I wasn't excited about reading it, but I wanted to stick with the theme. . "Woodrow Wilson Nickel died in the year 2025, on a usual day, in the unusual way, at the rather unusual age of 105. But I just updated it and it's working now! 1940. "Few true friends have I known and two were giraffes". Historic Fiction embellished. Prior to becoming head keeper at the San Diego Zoo, he had been with the circus since he was eleven years old, including sixteen-year gig as the lead keeper of the Ringling Bros. circus. ship I am getting all chocked up and tearing ..I LOVED THIS BOOK SO MUCH ! I will start out by spoiling the ending (kind of) and saying that the animals arrive safely in San Diego. With the necessary funds, zoo director Belle Benchley, the first female zoo director in the world, paid for two young Ugandan giraffes and one rhinoceros to be shipped from Africa in 1938. Woodrow Wilson Nickel is a 17 year old orphan boy who is forced to leave his home after his familys tragic death during the Dust Bowl. 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. . Stephenson, Lynda Rutledge. They find it in two giraffes who miraculously survive a hurricane while crossing the Atlantic. 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). Two giraffes miraculously survive a dangerous Atlantic . Im so happy that I found this website to answer my questions about this great book. The following summary relies on the present tense. Now. Its a foolish man who thinks stories do not matter when in the end, they may be all that matter and all the forever well ever know. page 339. Wendy Eckart. After examination and treatment, Schroeder deemed the giraffe worth saving and cleared her to make the trip. But in many ways, the San Diego Zoo had been built on risk taking, and Dr. Harry Wegeforth, the zoos former director and then Belle Benchleys right-hand man, was darn good at fundraising. In 1938, America was looking for a feel-good tale to help them through the threat of Hitler in Europe and the continuing Great Depression. Part adventure, part historical saga, and part coming-of-age love story, West with Giraffesexplores what it means to be changed by the grace of animals, the kindness of strangers, the passing of time, and a story told before it's too late. 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. Cyrus Badger shares with Woody the depth of the Old Mans love for him, and Woody comes to California home. She indeed fills our imagination with a journey full of colorful characters, tall tales, and deep secrets. 9) This novel touches on important topics such as: race, classic, identityetc. Best summary PDF, themes, and quotes. This is the All Book'd Book Club pick for January! Would you like to? she was such a sweet grandmotherly type. Animal Trainer Called by Death. Los Angeles Times (July 21, 1941): B16. West with Giraffes Quotes. .wp-block-image figcaption {text-align: center; font-size: 75%}, As the country teeters between a depression and Europes looming war, a pair of giraffes, survivors of a hurricane at sea, left a wake of much-needed cheer while driven cross-country to the San Diego Zoo, where lady zoo director Mrs. Belle Benchley awaited.. West with Giraffes. I recommend reading the book before the guide. Instead of running away from the crazed primate, she stretched out her arms and caught it in mid-air and carried it back to its pen. It was fascinating to see my route through the eyes of someone traveling there nearly 100 years prior. San Diego, CA: Zoological Society of San Diego. He resolves to follow them to California. Memories stick to things. Vol. 100 Years of the San Diego Zoo. When the storm finally abated they tried to get her out of what was left of her crate, but they were not successful. However, as soon as she was upright the crew could see that her left rear ankle was severely injured. The family generously feeds them and buys them a new set of tires, getting them safely back on the road. Woodrow Wilson Nickel, age 105, feels his life ebbing away. Giraffesan animal most Americans had never actually see for themselves with their own two eyes at the timehad actually somehow managed to survive a wild ride aboard the SS Robin Goodfellow when it headed straight into a typhoon off the coast of Haiti. The Lee Highway ran from New York City to San Diego. Woodrow Wilson Nickel, age 105, feels his life ebbing away. I also recommend that you listen to giraffes humming in this YouTube video (really just audio). How did it feel to create a new story? The Modern Ark: The Story of Zoos: Past, Present and Future. I remembered that I had gotten a book recently from Amazon's First Reads about an elephant or giraffe or something. Using prehensile tongues almost half . You can see a map of it on this Tillman County Blog. Because I loved this book so much, I bought a paperback copy to give to my dad, and I'd also like to buy a Kindle copy to give away to one of you! (And New York would not experience one as destructive until Hurricane Sandy in 2012.) I eventually just chose the one called 'West With Giraffes', by Lynda Rutledge. Thank you for sharing it the magic of googling. justify-content: center; In addition to being a love story to giraffes, West with Giraffes is a story of life on the road, and in particular on the road in the United States in 1938. Giraffes evolved to have longer necks so that they could reach the leaves at the tops of trees. After loading the giraffes onto the truck, they headed to the U.S. } I'm like your sister. One of the aspects of the novel I enjoyed the most was the depiction of Belle Benchleysweet but tough, and highly respected. The 45-mile drive from Brooklyn to the quarantine facility through flooded and debris-ridden streets, avoiding potentially low-rise overpasses, was certainly a true test of how the giraffes might handle a drive across the country, which in fact had never been done before with the towering creatures. Values for the northern giraffe grouping were intermediate, with West African and Rothschild's giraffes diverging about He is arrested in Arizona and sent to fight in the second World War. 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. -webkit-box-shadow: none; I highly recommend complementing the book with photos and/or audio. Woody accepts his bribe, nearly killing Wild Girl in the process. .printfriendly { Another indication that Benchley was loved by the zoo staff came after she found herself in the hospital for eleven weeks following an auto accident. 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. But when he learns giraffes are going extinct, he finds himself recalling the unforgettable experience he cannot take to his grave. Determined to meet his cousin at that Brooklyn dock, he arrived only to find that his cousin was killed on board the Goodfellow during the hurricane. There are several viewable at Wisconsinhistory.org, such as this one of a woman on the running board of the truck feeding a giraffe in the crate and this one of the crates being loaded with a giraffe leaning out the window of one crate. So preciousIt reminded me of my days at the St Louis Zoo and Bill Ross the elephant man. "West With Giraffes Study Guide: Analysis". The country had endured a Great Depression, filling the landscape with Hoovervilles and shantytowns, WPA and CCC projects, and migrants searching for a better life. Did you think it was believable or too farfetched? thissection. An utterly beautiful novel.".. .figcaption {font-size: 75%;} I also really appreciate your review with the animal notes. The story is told by a man living his last days in a nursing home as he writes his story. Kraft, Joy W. 2010. Imagine my surprise, then, when I read the very first sentence of the prologue and I was hooked immediately. (It can be read with the Kindle app on any device. I just checked and I got that book as a first reads book also, I will have to add it to my good reads list so I remember I own it. Book excerpt: 1938: The Great Depression lingers. Hurricane Sweeps Coast. New York Times (September 22, 1938): 1, 1618. Fantastic, and such a good read. What we called highways were barely tolerable for transporting people much less chauffeuring giraffes. Two giraffes (later to be called Lofty and Patches) travelled to New York surviving . Woody displays an unusual gift for working with animals, and the Old Man agrees to keep him on as the driver for the duration of the journey. My sister passed it on to me and knew Id enjoy it. While waiting for the giraffe rig to begin its journey, Woody meets Red and falls in love with her at first sight. display: none; West With Giraffes, Lynda Rutledge "Few true friends have I known and two were giraffes" Woodrow Wilson Nickel, age 105, feels his life ebbing away. That was the plan, anyway, but the female giraffe had had enough of travel crates! West Side Story shows how racism and xenophobia create a system that dooms the youths of working class families. The story isnt even about that boat ride. But was he proud of the two beautiful animals! Reading it was like falling into another world. Thank you! Guest Reviewer Rating: Four out of Five Stars. } img#wpstats{display:none} Perhaps you will fall in love with those giraffes and enjoy the adventures of Old Man and Woody as much as I did. These notes were contributed by members of the GradeSaver community. While the cars and signs and lodgings have changed, there remains something special about a cross-country road trip. help you understand the book. While I believe great storytelling is as much art as science, Science of People shares tips from the science side. West with Giraffes by Lynda Rutledge tells the great adventure story of 17-year-old Woodrow Wilson Nickel, who drives two giraffes cross-country in 1938 America, finding himself along the way through the joys and conflicts of the voyage. 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. THAT'S how good it is! .printfriendly.pf-aligncenter { 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. The accomplishment topped off what turned out to be a very successful year for the zoo. Woody has heard all about "Californy" and his dream is to go there and start a new glamorous life. 25 Feb/23. best used midsize suv under $20 000; lia thomas swimmer ranking before and after. 2021. With this novel, that true story becomes a parable of our times. The Great Depression lingers. Hence, West with Giraffes. Charley Smith was certainly the man for the job. There were many reasons giraffes were hard to come by for Americas first zoos. There are many photos online of this time in history, below are just a few. While hiding out at the barn in Athenia, Woody does his own acquainting with the giraffessneaking into the paddock to feed them apples and onions, and checking on the injured girl. and sweet foreign farm dung. For a farm boy who grew up listening to his father prattle on that animals were nothing more than food, this experience was life-changing. Two huge broken-up crates are lifted off containing amazing cargo: two Baringo giraffes. Hitler is threatening Europe, and world-weary Americans long for wonder. We would like to show you a description here but the site won't allow us. Note that this guide, like all of the guides, may contain spoilers. Sharon's Book & Wine Club - May 2021 West with giraffes by Lynda Rutledge "A perfect balance between history and fiction Rutledge blends fictional characters with real historical personalities to create a story that is equal parts educational, quirky, and romantic." -POPSUGAR.com West with Giraffes is Austin writer Lynda Rutledge's second novel, preceded by Faith Bass Darling . After three days of being fed pancakes (and the giraffes are indeed fed pancakes at one point in the novel), she mustered up the energy to pull herself up. by . Westward ho! We had us an adventure, didnt we, Woody Nickel? tells a story looking back at his youth of when he talked his way into helping drive a couple Giraffes from the East Coast to San Diego, California. giraffe, (genus Giraffa), any of four species in the genus Giraffa of long-necked cud-chewing hoofed mammals of Africa, with long legs and a coat pattern of irregular brown patches on a light background. We are thankful for their contributions and encourage you to make yourown. "A boy running from his mystery past, two giraffes, a gruff old zoo keeper, a red headed photographer and an adventure so extraordinary it has given me goosebumps", "West with Giraffes, along with Water for Elephants, The Last Bus to Wisdom, News of the World and Where the Crawdads Sing are the kind of books that the reader wants to devour in a dayonly to immediately turn back to the beginning to savor each page.", "This is a book unlike any I have ever readThere is black humor, heartbreak, and hope all balled up into a crazy road trip and a story that spans 100 years that will touch heart and soul", "Read this book. The giraffes Girl and Boy sound great characters.The humans sound interesting and I do love a book that has good solid characters at its heart.Your line "The characters in the . THIS above was the one I described in West with Giraffes.CLICK TO ENLARGE. What brings your most vivid memories to the forefront? Local Woman Names Newly Arrived Giraffes. Escondido (CA) Times-Advocate (October 28, 1938): 6. But he doesn't give up. Sweet memories. 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. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Lake Union Publishing, 371 pages, $14.95. After his death, Woodys last wish is fulfilled, and his manuscripts are delivered to Augie Ann. Of course, I knew your zoo history background already, so I was delighted to see your additions to this beautiful story. And this all takes place more than a decade before Joan Embery was even born! The giraffes were actually named Patches and Lofty and after surviving the tumultuous trip across the sea that saw their transport sail smack dab into a hurricane, the animals did indeed make the cross-country to the new home waiting for them at the San Diego Zoo. Romance. Thanks for the review, I'm definitly going to read it now! I will start by saying that the second I finished this book, I moved it into the Top 3 books I've ever read. ;) Have lots of enlightening fun! . . 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. I especially think that teen boys would really like it. Building and using wood fired ovens, recipes, pizza, DIY, and forums. By this time, the hurricane giraffes had made national headlines. Why or why not? } 1997. 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. It started with a stack of yellowed newsclippings, a very old map, and a white board to fill up. What senses transport you to another time and place? GradeSaver, 11 February 2022 Web. Unbeknownst to him, she is a married woman and is being pursued by the police for stealing her husbands car and crossing state lines without a male chauffeur. The synopsis of the book sounded ordinary to me, and I can't say I was excited to read it. 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. "Few true friends have I known and two were giraffes". 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! It sounds like a really interesting book! Images of America Series. "Lynda Rutledge has written a one in a million book", "The depth of feeling that went into the writing of this wonderful book exudes from every page", "This book is so good it gives me shivers", Woodrow Wilson Nickel, age 105, feels his life ebbing away. ", "The author manages to wrap a travelogue, a historical novel, a social and political commentary, a coming of age story, and a love story together in one book. It has a happy ending. Hitler is threatening Europe, and world-weary Americans long for wonder. 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. Too farfetched 371 pages, $ 14.95 it can be read with animal... Ship I am getting all chocked up and tearing.. I LOVED this book so much much less chauffeuring.... New York would not experience one as destructive until hurricane Sandy in 2012. surprise, then when! 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