imagdalena's review against another edition
3.0
This book had potential to be amazing but it fell short. Like others mentioned, the author strayed too much from the actual story. I did appreciate the historical bits here and there, but it seemed "off" in a book like this. Lots of detailed descriptions plagued the pages which had me struggling at times. The motion picture seems more exciting and colorful, can't wait to see what they did with this story.
astridmark's review against another edition
3.0
I have a hard time rating this book. The story was really good, but the writing is a bit all over the place. A lot of time is spend on dwelling on unimportant issues, and not the main plot.
I was prepared to love this book, and it's definitely a story that needed to be told, maybe it should just have been told by another author, or as a short story. Because I do realise some of the fault may be on the source material, which seems to be mainly Antonina Zabinski's diary. And she, which I can understand, seemed to focus a lot more on the animals of the zoo and her son, then on the refugees' everyday life in their hiding places around the zoo. The writing also felt a bit to poetic, with a bit too many uneeded metaphors, considering it's a stark World War II story.
I was prepared to love this book, and it's definitely a story that needed to be told, maybe it should just have been told by another author, or as a short story. Because I do realise some of the fault may be on the source material, which seems to be mainly Antonina Zabinski's diary. And she, which I can understand, seemed to focus a lot more on the animals of the zoo and her son, then on the refugees' everyday life in their hiding places around the zoo. The writing also felt a bit to poetic, with a bit too many uneeded metaphors, considering it's a stark World War II story.
elinacre's review against another edition
3.0
good, but not great... i was disappointed in this one. i actually quite liked the asides about zoo life and the animals jan and antonina cared for, and even the background about the nazis' research in animal husbandry was interesting and not something i'd known about before. however... where were the details of how these guests were saved, what they did while in hiding, how soldiers never noticed them in the villa or the animal enclosures where they were hidden? with all the research the author clearly did, i hoped for more of the nitty gritty. (there is a LOT of information, don't get me wrong; it just wasn't all what i expected.) it also seemed rather thrown together, with awkward chapter endings and an all-around sense of disconnect, especially the last half or so. rounding up to 3 stars because the movie was SO good.
bookishwendy's review against another edition
4.0
Author Diane Ackerman is a naturalist and poet--not a historian or journalist--so this book is very different from what one might expect of a war narrative set in occupied Warsaw. More than simply narrate the story of a mother, zookeeper and holocaust rescuer, Ackerman explores themes of human empathy and our links with animals. Why is it that some animals seem more human than we are, and some humans seem worse than animals?
Chapters bounce between showing the larger historical context of occupied Poland, and more intimate illustrations of life in the war-torn zoo which quickly become a sort of Noah's Arc for threatened animals and humans alike. This juxtaposing is unusual and rather brave, but I think the author pulls it off with her poetic sensibilities. By lining up contrasting images and ideas, our brains make connections that wouldn't be possible in a more traditional narration.
One notable chapter tells how the Nazi search for "racial purity" extended to animals, and that after German zoos looted captured eastern zoos, they started programs to back-breed extinct European mega-fauna such as the aurochs and tarpan by selecting for certain genes in eastern European (more "ancient-looking") cattle and horses, respectively. The controversial fruits of that project still exist today in Poland's primeval national forest. Yet in a weird twist, the motivation of ecological racism had consequences that allowed the directors of the Warsaw zoo to hide over 300 people and save them from certain death.
Chapters bounce between showing the larger historical context of occupied Poland, and more intimate illustrations of life in the war-torn zoo which quickly become a sort of Noah's Arc for threatened animals and humans alike. This juxtaposing is unusual and rather brave, but I think the author pulls it off with her poetic sensibilities. By lining up contrasting images and ideas, our brains make connections that wouldn't be possible in a more traditional narration.
One notable chapter tells how the Nazi search for "racial purity" extended to animals, and that after German zoos looted captured eastern zoos, they started programs to back-breed extinct European mega-fauna such as the aurochs and tarpan by selecting for certain genes in eastern European (more "ancient-looking") cattle and horses, respectively. The controversial fruits of that project still exist today in Poland's primeval national forest. Yet in a weird twist, the motivation of ecological racism had consequences that allowed the directors of the Warsaw zoo to hide over 300 people and save them from certain death.
arixen's review against another edition
2.0
I tried for 3/4 of the book to give it a chance when I finally gave up. I gave it the extra star because it is based on a true story and I think the underlying story behind the authors crap writing should be acknowledged and commended. I would have given it 0 stars if this was entirely fictional. I hope the movie is far better... I never think nor say this about books because.
jenmat1197's review against another edition
4.0
This is the true story of the zookeeper's of the Warsaw zoo in Poland. They helped save 100's of people from the Nazi's during World War II. Jan and Antonia Zabinski hid people during the war in their now almost empty zoo. Their zoo acted as a sanctuary, a pass through, and an Underground escape. The author of this book pieces together stories and recounts of the time as well as Antonia's memoirs to weave a story of what it was like in Poland during World War II.
This was a great book. Although - I will say it drug just in a few parts when she would write a little too much about the history of animals that were once in the zoo. But the stories of the people were fascinating. Knowing that Poland not only suffered when it came to the Jewish, but also for just being Polish, it is impossible to imagine what happened to them. How all of Jan and Antonia's family survived is a mystery. And how they were not caught was another. Of the over 300 people they saves, only 5 died during that time. Just amazing.
I am anxious to see the move and see how it plays out.
Check this book out! It was a good one.
This was a great book. Although - I will say it drug just in a few parts when she would write a little too much about the history of animals that were once in the zoo. But the stories of the people were fascinating. Knowing that Poland not only suffered when it came to the Jewish, but also for just being Polish, it is impossible to imagine what happened to them. How all of Jan and Antonia's family survived is a mystery. And how they were not caught was another. Of the over 300 people they saves, only 5 died during that time. Just amazing.
I am anxious to see the move and see how it plays out.
Check this book out! It was a good one.
carrie562's review against another edition
informative
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
3.0
This book was hard for me to rate, because the parts where Ackerman settles in and lets the events unfold are excellent — the Żabińskis performed harrowing acts of bravery and saved dozens of people at great risk to themselves. Antonina clearly left a well-written and reflective journal behind, from which Ackerman constructs conversations and brings scenes to life. Where the book falters is that too often, Ackerman spins off from the story into fanciful flights of imagination that quickly become frustrating. She’s also too enamored of her own poetic descriptions and rather than making me feel like I’m in the scene, it just felt self-indulgent.
msvenner's review against another edition
4.0
This was not what I expected but I'm glad I didn't know because I may not have read it otherwise. This is the true story of the Zookeeper and his wife at the Warsaw zoo. Despite loosing the animals to bombing, looting and Nazi cruelty, they continued to operate the zoo in various forms in order to hide Jews and help them escape. The book is meticulously researched. The language is beautiful. I particularly liked the narration (I read this as an audio book). I went in expecting a novel but this was so much more. It left me in awe of the countless Poles who risked everything to save the lives of strangers. I highly recommend this book.
angiejo2012's review against another edition
4.0
An interesting account of wartime Poland and the ingenuity and bravery of some of the residents.