West With Giraffes written by Lynda Rutledge..this is one of those books that I would probably not have picked up if not for the assignment to read it for a book discussion group. Of course I am so glad I did.I will talking about this book and recommending it for a while.
This is an historical novel that has so many different amazing historical references that interconnect and give the reader aa real sense of what life was like in the Unites States in 1938. Our west in Oklahoma and the Texas pan handle we were suffering from the worst weather situation to hit the country, the Dust Bowl. Farmers could not grow their crops, their animals were dying and there was no money and if you did not pick up and move further west, you and your family would eventually die also from lack of water and food. Then there was the Hurricane of '38 in New England which also killed hundreds of people.
Our protagonist, Woodrow Wilson Nickel, is writing this story from his nursing home room. It is 2025 and he is 105 years old. He is looking back, wanting to record his life story before the end. He especially wants to leave a record of the time he drove giraffes across the country. This is also a true story that two giraffes survive on a ship from Africa that arrive in New York during the hurricane. They are transported to San Diego, California to the new zoo that is being established.
This story is so enjoyable to read and at the same time so full of many issues people deal with on an everyday basis. Looking at the role of women, people of color and poverty through the lens of this time period. Along with the issues in the US there is also a war brewing in Europe, that we learn about through newspaper headlines as the travelers are driving cross country with the giraffes.
A story of growing up, strength, caring and love.
No comments:
Post a Comment