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A review by sarah1984
Taronga by Victor Kelleher
3.0
25/1 - Another school book, from year 8 English (I think). I enjoyed Taronga as a 14-year-old because it was different - it was my first dystopian novel and it featured adult themes (I don't mean sex, I'd already started reading romance by that time) which was really exciting for a reader just starting to branch out from Enid Blyton. Before starting this I only had a few vague memories of it being set at Taronga Park Zoo and that, for some reason or other, the world had come to an end. That's a bit frustrating sometimes, you know the end of the world has happened but exactly how it happened is never properly (or in this case, at all) explained. I don't like the not knowing, the mystery of what happened playing on your mind through the whole book. The scene of Ben's near capture on Sydney Harbour Bridge and the dog's death was very difficult to read. I don't think I could sacrifice a dog for my life, especially not if I could get into their minds to make them trust me. I know I'd run out into the road to save my own dogs if they were in danger, and I'd never be able to live with myself if my actions caused them injury or death. All this talk about injured dogs has made me teary-eyed, so I've got to go hug my dog till she cheers me up. To be continued...
27/1 - Taronga ends in a battle between Chas' of invaders and Molly's group trying to keep a hold of Taronga for themselves. The battle is actually set in motion by Ben, supported by Ellie, who after hearing Molly and Steve's plan for Taronga if it's ever captured, come to the drastic decision that they have to free the animals and leave the humans to fight it out amongst themselves. Ben struggles with this decision, first not sure if it's the right thing to do for the animals' sake and then realising he can't cold-bloodedly send people, no matter their character or plans for him and the animals, to their deaths. Fortunately for his and the animals' futures the decision is out of his hands because both groups are so intent on killing each other that they give no thought to their own survival.Eventually it's just Chas and Molly left. Molly is taken out by a charging rhino, but not fast enough for Chas, who gets in the way of a stray bullet as Molly attempts to shoot Raja with her dying breath. Ben and Ellie and all the animals manage to escape the massacre scene that Taronga now is. In the final scenes Ben and Ellie have found an abandoned apartment block to spend the day in before setting out for the less-inhabited bush. Somehow Raja has found Ben and seems to corner him. Ben accepts what he is sure will be his death as justice for the part he played in the death of the dog. It appears that Raja is going to strike Ben but at the last minute the tiger turns it into a gentle cuff across the head, like what he might do to a naughty cub. Raja has finally begun to trust Ben and as they were both heading in the same direction, towards the mountains, I hope that they might run into each other every so often.
27/1 - Taronga ends in a battle between Chas' of invaders and Molly's group trying to keep a hold of Taronga for themselves. The battle is actually set in motion by Ben, supported by Ellie, who after hearing Molly and Steve's plan for Taronga if it's ever captured, come to the drastic decision that they have to free the animals and leave the humans to fight it out amongst themselves. Ben struggles with this decision, first not sure if it's the right thing to do for the animals' sake and then realising he can't cold-bloodedly send people, no matter their character or plans for him and the animals, to their deaths. Fortunately for his and the animals' futures the decision is out of his hands because both groups are so intent on killing each other that they give no thought to their own survival.Eventually it's just Chas and Molly left. Molly is taken out by a charging rhino, but not fast enough for Chas, who gets in the way of a stray bullet as Molly attempts to shoot Raja with her dying breath. Ben and Ellie and all the animals manage to escape the massacre scene that Taronga now is. In the final scenes Ben and Ellie have found an abandoned apartment block to spend the day in before setting out for the less-inhabited bush. Somehow Raja has found Ben and seems to corner him. Ben accepts what he is sure will be his death as justice for the part he played in the death of the dog. It appears that Raja is going to strike Ben but at the last minute the tiger turns it into a gentle cuff across the head, like what he might do to a naughty cub. Raja has finally begun to trust Ben and as they were both heading in the same direction, towards the mountains, I hope that they might run into each other every so often.