Luke Tilden
2725 Lamb Rd.
Mason, MI 48854
November 30, 2005
Dear James Herriot, 11/27/05
I greatly appreciated your work ‘All Things Bright and Beautiful’. When reading this book, I always enjoyed how you managed to place a positive approach to any situation encountered in your work. James Herriot seems always to look for the best in people when he is on his differing cases, even though the silver lining may be hard to find in some. In my daily life, I realize how hard it can be to have an optimistic mind set, especially in irritating and less desirable situations. In your story, James always brought this mind set to his daily work and life. But through the harder situations, remembering James Herriot’s vigilance to maintain an open mind and optimism can help me to adopt the same approach.
I greatly enjoyed reading about the various veterinary experiences James encounters, involving a full range of farmyard animals and household pets. I find it fascinating the great detail you keep the reader in regarding the veterinary work and tasks James goes about. My grandfather was a surgeon and my father a large animal veterinarian, so you could venture to say that medicine, especially animal medicine, is in my blood. Your stories have encouraged me to possibly consider becoming a veterinarian or physician. Also, reading the science aspect involved your book; I have become interested in studying science more intently in my schoolwork.
In ‘All things Bright and Beautiful’ I thought it appealing how readers here in American would get a taste of the English culture. Though American and English cultures maybe considered similar, I appreciated how I was introduced more in-depth to the English culture. I enjoy studying differing cultures of the world, and this aspect attracted me to your work also.
In your work, I liked how you used vivid words and colorful phrases to describe the English countryside, farmyards, overweight dogs and dangerous stallions. Your creative word choice in your stories has encouraged my imagination and mental picturing abilities to expand. I always enjoyed coming up with my perspective of your encounters in my mind.
When reading your book, I always enjoyed putting the book down. Not because it was boring or dull, but because I always felt so positive and uplifted after reading your stories. It lifted my spirits, and your humorous encounters in your work never failed to make me laugh.
Thank you very much for the contribution to the world of literature and the small impact you had on my life through your work ‘All things Bright and Beautiful’
Sincerely,
Luke Tilden | 
