Part memoir, part tribute to her inspirational mother, Zaleski also includes many anecdotes about some of the residents of her animal rescue, named the Funny Farm. She relates her childhood and the build-up to the current 15-acre property that currently homes hundreds of rescue animals - along with Laurie herself. It's a riveting read - the type of nonfiction that reads with the flow of fiction. It's funny, but also moving, emotional and definitely tear-inducing. Overall, despite the tears, it is an uplifting read. And I am sure that the finished book will include some photos - though with the help of Google, I was able to pull plenty along the way. I had never heard of this New Jersey rescue organization until I was invited to read this one and I am so glad that I did! It's well-written and a good balance between the author's life, her rescue's mission and the residents. If I am ever in the area, I definitely plan on visiting!

Thank you to the publisher and to Net Galley. My review opinion is my own. I absolutely loved this story of empowerment, survival and love of animals. This is a wonderful read and very inspiring .

Laurie Zaleski runs an animal rescue in New Jersey called Funny Farm. Her mom Annie was her inspiration when she started the rescue but sadly passed away soon after. Laurie is a very inspiring person as she gathered volunteers and family to help her save animals and run her rescue . Now she has saved over 600 animals and birds . She runs a successful rescue non profit. She writes of her youth, what experiences drove her to save animals as her passion and how she loved her Mother who framed her upbringing with great strength and independence while raising three children amid difficulties. Laurie has shared so much of herself and her family her that it is quite touching and very profound reading . Her love of animals is her dedicated passion and I loved reading about those lives she saved and the unrelenting passion she has for all animals.

I loved this book and highly recommend it for all who love animals and stories of inspiring women. Very well done to the author !

I wasn’t sure what, exactly, I was getting with “Funny Farm” by Laurie Zaleski. From the description I guessed it might be like an updated James Herriot type of book - little stories about animals on a farm. But the description also mentioned a tribute to Laurie’s mother, Annie McNulty who’d escaped a bad marriage and managed to survive with little while raising three kids, taking whatever jobs she could, and taking care of animals on her own. So - maybe a combination of “The Glass Castle” (Jeannette Walls) and James Herriot? My summary is “yes, but not quite.” Ms. Zaleski writes in a very direct manner - she’s to the point, no sugar coating, but also not writing a book of vengeance - so in that sense it did remind me of Jeanette Walls’s “The Glass Castle,” where you have to wonder (at times) how both families survived the hardships they faced. There are James Herriot-esque stories about the animals, but, again, Ms. Zaleski doesn’t sugar-coat things - animals die in this book, animals also have amusing things happen to them, animals are also saved and allowed to live rather good long lives. If you want a light happy story, please choose another book - the cover makes this look like a light book, but it’s not. I enjoyed Ms. Zaleski’s direct writing, but it’s probably not for everyone. I hadn’t heard of Funny Farm before I read this book, but it sounds like a very interesting place to visit if I were in the area.

This sweet memoir is perfect for those who loved the James Harriott stories. Laurie Zaleski runs an animal rescue in New Jersey called Funny Farm. Her mom Annie started it, and Laurie and her team of family members and volunteers have enlarged it. Laurie is a gifted author, her writing is approachable, casual and friendly. The descriptions of her animal boarders (at this time there are more than 600 animals and birds on her 15 acres!) are personal and very sweet. The chapters alternate between present time and her youth, when her mother was escaping a violent marriage with 3 kids. Strength, bravery, kindness and a saying for every occasion made this very much a quick read, feel-good memoir. Highly recommended. I received the ARC of this book from Netgalley and the author, but as always, all opinions are my own.

An absolutely delightful and compelling story of a woman growing up in a very troubled environment and yet makes her dreams come true about having a rescue sanctuary. The majority of the stories are marvelous but some make you realize that it's a very tough place to have. .I was totally mesmerized by this book and couldn't put it down She is an amazing person and everyone will just fall in love with her.

Thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I received a widget from the publisher and was on the fence about reading this. I love dogs and have had 5 rescue dogs, so the rescue part was intriguing to me. I love animals in general but wasn't sure this was going to be my speed. I read mysteries and thrillers with the very occasional Marley and Me type of book thrown in. I figured maybe it was time for one of those off genre reads so I went for it and I am glad I did. This was different than I expected. It is mostly a memoir of Laurie Zaleski's life and how she came to own and run the Funny Farm, mostly as a result of her mother's influence. Every chapter ended with a specific animal's story. I thought the whole book would be these kinds of stories. That said, I did enjoy the book. Laurie's mother Anne was amazing and her dad was a total piece of garbage who made their difficult like unnecessarily more difficult. Laurie is inspiring too because she has helped so many animals live their best lives all while running a separate business. I think if I ever find myself in south Jersey I will make a point to visit the funny farm. It sounds like a pretty cool place.

I wasn’t sure what to expect with this one and was a little hesitant, to be honest. But this was so pleasantly surprising! It was a mixture of uplifting, inspiring, and heartbreaking. One of those books that make you feel all the feels. Definitely recommend! Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC.

DNR. Computer broke down with Kindle app and couldn’t recover nor download again. My apologies. I would have liked to have read this.

What a great book! Yes there are heartwarming animal stories. But there is a lot about the author’s not-so-glamorous childhood of poverty and abuse. It’s a great memoir and will touch every reader. One of my favorite books so far this year.

Talk about the phoenix rising out of the ashes Laurie Zaleski does it as does her mother. This was not the book I was expecting. I thought it was all about animal rescue, it's a bit that and so much more. This book is a who is behind the marvelous Funny Farm and the road that got them there. Abuse, physical, mental, animal and extreme poverty were a daily thing for this family as they grew. Her mother was an amazing woman who left her abusive husband, and fought with nothing till she made it. She was a light and a force that kept them all alive and mentally strong to weather the torture their father unleashed for years.
Did I get the deep weepy feels while reading this. Oh yes I did, big huge crying sobs. Her father was such a monster. She wrote her memoir with her whole heart. Such an amazing woman, so much strength.
If you love to see people rise from the ashes, read this. It's an amazing story.

I loved absolutely everything about this book! Even though there were some heart wrenching scenes and moments, the tenacity of the author and her mother are awe inspiring. This is an amazing read that so many people can relate to. There are issues of poverty, discrimination, domestic abuse, cancer, forgiveness, animal rescue, and perseverance. I cannot recommend this book enough!

I flew through this wonderful book in one night. I wasn’t sure what I would think of it, but after reading it, I am happy to say I loved it. The author tells her story of growing up in a dysfunctional family until one day her mother finally got the gumption to leave their dad. They moved into a half a house that was in sad disrepair, but the rent was cheap. It’s a story of her mother and how she made the place into a home and found ways to keep the kids fed. Annie had a deep love for animals, and working at an animal shelter, she gradually began to bring home the ones that no one wanted. It started when they needed a dog to keep intruders away from the house, and snowballed from there. Uplifting and inspiring, recommended. Advance electronic review copy was provided by NetGalley, author Laurie Zaleski, and the publisher.

I’ve spent 15 minutes looking for the right words. Can’t seem to find them, so I’m settling for this all too generic: I loved this book!

Funny Farm is Laurie Zaleski’s memoir, and it’s both heartbreaking and uplifting. She lives on a farm with more than 600 rescue animals. Can you even imagine that kind of love and dedication?

Zaleski takes us back to her youth, when her idyllic, privileged childhood flipped a switch into abuse and poverty. Yet, despite all the adversity to come, her tone remains positive and hopeful. She doesn’t wallow in self-pity, and she doesn’t give in to the hardships. She is a shining example of perseverance.

Then the animals entered her story. What was this woman doing to my emotions? I might’ve been crying or laughing at any given time. Occasionally both together.

Laurie Zaleski’s memoir is honest, poignant, and oh so beautiful. Read it if you love a powerful memoir. Read it if you love animals. Read it if you need an emotional boost, or inspiration, or just because.

Abused family transitions from frantic escape to harsh living conditions without any financial security and ultimately, some measure of untraditional success. Their path is bumpy; made more so by their husband and father who is intent upon continued harassment and abuse. But, when they succeed, their accomplishments are amazing.

Through their mother’s work, they start collecting a menagerie of lost and wounded animals. The family tends to these animals and builds around them a farm, of sorts, and eventually a caring community. Over time, the younger daughter, and author, Laurie Zaleski, purchases a more permanent location for the FUNNY FARM that began with their mother’s kind heart.

The book is fascinating and engaging. Chapters alternate between the heartbreak of the dysfunctional family and the rescue of special animals. The book is a delight to read. I received my copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Funny Farm toggles between Laurie Zaleski's childhood and traumatic marriage and her present life as owner of the Funny Farm, an animal sanctuary where she takes in an assortment of unwanted animals. I found myself reading the more biographical chapters quickly so I could savor the chapters that focused on the Funny Farm and its animals, although her escape from an abusive husband was compelling and heartbreaking. Some of the stories are hard to read, but this is a book full of heart, compassion and true grit.

Oh how I needed this book! I love a good memoir, and this one was at times laugh out loud funny and so sad I would have to wipe my eyes. Laughing and crying can really be cathartic sometimes! Funny Farm by Laurie Zaleski is such a heartwarming book. Laurie grew up in an abusive household when she was young. Her mom, Annie, finally left and took the three kids with her (Laurie, Cathy & Stephen) and made them a home the only way she knew how, with hard work, grit and determination. Along the way she not only saved herself and her kids, but she saved animals....a lot of animals. Annie did not have it easy, and what she went thru would have broken most people, and I believe these animals saved that family.

Laurie's ultimate goal was to buy her mom a farm for all the animals she wanted to save, and she accomplished that goal. Unfortunately, Annie passed away two weeks before they were able to move. But her dream was fully realized. Funny Farm is an actual animal rescue in New Jersey, with over 600 animals and counting. Laurie is amazing!! She not only took her mother's dream and made it a reality, but she took it to the next level. Funny Farm is a place where you can go visit and see the animals. I hope to be able to do that one day! The next best thing is to follow them online. They are on Facebook, as well as Instagram, @funnyfarmrescue 5⭐

Thank you to St Martin's Press and Laurie Zaleski for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

𝘐𝘯𝘴𝘱𝘪𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨, 𝘶𝘱𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘸𝘢𝘳𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘨!

What an incredible an amazing story of survival, resilience and love. Powerful and moving, this beautifully written memoir captured me completely. I loved every page.

Thank you St. Martin's Press, NetGalley and Laurie Zaleski for this gifted copy.

𝘙𝘦𝘢𝘥 𝘪𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦: 𝘗𝘰𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘧𝘶𝘭 𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘴, 𝘮𝘦𝘮𝘰𝘪𝘳𝘴, 𝘢𝘥𝘰𝘳𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘪𝘮𝘢𝘭𝘴, 𝘕𝘰𝘯 𝘍𝘪𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯, 𝘏𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘸𝘢𝘳𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘴.

Funny Farm: My Unexpected Life with 600 Rescue Animals goes on sale tomorrow September 7, 2021.

https://www.instagram.com/booksandcoffeemx/

Bought at the eleventh hour, with much borrowing and white knuckling, the Funny Farm was the realization of Laurie’s mother’s fondest dreams. After a harrowing marriage, Laurie’s mother was inclined to take in all strays—human and animal—and offer a place of humor and warmth. In a ramshackle abode whose nearest neighbor was a junk heap and a wild wood, the author had at times a difficult, impoverished childhood, and simultaneously, a childhood filled with the wonder of nature. Readers who enjoyed Gerald Durrell’s My Family and Other Animals will also enjoy this memoir of growing up with a menagerie.

Review posted in Goodreads

Funny Farm is a memoir about how a family's relationships with animals help them deal with challenging times. Laurie, the author, grew up in prosperity until her mother took her children and moved to a small cabin/shack in the woods to escape domestic violence. The mother and children gave up all their material conveniences, but they survived the difficult time through the strength of the family bond and the animals the mother rescued

The book alternates stories from the author's childhood with those of the farmed animals that she has rescued.

Funny Farm is a poignant look at a family's love and the ability of animals to help people heal.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me a galley in exchange for an honest review.

Funny Farm: My Unexpected Life with 600 Rescue Animals by Laurie Zaleski is a highly recommended collection of stories about animals rescued alternating with an autobiography.

Currently Laurie Zaleski is the founder and owner of New Jersey’s Funny Farm Rescue & Sanctuary and the founder, president and CEO of Art-Z Graphics. It was actually her mother's dream to own an animal sanctuary and Laurie now continues that legacy. Laurie's mother, Anne McNulty Zaleski, left her abusive husband in the 1970's and fled with her children to keep them safe. The family also left behind a very comfortable life to live in poverty in a ramshackle house. What they had was love for each other and a can-do attitude. Along the way the family took in various stray animals and Anne, a fierce animal lover, devoted her life to rescuing animals.

In between the autobiographical chapters that are also a fierce tribute to her mother Anne, Zaleski tells the stories of various animals that have been rescued over the years. The many animal stories are entertaining and showcase the variety of animals that she takes in as well as the struggle and work it takes to keep an animal sanctuary running. Today the Funny Farm has more than 600 animals and is a non-profit organization which runs with help from the Zaleski family and lots of volunteers.

This is an engaging book and the writing is straightforward and accessible. Alongside the facts and tough circumstances there are humorous and inspiring occurrences too, which makes for a well-balanced narrative. As someone with a house full of adopted animal family members it's always wonderful to read anything that supports adopt don't shop. Be sure to check out the Funny Farm website.

Disclosure: My review copy was courtesy of Macmillian.
The review will be published on Barnes & Noble, Google Books, and Amazon.