#book #review
West with Giraffes, a novel by Lynda Rutledge, is, in fact, based on a true story. Two giraffes were saved from a ship in the Great Hurricane of 1938 and transported across the country to San Diego Zoo.
The author has taken the bare bones of the facts and woven a wonderful life affirming story with her colourful characters.
We are soon in the Great Depression of the 1930s in America when whole families were wiped out by hunger, illness, and crushing poverty.
Woody becomes the driver of the giraffes by default and starts his journey with Old Man and meets the enigmatic Red along the way.
This is, in part, an adventure story with themes of animal cruelty and conservation along the way. All three characters have stories to tell, and they ate interwoven throughout the novel.
The stars of the show are, of course, the two giraffes, Girl and Boy, and how their human characters get them to the zoo in San Diego. Whilst lauded by most people along the way, there are unscrupulous people out to buy or even steal the two animals.
Woody and Old Man need their wits about them and develop a sort of friendship along the way. Red is Woody's love interest, but she is falling in love with the wonderful giraffes.
The whole story is told from Woody's point of view as he passes his hundredth birthday in a Veterans' facility and wants to write the story for Red's daughter.
This is one of the best books I have read in ages.
âââââHighly recommended reading.
Šâď¸CarolynCrossley
https://amzn.eu/d/05pVVSj0
Available to read FREE on PRIME reading. An Amazon account is required.
VIXEN of VERSE 