A Zoo in My Luggage

A Zoo in My Luggage by Gerald Durrell  198 pp.

This is the first book of the trilogy The Zoo Memoirs by the naturalist and author, Gerald Durrell, known for the wonderful memoir My Family and Other Animals which inspired the PBS series "The Durrells in Corfu." In 1957 Durrell and his wife traveled to the British Cameroons (now Cameroon) in West Africa to collect animals for the zoo he planned to build in England. The first part of the book involves their adventures there and the sometimes hilarious relationship with the local head man.  The second part covers Durrell's search for a place to build his zoo (something you would think he would have in place before collecting the animals, but that's not how Durrells do things). After much difficulty he managed to find a place on the Channel Island of Jersey where the zoo still exists run by the Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust. Some of the best anecdotes involve a diaper and clothing wearing chimpanzee named Cholmondeley St. John - pronounced Chumley Sinjin who became a regular at a local pub.

Fierce Kingdom

Fierce Kingdom by Gin Phillips, 275 pages

An afternoon at the zoo turns deadly when the kid-friendly attraction becomes the scene of a mass shooting. Fierce Kingdom follows 40-year-old Joan and her 4-year-old Lincoln as they attempt to escape the notice of the shooters during a siege that stretches way longer than the short but devastating events that so often happen. In this tight, gripping thriller, Phillips creates a story that tugs at every protective, parental instinct a reader has while twisting us through the minds of Joan, one of the shooters, and, briefly, two other women caught in the zoo. More than any spooky supernatural story, this is true horror, well done.

The One and Only Ivan

The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate  305 pp.

I love this book! I can't say that about all Newbery Award winners. Applegate was inspired by the true story of Ivan, a gorilla who lived most of his life in a shoddy "circus mall" but now resides in the Atlanta Zoo. The story is told by the fictional Ivan, a gentle, intelligent silverback (mature male) gorilla who has lived in the mall since he was a juvenile. He has two animal friends in an elderly elephant named Stella and a small stray dog named Bob. Ivan is also an artist who creates drawings (mostly bananas) with crayon that are sold in the mall gift shop. When business begins to decline Mack, the not-so-nice owner brings in a baby elephant named Ruby to draw more crowds. Stella, the old elephant, does her best to care for the new baby but she is sickly and doesn't want Ruby to end up spending her life in the dreary existence she herself has experienced. Ivan has human friends in George, the caretaker, and his young daughter Julia, also a budding artist. Julia gives Ivan art supplies that lets him expand his work into markers and fingerpaint. Ivan uses his art to fulfill his promise to Stella that he would find a way to get Ruby away from the mall and back with other elephants. Applegate has written a book where you care about all the characters, even Mack the mall owner. Ivan is given a voice that seems believable and, as I read, I couldn't help but think of Robert, the big Orangutan at the St. Louis Zoo who remembers his frequent visitors and will place his palm against the glass to greet them.This just might be a book club selection for next year.

Life of Pi

Life of Pi/Yann Martel 326 pg.

I've finally gotten on the "Pi" train. I have to say, there were a couple of times when I started the middle section about life in the boat that I could not imagine it being interesting through that whole section...but each time I read this book, I could hardly wait to get back to it.

I am tempted to go right into Martel's new book but it has gotten some spotty reviews and generally, I think it is a bad idea to repeat an author too soon since it often leads to disappointment. Now I'm going to see if I can train my cat to jump through a hoop. - Christa