

West with Giraffes
Books | Fiction / Historical / General
4.6
(257)
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. "Few true friends have I known and two were giraffes..." Woodrow Wilson Nickel, age 105, feels his life ebbing away. 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. Hitler is threatening Europe, and world-weary Americans long for wonder. They find it in two giraffes who miraculously survive a hurricane while crossing the Atlantic. What follows is a twelve-day road trip in a custom truck to deliver Southern California's first giraffes to the San Diego Zoo. Behind the wheel is the young Dust Bowl rowdy Woodrow. 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. 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 it's too late.
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More Details:
Author
Lynda Rutledge
Pages
356
Publisher
Lake Union Publishing
Published Date
2021
ISBN
1542023343 9781542023344
Community ReviewsSee all
"It was a good book"
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Elizabeth Sanders
"This was not the best book I’ve read, but something about it drew me in and kept me reading. If you want to read something different give this book a try. I liked the giraffes in the story more than the characters, however, and didn’t overly connect with any of them. The narrator comes across younger than the 17/18 year old he is. For the reviews I read of this I was really hoping to like it more than I did. ⭐️⭐️⭐️.5 "
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Katie Harrison
"A nice easy read based on a true story"
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Linda Scott
"Great storyline! I had difficulty getting into it (by no fault of the book), but once I was grabbed, the story took off! I’ll need to give this one another shot for a re-read in the future. "
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Alyssa Castillo
"Well researched and charming novel. Reminds me of Water for Elephants"
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Jessica A
"This book seriously made me wish I was on a road trip with giraffes. I loved all of the characters so much. My bookclub paired decided to hold our book discussion at the zoo beside the giraffe enclosure! So much fun! "
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The Novel Tourist
"🦒 Similar to Water for Elephants 🐘 "
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Cassidy
"A most enjoyable character and story driven novel very loosely based on a real event. Reading it l found a greater appreciation for the horrific conditions of the Dust Bowl and the conditions in which exotic animals were often kept. <br/>My favorite characters are, in no particular order, Woody, Girl and Boy. <br/>4.5 stars."
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Anne Rose
"Wow! Incredible book!"
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Nicole K
"Interesting read based on the true story of two giraffes being transported cross country after being caught in a hurricane. Lots of adventures along the way on this road trip to the San Diego Zoo. It was fun to research online and find real pictures of these giraffes in the 1930s and the vehicle that was created to transport them."
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Liz Phillips