Official Guide Book of the San Diego Zoo. You made the people come alive as you filled in the lives to match the historical facts. 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. 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. West with Giraffes: A Novel Lake Union Publishing Hardcover (also available as an e-book, an audiobook, on audio CD, and in paperback), 978-1-5420-2174-6, 356 pgs., $24.95 February 1, 2021 "That's your first story, but it doesn't have to be your only story. I started getting worried about something terrible happening to the giraffes so I thought I'd check for spoilers. That is when he locks eyes with the giraffes (Boy and Girl). It touched me more deeply than anything Ive read in years!! It's gripping, moving, and so incredibly touching. Thank you! Staff would often sneak in some of the animals when visiting herbaby foxes, binturongs, and other small mammals . Woodrow Wilson Nickel, age 105, feels his life ebbing away. .wp-block-image figcaption {text-align: center; font-size: 75%}, As the country teeters between a depression and Europes looming war, a pair of giraffes, survivors of a hurricane at sea, left a wake of much-needed cheer while driven cross-country to the San Diego Zoo, where lady zoo director Mrs. Belle Benchley awaited.. Thats up to you. page 283. 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. 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. THIS above was the one I described in West with Giraffes.CLICK TO ENLARGE. I loved the poetic, whimsical play with the words. San Diego, CA: Zoological Society of San Diego. It pumps 16 gallons a minute. Residential LED Lighting. She was right. ", "I was profoundly moved by West with Giraffes. The San Diego Zoo: The First Century. I love giraffes and I feel I would really enjoy this book. } Down on his luck and unsure of his future, Woody sees the Old Man tending to two giraffes who almost died in the hurricane. More books than SparkNotes. In Tennessee, Woody and the Old Man get the giraffe rig stuck in a precarious position beneath a low bridge and are unable to get it out by themselves. This Study Guide consists of approximately 43pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more - But when he learns giraffes are going extinct, he finds himself recalling the . In 1938, the Great Depression is not yet a memory in the United States, and Hitler is becoming a major threat in Europe. The Old Man reluctantly accepts, but only wants Woody to stay on for the first part of the journey. 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. Animal Quarantine Station in Athenia, New Jersey, for a federally mandated fifteen-day quarantine. 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). When 17-year-old Woodrow Wilson Nickel buried the last of his family, he struck out from his Texas panhandle . The accomplishment topped off what turned out to be a very successful year for the zoo. These notes were contributed by members of the GradeSaver community. San Diego Zoo Centennial Timeline: 1938. https://www.sandiegozoowildlifealliance.org/timeline/1938/1938/ (accessed 2/9/2021). Sweet memories. ", "The author manages to wrap a travelogue, a historical novel, a social and political commentary, a coming of age story, and a love story together in one book. What brings your most vivid memories to the forefront? What was merely an idiosyncratic story of yet another uplifting tale of survival in the harshness of the Great Depression becomes through the authors decision to handle it through the conceit of semi-fictionalization a story that speaks to our times as well as scientists inform us that we are the dawn of the sixth great extinction. -moz-box-shadow: none; Her fictional account follows the giraffe truck across the Lee Highway and illustrates the scenes of America in 1938. Thank you for this! My Life in a Man-Made Jungle. Thank you Lynda Rutledge for researching this story and writing this wonderful fictionalized account!! Rutledge, Lynda. box-shadow: none; .printfriendly.pf-alignleft { What did you discover in the expanse of your country? Giraffes evolved to have longer necks so that they could reach the leaves at the tops of trees. . ship I am getting all chocked up and tearing ..I LOVED THIS BOOK SO MUCH ! Benchley, Belle J. Regardless, it is worth checking out some of the photos that are online as they emphasize the absurdity of transporting two very tall giraffes in a truck across the United States. Until, one day, I finally began to write: A few of the THOUSANDS of reader reviews: "It's not often I have to sit in silence and recover when I finish a book, but I needed to after this one. ", "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. (Available in Hardback, Paperback, Audio, and Kindle E-Book)CLICK *HERE* to Sample or Buy on AMAZON__________________________. Red follows the giraffe rig taking pictures she hopes will be published in Life magazine. What motivates you to action? But when he learns giraffes are going extinct, he finds himself recalling the . "West With Giraffes Study Guide: Analysis". Memoirs. A couple of moments are flashbacks from Woody's childhood where his dad teaches him about animals and that they are "just animals" (basically worthless for anything that can't be beneficial to humans. She also had a vocabulary that she kept in reserve that the [former] circus men could understand. The keepers came to call her Boss. She let them know that she admired their work, and responded to her with both respect and affection. A man from the zoo shows up to drive the giraffes across the country to the zoo, and that's where the whole adventure begins. the rig, the Old Man, and the giraffes were more homeand more familythan any home Id ever had. I have to say, though, that no matter what I write on this post, it won't do justice to this book. Did the ending answer all your questions? Woodrow Wilson Nickel aka Woody: 105 year-old man in 2025 writing about his experiences driving the two giraffes westMr. -moz-box-shadow: none; West with Giraffes, a novel by Lynda Rutledge, gripped my attention from beginning to end. Home. Memories stick to things. margin-left: 6px; I will start out by spoiling the ending (kind of) and saying that the animals arrive safely in San Diego. I loved this book! A giraffe's neck alone is 6 feet (1.8 meters) long and weighs about 600 lbs. I rode Miss Jim when I little every summer and even in her cage to feed her a carrot. resource to ask questions, find answers, and discuss thenovel. While waiting for the giraffe rig to begin its journey, Woody meets Red and falls in love with her at first sight. Have you shared it? Few true friends have I known and two were giraffes. Out of nowhere, something finds your nose, ears, or eyes and youre on the other side of the country or world or in a whole other decade, being kissed by a doe-eyed beauty or punched by a drunken pal. The Lee Highway ran from New York City to San Diego. Sold! font-size: 14px !important; But when she was angry she made Mount Vesuvius seem considerably less dangerous. That puckish little ship battled the onslaught of the tempest for six hours and it is definitely worth keeping in mind that ships charged with transporting exotic animals back looked nothing like the state-of-the-art vessels of today. As a book junkie, when I receive new book alerts I almost always peruse the titles. float: right; What senses transport you to another time and place? Later down the road, a circus ringmaster named Percival Bowles bribes Woody with money, and convinces him to open the giraffe crate. Lofty and Patches lived at the San Diego Zoo for nearly 30 years. It sounds like a really interesting book! } I headed to San Diego and their new zoo, where Id heard that the animals get treated better than the people. On the surface a road trip coming of age novel, but down deep an aching meditation on loss, time, and hope", Many readers have asked to see an image of the real-life traveling rig. Woody, havent you ever wanted something so bad you had to do it or die trying? page 156. Hitler is threatening Europe, and world-weary Americans long for wonder. 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. As the country teeters between a depression and Europes looming war, a pair of giraffes, survivors of a hurricane at sea, left a wake of much-needed cheer while driven cross-country to the San Diego Zoo, where lady zoo director Mrs. Belle Benchley awaited. Looks like a granny, dresses like a schoolmarm, swears like a sailor, and still charms snooty zoo galoots with their fancy educations. Rutledge even includes reference to Benchleys encounter with an escaped baboon. ;) Have lots of enlightening fun! 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. He plots to try to follow the giraffes to California, which proves more difficult than he hoped. How can you share your story and with whom? 100 Years of the San Diego Zoo. What follows is a twelve-day road trip in a custom truck to deliver Southern Californias first giraffes to the San Diego Zoo. Hooray Lynda Rutledge. They gained an evolutionary trait so they could survive. A treasure for sure. Book excerpt: 1938: The Great Depression lingers. What secrets do animals hold? I want to confirm my idea that Woody was the father of little Augie, who was the one who received his foot locker after his death with the porcelain gifaffe. We are thankful for their contributions and encourage you to make yourown. As a reader I felt as if I were sitting with Woody, the Old Man, Red, Wild Girl and Wild Boy as they traveled west, feeling the giraffes snuffling, hearing their thrumming, watching them reach out for an onion. The Question and Answer section for West With Giraffes is a great will review the submission and either publish your submission or providefeedback. And this all takes place more than a decade before Joan Embery was even born! (272 kilograms). 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. . Wonderful to see the photos and learn the history! } Lynda. 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