at St Peter's College, Oxford and then a research scholar at Worcester College. He moonlighted from the Department of Experimental Psychology to work with Steven Berkoff's London Theatre Group. His first exposure to publishing was when writing on music technology to supplement his medical school grant. He has written books on medical computing and using computers to make music, and also co-authored a book and software package to teach anatomy to medical students. He lives in North London with his husband and two cats, Basil and Sybil. This is his third novel (previous works, CAPTIVE and LOOKS COULD KILL.)'WET & WILD is about a place as much as it is about the inhabitants of the place - the 'place' in this case is a most bizarre pet shop named Wet & Wild populated with such oddities as Cyril the Fat Cat, Bruno the gecko, Ebenezer the goldfish with significant ancestry and internet affinities, Jeff the electric eel, JG the parrot, al under the aegis of actor/owner Roderick and his partner Brian whom Roderick encountered after Brian, ever the solution to animals riffs (he has the ability to speak with animals not unlike the infamous Dr. Doolittle!), was arrested for breaking and entering to salvage some dogs: Brian's close touch with the law is resolve by a magistrate who because of Brian's affinity for animals decides Brian must work in the Wet & Wild Pet Shop. The two make quite a pair managing their menagerie as well as maintaining connections with the stage, advising twins - one of whom is gay an the other not - and sundry clients whose encounters with the strange animals are a constant source of comedy.Though the book has been labeled as some as a collection of short stories, that definition is challenged by the way each of the so-called stories is connected. There are running themes of shape shifting, variations of cat behavior, a running entry and exit of customers as wild as any of the animal behaviors described, a musician named Michael, a remarkably handsome DJ named Marcus, Roderick's performance in `Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead', and on and on. There is enough fantasy created to nearly match the eccentricities of human foibles and other animal behavior and the result is a novel likely to find a permanent place on the shelf of the bedside table. First class storytelling from a first class author. Grady Harp March 15

I wasn't really sure what I would be getting when I started reading "Wet & Wild", but very quickly I found myself swept up in this quirky and endearingly funny series of stories set around the Wet & Wild pet shop and the unusual character found within. David Ellis is a talented author with a boundless sense of humor that shines through as each story manages to make you giggle, gasp, snort and grin from start to finish. The writing is offbeat, lush, vivid and engaging... drawing you into the adventures to be had within the oddly charming wall so this unique pet shop.What I liked about this was that it doesn't take its self too seriously, it meant to be funny, quirky, entertaining and all around an enjoyable read. I think overall, Mr. Ellis did an amazing job of creating a collection of short stories that capture the imagination and get you laughing. This really was a pleasure to read and I would certainly recommend it to readers looking for an offbeat collection of stories that are funny, witty and charmingly entertaining.

Wow - I love what David Ellis did here. He wrote a highly-imaginative book here that sets the standard for creativity. I love the incorporation of animals into a lucid, magical, and highly-entertaining read. Wet and Wild is one part imagination, one part humor, and one part adventure. This creates a recipe for one of the best books that I have read in awhile.Ellis uses a fresh tone that includes highly-descriptive languages that pushes and tests the reader's imagination. The stories are off-beat, but they are not predictable. They will keep you on your toes - your imagination will be running - and in the end everything weaves together. Wet & Wild is light, it is dark, and it extremely engaging. Each character portrays their own set of unique characteristics which makes for some interesting personalities. You will be delightfully entertained throughout!I can see what Ellis was trying to do here. The premise of the book was great and the execution is top-notched! This is a must read for all.

This is the kind of book you never knew existed. More importantly, you never know how much you would love it!It's so weird and offbeat, but in an amazing way.This book is about Brian. At a very young age he finds out he can communicate with animals. So, naturally, he works at a pet store when he grows up. I mean, what else would he do?Wet & Wild is the name of the pet store and it is filled with the craziest animals and customers ever. The book is written as a bunch of short stories, but it isn't like a normal collection of short stories because they all have Brian and the shop owner in them.I don't want to give anything away, but I would suggest this book to anyone who is into unique books. Especially if they are animals lovers!Speaking of which, you must buy this book just so you can get to know Cyril the cat. He's awesome.

Quirky and humorous, 'wet and wild' is indeed a pet shop like no other. I especially like the character of Roderick and how he handles the various customers wet and wild receives. This is a gem of a story and it is pretty entertaining to read! I enjoyed it.

Awesome! Gruesome and funny!

This book was very entertaining and reminded me of Dr Dolittle because of Brian's ability to communicate with animals. This unique skill gets him into many unusual situations.Brian becomes friends with the pet shop owner early on in the book and their adventures are witty and amusing. This is definitely a book for anyone who adores animals although it does have a dark side.

“Wet & Wild” reminds me, in the best way, of the cross between a Ray Bradbury story and a Stephen King novel. It begins with an extraordinary young boy named Brian—as a toddler he discovers he can communicate with animals, and a series of mishaps related to this ability leads him to a job at a pet shop (Wet & Wild, of the title) run by a very unique proprietor and filled with an odd array of animals.Each chapter is almost a short story unto itself—though the chapters are all tied together by Roderick and Brian, the animals are the real stars and their new owners rarely get what they bargained for. There’s Sparky, the electric eel whose charge can be deadly; Cyril, the very plump cat with some form of feline ESP; Bruno the Tibetan terrier, who gives a whole new meaning to the phrase “sure footed;” and more.I found “Wet & Wild” to be both entertaining and unexpected. It’s a good blend of humour with fantasy/horror (though horror is a bit strong, I can’t think of a better term) that results in a unique story. Each animal’s gift at first is amusing, but then turns out to have a darker core that ranges from unsettling to deeply disturbing. The novel is also well-written, with Roderick and Brian as the quirky glue that bind everything together (with nonchalant acceptance of the amazing animals in their care). If you enjoy fantasy with a clever twist and a touch of darkness, you’ll enjoy this novel.

The way the book is written is quite unusual, but it’s a good thing in this case because it gives the author, Ellis, a distinct style. His manner of writing is engaging and engrossing, which makes this an almost compulsive read.The story itself is laden with originality and imagination conjuring a journey for characters Brian and Roderick that includes some personable and weirdly realistic animals. The mix of human relations between various characters woven in with the trials and tribulations of the experience of the ‘pets’ makes the book fantastical yet still grounded in our world.Each chapter nicely includes its own story which contributes to the overall arc, but good luck if you believe this is a book you can dip in and out of. Once you’ve read through the first couple of chapters and delved into Brian’s life you’ll find yourself unable to put it down.As others have said it is quirky and weird, but that’s what makes it so brilliant – it’s rare to find a book so out of the ordinary and of such a high standard.

Don’t get confused by the title of this book. It’s not what you think it is. ‘Wet and Wild’ is the name of a pet shop where 10-year-old Brian works. Imaginative and lucidly written, the book engages and entertains in unusual ways. The author blends fantasy with a touch of dark humour.It all begins when Brian learns at a young age that he can communicate with animals. A string of events, triggered by his extraordinary ability, leads him to the Wet and Wild Pet Shop run by Roderick who is as odd as the animals in his menagerie and the crazy customers he caters to.The book gives the feel of an offbeat collection of several shorter stories within the story, written with each character in mind. But there’s a thread running through them all which nicely ties up things together in the end.Highly recommended if you’re looking for a quirky, fantastical read with a twisty ending.

I was attracted to this book by its cover, and the synopsis sounded intriguing. The book tells the tales of a pet shop that specialises in an odd collection of exotic pets. It feels more like a collection of short stories than a novel with a beginning, middle and end, the stories held together by the connection to the shapeshifting owner of the shop.Well written and different, but I was disappointed that Brian, the pet shop helper, didn't have a bigger role, as he was the only character I warmed to.

This book was very entertaining and reminded me of Dr Dolittle because of Brian's ability to communicate with animals. This unique skill gets him into many unusual situations.Brian becomes friends with the pet shop owner early on in the book and their adventures are witty and amusing. This is definitely a book for anyone who adores animals although it does have a dark side.