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What Members Thought
I listened to this book in audio because I needed a book on CD and her other novel Water for Elephants was amazing.
This is no way near the quality of Water for Elephants. In fact if I had not wanted to find out the lights of the bonobo great apes, i would not have finished it. Every chapter which was abot them was wonderful - i cant believe all the things they can do and how they can communicate with each other, with a computer and with humans in sign language. That was fascinating. But I guess ...more
This is no way near the quality of Water for Elephants. In fact if I had not wanted to find out the lights of the bonobo great apes, i would not have finished it. Every chapter which was abot them was wonderful - i cant believe all the things they can do and how they can communicate with each other, with a computer and with humans in sign language. That was fascinating. But I guess ...more
Opened it up and 60 pages later....I guess it kinda sucked me in. GREAT so far!
Really enjoyed this book--despite the fact that the premise initially seemed a little over the top. Once you begin reading, though, it really is quite believable. A great story!
From Publisher's Weekly:
Gruen enjoys minimal luck in trying to recapture the magic of her enormously successful Water for Elephants in this clumsy outing that begins with the bombing of the Great Ape Language Lab, a university research center d ...more
Really enjoyed this book--despite the fact that the premise initially seemed a little over the top. Once you begin reading, though, it really is quite believable. A great story!
From Publisher's Weekly:
Gruen enjoys minimal luck in trying to recapture the magic of her enormously successful Water for Elephants in this clumsy outing that begins with the bombing of the Great Ape Language Lab, a university research center d ...more
Bonobo apes share 98% of humans' DNA. They can be taught many living skills and American sign language. This book follows the story of a group of these apes. The knowledge I gained was fascinating. At times the other story lines became like a soap opera but because of the bonobos the book was great.
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It may come from having a son that was fascinated by primates from the time he was very small (& still visits zoos as an adult) but I enjoyed this book & even its quirkier characters (strippers in a dingy hotel??) I picked it up as I have a hold on Sara Gruen's newest book & thought I'd read this one while I was waiting. It didn't disappoint & if Koko the Gorilla means something to you I think that this book may be worth reading.
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I liked the start of the book, but lost interest after the halfway point. The parts about the apes were interesting to me, but not so much the reporter and people associated with his storyline.
This was an interesting, if a bit bizarre read. I liked the beginning and the end, the middle was a bit long and less engaging.
Sep 19, 2010
MichelleCH
marked it as to-read
Sep 22, 2010
Keith
marked it as to-read
Aug 13, 2011
Amina
marked it as to-read
Jan 18, 2017
Kristi
marked it as to-read
