He called me pickle puss and remembered me when I brought my 4 children to meet him. 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. font-size: 14px !important; That the animals survived at all was, as the headline rather politely insists, miraculous. t's 1938.The Great Depression lingers. help you understand the book. 1944. I headed to San Diego and their new zoo, where Id heard that the animals get treated better than the people. After reaching California, Woody steals a motorcycle and tries to follow Red back east. I did some research too and found a website that gave me an idea of what the two crates looked like. The story is set around a truly extraordinary real life occurrence that took place in 1938. It sounds like a really interesting book! Rutledge, Lynda. Woodrow Wilson Nickel, age 105, feels his life ebbing away. "Few true friends have I known and two were giraffes" Woodrow Wilson Nickel, age 105, feels his life ebbing away. The road to California leads straight through Woodys hometown of Arcadia, Texas. Charleston, SC: Arcadia Publishing. } She was delighted when Coronado selected West with Giraffes for their city-wide Community Read . Two huge broken-up crates are lifted off containing amazing cargo: two Baringo giraffes. Initially they refused to leave their traveling carriers but were eventually lured out with onions. 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. Get ready to receive more awesome content from WFE soon! FYI - the Google form doesn't appear to be working. They were to be the zoos first giraffes, and the city was excited about the impending arrivals. The synopsis of the book sounded ordinary to me, and I can't say I was excited to read it. So preciousIt reminded me of my days at the St Louis Zoo and Bill Ross the elephant man. Red was an aspiring photojournalist trying to sell her giraffe story to Life magazine. When she sent him on a collecting trip to Africa in 1940, she noted, I am quite sure that we shall not hear much about Charleys trip until his return. Not affiliated with Harvard College. "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. Giraffes grow about 4 feet (1.2 meters) in their first year of life. 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. 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. West with Giraffes Quotes. . In this week's Book Bites trailer, Shelly tells us about West With Giraffes by Lynda R. Stephenson. .printfriendly.pf-aligncenter { They also turned a profit for the first time in the zoos 22-year history. 2, 86, 238) & Author's Note, Treatment of Blacks in those times vs. now, Treatment of women in those times vs. now, Zoos vs. circuses--then/now (See Author's Note), Tolerance of lying and stealing in desperate times, The unanswered questions about the Old Man's past and why the Author left us to wonder, Red's "bucket list": The spectre of a weak heart/short life to fuel her culture-busting dream-chasing, How childhood shapes us and how much power we have to change it. Book: West With GiraffesAuthor: Lynda RutledgeEdition: Hardcover, Lake Union Publishing. Woody, havent you ever wanted something so bad you had to do it or die trying? page 156. This book sounds really interesting! What a delightful story! 25 Feb/23. After examination and treatment, Schroeder deemed the giraffe worth saving and cleared her to make the trip. "Until one has loved an animal, a part of one's soul remains unawakened. When have you felt joy with an animal whether domesticated or in the wild? .printfriendly { Smith stayed with the giraffes during their time in quarantine, sleeping beside their stalls, nursing the females injury, and getting to know these towering creatures of Gods pure Eden. After their quarantine was complete, it was time to load the giraffes into their custom-made, heavily padded 12 8 crates, which were large enough for the giraffes to lie down on piles of peat moss and straw. float: left; oh, those sky-high eyes of theirs. 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. Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window), Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window), Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window), Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window), his wish for giraffes at the National Zoo, https://uboat.net/allies/merchants/ship/3298.html, https://library.sandiegozoo.org/sdzg-history-timeline/#1930, http://timeline.sandiegozoo100.org/1930/1930-3/, https://www.sandiegozoo100.org/100-animals/lofty-and-patches, https://www.sandiegozoowildlifealliance.org/timeline/1938/1938/, https://issuu.com/sdzglobal/docs/march_zn. An emotional, rousing novel inspired by the incredible true story of two giraffes who made headlines and won the hearts of Depression-era America. ), and some rabbits. Until, one day, I finally began to write: A few of the THOUSANDS of reader reviews: "It's not often I have to sit in silence and recover when I finish a book, but I needed to after this one. 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. 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. Lofty and Patches lived at the San Diego Zoo for nearly 30 years. Woodrow Wilson Nickel, age 105, feels his life ebbing away. even Maggie the orangutan. Pictures taken just after unloading from ship. When 17-year-old Woodrow Wilson Nickel buried the last of his family, he struck out from his Texas panhandle . I too felt the love for the giraffes and all animals really. West With Giraffes: A Novel Woodrow Wilson Nickel, age 105, feels his life ebbing away. . Sexton, Timothy. ship I am getting all chocked up and tearing ..I LOVED THIS BOOK SO MUCH ! I had every emotion through the course of reading this book. But when he learns giraffes are going extinct, he finds himself recalling the unforgettable experience he cannot take to his grave.I. As his life closes in on him in a convalescent home bed, Woody hears about the impending extinction of giraffes and punches the TV. (Available in Hardback, Paperback, Audio, and Kindle E-Book) CLICK *HERE*to Sample or Buy on AMAZON THE } . THIS above was the one I described in West with Giraffes.CLICK TO ENLARGE. While the cars and signs and lodgings have changed, there remains something special about a cross-country road trip. But when he learns giraffes are going extinct, he finds himself recalling the . Animal Trainer Called by Death. Los Angeles Times (July 21, 1941): B16. (Side note: these events occurred one year after young Nicky Arundel got his wish for giraffes at the National Zoo.). And unlike the typical Broadway musical of the 1950s and before, West Side Story does not offer audiences a happy ending. Red shares with Woody that she suffers from a broken heart. Scuba Certification; Private Scuba Lessons; Scuba Refresher for Certified Divers; Try Scuba Diving; Enriched Air Diver (Nitrox) display: flex; align-items: center; 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. 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. An emotional, rousing novel inspired by the incredible true story of two giraffes who made headlines and won the hearts of Depression-era America. Copyright 1999 - 2023 GradeSaver LLC. 2 vols. This is the only image available, a newspaper article offering a glimpse of the finished traveling rig, with a tarp over it. . That was the plan, anyway, but the female giraffe had had enough of travel crates! We are thankful for their contributions and encourage you to make yourown. 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. When the storm finally abated they tried to get her out of what was left of her crate, but they were not successful. 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. I rode Miss Jim when I little every summer and even in her cage to feed her a carrot. And even those ships do everything possible to stay away from the hurricanes of the Caribbean. 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! Lake Union Publishing, 371 pages, $14.95. Youve got no control over it, none at all. page 105. Lynda Rutledges West With Giraffes is written in the first person point of view, and utilizes both past and present tenses. 2016. https://www.sandiegozoo100.org/100-animals/lofty-and-patches. html:not( .jetpack-lazy-images-js-enabled ):not( .js ) .jetpack-lazy-image { Down on his luck and unsure of his future, Woody sees the Old Man tending to two giraffes who almost died in the hurricane. When he returns to the zoo, the Old Man has also recently passed away. It is rare to pick up a book that is really DIFFERENT. .printfriendly { Jackson aka Big Papa: father of clan that owns Cottages for ColoredsMoses: eldest son of Big Papa, first to spot giraffes when they get stuck under overpass on detourPercival T Bowles: Circus ringmasterCooter: animal abuser who owns a run-down road side desert animal attraction. It was a wonderful novel. The keepers and other staff members would visit her daily; [s]ometimes as many as eight would come during the same day or evening, she recalled. The first giraffes could be seen in Central Park in 1872 and in Philadelphia in 1874, and the first baby giraffe in captivity was born in Cincinnati in 1889. The Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden. I was sad when the book ended but my heart was full. Some people value zoos as a place to help individuals connect with animals they may never otherwise meet or a place to safeguard an animal from extinction. 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. A newborn giraffe is about 6 feet (1.9 meters) tall at birth and weighs about 150 pounds (68 kilograms). 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. Woodrow Wilson Nickel, age 105, feels his life ebbing away. 1947. Official Guide Book of the San Diego Zoo. ETA: Ugh, this form wasn't working because I forgot to change the permissions last night. This book is AMAZING and it's one of those books that you just can't forget. 2015. The author added a bit of suspense that could have been more well-thought out and sure, a 105-year old man couldnt have reasonably written, let alone recalled, the events in the novel. I started getting worried about something terrible happening to the giraffes so I thought I'd check for spoilers. Memories stick to things. Residential LED Lighting. To Woodys astonishment, the Old Man forgives him and allows him to stay on as the driver. A male giraffe's average size is 14-18 feet, but you'll find the female giraffes a bit shorter than them. "Few true friends have I known and two were giraffes". It is one of my favorite books I have read in my 84 1/2 yrs. Thank you so much for the feedback! 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. *CLICK* ON IMAGEBELOWto go to its website for much more. On the other side of the pond, Hitler was invading Eastern Europe, so the combined stress of world events and personal troubles were briefly assuaged by the sight of the traveling giraffes. That is when he locks eyes with the giraffes (Boy and Girl). Karie, I just finished West with Giraffes. The Great Depression lingers. And if you end up buying a copy, I'd be grateful if you. Inspired by true events, the tale weaves real-life figures with fictional ones, including the world's 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. Have you shared it? At the end of the novel, she sits down to read the true story of her mothers amazing journey across the continent with the giraffes. Thats up to you. page 283. He has often bragged, When the Missus gets tired of waiting for me to write she just burns up the wires. ", "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. If you want to dip your toe in the water you can read a few tips on line such as How to Tell Better Stories: 4 Simple Tips for Introverts from Introverts, Dear short and to the point! There is a part where they come across a gas station with a "zoo" in the middle of nowhere in the desert, and the man who owns it is cruel to his "attractions"--a bear, a rattlesnake, a tiger (? I'm like your sister. 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. West With Giraffes Summary & Study Guide includes comprehensive information and analysis to .pf-button.pf-button-excerpt { But was he proud of the two beautiful animals! 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. I hope to die there, I do. display: none; GradeSaver, 11 February 2022 Web. This Study Guide consists of approximately 43pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more - text-decoration: none; It touched me more deeply than anything Ive read in years!! I have to say, though, that no matter what I write on this post, it won't do justice to this book. Two giraffes miraculously survive a dangerous Atlantic . . 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. I especially think that teen boys would really like it. Woodrow Wilson Nickel, aka Woody Nickel, almost 18, happens to be on a New York dock in 1938 when the hurricane-battered SS Robin Goodfellow limps into the harbor. It's 1938. 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