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Sara Gruen does get points for an original story. While it was not nearly as captivating as Water For Elephants, it was an interesting change to read a book in which the most important characters were a group of bonobos. Well-researched and carried out, this book poses questions to us all about how we treat animals, especially those who are so close to being human. Do they deserve respect and dignity simply because they are alive, or do they exist solely for our own enjoyment and entertainment?
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This was an excellent book that I started this afternoon and was so hooked that I absolutely had to finish it before bed tonight. Gruen's writing is so descriptive and flowing that I felt like I was right there with Isabel, John, and the bonobos. That she based the book on real-life interactions with these apes is even more impressive, because I'm not terribly familiar with the species and wondered how much of what she had them doing was plausible, and it turns out most of it is. While I am sure
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I loved this book! This is by the author of Water for Elephants, so it has a lot of the research-based animal/human relationships that I enjoy. High drama plus animals plus redemption for all characters make this book amazing!
(warning: there are a few swear words and several sexual references).
(warning: there are a few swear words and several sexual references).
I had a REALLY hard time putting this one down. I was fascinated by the story of the bonobos and I was sucked right into the drama and mystery of the book. I would have appreciated less secondary story (Amanda getting sucked into the new lifestyle? Still not sure why that was in there... Also the meth lab fiasco? A weird, unnecessary addition in my opinion) and even more about the apes! Despite some funny little twists and unnecessary story inclusions, I thoroughly enjoyed the book. It didn't ha
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Oops forgot to review this book...anyway the author is the same author who wrote Water for Elephants which I liked but did not Love like so many others. This book was also in that same category - well written, great characters and very absorbing - but just missing that extra little something that makes it a favorite book! I appreciate when an author gets me interetsed in a subject I previously had little knowledge of and in this case it was the Bonobo apes she writes about (and not just the weir
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Not my favorite Sara Gruen book and her writing in this one seems so different than the other 2. The story itself seemed like parts weren't complete or were tossed in there without reason.
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Ignoring the exaggerated actions of vegan, pro-animal characters (no vegan I have ever met has dumped over the bacon-filled plate of a stranger and shouted, "Don't you know that meat is murder?!"), I liked this book quite a lot. The characters were interesting, the plot line was compelling, and I was never quite sure what would happen next.
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I love books that teach without preaching, and this is one of those.
Good book, but nothing compared to Water for Elephants. Great topic though, made me craving for more bonobos!! Nice story telling, decent characters. But that's it.
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Sep 29, 2010
Erin
marked it as to-read
May 29, 2011
Cheryl
added it
Jul 07, 2011
Tara
rated it
really liked it
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review of another edition
Shelves:
peaked-my-interest,
thoroughly-enjoyed-it
Sep 01, 2011
Kate
marked it as to-read
Sep 27, 2012
Gina
added it
Mar 19, 2015
Brooke
added it
May 02, 2016
Mary
marked it as to-read
Feb 12, 2018
Heather L
marked it as to-read
