2016. My Life in a Man-Made Jungle. This book is AMAZING and it's one of those books that you just can't forget. An emotional, rousing novel inspired by the incredible true story of two giraffes who made headlines and won the hearts of Depression-era America. He grabs a rabbit and drops it onto the cage of the tiger, who eats it right away. It's gripping, moving, and so incredibly touching. It touched me more deeply than anything Ive read in years!! Behind the wheel is the young Dust Bowl rowdy Woodrow. The animals were loaded onto the S.S. Robin Goodfellow in Mombasa, British East Africa (present-day Kenya), for a 52-day, 3,200-mile journey to the coast of New York. ", "I've read some truly wonderful books in my life, but never one I'm convinced will stay with me forever as will West with Giraffes. } He finds his only living relative, a cousin in New York, where he works until his cousins death in a hurricane. Don't wait. best used midsize suv under $20 000; lia thomas swimmer ranking before and after. . I remembered that I had gotten a book recently from Amazon's First Reads about an elephant or giraffe or something. Lofty and Patches lived at the San Diego Zoo for nearly 30 years. . Wild Girl and Wild Boy are at the heart of this novel and throughout and directly in her Authors Note following the novel, the author shares her views of how we can be charmed and inspired by animals. Scuba Certification; Private Scuba Lessons; Scuba Refresher for Certified Divers; Try Scuba Diving; Enriched Air Diver (Nitrox) Rutledge brings to life the auto courts and roadside attractions of the 1930s. 1999. Woodrow Wilson Nickel, age 105, feels his life ebbing away. Did the ending answer all your questions? West with Giraffes, a novel by Lynda Rutledge, gripped my attention from beginning to end. While waiting for the giraffe rig to begin its journey, Woody meets Red and falls in love with her at first sight. It's 1938. "It is a foolish man who thinks stories do not matterwhen in the end, they may be all that matter and all the forever we'll ever know.". font-size: 14px !important; Im so glad you enjoyed it! Red was an aspiring photojournalist trying to sell her giraffe story to Life magazine. If you want to skip over it, just skip to the horizontal line break. West With Giraffes, Lynda Rutledge "Few true friends have I known and two were giraffes" Woodrow Wilson Nickel, age 105, feels his life ebbing away. By: Lynda Rutledge. We would like to show you a description here but the site won't allow us. 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. 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. 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. Seattle, WA: Lake Union Publishing. Thank you! Initially they refused to leave their traveling carriers but were eventually lured out with onions. You made the people come alive as you filled in the lives to match the historical facts. thissection. The Question and Answer section for West With Giraffes is a great Charley Smith was certainly the man for the job. display: inline; 1. Realizing that punching all the TVs in the world wouldnt save the giraffes, he set out to document his story of how two giraffes changed his life forever. The original handwritten caption reads: "7 negatives of D-40 Internationals sold to San Diego Zoo to transport 2 giraffes across the continent from New York. After reading this,I'm ready to finish. Home; About. 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). display: none; I recommend reading the book before the guide. There are plenty of opportunities to learn the skill of storytelling perhaps you can take a class at your local library or from a local storyteller. Riley Jones, aka Old Man: head keeper of the San Diego Zoo. Woody happens to be standing nearby when a cargo ship that had two giraffes aboard (who were bound for the San Diego Zoo), arrives at shore after disastrous damage to the ship. And even those ships do everything possible to stay away from the hurricanes of the Caribbean. This Study Guide consists of approximately 43pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more - 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. You can help us out by revising, improving and updating Lynda. Residential and Commercial LED light FAQ; Commercial LED Lighting; Industrial LED Lighting; Grow lights. Guest Reviewer Rating: Four out of Five Stars. He is forced to visit his familys homesite when a sheriff closes the highway due to the threat of flash flooding. That is when he locks eyes with the giraffes (Boy and Girl). DeLeon, Clark. 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. After you claim a section youll have 24 hours to send in a draft. There is a part where a circus tries to steal the giraffes and the giraffes are panicking. An aged veteran (105!) With this novel, that true story becomes a parable of our times. This book was released on 2021-02 with total page 372 pages. More books than SparkNotes. 1940. Females grow up to 14 feet (4.3 m) tall and weigh up to 1,500 . We are thankful for their contributions and encourage you to make yourown. Here is the description from the publisher: "An emotional, rousing novel inspired by the incredible true story of two giraffes who made headlines and won the hearts of Depression-era America. This was on his retirement day. 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. It's also a coming of age story that demonstrates the positive influence caring friends and gentle animals can have on a young man's life. . .fun to weave the book with your stellar research! There are several viewable at Wisconsinhistory.org, such as this one of a woman on the running board of the truck feeding a giraffe in the crate and this one of the crates being loaded with a giraffe leaning out the window of one crate. Hurricane Sweeps Coast. New York Times (September 22, 1938): 1, 1618. One of those books that make you not want to even start another cuz. Down on his luck and unsure of his future, Woody sees the Old Man tending to two giraffes who almost died in the hurricane. Imagine my surprise, then, when I read the very first sentence of the prologue and I was hooked immediately. Maybe, like me, you have a story you want to share and make it come to life like Woodys story comes to life in West with Giraffes. Sexton, Timothy. (Available in Hardback, Paperback, Audio, and Kindle E-Book) CLICK *HERE*to Sample or Buy on AMAZON THE At one point in the novel, Old Man stops at the zoo in Little Rock, Arkansas, for the night to procure some medication for Girls wounded leg. National Geographic shared a 2-minute video of murmuration of starlings in the Netherlands with an audio track that is mesmerizing to listen to all by itself. the rig, the Old Man, and the giraffes were more homeand more familythan any home Id ever had. 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. 2021. As the giraffes leave quarantine, Woody jumps back on the stolen motorcycle and follows them. One of the aspects of the novel I enjoyed the most was the depiction of Belle Benchleysweet but tough, and highly respected. As I looked for more historical information, I found your page. The giraffe's eyes are located on both sides of the skull, giving them an all-round look from the height. . New York: Scribner. West With Giraffes, while an historical novel, reads as a beautiful memoir of one brief and eventful journey. "Few true friends have I known and two were giraffes" Woodrow Wilson Nickel, age 105, feels his life ebbing away. } 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. Just the climax alone covering what must have happened aboard that ship to keep that precious cargo alive and spitting screams Hollywood, make this into a movie! Astonishingly, however, the actual story being told by the author is all about what happens after the giraffes have made it safely back to land via New York Harbor. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. But when he learns giraffes are going extinct, he finds himself recalling the unforgettable experience he cannot take to his grave. However, from Benchleys 1941 memoir it is obvious that Smith did not update her as much as she would have preferred. Reading it was like falling into another world. I Has it been made into a movie, or any chance it might be? by . He has often bragged, When the Missus gets tired of waiting for me to write she just burns up the wires. A male giraffe's average size is 14-18 feet, but you'll find the female giraffes a bit shorter than them. Animal Trainer Called by Death. Los Angeles Times (July 21, 1941): B16. Boston: Little, Brown and Co. Croke, Vicki. My sister passed it on to me and knew Id enjoy it. 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 (? Sold! 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). They find it in two giraffes who miraculously survive a hurricane while crossing the Atlantic. An emotional, rousing novel inspired by the incredible true story of two giraffes who made headlines and won the hearts of Depression-era America. Giraffesan animal most Americans had never actually see for themselves with their own two eyes at the timehad actually somehow managed to survive a wild ride aboard the SS Robin Goodfellow when it headed straight into a typhoon off the coast of Haiti. Woody is highly motivated to get to California. An emotional, rousing novel inspired by the incredible true story of two giraffes who made headlines and won the hearts of Depression-era America. Another regular occurrence, this one fictional, was the sighting of a fancy green Packard, driven by a redhead full of determination. Woody accepts his bribe, nearly killing Wild Girl in the process. 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. They gained an evolutionary trait so they could survive. ", "Rutledge brought to life a remarkable story that few know about, and tells it so beautifully as a plea for the preservation of the Earth's most exotic creatures", "Ms. Rutledge has spun a masterpiece. I did some research too and found a website that gave me an idea of what the two crates looked like. 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). They were instant successes, and beloved by staff and visitors alike. West With Giraffes, while an historical novel, reads as a beautiful memoir of one brief and eventful journey. Home. West with Giraffes is a wonderful novel based on the true story of the cross-country road trip America's first giraffes took in 1938. West Side Story shows how racism and xenophobia create a system that dooms the youths of working class families. 1997. Here's a great new organization working to save giraffes from extinction. During that time they had seven offspring, including aptly named D-Day, born June 6, 1944. Woodrow Wilson Nickel, age 105, feels his life ebbing away. 9) This novel touches on important topics such as: race, classic, identityetc. Red shares with Woody that she suffers from a broken heart. What follows is a twelve-day road trip in a custom truck to deliver Southern California's first giraffes to the San Diego Zoo. An emotional, rousing novel inspired by the incredible true story of two giraffes who made headlines and won the hearts of Depression-era America. The Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden. west with giraffes ending explained west with giraffes ending explained (No Ratings Yet) . } ), To enter the giveaway, just fill out this form below. I'm about a third of the way through and really enjoying it. I will start out by spoiling the ending (kind of) and saying that the animals arrive safely in San Diego. Along with the rhino, the food for the giraffes was lost as well. What a delightful story! west with giraffes ending explained west with giraffes ending explained. You can carry around a heavy load only for so long, though, before youve got to set it down, and that does double if youre only eighteen. page 277, The thing about knowing youre doing something for the last time is that it takes the joy right out of it. page 301. To Woodys astonishment, the Old Man forgives him and allows him to stay on as the driver. . will review the submission and either publish your submission or providefeedback. Have you ever visited a zoo? He is full of talk and wit and fun when he is around, but when away he makes me wait for news day after day until I am nearly mad from worrying. THIS above was the one I described in West with Giraffes.CLICK TO ENLARGE. 2, 86, 238) & Author's Note Treatment of Blacks in those times vs. now Treatment of women in those times vs. now Treatment of the very elderly 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 My favorite: Power of storytelling (why Woody is writing his story and why it matters; see TED talk quote in Author's Note) Be sure to read the novel's Author's Note for points mentioned above--but also for overall spurring of discussion: I tell why I wrote it, how I uncovered the true story and especially about how/why today's best zoos have turned into conservation organizations. Why or why not? Two African giraffes, who barely survive the 1938 Hurricanewhile crossing the Atlantic, make it to New York City. These giraffes, Boy and Girl, win the love and respect of Woody; the Old Man; and Red, a. West With Giraffes: A Novel Woodrow Wilson Nickel, age 105, feels his life ebbing away. She telegraphs WIRE ME TODAY, and you can bet she gets her wire. Knowing that the female giraffe barely survived the hurricane, I can imagine Benchley was quite worried throughout Smiths cross-country trip with the giraffes! Discussing West with Giraffes? "Few true friends have I known and two were giraffes". Wanting more on the true story that inspired West with Giraffes?Click on this PHOTO for an unusual book review by a Zoo Historian. I started getting worried about something terrible happening to the giraffes so I thought I'd check for spoilers. Red follows the giraffe rig taking pictures she hopes will be published in Life magazine. Woody, havent you ever wanted something so bad you had to do it or die trying? page 156. 1997. .printfriendly { He resolves to follow them to California. But I got caught up in it so quickly that I couldn't stop. /* If html does not have either class, do not show lazy loaded images. There were many reasons giraffes were hard to come by for Americas first zoos. I refuse to give out any spoilers about the novel, but I encourage you to pick it up. While visiting his parents home, the flash flood threatens to topple the giraffe rig and kill Woody and the Old Man. Copyright 1999 - 2023 GradeSaver LLC. Home; Products. Sherr, Lynn. Virginia Beach: The Donning Company. FYI - the Google form doesn't appear to be working. Everybodys got one. page 96. The story isnt even about that boat ride. They are all saved when Red wedges her car against the truck and prevents it from overturning. 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