You need to sign in or sign up before continuing.
Take a photo of a barcode or cover
4.02 AVERAGE
4.02 AVERAGE
This book was sweet and pretty tame. I enjoyed the info about the Dust Bowl and to hear about what it would be like to attempt to make it across the country in the 1930s.
It was a nice book but not really riveting. I’m there were times where I felt forced into reading it. I was never really itching to know what what going to happen next.
The storyline had its vague moments too, where there could have been more detail given in order to hold interest. I would’ve like to know more about the circus, and about the Old Man, and the Dust Bowl and maybe about some travels through the desert. The uneventfulness of that made me believe that the author had sorta just run out of ideas.
This is a good brain break book. Nothing special, but definitely could’ve been more interesting considering the idea of giraffes surviving a hurricane solo. I’d recommend to anyone looking for an animal pre war story. Sort of in line with the Zookeepers Wife.
It was a nice book but not really riveting. I’m there were times where I felt forced into reading it. I was never really itching to know what what going to happen next.
The storyline had its vague moments too, where there could have been more detail given in order to hold interest. I would’ve like to know more about the circus, and about the Old Man, and the Dust Bowl and maybe about some travels through the desert. The uneventfulness of that made me believe that the author had sorta just run out of ideas.
This is a good brain break book. Nothing special, but definitely could’ve been more interesting considering the idea of giraffes surviving a hurricane solo. I’d recommend to anyone looking for an animal pre war story. Sort of in line with the Zookeepers Wife.
adventurous
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
“Few true friends have I known and two were giraffes, one that didn’t kick me dead and one that saved my worthless orphan life, and your worthy precious one.”
I have had this on my TBR for years and it has been sitting on my physical shelves for over a year and I’m so glad it became a buddy read with my mom. We both really enjoyed this cross country road trip story told by a 105 year old man as he’s reflecting back on the greatest time in his life.
While my mom and I both had a few issues with descriptions of places we are very familiar with, those did not detract from the great story Lynda Rutledge told and the emotions invoked by the storytelling.
Rating:
I loved it
What you’ll find:
A book set in 2025 reflecting back on life in the early 1900’s
Flashbacks
Inclusion of newspaper articles and telegrams
I have had this on my TBR for years and it has been sitting on my physical shelves for over a year and I’m so glad it became a buddy read with my mom. We both really enjoyed this cross country road trip story told by a 105 year old man as he’s reflecting back on the greatest time in his life.
While my mom and I both had a few issues with descriptions of places we are very familiar with, those did not detract from the great story Lynda Rutledge told and the emotions invoked by the storytelling.
Rating:
I loved it
What you’ll find:
A book set in 2025 reflecting back on life in the early 1900’s
Flashbacks
Inclusion of newspaper articles and telegrams
Cross country road trip during the Depression
Two giraffes
Two giraffes
adventurous
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
adventurous
informative
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Felt sort of "precious" and not my sort of book. Too "cute" I felt and gave up about 50 pages in
adventurous
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racism, Suicide
While this book is heartbreakingly beautiful about the treatment of animals and their extinction, I do not believe I was the target audience. This is why I rated it 3⭐️
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
When I was given this book for Christmas, I thought it would be a difficult read? A story about some boy and his giraffes? What is this, some weird existentialist woo woo noise?
It was that and so much more. I adored the profound representation from this bygone era. Though it has historical notes in the end of the book (something I found out later), I found myself intrigued by the events unfolding and dove into odd research of these historical oddities. Though Lynda, through her own words, was loosely commenting on extinction, I felt the entire novel painted a pointed picture at our current culture of attention and consumption. This boy lived a life that danced through many stages, experiences and growth. Yet he was perfectly satisfied with one week. One moment in time that motivated him in various ways throughout the rest of it. And though he seems sad, he continues on with the lessons learned, he adapts to the loss, he is resilient. He even forgets sometimes, then finds his stories again. In a time where everyone is searching for meaning on a consistent and relentless basis, viewing themselves as a brand and not a person, always wanting to find the next restaurant, product or game of even better quality, this is a breathe of fresh air.
We do not need it all, we do not need the best of the best all the time, we do not need to engage in a rat race of attention and consumption. If we can reflect on our own experiences and stories, we can learn from them and persevere, be better. Not necessarily require the happy ending that we are told to desire, but perhaps engage in a more subtle one that is just as fulfilling.
It was that and so much more. I adored the profound representation from this bygone era. Though it has historical notes in the end of the book (something I found out later), I found myself intrigued by the events unfolding and dove into odd research of these historical oddities. Though Lynda, through her own words, was loosely commenting on extinction, I felt the entire novel painted a pointed picture at our current culture of attention and consumption. This boy lived a life that danced through many stages, experiences and growth. Yet he was perfectly satisfied with one week. One moment in time that motivated him in various ways throughout the rest of it. And though he seems sad, he continues on with the lessons learned, he adapts to the loss, he is resilient. He even forgets sometimes, then finds his stories again. In a time where everyone is searching for meaning on a consistent and relentless basis, viewing themselves as a brand and not a person, always wanting to find the next restaurant, product or game of even better quality, this is a breathe of fresh air.
We do not need it all, we do not need the best of the best all the time, we do not need to engage in a rat race of attention and consumption. If we can reflect on our own experiences and stories, we can learn from them and persevere, be better. Not necessarily require the happy ending that we are told to desire, but perhaps engage in a more subtle one that is just as fulfilling.
adventurous
slow-paced