[Subdue]West with Giraffes, by Lynda Rutledge, 3 stars

[NancyJ]

This book provides a colorful view of the Great Depression as two men drive a pair of Giraffes from the East Coast to the San Diego Zoo. Supplemented by historical newspaper reports of PR trip across the nation, we learn about a (fictional) trip that didn't go quite as smoothly as reported. Many townspeople and motorists along the way were charmed to be able to see real-life giraffes up close. But the trip itself was full of grueling adventures and secret stories that would not be told. Woody Nickel was a 17 year old orphan who wanted to go to California when he met the giraffes and a red headed photographer who followed them taking pictures of the Giraffe. Many years later Woody is living in a nursing home when he decides to tell his story to an unknown woman, while seeing a giraffe out his window.

Woody is driving for Mr Jones, who works for the San Diego Zoo. I enjoyed hearing stories about the zoo and its famous female director Mrs Benchley. He began working with animals in a circus where the conditions for animals were quite different. This was interesting, and it reminded me of a circus book I read years ago. Coincidentally, this morning my mother wanted to reminisce about her childhood in the 30's, when her father owned carnival rides. When she was a little older she give kids horseback rides, and ran the cotton candy machine.