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4.39 AVERAGE
4.39 AVERAGE
I totally was invested in this beautiful book! Such a lovely journey of one man and his aim to help animals survive! I love elephants and recommend this book to anyone. Truly a lovely read for any animal lover out there! 🐘
Beautiful. You will laugh and you will cry. I was hooked from the first chapter, and this is now one of my favourite books I've ever read.
This was great. It was non stop entertaining, like an adventure story. Anthony writes really well. Sometimes too well though, and I suspect that he's more loyal to animals than to historical details, considering that a number of stories contained details that no one could have known. It fills the gaps though. I'm pretty amazed out how rich is the conscious experience of elephants, although I shouldn't be surprised. I wonder if they could be taught some kind of human language. They seem to have their own sophisticated ways of communicating already.
reflective
slow-paced
adventurous
challenging
informative
reflective
medium-paced
I like books that take me to strange places. When in my life would I be able to visit the Thula Thula game preserve in South Africa, in the middle of Zulu Land? Exactly. But I can read (listen to) Anthony's story of life among African animals.
The story starts with his agreeing to rescue an elephant herd that will be put down for their destructive behavior if he does not accept them onto his game preserve. He falls in love, even when the herd escapes and leads him a merry chase.
The book is not exclusively about the herd, but it holds the narrative together, because the herd represents everything Anthony is trying to do...keep animals safe, keep them wild, protect the neighbors.
We learn a lot about snakes, rhinos, vultures, poachers...we learn about the delicate politics of Zulu tribes...and we watch the elephants grow.
Lawrence makes mistakes, he risks everything. He wins and loses...isn't that what life is all about?
The story starts with his agreeing to rescue an elephant herd that will be put down for their destructive behavior if he does not accept them onto his game preserve. He falls in love, even when the herd escapes and leads him a merry chase.
The book is not exclusively about the herd, but it holds the narrative together, because the herd represents everything Anthony is trying to do...keep animals safe, keep them wild, protect the neighbors.
We learn a lot about snakes, rhinos, vultures, poachers...we learn about the delicate politics of Zulu tribes...and we watch the elephants grow.
Lawrence makes mistakes, he risks everything. He wins and loses...isn't that what life is all about?
This is a cute, delightful and adventurous book. I enjoyed it but have docked stars due to how poorly written it is.
I loved this book. It was full of ups and downs and other heartbreaking moments.
I was really drawn into the herd and loved learning about their personalities. I didn't know much about elephants prior and this book has left me looking to learn even more. Lawrence sounded liked a lovely genuine guy and the natural world has lost an incredible ally.
I was really drawn into the herd and loved learning about their personalities. I didn't know much about elephants prior and this book has left me looking to learn even more. Lawrence sounded liked a lovely genuine guy and the natural world has lost an incredible ally.
- I love elephants so much! They are absolutely my favorite animal. This memoir was a very conversational account of what happened when Lawrence Anthony accepted a traumatized herd of elephants into his game reserve in South Africa. What a roller coaster of emotions this book was - lots of happiness and sadness, just like life in the wild.
- I'm so amazed at how well Lawrence is able to handle situations on Thula Thula, whether it is with the elephants, other animals, or the communities surrounding the reserve.
- I laughed so much at the story of Lawrence dropping his cell phone and Frankie smashing it - only to have it still function. I wish I was the support person at Nokia who had gotten that call.
- The communication between elephants is incredible. The fact that they know when Lawrence is coming home from a trip to greet him (and also know when his plane was cancelled) is beyond anything I can understand.
- The last part of the book was a sad journey. Cramming the death of little Thula, Max, and Mnumzane into a few chapters was a lot of handle - I was definitely crying. What a rough time that must have been for Lawrence. I wish they could have figured out that Mnumzane's tusk was infected before he was shot, but I understand how difficult that would have been. It's so sad that Lawrence had to lose his buddy because he just couldn't communicate that he was in pain.
- I completely understand that he wants animals to remain wild and why he has distanced himself from the children and grandchildren of Nana and Frankie... but it still hurts my heart. I would love to have an elephant best friend.
- I'm so amazed at how well Lawrence is able to handle situations on Thula Thula, whether it is with the elephants, other animals, or the communities surrounding the reserve.
- I laughed so much at the story of Lawrence dropping his cell phone and Frankie smashing it - only to have it still function. I wish I was the support person at Nokia who had gotten that call.
- The communication between elephants is incredible. The fact that they know when Lawrence is coming home from a trip to greet him (and also know when his plane was cancelled) is beyond anything I can understand.
- The last part of the book was a sad journey. Cramming the death of little Thula, Max, and Mnumzane into a few chapters was a lot of handle - I was definitely crying. What a rough time that must have been for Lawrence. I wish they could have figured out that Mnumzane's tusk was infected before he was shot, but I understand how difficult that would have been. It's so sad that Lawrence had to lose his buddy because he just couldn't communicate that he was in pain.
- I completely understand that he wants animals to remain wild and why he has distanced himself from the children and grandchildren of Nana and Frankie... but it still hurts my heart. I would love to have an elephant best friend.