Reviews tagging 'Suicide'

West with Giraffes by Lynda Rutledge

16 reviews

laheath's review against another edition

emotional inspiring reflective medium-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? Yes

5.0

This has been on my to-read list for several years and I'm sorry I waited so long. It was such a beautifully written, coming-of-age tale, set mostly in 1938, about the cross-country transport of the first 2 giraffes in America from New York to the San Diego Zoo. Given the time period, the human characters faced challenges such as the Depression, the Dust Bowl, racism, sexism, and animal welfare. The Author's Note was interesting and informative, though I hope there never comes a day when readers are not already at least somewhat familiar with the issues discussed in the Historical Notes.

"In a long life, there is a singular moment when you know you've made more memories than any new ones you'll ever make. That's the moment your truest stories--the ones that made you the you that you became--are ever more in the front of your mind, as you begin to reach back for the you that you deemed best."

"Because if ever I could claim to have seen the face of God, it was in the colossal faces of the giraffes."

"Storytelling matters now. Emotion matters. Our imagination has become an ecological force."

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Cursing, Gun violence, Racism, Sexism, Grief, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Racial slurs, Suicide, Murder, Pregnancy, and War

mjs73's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny hopeful reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

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Content Warnings

Minor: Animal cruelty and Suicide

silverhill's review against another edition

adventurous informative medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Death, Suicide, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

Moderate: Animal death, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Chronic illness, Gun violence, Misogyny, Racism, Vomit, Fire/Fire injury, and Gaslighting

dwdillydally's review

adventurous hopeful informative lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

In a nutshell, if you wish John Steinbeck wrote uplifting stories about the Great Depression, try this. 

I don't know if the story is tight enough to be my 'book of the year,' but overall, I loved it. Many parts of this book appealed to me:
- Historical fiction
- Road trip story
- Features animals. SPOILER

the titular giraffes live!

(see also https://www.doesthedogdie.com/ )
- Main character is a curmudgeon 
- Set during the 1930s / Great Depression
- Variety of scenes set in rural America and a revolving door of interesting weirdos 

Two criticisms:
1. The ending rambles a little, but I forgive it because by then, the POV is from an old man with slight cognitive problems. So the tone matches the main character's state-of-mind, but I'm not sure if that was the author's intent or not. 

2. The only woman character (human; one of the is female) SPOILER...

dies by the end. Her character was a little shallow, but all the supporting characters are that way. But it was let-down to learn her fate second-hand.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gun violence

Moderate: Animal death, Death, Suicide, and Death of parent

Minor: Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Medical content, Car accident, and War

alex_lk's review against another edition

hopeful inspiring sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide

justcallmeemily's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional funny reflective sad tense 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, and Death of parent

Moderate: Racism, Suicide, and Violence

Minor: Child death, Racial slurs, and Vomit

oceanwriter's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful inspiring reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

I’ve had this book on my TBR for a while now. I don’t remember what drew me to it in the first place aside from it being historical fiction, so I went into it fairly blindly. 

 

I was surprised in the opening pages to see it set in the future (2025) where we meet Woodrow Wilson Nickel toward the end of his life. After the introduction, the book follows him in the 1930s while tensions are building around the world when two giraffes are found to have survived a hurricane in transport. We follow their cross-country journey along with Woodrow and others. 

 

It didn’t register as I was reading that this book is inspired by a true story. I might have appreciated it more had I realized. I didn’t find myself overly absorbed in the story, though I did enjoy the premise. It kept me good company during a day of commuting and waiting room visits, so for that, it was perfect. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, and Death of parent

Moderate: Racism, Suicide, and Violence

Minor: Child death, Racial slurs, and Vomit

asourceoffiction's review against another edition

emotional funny inspiring lighthearted medium-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? Yes

4.0

I was surprisingly captivated by this story. It's really sweet, but there's a current of something running underneath; elements of danger, hidden truths and the regret that comes from so many missed opportunities. I was drawn in by the framework of Woody telling his story at the end of his long life, as if getting the words down is all that matters to him.

The giraffes absolutely steal the show here, as they should. The story of their journey across the US is incredibly dramatic (I love that although the truth is probably far more mundane, it is a fictionalised version of something that actually happened). But it's just so wholesome, especially whenever one of the core characters has a moment with the giraffes that brings a complete sense of peace.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Gun violence, and Misogyny

Moderate: Suicide

mariposa517's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Death, Gun violence, Misogyny, Sexism, Suicide, Violence, Death of parent, Sexual harassment, and Classism

Moderate: Child abuse, Racism, Toxic relationship, Blood, Police brutality, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Cursing, Racial slurs, Sexual content, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, and War

crabbytaco's review against another edition

adventurous emotional slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death

Moderate: Animal cruelty, Suicide, and Suicide attempt