Maybe, like me, you have a story you want to share and make it come to life like Woodys story comes to life in West with Giraffes. Im so glad you enjoyed it! As a reader I felt as if I were sitting with Woody, the Old Man, Red, Wild Girl and Wild Boy as they traveled west, feeling the giraffes snuffling, hearing their thrumming, watching them reach out for an onion. Woody happens to be standing nearby when a cargo ship that had two giraffes aboard (who were bound for the San Diego Zoo), arrives at shore after disastrous damage to the ship. Tall Blondes: A Book about Giraffes. But when she was angry she made Mount Vesuvius seem considerably less dangerous. This is the only image available, a newspaper article offering a glimpse of the finished traveling rig, with a tarp over it. "Few true friends have I known and two were giraffes". I have driven across the United States several times including from New England to San Diego. . Riley Jones, aka Old Man: head keeper of the San Diego Zoo. The Great Depression lingers. What did you learn about your traveling companions and what did they learn about you? I loved this book! Schroeder was a former zoo veterinarian at the San Diego Zoo and would later become the zoos director after Benchley retired in 1953. An emotional, rousing novel inspired by the incredible true story of two giraffes who made headlines and won the hearts of Depression-era America. According to Benchley, they were one of the few breeding pairs in captivity. San Diego, CA: Zoological Society of San Diego. It's not at all what I pictured, but it's cool to see! After you claim a section youll have 24 hours to send in a draft. There is a part where a circus tries to steal the giraffes and the giraffes are panicking. This Study Guide consists of approximately 43pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more - Woody is highly motivated to get to California. Sherr, Lynn. They were instant successes, and beloved by staff and visitors alike. An aged veteran (105!) I too felt the love for the giraffes and all animals really. west with giraffes ending explained. This is the only image available, a newspaper article offering a glimpse of the finished traveling rig, with a tarp over it. I absolutely loved this book! Building and using wood fired ovens, recipes, pizza, DIY, and forums. But heres the really amazing part of West with Giraffes. Is there any talk of turning this into a movie? I was sad when the book ended but my heart was full. There are plenty of opportunities to learn the skill of storytelling perhaps you can take a class at your local library or from a local storyteller. Wonderful to see the photos and learn the history! As Woody shares his story with the Old Man, the Old Man responds, Thats your first story, but it doesnt have to be your only story. Lofty and Patches. San Diego Zoo: 100 Years. Lynda Rutledges West With Giraffes is written in the first person point of view, and utilizes both past and present tenses. "Few true friends have I known and two were giraffes" sets the tone for the historical, adventurous, and powerful best-selling novel West with Giraffes by Lynda Rutledge. Red shares with Woody that she suffers from a broken heart. Lofty and Patches lived at the San Diego Zoo for nearly 30 years. I loved the giraffes, the characters, the story, the writing. An emotional, rousing novel inspired by the incredible true story of two giraffes who made headlines and won the hearts of Depression-era America. They experience the kindness of strangers when a poor black man named Moses enlists his entire family to remove the truck from under the bridge. Looks like a granny, dresses like a schoolmarm, swears like a sailor, and still charms snooty zoo galoots with their fancy educations. Rutledge even includes reference to Benchleys encounter with an escaped baboon. img#wpstats{display:none} When have you been so driven to do something that you felt like nothing could stop you? } My sister doesn't want to read it because she's worried about animal cruelty, so I'll write a little about that here. The Oklahoman published a set of photos on the 80th anniversary of Black Sunday. Thanks. But when he learns giraffes are going extinct, he finds himself recalling the unforgettable experience he cannot take to his grave. There they begin a cross country trip to their new home at the San Diego Zoo, followed all the way by newspaper accounts and a public weary of bad economic and political news. The Great Depression lingers. West with Giraffes is a wonderful novel based on the true story of the cross-country road trip America's first giraffes took in 1938. Memoirs. I see a message that, "This form can only be viewed by users in the owner's organization.". Memories stick to things. To Woodys astonishment, the Old Man forgives him and allows him to stay on as the driver. Theyve seen the world. Upon hearing that the giraffes were bound for San Diego, Woody became determined to follow them to the land of milk and honey and begin a new life. Sorry. resource to ask questions, find answers, and discuss thenovel. It was a wonderful novel. San Diego, already a world-class zoo, opened their WPA-constructed Reptile House and a zoo caf. ;) Have lots of enlightening fun! .printfriendly.pf-alignright { He has no money, no possessions, and no real direction for his life. How do you think zoos are important and when are they not? I'm going to try to convince my kids to read it--they don't like to take suggestions from their mom, because I'm so uncool ;), I'm SO glad that I picked it out for my First Reads book. Discussing West with Giraffes? That is when he locks eyes with the giraffes (Boy and Girl). This attention, the time for which had to be borrowed from their all too few leisure hours, touched me deeply because it showed that I had won a place with them not based on relationship of boss and employee, but upon friendship and confidence, she reminisced in her memoir. But I would call this book a historical adventure with several parts that will keep your heart racing. I absolutely loved this book. Charley Smith would update Benchley via telegram during the twelve-day trek. What a delightful story! Notice that it is very different from the only image online (seen with Zoo Historian's book review BELOW), showing the wobbly, patched hurricane-whipped crates being moved off the ship by the empty truck before the real-life traveling rig itself was fashioned while they were in quarantine. Gawky Giraffes to Leave Athenia Today for Coast. Paterson (N.J.) News (October 10, 1938): 35. . He resolves to follow them to California. Inspired by true events, the tale weaves real-life figures with fictional ones, including the worlds first female zoo director, a crusty old man with a past, a young female photographer with a secret, and assorted reprobates as spotty as the giraffes. West with Giraffes. That's up to you." It touched me more deeply than anything Ive read in years!! Westward ho! I had to turn on comment moderation due to a ton of spam comments, but I will approve your comment ASAP. To me the crates look somewhat precarious for mountain switchbacks and other rough roads. and ocean . After examination and treatment, Schroeder deemed the giraffe worth saving and cleared her to make the trip. } Part adventure, part historical saga, and part coming-of-age love story, (Available in Hardback, Paperback, Audio, and Kindle E-Book), Many readers have asked to see an image of the real-life traveling rig. Benchley recalled, I have never seen anyone so tired and relieved as Charley Smith when he drove the great awkward truck through the zoo gate, half an hour after phoning me from a suburb. Rutledge didnt include photos of the actual trip with her novel, perhaps due to the expense of copyrights, perhaps because she wanted to keep it as Woodys story. Did the ending answer all your questions? Youve got no control over it, none at all. page 105. There were many reasons giraffes were hard to come by for Americas first zoos. Wanting more on the true story that inspired West with Giraffes?Click on this PHOTO for an unusual book review by a Zoo Historian. You made the people come alive as you filled in the lives to match the historical facts. THIS above was the one I described in West with Giraffes.CLICK TO ENLARGE. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Virginia Beach: The Donning Company. In the novel West with Giraffes, Woody Nickel, is a seventeen-year-old "dirt-farm rowdy, pure as a cow pie, cunning as a wild hog" bound to escape the Texas Panhandle (and any law enforcement that might be looking for him). 2016. https://www.sandiegozoo100.org/100-animals/lofty-and-patches. In 1938, there was a terrible hurricane that caused massive destruction to New York. "Few true friends have I known and two were giraffes" Woodrow Wilson Nickel, age 105, feels his life ebbing away. 7) How did the events that unfolded in Such a Fun Age ultimately lead to Emira finding her path into a career? Lake Union. What happens thenwhat is the actual meat of the matter, as it wereis a cross-country trip via what amounted to little more than a tricked-out pickup truck from New Jersey to the San Diego Zoo. While waiting for the giraffe rig to begin its journey, Woody meets Red and falls in love with her at first sight. They find it in two giraffes who miraculously survive a hurricane while crossing the Atlantic. Not affiliated with Harvard College. West with Giraffes: A Novel Lake Union Publishing Hardcover (also available as an e-book, an audiobook, on audio CD, and in paperback), 978-1-5420-2174-6, 356 pgs., $24.95 February 1, 2021 "That's your first story, but it doesn't have to be your only story. } Smith spent a few days easing her into the crate while attempting not to spook her, and getting kicked in return. I highly recommend complementing the book with photos and/or audio. That the animals survived at all was, as the headline rather politely insists, miraculous. After loading the giraffes onto the truck, they headed to the U.S. display: flex; align-items: center; They gained an evolutionary trait so they could survive. While I believe great storytelling is as much art as science, Science of People shares tips from the science side. The Book Report Network 16 Mount Bethel Rd, Suite 365, Warren, NJ 07059 212-246-3100 will review the submission and either publish your submission or providefeedback. Recently, one particular work of historical fiction captured my interestthe fact that the title contained the word giraffes certainly helped, but upon reading the description I discovered that its based on actual events revolving around the San Diego Zoo in 1938. While the cars and signs and lodgings have changed, there remains something special about a cross-country road trip. They were finally able to leave quarantine on October 10, 1938. The headline of that article is a textbook example of the art of that particular type of composition: MIRACLE GIRAFFES RIDE HURRICANE AT SEA. I rode Miss Jim when I little every summer and even in her cage to feed her a carrot. Out of nowhere, something finds your nose, ears, or eyes and youre on the other side of the country or world or in a whole other decade, being kissed by a doe-eyed beauty or punched by a drunken pal. An actual photo of the truck that the giraffes were driven across the country on. display: none; I enjoyed West with Giraffes too, and your review was a delight -- remembering the book once again. Now. Why or why not? 1997. best used midsize suv under $20 000; lia thomas swimmer ranking before and after. He grabs a rabbit and drops it onto the cage of the tiger, who eats it right away. The original handwritten caption reads: "7 negatives of D-40 Internationals sold to San Diego Zoo to transport 2 giraffes across the continent from New York. Two huge broken-up crates are lifted off containing amazing cargo: two Baringo giraffes. January 19, 2023 . t's 1938.The Great Depression lingers. West with Giraffes is an endearing, and also heart-rending piece of historical fiction. Just keep scrolling. According to Benchley, Our relations as Boss and Man-Friday are ludicrously funny, and when he thinks he is working for me I am overjoyed. I appreciate the opportunity to win a copy! West With Giraffes by Lynda Rutledge. The Old Man reluctantly accepts, but only wants Woody to stay on for the first part of the journey. .printfriendly.pf-alignleft { vertical-align: middle; "Few true friends have I known and two were giraffes". I'm doing a Friends-themed read-athon for 2021, and each month there is a different "Friends-based" theme to choose a book. Reflector Series I have to say, though, that no matter what I write on this post, it won't do justice to this book. I read through the books for that month and just could't decide honestly, NONE of them looked good to me. Responsible for transporting the two giraffes from New York to San DiegoAugusta aka Red: want-to-be Life magazine photographer following and recording the giraffes cross-country tripWild Girl: female giraffeWild Boy: male giraffeEarl: initial driver for trip who quit on the first night outLionel Abraham Lowe: Reds husband and reporterAugie Ann: Red and Lionels daughterMr. Lake Union Publishing, 371 pages, $14.95. That puckish little ship battled the onslaught of the tempest for six hours and it is definitely worth keeping in mind that ships charged with transporting exotic animals back looked nothing like the state-of-the-art vessels of today. What follows is a twelve-day road trip in a custom truck to become Southern California's first giraffes. Images of America Series. color: #3AAA11 !important; This book was released on 2021-02 with total page 372 pages. Regardless, it is worth checking out some of the photos that are online as they emphasize the absurdity of transporting two very tall giraffes in a truck across the United States. Did you think it was believable or too farfetched? Besides the below book club questions, remember, the easiest way to be . -moz-box-shadow: none; What happened on that ship during the storm is almost too crazy to be true. } Initially they refused to leave their traveling carriers but were eventually lured out with onions. One of the giraffes is hurt and the cage is crushed around her. Guest Reviewer Rating: Four out of Five Stars. Females grow up to 14 feet (4.3 m) tall and weigh up to 1,500 . In normal conditions this would be a rough trip, especially for temperature-sensitive giraffes, which were placed in crates and forced to endure whatever the high seas threw at them. She indeed fills our imagination with a journey full of colorful characters, tall tales, and deep secrets. I Has it been made into a movie, or any chance it might be? Rutledge, Lynda. Even so, this is a novel; a work of historical fiction. She was presumed dead while every precaution was taken to protect the male. He finds his only living relative, a cousin in New York, where he works until his cousins death in a hurricane. Yeah, crazy, right? ), To enter the giveaway, just fill out this form below. This book is AMAZING and it's one of those books that you just can't forget. Thank you for such an amazing story! Two giraffes miraculously survive a dangerous Atlantic . https://zoohistories.com/2021/02/11/west-with-giraffes/. by . He done a grand job and he knew it. A crane was used to lower the giraffe crates out of the truck and onto terra firma. It reminded me of The Green Mile (movie) where Tom Hanks' character is ridiculously old and he tells the whole story of The Green Mile to a woman at the nursing home where he lives. I have been recommending it to everyone! html:not( .jetpack-lazy-images-js-enabled ):not( .js ) .jetpack-lazy-image { In this week's Book Bites trailer, Shelly tells us about West With Giraffes by Lynda R. Stephenson. poeticpoet 8 yr. ago } display: inline; He realizes that he must tell his story for the sake of the animals he loved so much, and so that Reds daughter Augie Ann will know her mothers true story. help you understand the book. But when he learns giraffes are going extinct, he finds himself recalling the unforgettable experience he cannot take to his grave.It's 1938.The Great Depression lingers. . Thank you so much for the feedback! One of the aspects of the novel I enjoyed the most was the depiction of Belle Benchleysweet but tough, and highly respected. Hitler is threatening Europe, and world-weary Americans long for wonder. (And New York would not experience one as destructive until Hurricane Sandy in 2012.) 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