Behind the wheel is the young Dust Bowl rowdy Woodrow. Benchley recalled, I have never seen anyone so tired and relieved as Charley Smith when he drove the great awkward truck through the zoo gate, half an hour after phoning me from a suburb. "Few true friends have I known and two were giraffes". Just finished this wonderful book!! What follows is a twelve-day road trip in a custom truck to become Southern California's first giraffes. 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. Woodrow Wilson Nickel aka Woody: 105 year-old man in 2025 writing about his experiences driving the two giraffes westMr. There are many photos online of this time in history, below are just a few. Sexton, Timothy. San Diego, CA: Zoological Society of San Diego. Getting to see a giraffe in 1938 was a pretty rare occasion. "An emotional, rousing novel inspired by the incredible true story of two giraffes who made headlines and won the hearts of Depression-era America. I have driven across the United States several times including from New England to San Diego. and ocean . Two giraffes (later to be called Lofty and Patches) travelled to New York surviving . float: left; .printfriendly { by . She telegraphs WIRE ME TODAY, and you can bet she gets her wire. Knowing that the female giraffe barely survived the hurricane, I can imagine Benchley was quite worried throughout Smiths cross-country trip with the giraffes! 1940. West Side Story shows how racism and xenophobia create a system that dooms the youths of working class families. I absolutely loved this book! Giraffes Proud Parents at the San Diego Zoo. Los Angeles Times (August 28, 1952): 15. Woody displays an unusual gift for working with animals, and the Old Man agrees to keep him on as the driver for the duration of the journey. He resolves to follow them to California. Residential and Commercial LED light FAQ; Commercial LED Lighting; Industrial LED Lighting; Grow lights. An aged veteran (105!) 1997. But I got caught up in it so quickly that I couldn't stop. 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. I finished the book last night and now after reading the background and seeing the pictures of the truck and the Little did anyone now that in September 1938, during the final few days of their trip, these animals bound for San Diego would encounter what was then the most devastating hurricane to hit the upper East Coast, killing nearly 700 people. Download or read book West with Giraffes written by Lynda Rutledge and published by Lake Union Publishing. Giraffes grow about 4 feet (1.2 meters) in their first year of life. But when he learns giraffes are going extinct, he finds . .fun to weave the book with your stellar research! After loading the giraffes onto the truck, they headed to the U.S. The novel is divided into 16 chapters named after the place where the chapters events transpire and are intermingled with newspaper clippings, telegrams and postcards. According to Benchley, Our relations as Boss and Man-Friday are ludicrously funny, and when he thinks he is working for me I am overjoyed. But in many ways, the San Diego Zoo had been built on risk taking, and Dr. Harry Wegeforth, the zoos former director and then Belle Benchleys right-hand man, was darn good at fundraising. The explanation he offers for the killings is both convincing and painfully banal. But when he learns giraffes are going extinct, he finds himself recalling the unforgettable experience he cannot take to his grave.I. The description kind of lost me because of the historical references--I'm NOT a history buff and I was afraid I'd be bored reading it. The accomplishment topped off what turned out to be a very successful year for the zoo. How honest do you think the author was? border: none; To Woodys astonishment, the Old Man forgives him and allows him to stay on as the driver. West with Giraffes Summary. ", "A journey through a world both intimately familiar and lost in the dust of the past. Get ready to receive more awesome content from WFE soon! I loved this book! Would you like to? Orphaned during the Dust Bowl, he found his way to New York to work for a distant cousin. I had read about the true story of the famous hurricane giraffes when I conducted research for my story on Belle Benchley, but I thank Lynda Rutledge for writing this work of fiction, which left me with the desire to learn more about them. If you want to skip over it, just skip to the horizontal line break. "Few true friends have I known and two were giraffes" Woodrow Wilson Nickel, age 105, feels his life ebbing away. West With Giraffes, while an historical novel, reads as a beautiful memoir of one brief and eventful journey. A newborn giraffe is about 6 feet (1.9 meters) tall at birth and weighs about 150 pounds (68 kilograms). Did you notice any other prevalent themes? They are all saved when Red wedges her car against the truck and prevents it from overturning. } While visiting his parents home, the flash flood threatens to topple the giraffe rig and kill Woody and the Old Man. After reading this,I'm ready to finish. font-weight: 600; They find it in two giraffes who miraculously survive a hurricane while crossing the Atlantic. More books than SparkNotes. But when he learns giraffes are going extinct, he finds himself recalling the unforgettable experience he cannot take to his grave.It's 1938.The Great Depression lingers. What did you learn about your traveling companions and what did they learn about you? west with giraffes ending explained west with giraffes ending explained (No Ratings Yet) . FYI - the Google form doesn't appear to be working. Kansas City, MO: Andrews McMeel Publishing. .printfriendly a, .printfriendly a:link, .printfriendly a:visited, .printfriendly a:hover, .printfriendly a:active { display: none; There are many photos of dust storms from the 1930s online. I too cannot read a book or watch a movie or anything involving animal cruelty/death. Red follows the giraffe rig taking pictures she hopes will be published in Life magazine. West With Giraffes. Home; Products. Others view zoos as limiting the natural inclinations and wanderings of animals, treating them as property and keeping them from their native lands. . Home. Here's a great new organization working to save giraffes from extinction. Fantastic, and such a good read. This was kind of tough for me, because the books I read typically don't have animals in them. 9) This novel touches on important topics such as: race, classic, identityetc. } ), and some rabbits. 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. There they begin a cross country trip to their new home at the San Diego Zoo, followed all the way by newspaper accounts and a public weary of bad economic and political news. Karie, I just finished West with Giraffes. And if you end up buying a copy, I'd be grateful if you. Hooray Lynda Rutledge. It's a little hard to read, but it's a memory of Woody's, rather than happening in real time, which makes it a little easier. Early on when Woody says he has no story to Red she responds, Sure you do. But by 1925 there were reportedly only five giraffes in the entire country. Kindle Edition. "It is a foolish man who thinks stories do not matterwhen in the end, they may be all that matter and all the forever we'll ever know.". I love giraffes and I feel I would really enjoy this book. The past tense is used in Woodys recounting of the story, and the present tense is used in sections that describe Woodys writing process in the convalescent home. ", "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. I especially think that teen boys would really like it. They were instant successes, and beloved by staff and visitors alike. t's 1938.The Great Depression lingers. With this novel, that true story becomes a parable of our times. 1st ed. It is rare to pick up a book that is really DIFFERENT. The animal's legs are also 6 feet long. Prior to becoming head keeper at the San Diego Zoo, he had been with the circus since he was eleven years old, including sixteen-year gig as the lead keeper of the Ringling Bros. circus. Benchley preferred to transport the giraffes by vehicle so that they could stop as deemed necessary to nourish and rest the animals. West with Giraffes. Baby Giraffes from Africa Reach San Diego Zoo. Los Angeles Times (October 27, 1938): 14. The giraffes were actually named Patches and Lofty and after surviving the tumultuous trip across the sea that saw their transport sail smack dab into a hurricane, the animals did indeed make the cross-country to the new home waiting for them at the San Diego Zoo. I remembered that I had gotten a book recently from Amazon's First Reads about an elephant or giraffe or something. Volume 1: The Founding Era, 19161953. "Few true friends have I known and two were giraffes". "West With Giraffes" Author: Lynda Rutledge. DeLeon, Clark. They find it in two giraffes who miraculously survive a hurricane while crossing the Atlantic. Amazon First Reads is where you can choose from a short list once a month to get a book for free. fnaf 6 ending speech fnaf 6 ending speech (No Ratings Yet) . Have you shared it? But Charley Smith couldnt start the journey to San Diego just yet. ;) Have lots of enlightening fun! Im so happy that I found this website to answer my questions about this great book. When have you been so driven to do something that you felt like nothing could stop you? The Question and Answer section for West With Giraffes is a great Behind the wheel is the young Dust Bowl rowdy Woodrow. This book is AMAZING and it's one of those books that you just can't forget. Woodrow Wilson Nickel, age 105, feels his life ebbing away. Lofty and Patches. San Diego Zoo: 100 Years. 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. margin: 0; The story is set around a truly extraordinary real life occurrence that took place in 1938. west with giraffes ending explainedmr patel neurosurgeon cardiff 27 februari, 2023 . "Few true friends have I known and two were giraffes". .pf-button.pf-button-excerpt { Benchley, Belle J. He called me pickle puss and remembered me when I brought my 4 children to meet him. Lake Union. In addition to being a love story to giraffes, West with Giraffes is a story of life on the road, and in particular on the road in the United States in 1938. Giraffes Will Ride in Truck to California. Miami Herald (September 25, 1938): 4. ", "I was profoundly moved by West with Giraffes. THIS above was the one I described in, Value of such a historical novel for perspective of current hard times, The Dust Bowl and other ecological issues then/now and our part in them, Human's relationships with and obligation to animals (and other humans), Endangered/extinct species--why it matters: Old Man's sky-blanketing passenger pigeons (pp. Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window), Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window), Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window), Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window), his wish for giraffes at the National Zoo, https://uboat.net/allies/merchants/ship/3298.html, https://library.sandiegozoo.org/sdzg-history-timeline/#1930, http://timeline.sandiegozoo100.org/1930/1930-3/, https://www.sandiegozoo100.org/100-animals/lofty-and-patches, https://www.sandiegozoowildlifealliance.org/timeline/1938/1938/, https://issuu.com/sdzglobal/docs/march_zn. An editor Theyve seen the world. Upon hearing that the giraffes were bound for San Diego, Woody became determined to follow them to the land of milk and honey and begin a new life. Part adventure, part historical saga, and part coming-of-age love story, (Available in Hardback, Paperback, Audio, and Kindle E-Book), Many readers have asked to see an image of the real-life traveling rig. He has nothing keeping him in New York, no family, no home, and a lot of ideas about the opportunities that await in California. "Lynda Rutledge has written a one in a million book", "The depth of feeling that went into the writing of this wonderful book exudes from every page", "This book is so good it gives me shivers", Woodrow Wilson Nickel, age 105, feels his life ebbing away. I'll stop here, because I don't want to give anything away. Youve got no control over it, none at all. page 105. 2021. In this week's Book Bites trailer, Shelly tells us about West With Giraffes by Lynda R. Stephenson. What did you discover in the expanse of your country? You can help us out by revising, improving and updating But heres the really amazing part of West with Giraffes. Lofty and Patches lived at the San Diego Zoo for nearly 30 years. margin-left: 6px; . Sherr, Lynn. Hence, West with Giraffes. What follows is a twelve-day road trip in a custom truck to deliver Southern California's first giraffes to the San Diego Zoo. With Woody behind the wheel, true to the actual events, the giraffe truck stopped regularly at auto camps under appropriate trees with the top of the crates open to let Boy and Girl reach up and browse. ), To enter the giveaway, just fill out this form below. /* If html does not have either class, do not show lazy loaded images. Just keep scrolling. As a book junkie, when I receive new book alerts I almost always peruse the titles. The synopsis of the book sounded ordinary to me, and I can't say I was excited to read it. Wild Girl and Wild Boy are at the heart of this novel and throughout and directly in her Authors Note following the novel, the author shares her views of how we can be charmed and inspired by animals. My Life in a Man-Made Jungle. Wanting more on the true story that inspired West with Giraffes?Click on this PHOTO for an unusual book review by a Zoo Historian. } Historic Fiction embellished. 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. Charley Smith was certainly the man for the job. West With Giraffes study guide contains a biography of Lynda Rutledge, literature essays, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis. What about animals pulls at your heart-strings? The tone is so well-crafted, the dialog so realistic. Stephenson, Lynda Rutledge. Here are a few topics to chew on: Life during the Great Depression Value of such a historical novel for perspective of current hard times The Dust Bowl and other ecological issues then/now and our part in them Human's relationships with and obligation to animals (and other humans) Endangered/extinct species--why it matters: Old Man's sky-blanketing passenger pigeons (pp. I was sad when the book ended but my heart was full. West with Giraffes Quotes. The Lee Highway ran from New York City to San Diego. Charleston, SC: Arcadia Publishing. 2015. 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. -webkit-box-shadow: none; He is arrested in Arizona and sent to fight in the second World War. What secrets do animals hold? There is a part where a circus tries to steal the giraffes and the giraffes are panicking. body.custom-background { background-color: #505050; } 1. In the year 2025, at age 105, Woodrow Wilson Nickel reads that giraffes are becoming extinct, and suddenly memories come rushing back. Were you rooting for the couple to get together all along? a woman on the running board of the truck feeding a giraffe in the crate, the crates being loaded with a giraffe leaning out the window of one crate, listen to giraffes humming in this YouTube video, 2-minute video of murmuration of starlings in the Netherlands, How to Tell Better Stories: 4 Simple Tips for Introverts from Introverts, Dear, cience of People shares tips from the science side. vertical-align: middle; It really sticks with you. It was a wonderful novel. could that giraffe have been a descendant of Lofty and Patches? But when he learns giraffes are going extinct, he finds himself recalling the . "Woodrow Wilson Nickel died in the year 2025, on a usual day, in the unusual way, at the rather unusual age of 105. Rutledge, Lynda. Copyright 1999 - 2023 GradeSaver LLC. Anatole France, Nobel Laureate, 1921". Other than the female hurting her leg in the hurricane, they are uninjured. Which is why we're providing you with this list of top book club questions that will generate general discussion whether you're focused on nonfiction, a self-help book, a juicy historical romance novel, or one of Reese's, Jenna Bush Hager's or, of course, Oprah's favorites. giraffe, (genus Giraffa), any of four species in the genus Giraffa of long-necked cud-chewing hoofed mammals of Africa, with long legs and a coat pattern of irregular brown patches on a light background. img#wpstats{display:none} Memoirs. On the other side of the pond, Hitler was invading Eastern Europe, so the combined stress of world events and personal troubles were briefly assuaged by the sight of the traveling giraffes. . I also recommend that you listen to giraffes humming in this YouTube video (really just audio). 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