snorpy's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
craftsbury's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Overall a really good story. We follow four characters Woody, the Old Man, Red, and the Giraffes across the country from the east coast to the west coast during the dust bowl era. We get a glimpse of what that trip would have been like if we had taken it ourselves back in the day. Each character has a backstory that the author keeps us just interested enough to keep reading to find out how it all ends.
karaklos's review against another edition
3.0
I liked the premise of West With Giraffes…two giraffes survive the 1938 hurricane and are transported by rig across the country by a giraffe handler (Old Man) and a dust bowl orphan (Woody Nickel). They are trailed by Red, a young woman photographer trying to make a name for herself.
I loved the historical elements weaved throughout the story. The sundown towns, the Hoovervilles, the Dust Bowl, the WPA, and the abusive circus. There was a story of a black family helping them get their rig through a bridge and fix their tires that was very uplifting. I enjoyed learning about the giraffes and the Old Man calling them “the darlings”.
The book was a little slow and repetitive for the first 2/3 and where it was more exciting, it felt more like a movie script than a book. The nursing home scenes were unnecessary. The characters were not developed well enough. I wanted to know more about Old Man’s story and motivations. The ending was anticlimactic and melancholy.
I loved the historical elements weaved throughout the story. The sundown towns, the Hoovervilles, the Dust Bowl, the WPA, and the abusive circus. There was a story of a black family helping them get their rig through a bridge and fix their tires that was very uplifting. I enjoyed learning about the giraffes and the Old Man calling them “the darlings”.
The book was a little slow and repetitive for the first 2/3 and where it was more exciting, it felt more like a movie script than a book. The nursing home scenes were unnecessary. The characters were not developed well enough. I wanted to know more about Old Man’s story and motivations. The ending was anticlimactic and melancholy.
jerzgrl626's review against another edition
5.0
Absolutely one of the best books I have read in the last 5 years!
It's 1938 when a set of giraffes arrive in NY harbor from Africa during one of the worst hurricanes the country has ever seen. The giraffes' final destination is the San Diego Zoo where Mrs. Belle Benchley, the first female zoo director in the country, anxiously awaits their historic arrival. They will be the first giraffes to ever be housed in a zoo inn the USA.
Riley Jones is tasked with the feat of transporting the giraffes across the country safely. When his driver abruptly quits on him, enter Woodrow Wilson Nickel (aka Woody Nickel), an orphaned teenager with a dream to start his life over in California. The two set out on a life changing cross country adventure.
Giraffes are my most favorite animal on this Earth. The descriptions and elegant language used to describe them was beautiful and I learned SO much from reading this book. Part historical fiction, part coming of age story, this book was an absolute delight to read.
It's 1938 when a set of giraffes arrive in NY harbor from Africa during one of the worst hurricanes the country has ever seen. The giraffes' final destination is the San Diego Zoo where Mrs. Belle Benchley, the first female zoo director in the country, anxiously awaits their historic arrival. They will be the first giraffes to ever be housed in a zoo inn the USA.
Riley Jones is tasked with the feat of transporting the giraffes across the country safely. When his driver abruptly quits on him, enter Woodrow Wilson Nickel (aka Woody Nickel), an orphaned teenager with a dream to start his life over in California. The two set out on a life changing cross country adventure.
Giraffes are my most favorite animal on this Earth. The descriptions and elegant language used to describe them was beautiful and I learned SO much from reading this book. Part historical fiction, part coming of age story, this book was an absolute delight to read.
brandicarney's review against another edition
adventurous
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
tmawhir's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
joelaw's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Read for my local book club. When I first heard we were reading a tale about giraffes being driven from New York to San Diego I was skeptical. In fact, I borrowed it from the library but never read it until after our book club meeting having been encouraged to do so by my fellow members. I’m glad I did. It was a good one. I didn’t realized this was based on a true story. However, no one on the trip ever kept a diary so the author created the characters a their backstory as well as the events that occurred along the way. Everything seemed feasible even believable to me and made for a delightful telling. It wasn’t a “can’t put down” kind of novel (hence the 4 star instead of 5) but I did want to read until the end. Recommend
sschenone's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
kaseymcaleavey's review against another edition
2.0
Only reason I finished this book was because it was for book club.
I absolutely hated the layout/formatting. The quoting of the main guy just to have that be the opening sentence. The prologue being played out in the first chapter. The “interruptions” of his writing seemed repetitive and didn’t further any plot except that he was dying which could have been done in the beginning. Also the chapters were unbearably long.
Felt like it was trying too hard to be the Notebook meets Water for Elephants without any of the love story or originality.
I absolutely hated the layout/formatting. The quoting of the main guy just to have that be the opening sentence. The prologue being played out in the first chapter. The “interruptions” of his writing seemed repetitive and didn’t further any plot except that he was dying which could have been done in the beginning. Also the chapters were unbearably long.
Felt like it was trying too hard to be the Notebook meets Water for Elephants without any of the love story or originality.