Modoc: The True Story of the Greatest Elephant That Ever Lived

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Modoc: The True Story of the Greatest Elephant That Ever Lived

4.17 of 5 stars 4.17 · rating details · 3,778 ratings · 893 reviews

Spanning several decades and three continents, "Modoc" is one of the most amazing true animal stories ever told. Raised together in a small German circus town, a boy and an elephant formed a bond that would last their entire lives, and would be tested time and again; through a near-fatal shipwreck in the Indian Ocean, an apprenticeship with the legendary Mahout elephant tr...more

Paperback, 352 pages

Published August 26th 1998 by Harper Perennial (first published September 9th 1997)

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Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls

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Oct 10, 2007 Mikaela rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: recommend

I really liked this book. At the end of the book, you find out who the author is and how he came to know this story. I have to say, I believe it is all true. I never knew I could come to love an elephant like this! I appreciated the simpleness of the writing. The beauty of this story was in the simpleness and in the emotions that Helfer described and in which you felt. I did feel that the book had an undertone of sadness, but it is one of those griefs that is worthy and even worthwhile. I highly...more

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Dec 12, 2007 Lynne rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: animal lovers

Shelves: 2007-2008, non-fiction

This book reads like a novel, with the main character being an amazing circus elephant. It really speaks to the bond between people and animals... and to the very real possibility that elephants are a higher species than humans. How can I tell you how beautifully she dances?

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Apr 03, 2011 Bobbi rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: did-not-finish, yuck

I am only halfway through this book and I can hardly bear to turn one page after the other. Believe me, if this book had not been a book club book, I would burn it! It one were teaching the meaning of anthropomorphism, giving human qualities to animals, this would be right up there on the top of the list. "he knows that the chain around his foot is the right thing" for an elephant. Oh, come on!! There is so much poetic license in this "true" story that it shouldn't even be on the fiction list. S...more

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Sep 02, 2008 Clair rated it 3 of 5 stars

This story highlights a special relationship between an elephant and a boy who were born on the same day in Germany. Beginning as part of a circus family, the two spend the majority of their lives together surviving many obstacles and near-death experiences. The love Modoc and Bram have for each other and the way they are able to communicate is very inspiring. This part of the story I loved.

I thought some parts would have best been left out- some brief but graphic descriptions are used to relate...more

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Jan 29, 2008 Opal rated it 4 of 5 stars

I think this is a wonderful story, but it is not written well at all. This books is written by an animal trainer, and on the one hand, I commend him for doing such a great job, but on the other hand, writing is clearly not his calling.

That being said, he is writing a so-called "true story" but most of the book is written from the point of view of someone else, so you lose some of the first hand experience. Therefore, the title character seems to lack feeling and emotion. The author does state at...more

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Jan 23, 2013 Annette rated it 4 of 5 stars

Modoc. The True Story of the Greatest Elephant That Ever Lived by Ralph Helfer is about love and friendship on a grand scale, an elephant-sized scale. Modoc is an elephant who was born into a German circus family. The story seems almost too fantastic to be true. Both Modoc and Bram, the elephant trainer’s son, are born on the same day. They grow up together until tragically the circus is sold to a man who decides to uproot the whole show and take it across the world. Bram is heartbroken. He can’...more

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Oct 14, 2012 Mishka Ferguson rated it 1 of 5 stars

i think maybe i have read too many books in my life to be able to like this book. or maybe i am too jaded. but overall, i felt like the book metronomed between insultingly childlike language, unbelieveably gooey and ridonkulous "love" scenes, and near-constant celestine-prophesy-eque new-ageyness. i honestly wished the author would shut up, stop trying to make the story impressive and just talk to me about the damned elephant, who seemed pretty cool.

sometimes i was able to set aside the issues i...more

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Oct 13, 2012 Kelley rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: personal-reads

This is an emotional and beautiful story. With tears catching in the corners of my eyes several times, it pulled at my heart. However it did leave me pause when it claimed to be true. Several points did not come together and if I were to recommend it to a friend or when students read it, I would ask them to expect some inconsistencies.

Ralph Helfer is an animal trainer and behaviorist, who specializes in affection and kindness to lead animals to do what he needs. He was also the last owner of Mod...more This is an emotional and beautiful story. With tears catching in the corners of my eyes several times, it pulled at my heart. However it did leave me pause when it claimed to be true. Several points did not come together and if I were to recommend it to a friend or when students read it, I would ask them to expect some inconsistencies.

Ralph Helfer is an animal trainer and behaviorist, who specializes in affection and kindness to lead animals to do what he needs. He was also the last owner of Modoc, an amazing elephant whose life span covered multiple countries and 70 years of adventures. Born in Germany and Modoc was raised in a circus at the loving hands of Josef Gunterstein. Josef's only child, Bram, was born the same day. Josef finally had the son and daughter he had been waiting a very long time for. The two were raised side by side and their bond lasted a lifetime.

Following are three questionable pieces I found to be disheartening when being told this was non-fiction.

- The author describes most of the Indian elephants (aka Asian elephants) as having tusks. In reality, tusks on Asian elephants are pretty uncommon. Hefler describes Modoc as having tusks, even to the end of the book soon before she died. However in the pictures in the book, the elephant shown has no tusks at all.

-There was not a bibliography. I found it odd that no sources are ever listed to back up the details, except for a few vague remarks.

-Since no dates were given, it would be difficult for a student to research the information shared. ( I will share that an actually Modoc does not exist in historical information. Although it was a common name for circus elephants and Hefler had possession of a Modoc for a short three years.)

It is not a book for anyone under the age of 16 because of the unnecessarily rough writing style involving human sexuality. The story would have been just as tender without the accompanying graphic scenes. They served no purpose in the plot or in heightening emotion.

With a wonderful plot, writing that draws the audience in and has emotional depth throughout, it is an impressive work of "fiction". I recommend it as a story of love, understanding, and growth and hope that the inaccuracy of fact will not render the story ineffective. It is a beautiful tale.

Favorite quote...
All life is built upon steppingstones that reach into the Beyond. Without them, we could never reach our goals. Use them, you have earned them, and they are yours.

Other info regarding Modoc from http://www.circushistory.org/Query/Qu...

The true answers to your questions are covered in these tables previously but I am not sure what the Question number was. You are correct that Mr. Helfer did briefly own an elephant named Modoc. My records indicate six different elephants over the years were named Modoc. The elephant that Mr. Helfer owned originated in America in 1922 on the Gollmar Bros. Circus. 1923 to 1924 she was on the John Robinson Circus and 1925 to 1934 she was on the Hagenbeck-Wallace Circus. This stay gave her the nickname of Wallace Modoc which kept her distinguished between other elephants named Modoc over the years. She was only under the Ringling Bros. title in 1939 when the Ringling show which owned Hagenbeck-Wallace, Al G. Barnes, Sells Floto, and John Robinson took them all off the road and combined everything they hadn't already sold over the last ten years of ownership of these circuses. Mr. Helfer's elephant, Wallace Modoc, then took up residence at Thousand Oaks, and Louis Goebel's in Ca. until 1948. 1949 and 1950 had her on Biller Bros. Circus. 1951 to 1962 she called the Memphis Zoo home. 1963 to 1972 she resided at Africa USA complexes in Ca. Mr. Helfer owned her from 1972 to 1975. She passed this life on July 19, 1975. Her age was determined to be 55 years old at the time of death. Big Modoc, which was the Ringling dancing star referred to in the book, has a long and rich history from her birth in 1900. She graced the Ringling Bros. Barnum & Bailey Big Top from 1930 to 1957. She died in Sarasota in 1957. Obviously her life had passed years before Mr. Helfer ever owned an elephant. Bob Cline(less)

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Sep 23, 2012 Julie rated it 1 of 5 stars

The ONLY reason I read past page 3 was that this was a book club pick. If I were to teach a class in creative writing right now, I would use this book as an example of what NOT to do in your writing. First, is it fiction or non-fiction? Seems that the "author" is claiming non-fiction, but this story is terribly contrived and rings as untrue in almost every chapter. The dialogue is positively laughable. It was hilarious that all of the characters from all of the different countries all spoke the...more

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Jun 03, 2012 Kim Crane rated it 2 of 5 stars

I was exhilarated after reading this book. I wanted so badly to believe that this special elephant and this special boy and all of the incredible things that happened to them were true. I found the narrator off-putting through most of the book, but I forgave him because he brought me this beautiful (true!) story. I would have forgiven the extreme poetic license, laughable dialogue, and general editorial negligence if this book delivered what set the reader up for from the subtitle: The True Stor...more

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Sep 30, 2011 Louise rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: memoirs

Story Description:

Modoc is the joint biography of a man and an elephant born in a small German circus town on the same day in 1896. Bram was the son of an elephant trainer, Modoc the daughter of his prize performer. The boy and animal grew up devoted to each other. When the Wunderzircus was sold to an American, with no provision to take along the human staff, Bram stowed away on the ship to prevent being separated from his beloved Modoc. A shipwreck off the Indian coast and a sojourn with a maha...more Story Description:

Modoc is the joint biography of a man and an elephant born in a small German circus town on the same day in 1896. Bram was the son of an elephant trainer, Modoc the daughter of his prize performer. The boy and animal grew up devoted to each other. When the Wunderzircus was sold to an American, with no provision to take along the human staff, Bram stowed away on the ship to prevent being separated from his beloved Modoc. A shipwreck off the Indian coast and a sojourn with a maharajah were only the beginning of the pair's incredible adventures. They battled bandits, armed revolutionaries, cruel animal trainers, and greedy circus owners in their quest to stay together. They triumphed against the odds and thrilled American circus audiences with Modoc's dazzling solo performances, only to be torn apart with brutal suddenness, seemingly never to meet again. Hollywood animal trainer Ralph Helfer rescued Modoc from ill-treatment and learned her astonishing story when Bram rediscovered her at Helfer's company. His emotional retelling of this true-life adventure epic will make pulses race and bring tears to readers' eyes.

My Review:

“Modoc is a love story, a gut-wrenching afternoon kind of love story that should not be attempted without a full box if tissues within easy reach.” –Detroit Free Free

“…sweeping across the timber land into the gray, misty valleys of the Black Forest…baby sounds! Below the fog layer, the insistent waits a baby could be heard, their temerity as if from Mother Earth herself.

And then another voice arose. Deeper, brassy, trumpety, but still a…baby sound.”

Thus begins the true story of Modoc. Bram, borne to Josef and Katrina Gutterstein, and named after Josef’s father, was a beautiful baby boy with blonde hair. Bram’s blonde hair and features came from the strong Nordic ide of Katrina’s family, and the sweet and gentle warmth radiated so strongly from Josef’s heritage. They lived in Hangendorf Valley, Germany and Josef just knew that Bram would be would become: “a fine elephant trainer.

Josef himself is an elelphant trainer working for a small circus in the nearby
town of Hassengross. Emma, had just given birth to her elephant up, “Modoc” and Josef was determined to make Emma’s baby the best trained elephant the world has even seen. If anyone could do it, he could as his whole family was circus and the last three generations were all elephant trainers when Josef’s own son Bram, was old enough, he would be turned over to him from training and he’d follow in his father’s footsteps.

I immediately fell in love in love with “Modoc’ and “Bram”. This large mammal and young boy had a bond like no other I’ve ever seen. The closeness, the love, the depth of the relationship was beyond anything I had ever encountered. A most mesmerizing story not to be missed!

(less)

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Mar 08, 2011 Kristinkielar rated it 4 of 5 stars

Generally, it takes me a good two or three weeks for me to read a book for pleasure, but with a head full of mucus and the undeniable desire to do nothing but lie on the couch and read, Modoc by Ralph Helfer was devoured in two consecutive afternoons. I wanted something that was more heartwarming and entertaining then cerebral, and that is certainly what I got.

This is a true story that is recorded by an animal trainer who came in contact with Modoc and his handler, Bram, in the very latest por...more Generally, it takes me a good two or three weeks for me to read a book for pleasure, but with a head full of mucus and the undeniable desire to do nothing but lie on the couch and read, Modoc by Ralph Helfer was devoured in two consecutive afternoons. I wanted something that was more heartwarming and entertaining then cerebral, and that is certainly what I got.

This is a true story that is recorded by an animal trainer who came in contact with Modoc and his handler, Bram, in the very latest portions of their lives. He used the incredible tales told by Bram to synthesize a novel that chronicles the life of a very brave boy and the elephant that he was determined to care for, even at the cost of death.

The boy/elephant duo survived a shipwreck, traversed the country of India on foot while pursued by a rich circus owner, and ultimately find themselves in the United States as circus performers. On their death beds, they were in California at Gentle Jungle Animal Rentals.

The stories were sensational, but not 100% believable due to basic considerations of logistics and common sense. This is not, however, meant to be a history book, so I suppose that is a mute point.

If you just sit back and let the text whisk you away to the in the early 1900s where language barriers were not as plentiful as one would expect, you are sure to love your journey. I found myself getting incredibly emotionally invested in the story, no matter how outlandish or impossible it seemed. Once I turned off the hyper-analytical switch in my brain, I felt a bit like a kid in a candy store. I laughed, I cried, I fumed. I really got lost in the story.

I love coming-of-age stories that talk about themes that are universal to the human condition, and this is one of them. As someone who is ape-shit-bananas-crazy about her pet, I can totally see validity in the foolishness that Bram goes to in order to follow and protect Modoc. In synch with the protagonist, I fell in love with multiple women and held one of them while she bled from multiple gunshot wounds. I buried both of my parents, a handful of comrades, and one of my wives.

I wish that this was 100% real. The best part is: as far as I am concerned, it is.

Ralph is a story teller. If even 30% of this is true, then Bram had an amazing life, a story worth telling. This is sort of like Life of Pi, but real. In fact ,this book makes me want to re-read LoP... it's been more than half a decade since I last encountered the story, so maybe that's what I'll do.(less)

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Jan 28, 2011 Paul Pessolano rated it 5 of 5 stars

This book was first published in 1997. I have been looking at it over the last several years promising myself that I would read it. I was fascinated by the cover and the reviews. The cover alone should have you reading the book. My only regret is that I did not read it the first time I saw it.

"Modoc" is probably the most unusual pet book I have ever read. It is hard to believe that this is a "true story".

Bram Gunterstein was the son of a circus animal trainer. He was born on his father's farm an...more This book was first published in 1997. I have been looking at it over the last several years promising myself that I would read it. I was fascinated by the cover and the reviews. The cover alone should have you reading the book. My only regret is that I did not read it the first time I saw it.

"Modoc" is probably the most unusual pet book I have ever read. It is hard to believe that this is a "true story".

Bram Gunterstein was the son of a circus animal trainer. He was born on his father's farm and, at the same time, an elephant to be named "Modoc" was born in the farm's barn.

Bram and Modoc grew up together and formed a relationship that would be like no other. Bram's father believed that animals were to be trained with kindness and understanding, instead of with a whip. It is this context that Modoc took commands from Bram. Sometimes they seemed to be able to read each other's thoughts.

The closing of the circus and Bram's fathers death caused Modoc to be sold to a circus operating in the United States. Bram was not part of the deal and his love for Modoc forced him to stow away on the ship transporting Modoc to the States. The ship runs into a typhoon and is sunk. Modoc and Bram survive and help in the rescue of other passengers. Modoc, at the point of drowning, is saved and both he and Bram are courted as heroes in India.

The circus owner, in trying to find Modoc, causes Bram and Modoc to travel to the teak forests of India to work. They are captured by militants and almost die in traversing the mountains in India and engaging in a gunfight between the militants and the Indian Government. Both Modoc and Bram are injured, Modoc seriously, but they both pull through and find themselves attached to the circus in the United States.

The book is filled with unbelievable love, caring, and devotion between Bram and Modoc. I cannot imagine or think of a human/animal relationship that even comes close to what they had. A magnificent read for those who just want to read a good book, or one who loves books about animals, or one who likes a book where relationships really matter.(less)

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Jan 19, 2011 Kazaan rated it 1 of 5 stars

I gave this book one star because Mr. Helfer has passed it off as a true story, when clearly, it is not. Apparently, there was indeed an elephant named Modoc—there were six documented with that name, in fact. Yet, any reader with a critical eye can see that this is a tale of pure fantasy, with only the most distant connection to truth.

The events of the story are certainly exciting and provide a good plot line, full of adventure and drama, especially for an animal lover such as myself, but there...more I gave this book one star because Mr. Helfer has passed it off as a true story, when clearly, it is not. Apparently, there was indeed an elephant named Modoc—there were six documented with that name, in fact. Yet, any reader with a critical eye can see that this is a tale of pure fantasy, with only the most distant connection to truth.

The events of the story are certainly exciting and provide a good plot line, full of adventure and drama, especially for an animal lover such as myself, but there isn't an ounce of realism to it. The events unfold with one amazing happening after another, complete with a shipwreck and subsequent rescue, a secret voyage of a boy and his elephant through the Indian jungle, the killing of several bandit men by the elephant in fierce protection of the boy, a Burmese village being overtaken by renegade soldiers, the execution of a man by elephant stomping, a battle scene during which several soldiers and the boy's young bride are killed, an elephant falling off a cliff, two weddings, a fatal circus fire (this event did happen, at least), the blinding of the elephant by a drunkard with a bull hook, the poisoning of all the elephants in the circus, followed by the last minute discovery of an antidote, and finally, the reunion of the boy and elephant after ten years apart at none other than the author's ranch in CA, where through miracle of miracles, Modoc the elephant has found refuge. (Oh, Please!)

Meanwhile, the two love stories within this tale are terribly embarrassing and schmaltzy. The dialogue has an awkward, artificial quality, and lacks realism. And not surprisingly, the characters fall into two camps: the good guys and the bad guys. The good guys are really good and the bad guys are really bad! There is no subtlety, no nuance, and no complexity or personality.

Now, if this book were written as a fable or a myth, especially for young readers, it would make much more sense. As a fable, it is a wonderful tale, full of life lessons, exotic places, rites of passage, tragedy, adventure, the struggle of good versus evil, and a bit of spirituality to boot. The dialogue is more appropriate as part of a mythical story, with universal lessons. And with such high drama, it is a page turner of a tale. Shame on Mr. Helfer for misrepresenting it as fact. (less)

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Sep 28, 2009 Davis Aujourd'hui rated it 5 of 5 stars

This is one of those rare books that touched my heart to its very core. It is a fantastic tale of a boy and an elephant that spanned their lifetimes. It is full of adventure. It is a book that will captivate children as well as adults.

The wonderful aspect of the book is how the author makes Modoc, the elephant, seem more lovably human than many humans actually are. You will feel such a bond with Modoc. If you are an animal lover, this book will really strike a home run for you. If you are not an...more

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Jun 08, 2012 Linnae rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: biographies, book-club, true-tales

In Germany, a boy and an elephant are born on the same little farm. And as they grow, they become inseparable. When the elephant is sold to an American, the boy stows away on the ship to be with him. Thus begins an incredible journey as the two survive shipwreck, war, injury, and more; defending and loving each other to the end. Oh yeah, there are a few other important human types included, as well.

I own this one, but it had been a long time since I had read it. So reading it for book club last...more

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Feb 08, 2011 Holly rated it 4 of 5 stars

So, before I launch into my review I feel that I should clarify that I am a sucker for;
1) Any book that one (or both) of my children LOVES.
2) Elephants.

My son was given this book as a Christmas gift and, although reluctant to read it at first, absolutely fell in love with it. My son doesn't often speak passionately about what he reads and so I had to find out what the big deal was about. Have to say - pretty much agree with him. Great book.

It's an amazing story about a friendship between and...more

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Apr 03, 2013 Christie Bane rated it 5 of 5 stars

This is one of my favorite books ever! It tells the story of a boy and an elephant who are born on the same day in Germany in, I think, the 1920's. The boy is the son of an animal trainer and grows up with the circus. When he is a teenager, the circus is sold and he leaves his home and family to stay with the elephant, Modoc. Their bond lasts their entire life and they have all kinds of adventures together ranging from a shipwreck to an Elephantarium in India to a job in a teak forest to running...more

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Sep 08, 2011 Nina rated it 4 of 5 stars

Preposterously wonderful. Whether true or not, I don't know. The author prefaces by saying it is true to the best of his knowledge, but honestly, it doesn't matter. I randomly read about this book in a short interview of some woman in the Times who said it was her favorite book. It is certainly different from most of the work out there. True, the writing is flowery, clumsy at times, but the heart of it--the metaphysical relationship of people and animals--is inspiring and hits me deep in my anim...more

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Mar 15, 2012 Kelly rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: nature

I love the story, and I want to believe that it is true, but everything about the book, to me, screams fiction. There are no dates or even any real clear references to how old Bran and Modoc are once they leave Germany. The events, though I suppose could be true, are told in such a melodramatic way that it makes them feel fictional. The dialogue is horrible. The characters feel like one sided characters, not real people. Even the photographs don't really prove anything (for I heard there were se...more

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Mar 21, 2013 Ethan R. rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2nd-semester

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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May 20, 2013 Rae rated it 3 of 5 stars

*Some spoilers in review*

This was a pretty good book, and I really enjoyed the relationship that Helfer developed between Modoc and Bram. There were moments when the writing was absolutely phenomenal, in particular that scene where he sees Gertie through the window right before he leaves for the boat. That being said, there were also some things he could really have polished quite a bit. I felt like he spent so much time in the middle of the book. We knew more about Sian who he was only married...more

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Oct 08, 2012 Amy rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: animals, nonfiction

I love animal stories and have been swept away by many. The story of a world traveling elephant is intriguing. Unfortunately, this one was a huge struggle to get through. I give this 2 stars because I was interested enough in the plot to find out what happens to the elephant in the end. If Modoc truly lived this life, then this is an amazing tale of survival, if nothing else. The story would have gone a lot further if handled by a biographer rather than an amateur writer. The dialogue was painfu...more

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Apr 06, 2012 Angie rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: everyone

Shelves: favorites

I didn't think a book about an elephant could be so moving! Love, love, love this book! It was such an emotional and extraordinary journey. This book will stick with you for a long time. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who likes reading about true, inspirational stories.

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Feb 04, 2011 Laura rated it 4 of 5 stars

I'll be honest. One hundred percent. I cried like a baby. I know there a huge debate over the truthfulness of this book and if Modoc as the elephant that Helfer claims she is. I don't care. It made me cry. It made me happy to pretend that, even if it is completely fabricated information, it was fact. Just so you know, this review is written with the assumption that it is, in fact, true. There's my disclaimer.

The story of Modoc is in itself a fantastic story. The things that this poor elephant we...more I'll be honest. One hundred percent. I cried like a baby. I know there a huge debate over the truthfulness of this book and if Modoc as the elephant that Helfer claims she is. I don't care. It made me cry. It made me happy to pretend that, even if it is completely fabricated information, it was fact. Just so you know, this review is written with the assumption that it is, in fact, true. There's my disclaimer.

The story of Modoc is in itself a fantastic story. The things that this poor elephant went through broke my heart. What was even more fantastic, however, was the story of the relationship that Bram had with Modoc. Like many, I chalk this up to the connection they have from being born and raised together, as one. Soulmates, you could say. The mutual devotion put me over the edge on more than one occasion. Instead of focusing on the plausibility of the ins and outs of the story, I'd prefer focus on the [theoretical] relationship that spanned continents and decades. That makes me much happier.

On the other hand, I've done a little research. Not enough to call myself an expert by any count, but I've looked through some databases and records and so forth. There was in fact a circus elephant named Modoc (several over the years), but the one in question did for a short time at the end of her life belong to Helfer. She had traveled with several circuses (including The Ringling Bros, which at the time was under direction of the infamous Mr. North) and did have the one defining characteristic (though, as to not mark this as a spoiler, I'd prefer not disclose that for readers who haven't had the pleasure of reading). That's really all there is out there that is consistent with the tale Mr. Helfer tells. Aside from the little information that is out there, a few things strike me as less than realistic about Modoc. For one, the book continually references Modoc's tusks. Throughout the pictures (which claim they are all from the circus years), there are no grand tusks, and in fact, no tusks at all. I could give Helfer the benefit of the doubt and say that the pictures are from German circus rather than the American one, and thus, the tusks hadn't grown in yet as she was so young. Another thing that really makes me question the credibility of Helfer is that he doesn't mention dates more than a handful of times, making his claims harder to substantiate (on Google, anyway). But as I said before, I would love to go under the assumption that all aspects of the book are factual and that the Modoc really is a phenomenal creature.

On the story alone, I give 5 stars. It was the actually writing that encouraged me back to four stars. The writing was immature. The language wasn't well developed and the style was not to my taste. There were a lot of parts that were supposed to read as dramatic pauses, with ellipses and exclamation points. However, as someone who works with wild animals for a living, I can't imagine that his story telling skills have been necessary to be prime, and his book just serves as a reminder that someone average had the pleasure of an encounter with a spectacular elephant and wrote about it, not as a writer, but instead as someone with an interest. (less)

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May 01, 2013 Marie Fouhey rated it 1 of 5 stars

Supposedly a true story but completely implausable. Modoc is shipwrecked on a trip from Germany to the US and washes ashore in Calutta, India which is hardly a direct route. She is shot after being hijacked by robbers then sent to a circus in the US where she survives poisoning, burns from a fire, and blinding by an embittered ex-employee of the circus. She is eventually reunited with her German caregiver at a ranch in California. The book is badly written and includes a lot of mystical musings...more

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Aug 21, 2012 Julie rated it 4 of 5 stars Recommends it for: animal lovers

Quote:
"He remembered what his father had told him,'Trees are like people and give the answers to the way of Man. They grow from the top down. Children, like treetops, have flexibility of youth, and sway more than larger adults at the bottom. They are more vulnerable to the elements, and are put to the test of survival by life's strong winds, rain, freezing cold and hot sun. Constantly challenged. As they mature, they journey down the tree, strengthening the family, until they have become big hef...more

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Mar 25, 2009 Shannon rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: bookclub

For a book that is "the true story" it is amazing how much of it is complete fiction. For starters the entire first half of the book! Nothing is true until Modoc gets to the circus and then only itty bitty pieces may be true. There was a fire but no elephants were in the tent at the time.

After digging just a little bit I came to realize that when I was little I saw the elephant in question at Lion country Safari.

Besides not being a "true" story, the writing is very poor and I remember thinking t...more

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Aug 02, 2012 Chelsea rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: animals

I so wanted to believe this story was true, but after several hours researching online afterward I, like many others, believe that it is almost completely fictional. The author did own an elephant named Modoc, but the lack of dates, descriptions on the photos and frankly zero evidence of any of the supposed events gives it absolutely no credit. The story is a great thought, but the writing doesn't really help it. After learning lots about Elephants from Diane Hammond's *Hannah's Dream* I could s...more

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May 18, 2011 Kendra rated it 3 of 5 stars

I really loved the story involved in this book and it was made even better by the fact that it was based on a true story. However, I wasn't a fan of the writing style. The author really needed to use more transitions, I felt like half his sentences were "Bram did this" "Bram did that" etc. Also, it was annoying that at times the story would be going along and then suddenly it would be ten years later, or someone would suddenly die out of nowhere with no notice. Also, there are characters that ar...more

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“A good teacher teaches what he has been taught. A wise one teaches what he has learned” — 2 people liked it

“Those of us who are in tune with nature and animals know it is our way of life, Bram. There is a connection to all living things, a vibration of Life. Animals were not given a power of choice. A lion does not try and eat legumes, nor an elephant meat. We believe the best way to communicate with nature, God, is through a liaison: the animals..... Nature hears one voice and obeys it. That is why ten or ten thousand birds may rise from the surface of a lake at the same time and yet never touch one another. Man only hears his own voice. He constantly bumps into another. Even his voice mirrors his erratic walk, jealousy, hate, ego, pride, lying, cheating. He makes his own judgements and falls prey to his greed. Remember, the moon is reflected on one drop of water as is the entire ocean-- so it is with God. He is reflected ins each living thing-- in a grain of sand as the entire shore, one star as the whole universe. Each animal as in all creatures. -Jagrat” — 1 person liked it

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title link	preview: Modoc: The True Story of the Greatest Elephant That Ever Lived
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BBCode	[url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23982.Modoc?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book][img]http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1349030715l/23982.jpg[/img][/url] [url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23982.Modoc?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book]Modoc: The True Story of the Greatest Elephant That Ever Lived by Ralph Helfer[/url]

Modoc: The True Story of the Greatest Elephant That Ever Lived

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