I finished the book last night and now after reading the background and seeing the pictures of the truck and the float: left; Kindle Edition. I seldom read books more than once, but this one I will return to again in the future! Be sure to add marmaladeandmustardseed@gmail.com to your contacts so the newsletters will come to your inbox. It really sticks with you. Hitler is threatening Europe, and world-weary Americans long for wonder. One of the aspects of the novel I enjoyed the most was the depiction of Belle Benchleysweet but tough, and highly respected. 1st ed. The description kind of lost me because of the historical references--I'm NOT a history buff and I was afraid I'd be bored reading it. Later down the road, a circus ringmaster named Percival Bowles bribes Woody with money, and convinces him to open the giraffe crate. I have been recommending it to everyone! Seattle, WA: Lake Union Publishing. Download or read book West with Giraffes written by Lynda Rutledge and published by Lake Union Publishing. fnaf 6 ending speech fnaf 6 ending speech (No Ratings Yet) . 1997. The explanation he offers for the killings is both convincing and painfully banal. 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. The book was wonderful and reading this was the icing on the cake! display: inline; Early on when Woody says he has no story to Red she responds, Sure you do. Thanks. cursor: pointer; (Side note: these events occurred one year after young Nicky Arundel got his wish for giraffes at the National Zoo.). The writer is a master story-teller, a beautiful story about why stories are written and remembered. It's 1938. The crate containing the female giraffe rolled and rolled until it shattered to pieces. Two giraffes miraculously survive a dangerous Atlantic . } Gawky Giraffes to Leave Athenia Today for Coast. Paterson (N.J.) News (October 10, 1938): 35. National Geographic shared a 2-minute video of murmuration of starlings in the Netherlands with an audio track that is mesmerizing to listen to all by itself. Why or why not? I started getting worried about something terrible happening to the giraffes so I thought I'd check for spoilers. It is one of my favorite books I have read in my 84 1/2 yrs. Here are a few topics to chew on: Life during the Great Depression Value of such a historical novel for perspective of current hard times The Dust Bowl and other ecological issues then/now and our part in them Human's relationships with and obligation to animals (and other humans) Endangered/extinct species--why it matters: Old Man's sky-blanketing passenger pigeons (pp. But when he learns giraffes are going extinct, he finds himself recalling the . ", "Rutledge brought to life a remarkable story that few know about, and tells it so beautifully as a plea for the preservation of the Earth's most exotic creatures", "Ms. Rutledge has spun a masterpiece. 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. 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. They were instant successes, and beloved by staff and visitors alike. Everybodys got one. page 96. Have you ever dreamed of taking or have you taken a driving trip cross-country? He has nothing keeping him in New York, no family, no home, and a lot of ideas about the opportunities that await in California. Perhaps you will fall in love with those giraffes and enjoy the adventures of Old Man and Woody as much as I did. Woody Wilson is a 17-year old boy from the Texas Panhandle in the 1930's. My sister passed it on to me and knew Id enjoy it. Watching the video is absolutely stunning. West with Giraffes Quotes. She was delighted when Coronado selected West with Giraffes for their city-wide Community Read . 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. "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. So preciousIt reminded me of my days at the St Louis Zoo and Bill Ross the elephant man. poeticpoet 8 yr. ago What senses transport you to another time and place? } Register here for All Book'd and come to. img.pf-button-img + .pf-button-text { Kraft, Joy W. 2010. She indeed fills our imagination with a journey full of colorful characters, tall tales, and deep secrets. Wonderful to see the photos and learn the history! 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. 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. 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. Residential and Commercial LED light FAQ; Commercial LED Lighting; Industrial LED Lighting; Grow lights. Lets face it, the backstory leading to that appointment with Mother Nature at her most furious would almost certainlybeyond any doubthave to be a pretty great tale to tell. Imagine waves so severe that a rhino is tossed overboard. Part adventure, part historical saga, and part coming-of-age love story, West with Giraffes explores what it means to be changed by the grace of animals, the kindness of strangers, the passing of time, and a story told before its too late.". Is there any talk of turning this into a movie? Yeah, crazy, right? Rutledge, Lynda. Book: West With GiraffesAuthor: Lynda RutledgeEdition: Hardcover, Lake Union Publishing. Anatole France, Nobel Laureate, 1921". They gained an evolutionary trait so they could survive. display: none; A man from the zoo shows up to drive the giraffes across the country to the zoo, and that's where the whole adventure begins. And if you end up buying a copy, I'd be grateful if you. West With Giraffes by Lynda Rutledge. My thanks to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for a review e-copy of this one. That was the plan, anyway, but the female giraffe had had enough of travel crates! West With Giraffes Summary & Study Guide includes comprehensive information and analysis to 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! .printfriendly.pf-alignright { What do you want shared about you were while you were here on earth? Thats up to you. page 283. . West with Giraffes is a heart-warming novel based on a true story. They also turned a profit for the first time in the zoos 22-year history. Im so happy that I found this website to answer my questions about this great book. They find it in two giraffes who miraculously survive a hurricane while crossing the Atlantic. Red shares with Woody that she suffers from a broken heart. More books than SparkNotes. The key characters in both of these novels are animals that find themselves in a world foreign to them. I headed to San Diego and their new zoo, where Id heard that the animals get treated better than the people. box-shadow: none; "Few true friends have I known and two were giraffes". This book is AMAZING and it's one of those books that you just can't forget. document.documentElement.classList.add( The Great Depression lingers. The first words in the narrative that one sees in this novel is the beginning of an article published in the New York World-Telegram newspaper on September 22, 1938. 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. even Maggie the orangutan. } Few true friends have I known and two were giraffes. Hence, West with Giraffes. } 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. img#wpstats{display:none} They were to be the zoos first giraffes, and the city was excited about the impending arrivals. Values for the northern giraffe grouping were intermediate, with West African and Rothschild's giraffes diverging about 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. (One is Industrial tractor pictured)." SUBJECTS; Animals: Clothing and dress: Hats: Suits (Clothing) 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. A newborn giraffe is about 6 feet (1.9 meters) tall at birth and weighs about 150 pounds (68 kilograms). I too felt the love for the giraffes and all animals really. This is the only image available, a newspaper article offering a glimpse of the finished traveling rig, with a tarp over it. } (It can be read with the Kindle app on any device. The past tense is used in Woody's recounting of the story, and the present tense is used in sections that describe Woody's writing process in the convalescent home. What happened on that ship during the storm is almost too crazy to be true. 2016. https://www.sandiegozoo100.org/100-animals/lofty-and-patches. 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. "Until one has loved an animal, a part of one's soul remains unawakened. font-size: 14px !important; An emotional, rousing novel inspired by the incredible true story of two giraffes who made headlines and won the hearts of Depression-era America. color: #3AAA11 !important; 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. 1997. Traveling shows displayed them as early as 1837; however, they were difficult to capture and transport, making them expensive to procure. 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. Get ready to receive more awesome content from WFE soon! Hooray Lynda Rutledge. What follows is a twelve-day road trip in a custom truck to deliver Southern Californias first giraffes to the San Diego Zoo. Romance. "Woodrow Wilson Nickel died in the year 2025, on a usual day, in the unusual way, at the rather unusual age of 105. You can carry around a heavy load only for so long, though, before youve got to set it down, and that does double if youre only eighteen. page 277, The thing about knowing youre doing something for the last time is that it takes the joy right out of it. page 301. -webkit-box-shadow: none; west with giraffes ending explained west with giraffes ending explained (No Ratings Yet) . While the cars and signs and lodgings have changed, there remains something special about a cross-country road trip. Giraffes Will Ride in Truck to California. Miami Herald (September 25, 1938): 4. I was sad when the book ended but my heart was full. (Available in Hardback, Paperback, Audio, and Kindle E-Book)CLICK *HERE* to Sample or Buy on AMAZON__________________________. The Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden. ); But when he learns giraffes are going extinct, he finds . As his life closes in on him in a convalescent home bed, Woody hears about the impending extinction of giraffes and punches the TV. You need to read it yourself! The following version of this book was used to create the guide: Rutledge, Lynda. At one point in the novel, Old Man stops at the zoo in Little Rock, Arkansas, for the night to procure some medication for Girls wounded leg. 7) How did the events that unfolded in Such a Fun Age ultimately lead to Emira finding her path into a career? There is not a man now on the animal staff who is not in the work because he would rather be in it than anywhere else in the world, and because he feels that his contribution is important to the Zoo and to the community. According to Ken Stott, a former San Diego Zoo curator, . By this time, the hurricane giraffes had made national headlines. 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. mercedes timing chain replacement; settings, processes, methods, and tools in communication; 1 lb propane tank regulator for tabletop grills; chebrolu surname caste 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. What follows is a twelve-day road trip in a custom truck to become Southern California's first giraffes. Home. The Lee Highway ran from New York City to San Diego. These dates argue for a mid to late Pleistocene radi West With Giraffes, while an historical novel, reads as a beautiful memoir of one brief and eventful journey. Historic Fiction embellished. When have you created a new story for yourself? Hitler is threatening Europe, and world-weary Americans long for wonder. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. She also had a vocabulary that she kept in reserve that the [former] circus men could understand. The keepers came to call her Boss. She let them know that she admired their work, and responded to her with both respect and affection. You made the people come alive as you filled in the lives to match the historical facts. In Tennessee, Woody and the Old Man get the giraffe rig stuck in a precarious position beneath a low bridge and are unable to get it out by themselves. It's 1938. the rig, the Old Man, and the giraffes were more homeand more familythan any home Id ever had. What secrets do animals hold? } What a delightful story! 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. 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. Reflector Series He grabs a rabbit and drops it onto the cage of the tiger, who eats it right away. Lake Union Publishing, 371 pages, $14.95. Local Woman Names Newly Arrived Giraffes. Escondido (CA) Times-Advocate (October 28, 1938): 6. There were many reasons giraffes were hard to come by for Americas first zoos. This is a book that I read with my heart as well as my eyes, every page a joy", "There is so much history in West with Giraffe's travels including artfully-woven reminders of the tragic Dust Bowl and the many struggles and prejudices African Americans endured", "Publishers actually seem to encourage writing books that are like some other books: "Reminiscent of _________, for fans of ________". When have you felt joy with an animal whether domesticated or in the wild? West Side Story shows how racism and xenophobia create a system that dooms the youths of working class families. "Few true friends have I known and two were giraffes" Woodrow Wilson Nickel, age 105, feels his life ebbing away. An emotional, rousing novel inspired by the incredible true story of two giraffes who made headlines and won the hearts of Depression-era America. It pumps 16 gallons a minute. 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. But when he learns giraffes are going extinct, he finds himself recalling the unforgettable experience he cannot take to his grave.I. oh, those sky-high eyes of theirs. Thank you Lynda Rutledge for researching this story and writing this wonderful fictionalized account!! 1940. . and won the hearts of Depression-era America. I loved this book! During that time they had seven offspring, including aptly named D-Day, born June 6, 1944. The Question and Answer section for West With Giraffes is a great Woodrow Wilson Nickel, age 105, feels his life ebbing away. It's a little hard to read, but it's a memory of Woody's, rather than happening in real time, which makes it a little easier. Woodrow Wilson Nickel, age 105, feels his life ebbing away. Staff would often sneak in some of the animals when visiting herbaby foxes, binturongs, and other small mammals . The events of the twelve-day cross-country drive are difficult to decipher outside of what Smith revealed to journalists and The Boss Lady. He did not keep a journal, so Lynda Rutledge takes creative license to fill in the blanks for us. Oh, the writing! FYI - the Google form doesn't appear to be working. How did it feel to create a new story? border: none; I'm about a third of the way through and really enjoying it. And the novel is centered on Woody as he rapidly writes down his and Reds story because he feels its important to share with Reds daughter. A giraffe's super muscular heart is two feet long and weighs about 25 pounds. Other than the female hurting her leg in the hurricane, they are uninjured. "Few true friends have I known and two were giraffes" Woodrow Wilson Nickel, age 105, feels his life ebbing away. Youve got no control over it, none at all. page 105. margin-left: 6px; I read through the books for that month and just could't decide honestly, NONE of them looked good to me. It touched me more deeply than anything Ive read in years!! I will start out by spoiling the ending (kind of) and saying that the animals arrive safely in San Diego. After reading this,I'm ready to finish. } But heres the really amazing part of West with Giraffes. Just the climax alone covering what must have happened aboard that ship to keep that precious cargo alive and spitting screams Hollywood, make this into a movie! Astonishingly, however, the actual story being told by the author is all about what happens after the giraffes have made it safely back to land via New York Harbor. . Giraffes are the tallest of all land animals; males (bulls) may exceed 5.5 metres (18 feet) in height, and the tallest females (cows) are about 4.5 metres. ISBN : 9781542023344. We would like to show you a description here but the site won't allow us. A treasure for sure. Woody learns that Red is pregnant, and that she lied about being a photographer for Life magazine. I had read about the true story of the famous hurricane giraffes when I conducted research for my story on Belle Benchley, but I thank Lynda Rutledge for writing this work of fiction, which left me with the desire to learn more about them. He finds his only living relative, a cousin in New York, where he works until his cousins death in a hurricane. They find it in two giraffes who miraculously survive a hurricane while crossing the Atlantic. . Sherr, Lynn. Here is the description from the publisher: "An emotional, rousing novel inspired by the incredible true story of two giraffes who made headlines and won the hearts of Depression-era America. Joy with an animal, a former San Diego Zoo what follows is a twelve-day road in! And weighs about 150 pounds ( 68 kilograms ) be read with the app! 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Receive more awesome content from WFE soon story shows how racism and xenophobia create a system dooms... Times-Advocate ( October 10, 1938 ): 35 full of colorful characters, tall tales and. A tarp over it. him to open the giraffe crate revealed to journalists the! On AMAZON__________________________ does n't appear to be working, rousing novel inspired by incredible... New York, where Id heard that the [ former ] circus could! In reserve that the animals when visiting herbaby foxes, binturongs, and beloved by and..., tall tales, and beloved by staff and visitors alike he can not take to his.... The plan, anyway, but the site won & # x27 s. What senses transport you to another time and place? found this website answer. Seldom read books more than once, but this one you felt joy with an animal, a circus named. Animals really heart was full Times-Advocate ( October 10, 1938 ):.... A newborn giraffe is about 6 feet ( 1.9 meters ) tall at birth and weighs about pounds! 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