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4.39 AVERAGE
4.39 AVERAGE
informative
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
I still love this book as much as I did the first time I read it!
A beautiful story, beautifully told. Just imagine someone asking you if you'd like to take in a herd of elephants, as they were household pets!
Some of the moments are very powerful, like the matriarch introducing her new born to a human she didn't trust just a few months ago...the ultimate symbol of trust. We are taken into the working of a herd of elephants and their process of thought as much as we can understand of it. The side stories of the people and other animals in the reserve are just as remarkable and often entertaining. Life in the wild is fraught with danger and hardships, but it also has its magical moments.
It made me want to go back for an African safari.
Some of the moments are very powerful, like the matriarch introducing her new born to a human she didn't trust just a few months ago...the ultimate symbol of trust. We are taken into the working of a herd of elephants and their process of thought as much as we can understand of it. The side stories of the people and other animals in the reserve are just as remarkable and often entertaining. Life in the wild is fraught with danger and hardships, but it also has its magical moments.
It made me want to go back for an African safari.
Wauw! I really really enjoyed this book. Very inspirational.
adventurous
emotional
reflective
This book is why I love reading: I went to Africa, hung out with elephants, chased poachers . . . and never broke a sweat, didn't get near a poisonous snake, and didn't get up close and personal with a bark spider. This is book is an armchair adventure of the best sort. There's laughter, tears, points to ponder. The only thing missing was pictures. But that's where google comes in. A delightful book, especially for anyone who loves elephants, wildlife and/or Africa.
adventurous
emotional
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
A beautiful and captivating read for anyone passionate about conservation, animals, or Africa. I read several books in the lead up to my safari in Tanzania, but I expect this is the one (finished after my return to the US) that will resonate with me forever. I look forward to reading Lawrence Anthony’s other books.
Why, whydid you break my heart, Lawrence Anthony? Why did you break my heart, Africa? This book is an emotional roller coaster, and I was on the edge of tears during pretty much every chapter for a whole variety of reasons, both good and bad. Some things happen late in the book that had me outright bawling. When , I messy cried, possibly harder than any book has ever made me cry.
I nearly cried all over again when I learned right after finishing it, that Anthony died in 2012, and the elephant herd, having no discernible reason to know of this, spontaneously congregated at his house to mourn his passing.
If you're not rooting for these elephants, I don't know what is wrong with you!
Also read: [b:Elephant Company: The Inspiring Story of an Unlikely Hero and the Animals Who Helped Him Save Lives in World War II|18691058|Elephant Company The Inspiring Story of an Unlikely Hero and the Animals Who Helped Him Save Lives in World War II|Vicki Constantine Croke|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1419183720l/18691058._SY75_.jpg|26537407], a look at a very different kind of elephant's life, focusing on Indian elephants, who are a curious amalgam of wild and domesticated, and worked daily alongside humans as part of the war effort during World War II. (Note: Not for the faint of heart, as horrifying mistreatment of elephants is a thing that happens in it. And even when that's not going on, there's a lot of elephants in danger because of the violence of the war. Also an emotional roller coaster.)
Spoiler
little Thula died after weeks of valiant struggle to live, and after stealing the hearts of all the reserve staffI nearly cried all over again when I learned right after finishing it, that Anthony died in 2012, and the elephant herd, having no discernible reason to know of this, spontaneously congregated at his house to mourn his passing.
If you're not rooting for these elephants, I don't know what is wrong with you!
Also read: [b:Elephant Company: The Inspiring Story of an Unlikely Hero and the Animals Who Helped Him Save Lives in World War II|18691058|Elephant Company The Inspiring Story of an Unlikely Hero and the Animals Who Helped Him Save Lives in World War II|Vicki Constantine Croke|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1419183720l/18691058._SY75_.jpg|26537407], a look at a very different kind of elephant's life, focusing on Indian elephants, who are a curious amalgam of wild and domesticated, and worked daily alongside humans as part of the war effort during World War II. (Note: Not for the faint of heart, as horrifying mistreatment of elephants is a thing that happens in it. And even when that's not going on, there's a lot of elephants in danger because of the violence of the war. Also an emotional roller coaster.)