West with Giraffes
A Novel
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West with Giraffes
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Narrated by:
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Danny Campbell
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By:
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Lynda Rutledge
About this listen
An emotional, rousing novel inspired by the incredible true story of two giraffes who made headlines and won the hearts of Depression-era America.
“Few true friends have I known and two were giraffes…”
Woodrow Wilson Nickel, age 105, feels his life ebbing away. 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. Hitler is threatening Europe, and world-weary Americans long for wonder. They find it in two giraffes who miraculously survive a hurricane while crossing the Atlantic. What follows is a twelve-day road trip in a custom truck to deliver Southern California’s first giraffes to the San Diego Zoo. Behind the wheel is the young Dust Bowl rowdy Woodrow. Inspired by true events, the tale weaves real-life figures with fictional ones, including the world’s first female zoo director, a crusty old man with a past, a young female photographer with a secret, and assorted reprobates as spotty as the giraffes.
Part adventure, part historical saga, and part coming-of-age love story, West with Giraffes explores what it means to be changed by the grace of animals, the kindness of strangers, the passing of time, and a story told before it’s too late.
©2021 Lynda Rutledge (P)2020 Brilliance Publishing, Inc., all rights reserved.Listeners also enjoyed...
Critic reviews
“A delightful read.”—The New York Times Book Review
“Every year I find at least one book that soars above all the others. This year West With Giraffes is that book.”—Florida Times Union
“[A] larger-than-life story about the power of both animal magnetism and human connection…witty, charming, and heartwarming.”—Booklist
What listeners say about West with Giraffes
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- miss melissa j davies
- 07-08-23
Fabulous story
Not the kind of adventure story I’d listen too - but loved this stair so moving …
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Diane L
- 07-04-21
Brilliant l
Best book I've ever read. I also love giraffes. I'll never forget this story. So moving.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Amazon Customer
- 15-07-21
easy to listen to.
really enjoyed this book.
you live through the ups and downs as it progresses willing them to succeed.
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Overall3 out of 5 stars
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Performance2 out of 5 stars
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Story3 out of 5 stars
- Anonymous User
- 01-06-24
Not recommended
Narrator has a droning tone which soothed me to sleep quite a few times. Didn't quite get the story. Not for me.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- TiaB
- 05-02-21
In-put-down-able
If you do nothing else this year, you need to listen/read this book. Amazing
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2 people found this helpful
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- H.Cleary
- 08-07-24
Enjoyable and interesting story of a giraffe adventure and first love set 1930s America.
I enjoyed this and learnt a lot about the dust bowl tragedy in Midwest America. Wished the narrator had a younger voice when talking about the adventure. I understood the older voice when the character is in the old people’s home but it was a bit tiring when Woody Nickel was a 17 year old, even if he was reminiscing.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Janek Schaefer
- 03-07-23
Giraffe adventure joy
I came to this via learning about the icon of the giraffe in NVC which represents kindness and compassion… loved the story of real life pre war american road trip and coming of age love story.. loved the vocal performance from a very appropriate voice for the character. Ace.. learn more about how giraffes helped me forwards myself in life at being-kind dot com 🦒
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- EdeC
- 13-03-23
Thoroughly enjoyable
Loved this!! What a treat to be included in this cross country adventure. I felt swept along by the teenager’s observations and feelings.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Bar54bar
- 17-06-21
I tried to return but thankfully failed
I’m not a regular reviewer and it has it be really special for me to do so - West with Giraffes is certainly special! When I started listening I just didn’t get it, didn’t understand why they would put such a terrible narrator on the job or why I would ever want to listen to this book. It didn’t take me long to say enough is enough and I tried (and failed) to return it online. I listened to something else and moved on.
One day I was mowing the grass and listening to the new book and suddenly reached the end and as I can’t imagine mowing without a book to listen to I just stuck on West with Giraffes to pass the time. I started again and this time it all made sense though not straight away but by the time the grass was mown I knew I needed to hear more. My husband and I listen to books together on our daily walks but although we both are mowing at the same time, it’s just not possible to share listening at that time and the books I listen to then are ones I have reckoned he wouldn’t care for. Last mowing, just as we were finishing the cutting, I finished the book. I was quite emotional when I spoke to my husband and said that although we’ve listened to hundreds of books this had to be up there with the very best of them. I also said I expect they’ll make a film of it - they should! Provided they could with no harm to giraffes in anyway!! I also said that this will be the first book we listen to together after we’ve worked our way through the lengthy list of David Baldacci novels. I know my husband will get the same feelings from as I did and he, too, will love this book and I will get to hear it all again. It will be the first I’ve listened to twice!!
As for the narrator, if you stick with the book just a little while you’ll see why Danny Campbell is the perfect choice.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Anonymous User
- 03-06-23
Quote from Tom “best book I’ve read”
Listened together on a road trip with my husband. And for a guy who doesn’t read. He LOVED it, best book he’s read/heard. Emotional, adventurous story
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1 person found this helpful