A Book I Wanted to Like, But…I liked the idea of this book until I started reading. What's not to like about a historical tale partly grounded in truth about two giraffes’ journey across the country to their new zoo home? But the way the author chose to frame the story was both artificial and distancing. A worker at the VA finds a footlocker full of writing by a recently deceased vet, one of the men who traveled with these animals. That could have been fine, but the way the author chose to have

A delightful read, I couldn't put it down. Told through the memory of an aged veteran, the story is set against the background of the Dust Bowl, the Depression and the advent of a World War. This improbable, but fact-based, story of two giraffes transported cross country in what was basically an over-balanced flatbed truck made me laugh, cry. and actually care about the dangers they were experiencing. A touch of unrequited romance, a bit of larceny and a droll sense of humor kept me entranced to...

My great escape This story offered a delightful escape from today's stresses. I devoured it in two days. One of those books you don't want to put down yet hate to see end. A wild rollicking ride with unique humans in touch with their better selves as they are drawn in by two gentle wild "beasts". For those who cherish that special bond between animals and humans.

Quite an adventure, indeed! I love historical fiction, especially when it's able to really take me back in time like West with Giraffes did. This is the first book review I've written since High School, but here it goes.I've never really thought about the lives of the people that lived the Dust Bowl, it was heartbreaking to witness that life through the eyes of 17 year old Woody Nickel. In a time in the US when most people have never seen a giraffe in person, the adventure Woody takes to get the...

So good you hope it never endsRich characters, historical accuracies, and a writing style that is captivating. This novel is so enjoyable I read it in one winter day in front o the fireplace not wanting to put it down.

My thanks to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for a review e-copy of this one.West with Giraffes is an endearing, and also heart-rending piece of historical fiction. The story is set around a truly extraordinary real life occurrence that took place in 1938. Two giraffes (later to be called Lofty and Patches) travelled to New York surviving a hurricane at sea. Then they made another journey, a road trip of over 3,000 miles to San Diego Zoo (then under the first female zoo director Belle Benchl...

Fantastic readA wonderful story. It grabbed me within the first page or two and I couldn't put it down. Thank you Ms. Rutledge for taking me along on the adventure.

This sounds so so different. I love animals and have never read a book about Giraffe, what a cool concept!I even created a shelf...kindle unlimited giraffes LOL!!!!

This is a good book for the whole family to read. If you liked Water for Elephants you will certainly enjoy this book. Takes place in the same time frame. We talk about Covid-19 and it’s horrors, but read this and it will have you rethinking how bad we have it... we don’tGrab a box of Kleenex.. and enjoy a great book!

Genre: Historical Fiction/Coming of AgePublisher: Lake Union PublishingPub. Date: Feb. 2021Itsy-Bitsy ReviewAn old man relives the adventures of his youth while he spends his last days in a nursing home. Reminiscent to the novel, “Water for Elephants,” “West With Giraffes” is also a romantic period drama set in the Depression. It too is part: historical fiction, coming-of-age, an unconventional love story, and discovering that animals can be your most meaningful friends. “West” is based on the t...

An Absolute Must ReadIt's 3:25 a.m. and I am writing a little review of one of the best books I've ever read. Rich, gorgeous characters on a life-defining journey in a life-defining setting. The tale of two giraffes and how they became the first two giraffes the San Diego Zoo. If you only read one book this year, it should be this one.

West With Giraffes by Lynda Rutledge. Thanks to amazon first reads and @lakeunion for the e-Arc ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️Woodwork Wilson Nickel has escaped the Dust Bowl as a teen with nothing to show for himself. Based on a true story, he becomes entangled with the Hurricane Giraffes, as he drives them from New York to California so they can become the first giraffes of the San Diego Zoo. This is why I love programs such as Amazon First. I read books that I never would have picked up. This didn’t sound too in...

An adventure!Could not put this down... It captures the essence of the time s and longing for hope, love ,belonging and adventure.

Great readReally enjoyed this book. Sat down to read and didn't want to stop,finished in 2 days. Still thinking about it.

Author Lynda Rutledge found inspiration for this story while browsing the San Diego Zoo archives and includes a number of the original articles in her book. Her writing is clever and imaginative.Two young giraffes are shipped to New York City from Africa, surviving a hurricane at sea, then loaded onto a truck for a 10-day grueling cross-country journey to their new home at the San Diego Zoo. Hundreds of newspapers documented their progress and people lined the streets to cheer on these magnifice...

Excellent book!You have got to read this book. It will end up being one of your favorites. Too good to miss!

Already recommend to a friend , I love stories that are real, not lovely unspoiled lives , but well lived .

A very entertaining story, based on the real-life journey of two giraffes from Africa to San Diego, with a fair bit of artistic licence and good old fiction thrown in - the glamorous photographer who is not all she seems, the hard-bitten zoo keeper who adores his animals, and Woody Nickel himself, who at 18 gets to drive the giraffes' truck across America, without a license or even any experience. But the best characters of course are Boy and Wild Girl, the giraffes (not the names they were know...

that's really only 2-1/2 stars. unlike almost every other reviewer, i could put the book down without any trouble. i loved the idea of the story, a road trip from new york to california with two young giraffes, the only part of the book that is non-fiction. i enjoyed the parts about the giraffes, their attachment to various characters, their enjoyment of the warm weather, sunshine, cool breezes. it was the main character that i could not bring myself to like. and what i found incredibly annoying...

Heartwarming quick read. Great story!!Enjoyed reading on a road trip about a famous road trip. I’ll go visit the giraffes at our zoo soon.

This is a lovely book. Towards the end it becomes particularly poignant and is my favourite part of the whole book. Still the journey itself is an interesting one. What an adventure and what fantastic travelling companions who changed this man's life. I love the insight of this centenarian who is looking back and seeing how the experience with his giraffe and human friends influenced him and gave an orphan boy a powerful sense of belonging. Beautiful with gems of wisdom about growing older and f...

3.5 rounded up. Recommended for those who enjoy historical fiction set in the Dust Bowl era and don't mind a bit of unrealistic diary writing where the language is a bit on the flowery side. The author does a great job of providing the reader with a sense of time and place. You can almost taste the dust and feel the despair of those who are struggling to survive while the threat of war is on the horizon.In addition to being an interesting, fictionalized account of a true event (the transporting

If you enjoyed Water for Elephants and are an animal lover you will love this beautiful story of giraffes and their trek across the US in 1938. Based on a true story of two giraffes, one male and one female, who after surviving the boat trip from Africa and the hurricane of 1938, are driven by truck from New York to the San Diego zoo. Hang on to your seat, buckle up and grab a box of Kleenex for the adventure. Highly recommended

When I first saw ‘West with Giraffes’, by Lynda Rutledge, I had an immediate interest in reading it. I knew zero about it, other than that I found the cover and title interesting. Boy, did I get lucky with this random pick which was inspired by a true story. I was immediately swept up in this novel’s characters and relationships, while they, along with the ever changing setting, “drove” the plot of this east to west coast journey . . . “with giraffes”. And with each chapter I found myself fallin...

I enjoyed this one a lot. A charming and entertaining story with three very likable (main) characters, a host of entertaining and quirky side characters, and two very delightful giraffes. All wrapped up in an enjoyable historical (based on true events) setting. My only (very) small criticism, I thought the ending felt a little rushed. Overall though, this was a solid two thumbs up from yours truly! **ARC via NetGalley**

Great storyI enjoyed this book, and was happy with my kindle first choice. The characters were relatable and the story flowed nicely. A definite don't want to miss this book!

What a great ride !This gets 5 stars x 2 . What a wonderful story this is with great characters, good and bad . Over the moon with the giraffes and their antics. Reading this feels like you're on the journey with them even though my eyes have never seen some of the places described. Breathtaking and wonderfully written makes it very hard to put down .

A dustbowl boy running from his past, a gruff 'old man' zoo keeper, a red headed photographer and 2 giraffes. Sounds like an adventure.For someone who doesn't usually read historical fiction or first person narrative this book gave me everything I wanted and more. I am so glad I chose it as my Amazon Read First. I don't even fully have the words for how enchanting this story was. An adventure of a lifetime using the dustbowl America as a backdrop, WW2 looming but the characters of the story (as

I really wanted to like this book, and it has been a long time since I’ve picked up a historical fiction. Sadly this book really wasn’t for me.This was my second pick for this months Amazon First Reads, and put bluntly, I didn’t like it. I actually only read properly to 23%. At that point I realised I really wasn’t enjoying the writing and gave up reading properly and skim read the rest. This is a historical fiction novel about moving two giraffes across America after a devastating hurricane nea...

This was a free book from Amazon prime for this month. And this book was incredible. You feel as though you are on the adventure with the characters and the giraffes. Such a beautiful story ands lots of history intertwined.