A review by karaklos
West with Giraffes by Lynda Rutledge
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.