Part 3: War Years, 19371946. ZOONOOZ, March 2016. https://issuu.com/sdzglobal/docs/march_zn. Lofty and Patches. San Diego Zoo: 100 Years. Hitler is threatening Europe, and world-weary Americans long for wonder. Another regular occurrence, this one fictional, was the sighting of a fancy green Packard, driven by a redhead full of determination. Finally, the last thing I can think of is that Woody describes his last day at home in Texas, where his father forced him to put down his horse with a rifle. What secrets do animals hold? Besides the below book club questions, remember, the easiest way to be . I also recommend that you listen to giraffes humming in this YouTube video (really just audio). and ocean . (If you're not into that, don't worry--it's really only in the prologue.). I had to turn on comment moderation due to a ton of spam comments, but I will approve your comment ASAP. He called me pickle puss and remembered me when I brought my 4 children to meet him. The animal's legs are also 6 feet long. Getting to see a giraffe in 1938 was a pretty rare occasion. thissection. document.documentElement.classList.add( And this all takes place more than a decade before Joan Embery was even born! It really sticks with you. Get ready to receive more awesome content from WFE soon! } The story begins with a centenarian named Woodrow Wilson Woody Nickel sitting in his nursing home watching a TV documentary on the near extinction of giraffes and other endangered species in Africa. 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. THAT'S how good it is! Charley Smith was certainly the man for the job. However, as soon as she was upright the crew could see that her left rear ankle was severely injured. Little did anyone now that in September 1938, during the final few days of their trip, these animals bound for San Diego would encounter what was then the most devastating hurricane to hit the upper East Coast, killing nearly 700 people. html:not( .jetpack-lazy-images-js-enabled ):not( .js ) .jetpack-lazy-image { This is the All Book'd Book Club pick for January! Later down the road, a circus ringmaster named Percival Bowles bribes Woody with money, and convinces him to open the giraffe crate. But when he learns giraffes are going extinct, he finds himself recalling the . West with Giraffes. The Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden. z-index: 1000; position: relative Of course, I knew your zoo history background already, so I was delighted to see your additions to this beautiful story. I will start out by spoiling the ending (kind of) and saying that the animals arrive safely in San Diego. The tone is so well-crafted, the dialog so realistic. 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 would recommend this book to pretty much anyone--from about 12 years old and up, whether you're an "animal person" or not, or interested in history or not. He plots to try to follow the giraffes to California, which proves more difficult than he hoped. Hooray Lynda Rutledge. could that giraffe have been a descendant of Lofty and Patches? } An emotional, rousing novel inspired by the incredible true story of two giraffes who made headlines and won the hearts of Depression-era America. Virginia Beach: The Donning Company. Have you shared it? 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. "Until one has loved an animal, a part of one's soul remains unawakened. You can help us out by revising, improving and updating 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. As the giraffes were rolling out of sight, Woody runs as fast as he can through the flooded streets, passing dozens of reporters, and eventually steals a motorcycle to keep up with the truck bound for the quarantine facility. If youre looking for a good read where you dont need to think too much, except maybe to daydream about your own cross-country adventure, this novel is an excellent choice. 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. Two huge broken-up crates are lifted off containing amazing cargo: two Baringo giraffes. One of the aspects of the novel I enjoyed the most was the depiction of Belle Benchleysweet but tough, and highly respected. A giraffe's neck alone is 6 feet (1.8 meters) long and weighs about 600 lbs. 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. Reflector Series January 19, 2023 . I'm doing a Friends-themed read-athon for 2021, and each month there is a different "Friends-based" theme to choose a book. "Few true friends have I known and two were giraffes". So very touching and heart wrenching!! You can see a map of it on this Tillman County Blog. While the cars and signs and lodgings have changed, there remains something special about a cross-country road trip. ;) Have lots of enlightening fun! . A treasure for sure. However, from Benchleys 1941 memoir it is obvious that Smith did not update her as much as she would have preferred. GradeSaver, 11 February 2022 Web. 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. west with giraffes ending explained west with giraffes ending explained (No Ratings Yet) . 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. will review the submission and either publish your submission or providefeedback. Thanks for the review, I'm definitly going to read it now! These giraffes, Boy and Girl, win the love and respect of Woody; the Old Man; and Red, a. even Maggie the orangutan. Sold! . DeLeon, Clark. Is there any talk of turning this into a movie? Wonderful to see the photos and learn the history! Memories stick to things. Oh, the writing! ", "A journey through a world both intimately familiar and lost in the dust of the past. (Available in Hardback, Paperback, Audio, and Kindle E-Book)CLICK *HERE* to Sample or Buy on AMAZON__________________________. He has often bragged, When the Missus gets tired of waiting for me to write she just burns up the wires. And unlike the typical Broadway musical of the 1950s and before, West Side Story does not offer audiences a happy ending. He resolves to follow them to California. THIS above was the one I described in, 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. 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 . I will start by saying that the second I finished this book, I moved it into the Top 3 books I've ever read. Woody learns that Red is pregnant, and that she lied about being a photographer for Life magazine. 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). Hence, West with Giraffes. I'm about a third of the way through and really enjoying it. Fantastic, and such a good read. I too felt the love for the giraffes and all animals really. 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. He is arrested in Arizona and sent to fight in the second World War. A male giraffe's average size is 14-18 feet, but you'll find the female giraffes a bit shorter than them. 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. ship I am getting all chocked up and tearing ..I LOVED THIS BOOK SO MUCH ! With Woody behind the wheel, true to the actual events, the giraffe truck stopped regularly at auto camps under appropriate trees with the top of the crates open to let Boy and Girl reach up and browse. help you understand the book. I felt it worthwhile to let that go and just enjoy the ride as I was effortlessly transported on a cross-country drive in the autumn of 1938. Thank you for sharing it the magic of googling. As soon as Smith had apprised Belle Benchley of the giraffes poor condition, Benchley contacted Dr. Charles Schroeder from the Bronx Zoo to assess her condition. San Diego, CA: Zoological Society of San Diego. On the surface a road trip coming of age novel, but down deep an aching meditation on loss, time, and hope", Many readers have asked to see an image of the real-life traveling rig. The crate containing the female giraffe rolled and rolled until it shattered to pieces. by . 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. (One is Industrial tractor pictured)." SUBJECTS; Animals: Clothing and dress: Hats: Suits (Clothing) As the giraffes leave quarantine, Woody jumps back on the stolen motorcycle and follows them. There were many reasons giraffes were hard to come by for Americas first zoos. Schroeder was a former zoo veterinarian at the San Diego Zoo and would later become the zoos director after Benchley retired in 1953. Thank you Lynda Rutledge for researching this story and writing this wonderful fictionalized account!! And if you end up buying a copy, I'd be grateful if you. West With Giraffes. Best for: 12 and up. What follows is a twelve-day road trip in a custom truck to deliver Southern California's first giraffes to the San Diego Zoo. The giraffes, probably only a few years old, were met at the Brooklyn dock by the San Diego Zoos head keeper Charley Smith (Riley Jones and Old Man in the novel) and city truck driver Ed Seuss (Earl). 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. display: inline; How honest do you think the author was? 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. San Diego Zoo Centennial Timeline: 1938. https://www.sandiegozoowildlifealliance.org/timeline/1938/1938/ (accessed 2/9/2021). 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. .printfriendly.pf-alignleft { Thank you again. . 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 ________". More books than SparkNotes. Found your piece on the Giraffes through researching the question So, is it true? as our Buddy read group was working its way through West with Giraffes by Lynda Rutledge. An emotional, rousing novel inspired by the incredible true story of two giraffes who made headlines and won the hearts of Depression-era America. I highly recommend complementing the book with photos and/or audio. border: none; } Images of America Series. 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 did you discover in the expanse of your country? What brings your most vivid memories to the forefront? 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. He finds his only living relative, a cousin in New York, where he works until his cousins death in a hurricane. Giraffes grow about 4 feet (1.2 meters) in their first year of life. Giraffes evolved to have longer necks so that they could reach the leaves at the tops of trees. Early on when Woody says he has no story to Red she responds, Sure you do. San Diego, CA: Zoological Society of San Diego. Woody accepts his bribe, nearly killing Wild Girl in the process. Using prehensile tongues almost half . Guest Review by Julie Hilton. When have you felt joy with an animal whether domesticated or in the wild? oh, those sky-high eyes of theirs. Giraffes Will Ride in Truck to California. Miami Herald (September 25, 1938): 4. Feel free to leave a comment! It just hurts so much, animals are so innocent! "An emotional, rousing novel inspired by the incredible true story of two giraffes who made headlines and won the hearts of Depression-era America. She had red curls all over her head, a fiery halo of raging waves she surely battled into submission every morning, and she was wearing trousersthe first woman Id ever seen doing so in real life. Just when Woody thought this crazy girl had stopped following them, the green Packard would come roaring into view. Which is why we're providing you with this list of top book club questions that will generate general discussion whether you're focused on nonfiction, a self-help book, a juicy historical romance novel, or one of Reese's, Jenna Bush Hager's or, of course, Oprah's favorites. 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. The depiction of Belle Benchleysweet but tough, and each month there a... Of ) and saying that the animals arrive safely in San Diego Zoo Centennial Timeline 1938.. West Side story does not offer audiences a happy ending the man for the review, I 'd be if. 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