Will I love West with Giraffes?

Late 1930s America is vividly evoked through the circumstances, people, and attitudes portrayed. This is an immersive read, in which I deeply felt the emotions, and contemplated the discussions of how to live one's life. The characters are not perfect people, but they strive to be decent people, even against difficult circumstances. Perhaps most surprising to me was the deep sense of peace the giraffes impart, both within the story, and for the reader. The specific discussions of the power of story in the novel are more than borne out by this particular tale.

While West with Giraffes covers the challenges of crossing a Depression-era USA towing two very tall passengers, the larger theme is animal grace and how it can change and improve humans. To enrich what could’ve been a rather dull travelogue, author and former travel writer Lynda Rutledge also overlaid a fictional love story—and wove in many imagined details well beyond the scope of various newspaper stories and memoirs.

When I read this book, I didn’t know anything about the giraffes and their history; it’s only after I finished, not wanting to let them go, that I dug into what was… show more.

I love a book that teaches me something - who knew two giraffes crossing the Atlantic in 1938 en route to the San Diego Zoo were tossed overboard in a hurricane? This story comes alive through the vivid main characters - our narrator Woodrow Wilson Nickel (a young man orphaned just as the story begins), the old man with a mysterious past and a heart of gold, an intrepid female photojournalist (Augusta "Auggie" aka "Red") reaching for a goal beyond any woman of her time, and of course, the two amazing giraffes. Every chapter is a new thrill as Woody… show more.

The story is so captivating you’re immediately taken on an adventure to a different time (1920s) and a different place.

The characters are so well-thought-out, and the relationships that develop between them as their journey unfolds are simply heart-warming and emotional. It’s also a book about relationships, love, friendship, and the unique connection between man and animal.

A book that is simply pure escapism. 

When 17-year-old Woody is orphaned during the Dust Bowl, he rides the rails to New York City, where he happens upon two giraffes rescued from a hurricane.

He persuades the older man transporting the animals to take him on as a driver – even though he barely knows how to drive. He learns on the job, and off they go across the country to a zoo in San Diego.

West With Giraffes is poignant and funny, but most of all, the four main characters (including the two giraffes!) are so endearing. All of them form life-long bonds despite a bumpy… show more.

I enjoy reading a book that draws me into another period of time, and Rutledge’s words and settings did that beautifully.

The story grabbed me on page one and never let go. At times, I stopped to savor the prose and the emotions it conveyed and found myself holding the book close to my heart, staring off into space, thinking.

I love a novel that is based on a true story, and this one is beautifully done. It’s about connections, animal and human, and it will stay with me for a very long time. 

I read this book based on a recommendation from a friend, and I enjoyed it so much that I suggested it to my book club.

First of all, I am impressed by female authors who can adeptly write male protagonists (and vice-versa), and Rutledge does a great job with both her main character (Woody) and a secondary one (Riley Jones). She captures the vernacular of the time, with the characters’ word choices and slang feeling very authentic, as if she did her homework where that’s concerned.

It was fun to read descriptions of the infrastructure of this country in the… show more.

This is a tense read, brimming with anticipation of what is waiting right around the corner.

These two giraffes captured my heart from the get-go, and Woody is such a flawed but likable character. I found myself holding my breath, hoping time after time he would make the right decision. 

West With Giraffes is a coming-of-age tale that is full of adventure, mishaps, and keen insights into human behavior. It's also fun to ride cross-country with this band of characters and get a taste of America in the 1930s.

A great read for animal lovers (like me).

Unlike the others on my list, this book is a work of fiction. I loved this book and would go out on a limb and say it is one of the best novels I have ever read. I am still thinking about it months later! It is based on real-life events, but the author uses a fictional framework to bring the reader up close and personal with two giraffes who made an extraordinary journey across the United States during the Great Depression. I love how Lynda Rutledge uses animal history to tell a compelling story.