Crossroads discussion

I love animals and I love reading about them as well. Please post your reviews or descriptions of books in this topic.

The Elephant Whisperer
by Lawrence Anthony
4 stars
pp. 368

Lawrence Anthony’s, The Elephant Whisperer, is not just a book about elephants, but also about life on a African conservationist game reserve. This is indeed an intriguing tale for anyone interested in African animals and particularly elephants. We are introduced not only to these wonderful animals but the trials and tribulations of life on a private reserve.

Lawrence Anthony the owner of Thula Thula a conservationist game sanctuary in Zululand, South Africa is offered a herd of rogue elephants if he takes possession of them immediately. He agrees not knowing what is in store for him. The elephants prove to be troublesome on their first arrival, quickly figuring out how to escape and eluding easy capture, but Anthony is unwilling to give up on them which would be a death sentence and works to gain their trust.

The reader learns of the many problems typical on a game sanctuary, as poachers, unexpected crocodiles, black mambos invading bedrooms, animal deaths, floods, brush fires and local tribal politics. It is extremely taxing work which can be quite potentially dangerous. While clearly Anthony thinks a great deal about his abilities and his mission, I cannot help but respect him for his sincerity and passion for his work and the animals in his care.

Have no doubt about it that the star of the show are the elephants and Anthony’s struggle to save their lives and to get to know them as individuals without taking away their integrity as wild animals is heart warming. Nana , the matriarch is a wise and caring leader who makes valuable choices for the herd as a whole. The reader is introduced to each member of the herd and given an opportunity to understand their individual personalities.

The writing while not great literature is an easy read and enjoyable:

“At dusk, animals that lived in the sun went off to sleep wherever they felt safest. The landscape emptied, but not for long. It was soon repopulated under the light of the African stars by creatures of the night. Warthogs gave way to bush pigs with short, stiletto tusks; tawny and martial eagles were replaced by giant eagle owls that scouted the skies on silent wings, swooping down on vondos, plump oversized bush rats whose sluggish vulnerability is countered only by its prolific breeding capacity.”

I would recommend this book to any animal lover.

Gorillas in the Mist
by Dian Fossey
242pp.
4 ★ ★ ★ ★

From 1966 until her death in 1985 Dian Fossey studied the mountain gorillas of the Virunga mountains which extend along the borders of Zaire(known today as the Democratic Republic of the Congo), Rwanda and Uganda. Gorillas in the Mist is Fossey's chronicle of her time spent with the gorillas from 1966 until it was published in 1983.

She began her studies in Zaire but was expelled in 1967 and spent the rest of her time in Rwanda at their national Parc des Volcans at the Karisoke Research Centre which Fossey established. Fossey states "one of the greatest drawbacks of the Virungas is that it is shared by three countries each of which has problems far more urgent than the protection of wild animals."

Gorillas in the Mist provides not just a wonderful picture and insight into the lives of the gorillas, but into the mind of this rare woman who worked with them. Dian was an uncompromising forest who fought like a tiger about what she believed in and held others who she worked with to the same high standard. She typed her field notes on a daily basis and expected the others who she worked with to do the same.

Dian had a great love of animals not just her gorillas. She kept chickens for their eggs but treated them like pets with one of them roosting on the carriage of her typewriter as she typed. When her pet dog is kidnapped by poachers she rustles cattle belonging to villagers and holds them hostage until her dog is returned. When a gorilla is found dead she perfomers and autopsy and then buries them in the gorilla graveyard at the Karisoke research center and this is where she eventually rests. She dedicated the book to some of her favorite gorillas who had died.

Dian was in a fierce and unrelenting war with poachers. She galvanized the Africans who worked with her to go onregular missions to eliminate and destroy the traps set by poachers, not just those which would harm gorillas but would harm any animal. Despite this, many of the gorillas she loved met their fate at the hands of poachers.

Dian was a truly amazing fearless woman who did much to raise awareness and an understanding of the mountain gorillas.

With the gift of hindsight and knowledge of the eventual fate of Dian and the three countries which border the Virungas, the book provides a sad and eerie journey.
posted 4 years ago.

Shuva wrote: "Last year I read two 4 star books on the elephant for a PBT game.
I would recommend To The Elephant Graveyard"

That sounds really good, Thank you! I know so much less about the Asian elephant.

I came across this YouTube clip the other day. I'm ready to book a trip to Zambia.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7C6fD...

Jgrace wrote: "I came across this YouTube clip the other day. I'm ready to book a trip to Zambia.
So much fun! I saw a different clip of that lodge somewhere. Imagine being there.

Booknblues wrote: "The Elephant Whisperer
by Lawrence Anthony
4 stars
pp. 368

Lawrence Anthony’s, The Elephant Whisperer, is not just a book about elephants, but also about life on a African conservat..."

Oh this sounds like a must for me; must check if it's the one I already bought and lent out..

Jgrace wrote: "I came across this YouTube clip the other day. I'm ready to book a trip to Zambia.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7C6fD..."

Amazing! I'd love to stay there!

Paw and Order by Spencer Quinn
★★★.5

Chet and Bernie head to Washington, DC because Bernie is interested in seeing his girlfriend, Suzie Sanchez. Chet doesn’t mind, he likes Suzie and besides, she keeps snacks for him in her car. However, Chet soon finds out that all is not well when they get there. One of Suzie’s sources is murdered and this strange bird with no eyes that no one else notices keeps coming by. When he’s not distracted by thought of food, the scents of members of the nation within a nation (aka dogs) and other doggie things, Chet is tuned into what the humans around him are saying and doing, even if he doesn’t always quite understand what they mean.

I read this because my teen son chose it for me for a holiday gift. To be honest, I expected absolutely nothing from this book, since it’s not something I would normally pick up. However, it did give me some laughs. The story is nothing brilliant, but Quinn does a nice job of writing from the POV of a dog, and if not totally believable, it was doggie enough to be quite fun. I may add this series to my roster of light, funny books to read when I want to give my brain a rest.

Very cool website I may have posted it once on shelfari:

click these pictures