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3.97 AVERAGE
3.97 AVERAGE
medium-paced
I was kind of hoping this would have more about the sanctuary, how they managed the elephants, how they came up with the milk substitutes, etc etc, all of the nitty gritty logistics nonsense. There ARE cute animal stories but a significant chunk is her personal drama, which I mean, I guess it is a memoir, that’s allowed.
Would be a 4/5 except that she is, INCREDIBLY PREDICTABLY, racist and colonialist so you know. Not quite as bad as Mr The Aztecs Deserved Colonization but in that ballpark.
Wonderful book, though I thought the beginning was a little slow with the family history on settling the area, once the orphans started appearing I couldn't put the book down. Every orphan story was amazing from the mongoose right on up to the elephants, and to be able to "relive" them through the eyes of Dame Daphne Sheldrick was an honor. She had such a connection with the animals and a deep seeded love and respect. Her life is truly amazing and the love she has experienced, both human and animal, is the kind most can only dream about.
In addition to her amazing adventures and trial-and-error process to find a milk formula to nourish baby orphan elephants the book gives an insight into the life of White English settles in Africa and what they went through during Apartheid and its aftermath, whether one agrees with them being there or not. And possibly most importantly, the book shows the importance of saving our natural resources and the struggles undertaken, over and over, to ensure the protection of the land and animals.
The book takes you on an emotional roller coaster. One minute you are laughing at the antics of the animals, and the next you are cursing the short-sightedness of the government, while only moments later you are crying at the loss of one of the orphans, either by death or maturing and moving on. Not the emotions you expect to go through while sitting in your local coffee shop reading. I never wanted the book to end!
I have always wanted to spend time in Africa, this book has relighted my fire.
In addition to her amazing adventures and trial-and-error process to find a milk formula to nourish baby orphan elephants the book gives an insight into the life of White English settles in Africa and what they went through during Apartheid and its aftermath, whether one agrees with them being there or not. And possibly most importantly, the book shows the importance of saving our natural resources and the struggles undertaken, over and over, to ensure the protection of the land and animals.
The book takes you on an emotional roller coaster. One minute you are laughing at the antics of the animals, and the next you are cursing the short-sightedness of the government, while only moments later you are crying at the loss of one of the orphans, either by death or maturing and moving on. Not the emotions you expect to go through while sitting in your local coffee shop reading. I never wanted the book to end!
I have always wanted to spend time in Africa, this book has relighted my fire.
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
Though I read this book several years ago it has really stuck in my mind. There is so much history there, from someone who lived it. I have always loved elephants and find them so intelligent. Though it had sad parts, I would highly recommend. I admire Mrs.Sheldrick so much....
I gave up on this one a little over halfway through. She's lived a fascinating life but the book was very slow-paced and the writing didn't keep me engaged. May try to return to this later.
popsugar challenge 2022: read a book with the name of a board game in the title
fifty two book club 2022: read a book whose chapters have titles
fifty two book club 2022: read a book whose chapters have titles
Loved this book...what an engaging, even heroic life story.
Get me to Kenya now. It a distinct possibility that I might not come back...
I think I would probably rate this book three and a half stars. I really enjoyed learning about daphne, especially her early childhood in kenya, and am full of admiration for the work her and her late husband have done for elephants, rhinos, antelopes etc etc!
What a wonderful book! What a wonderful life among the orphaned eles, rhinos, mischievous zebras, etc. I read this book in two days. Would've only taken one day but I had to get some sleep and go to work. One of the best books I've ever read, especially when she starts telling the stories of the various animals and even Gregory Peck, a very funny bird.