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4.02 AVERAGE
4.02 AVERAGE
Being a lifelong animal lover, this book appealed to me from the get go, though I'm not certain I would have found it had it not been for Amazon prime's first reads program. The idea of giraffes surviving a hurricane during their transport across the Atlantic,in the 1930s and then having to continue to survive a long road trip across the US to reach their final destination at the San Diego zoo, was not a plot line I was willing to miss. I didn't even bother looking at the remaining listed options before downloading this one.
This is such a beautifully written fictional story based on the facts of the giraffes, the hurricane and the road trip. But the fictional characters and their fictional story will stay with me, as it did with the narrator for his long life. There is so much heart in this story. The dust bowl, tramps and hobos, the circus, animal cruelty - balanced by strong animal love and how animals affect and improve our lives, hard times and how they shape a person, forgiveness, adventure, the concept of home, women's history.....all of this is wrapped up in this beautiful story. Thank you, Lynda Rutledge, for making an unbelievable true story come to life through your weaving together facts and imaginings.
This is such a beautifully written fictional story based on the facts of the giraffes, the hurricane and the road trip. But the fictional characters and their fictional story will stay with me, as it did with the narrator for his long life. There is so much heart in this story. The dust bowl, tramps and hobos, the circus, animal cruelty - balanced by strong animal love and how animals affect and improve our lives, hard times and how they shape a person, forgiveness, adventure, the concept of home, women's history.....all of this is wrapped up in this beautiful story. Thank you, Lynda Rutledge, for making an unbelievable true story come to life through your weaving together facts and imaginings.
Beautiful story…a story of second chances!
This is fantastic story of life lived and the power of connection and reflection with people and animals. I appreciated the insight into life in the US during the dust storms.
This feelgood story is about a real journey made by two giraffes and their handlers in 1938 just as Europe was coming to terms with the possibility of war. Their journey took place just after the Great Hurricane of 1938 during which these two giraffes had been on the last leg of their voyage to New York. The hurricane (which killed many) left both giraffes somewhat shocked and one of them injured. They then had an extraordinary and eventful journey from New York on the east coast to the San Diego zoo on the west coast.
The story is told by an old man recalling his youth as a young man escaping poverty, hunger, desperation and hopelessness. He spots the giraffes in New York and sees them as a way of realising his dream of getting to California. It is in part a coming-of-age story combined with a series of adventures and mishaps along the way. The stars are the giraffes of course!
I enjoyed this but I thought that it could have done with a bit more editing at times.
The story is told by an old man recalling his youth as a young man escaping poverty, hunger, desperation and hopelessness. He spots the giraffes in New York and sees them as a way of realising his dream of getting to California. It is in part a coming-of-age story combined with a series of adventures and mishaps along the way. The stars are the giraffes of course!
I enjoyed this but I thought that it could have done with a bit more editing at times.
Very interesting historical fiction about an event that most of us know nothing about.
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
emotional
funny
inspiring
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
reflective
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes