Why memoirs involving animals are so successful

memoir (n)
/ˈmem.wɑːr/

• A book or piece of writing based on the writer's personal experiences
  She wrote a memoir about her childhood in Vietnam
  -Synonym: autobiography, recollection
  -Antonym: fiction, novel

high-flying (adj)
/ˌhaɪˈflaɪ.ɪŋ/

• Extremely successful or ambitious
  He is a high-flying executive in a multinational company
  -Synonym: ambitious, successful
  -Antonym: low-achieving, unambitious

confluence (n)
/ˈkɒn.flu.əns/

• The place where two rivers join or a situation where things come together
  The confluence of ideas led to a groundbreaking invention
  -Synonym: junction, meeting
  -Antonym: divergence, separation

hare (n)
/heər/

• A fast-running animal similar to a rabbit with long ears
  The hare darted across the field to escape the predator
  -Synonym: jackrabbit
  -Antonym: tortoise

magpie (n)
/ˈmæɡ.paɪ/

• A black and white bird known for collecting shiny objects
  The magpie built its nest with bits of foil and glass
  -Synonym: collector
  -Antonym: minimalist

unflappable (adj)
/ʌnˈflæp.ə.bəl/

• Not easily upset or disturbed; calm under pressure
  Despite the chaos, she remained unflappable
  -Synonym: composed, calm
  -Antonym: anxious, nervous

bundle in (phrasal verb)
/ˈbʌn.dl ɪn/

• To enter a place quickly and in a disorganized way
  The children bundled in from the playground, laughing loudly
  -Synonym: rush in, pile in
  -Antonym: file in, exit

leveret (n)
/ˈlev.ər.ɪt/

• A young hare
  The leveret hid in the grass to avoid predators
  -Synonym: baby hare
  -Antonym: adult hare

buzzard (n)
/ˈbʌz.əd/

• A large bird of prey found in Europe
  The buzzard soared above the valley searching for food
  -Synonym: hawk, raptor
  -Antonym: songbird

folklore (n)
/ˈfəʊk.lɔːr/

• Traditional stories and customs passed through generations
  Vietnamese folklore includes tales of dragons and heroes
  -Synonym: myths, legends
  -Antonym: history, fact

oat (n)
/əʊt/

• A type of grain used for food
  She eats oat porridge every morning for breakfast
  -Synonym: cereal grain
  -Antonym: —

downplay (v)
/ˌdaʊnˈpleɪ/

attachment (n)
/əˈtætʃ.mənt/

• A feeling of strong connection or an additional part
  She has a strong attachment to her hometown
  -Synonym: bond, connection
  -Antonym: detachment, indifference

sweep away (phrasal verb)
/swiːp əˈweɪ/

• To remove or destroy completely
  The floodwaters swept away the bridge
  -Synonym: eliminate, eradicate
  -Antonym: preserve, maintain

absurd (adj)
/əbˈsɜːd/

• Ridiculously unreasonable or illogical
  The idea of flying pigs is absurd
  -Synonym: ridiculous, preposterous
  -Antonym: reasonable, sensible

moving (adj)
/ˈmuː.vɪŋ/

• Causing strong emotions, especially sadness or sympathy
  The movie's ending was deeply moving
  -Synonym: touching, emotional
  -Antonym: unemotional, indifferent

sooty (adj)
/ˈsʊt.i/

• Covered with or resembling soot
  The chimney sweep's clothes were sooty from work
  -Synonym: blackened, smoky
  -Antonym: clean, spotless

faintly (adv)
/ˈfeɪnt.li/

• Slightly or not strongly
  She could faintly hear music in the distance
  -Synonym: slightly, dimly
  -Antonym: clearly, strongly

contagious (adj)
/kənˈteɪ.dʒəs/

• Able to be spread from one person to another
  Her laughter was so contagious that everyone joined in
  -Synonym: infectious, transmissible
  -Antonym: non-infectious, contained

cradle-to-grave (adj)
/ˌkreɪ.dəl.təˈɡreɪv/

• Extending throughout one's life, from birth to death
  The government offers cradle-to-grave healthcare services
  -Synonym: lifelong, comprehensive
  -Antonym: temporary, short-term

rare beast (n)
/reə(r) biːst/

• Something or someone that is very uncommon or unusual
  A politician who tells the truth is a rare beast
  -Synonym: rarity, unique specimen
  -Antonym: commonality, norm