Libro delizioso per chi adora leggere libri di genere inclassificabile ed onnicomprensivi come il sottoscritto. Probabilmente oggi è impossibile immaginare il mondo (e gli zoo!) del tempo senza averlo mai vissuto: in bianco e nero, est ed ovest. Ho pure il sospetto che questo strano libro riesca a raccontare qualcosa di Berlino e del suo carattere che ancora oggi non sono riuscito a comprendere pienamente nonostante sia rimasto affascinato dalla città.
I really liked this book. It is full of funny anecdotes and does a good job of chronicling the parallel and entwined histories of the Berlin Zoo from the Second World War and the Tierpark Friedrichsfelde from its conception to the present day, and it especially takes a closer look at the two zoos during the Cold War and the partition of Berlin. It was fascinating to see how politics played into the running of the zood, and that is still relevant now, though a bit reduced. I was also surprised by how much the very concept of a zoo changed during those years. And then, for Berliners, it will be nice to read about our famous zoo animals, some of which I did still see in the zoo myself. Recommended for those interested in the history of Berlin's zoos, the history of the Berlin Wall, and everyone who wants to read funny stories about animals. :)
"Man wird beiden nur gerecht, wenn man sie in der Zeit sieht, in der sie gelebt haben. Da waren sie zwei große Tiergärtner, die in Zeiten politischer Konfrontation ihre Zoos über die Stadtgrenzen Berlins hinaus berühmt machten. Doch so groß diese beiden kleinen Männer auch einmal waren - irgendwann ist die Zeit über sie hinweggegangen. Was bleibt, ist die Erinnerung an eine Ära, als die Berliner Zoos noch politische Orte waren und der auf der jeweils gegenüberliegenden Seite nur DER ZOO DER ANDEREN war."
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
eine eigentlich nicht uninteressante Geschichte der beiden Berliner Zoos, aber irgendwie hatte ich allein aufgrund des Titels doch etwas ein bisschen amüsanteres erwartet. Nicht schlecht, aber nicht was ich erwartet hatte.