West with Giraffes: A Novel

Instant all time favorite!
Absolutely! Here’s a revised version of your book review that incorporates the elements you mentioned:—**Just finished this, and I can confidently say it’s now one of my all-time favorites.**This beautifully written novel unfolds as a life story told from the perspective of an old man, who is not only retelling his past but also writing it down—layering memory with reflection in the most poignant way. Based on historical events, the story is rich with emotional depth, unexpected twists, and moments that truly stir the soul. The ending brought me to tears—so moving, so human. It left me with a sense of joy that touched something deep inside. A powerful, unforgettable read.

Wonderful historical adventure with a lot of heart!
This book was thoroughly enjoyable! The characters were rich and complex with back stories revealed at different points. I need to look into the actual history to see what was true and what was added. The Great Depression history is woven in well as it was such a tragic time for Oklahoma farm families. Woody, Old Man, Red, Boy, and Girl experienced so much in one week, memories that went with them for the rest of their lives. TRIGGER ALERT: The chapter on New Mexico was very difficult to read so this is a heads up for those who are sensitive to animal cruelty. Aside from that chapter, West With Giraffes was a rollicking ride of a story. Highly recommended!

Fun and moving
I had the opportunity to listen to this story as an audiobook and I enjoyed the story immensely. It was very moving with drama, laughter, sorrow and in the end a measure of peace. I highly recommend it.

Excellent Title
West with Giraffes is written by Lynda Rutledge.The book is a historical story. An animal story. An adventure story. A love story.The story concerns a very young, abused, saddened boy, Woodrow Wilson Nickel, who at age 105 throws himself into writing down his amazing, unforgettable experience with two giraffes. He cannot let his story die with him.In 1938, with the Great Depression lingering and a World War looming on the horizon, Americans welcomed a ‘feel good story’ of two giraffes who survived a deadly hurricane while crossing the Atlantic. What followed their rescue was a road trip cross country to the SanDiego Zoo.I liked the writing, the uniqueness of the situation, the giraffes themselves, and the emotional (often frustrating) story of Woodrow Wilson Nickel.I liked the historical facts of the story itself, the headlines and news stories, the telegrams.I liked the epilogue. I liked the ‘author’s note’. I especially liked the historical notes – the information about Belle Benchley, the Zoo Lady; the Burma-Shave Ads; info about the Great Hurricane of 1938; the very real ‘Giraffe Hum’; Hobo Cards; Hoovervilles; James Fenimore Cooper, considered to be the first true major American novelist; Lloyd’s of London; the Lee andLincoln Highways; the Mann Act; the SS Robin Goodfellow; Rube Golberg; the Tin Lizzie; the WPA/CCC.I loved one of Woody’s quotes “Few true friends have I known and two were giraffes.”****

What a beautiful story. Heartbreaking, redeeming, and full of hope. Also a fun adventure. What a treat to read. I loved this. Great job!

It’s so interesting that the book is inspired by the true story of two giraffes who survived a hurricane when they were being transported to America by sea. There then followed an epic journey from the east coast to the west coast where they were headed for San Diego zoo. As you can imagine, the public were fascinated by the journey of the giraffes and it was reported in hundreds of newspapers across the States.It maybe doesn’t sound that a story about driving giraffes thousands of miles would be all that interesting but it really became very compelling. It was a most unusual and epic road trip time story with some brilliant characters. It’s also a coming of age story for the main character, Woody Nickel, who we encounter both as a young man who becomes captivated by the giraffes and as a very old man writing his life story before it’s too late. It’s also a love story as Woody falls in love for the first time with young photographer Red.Through the story the author evokes 1930s America. We read about the effects of the Dust Bowl, the grinding poverty experienced by the people in those areas and how unwelcome they were in other parts of the US. We see racism, a world heading towards war once again and very different approaches to the treatment of animals.There’s a lot to think about in this book with its themes of home, resilience, attitudes to women, overcoming dangers and secrets. I was particularly taken by this quotation: “Life is life no matter who or what is living it, boy–a thing to respect.” Given some of the events in the books, it’s certainly something that makes you pause.West With Giraffes is a really memorable read. It’s not every day you read a book about giraffes after all! A compelling and thought-provoking read, I thoroughly enjoyed it.