West with Giraffes: A Novel

In 1938, New York was hit by a rare hurricane of the size that wasn’t seen again until Hurricane Sandy not long ago. But in 1938 weather forecasting was almost non-existent and it took the city by surprise. Also taken by surprise was a ship entering the harbor with two massive crates on deck, crates too large to fit in the hold, crates that each held a young giraffe. Miraculously, the giraffes survived even as their crates were partially shattered and one received a severe leg wound. The giraffes were to be trucked across America to the San Diego Zoo, at a time long before any Interstate system was even dreamed of and when highways were relatively primitive and road trips were still an adventure. It was also a time when giraffes were a rare sight outside of Africa and little was even known about how to raise and care for them in captivity. After a time of quarantine, followed by a 2-week journey across the continent on a makeshift rig built on the bed of a flatbed truck, the giraffes were delivered to San Diego, one of the most progressive zoos in the world at the time, and directed by a woman, Belle Benchley, though she was not given the title until shortly before her retirement in 1953 because, who ever heard of a woman zoo director? Those are the historical facts. This book is a novel expanding on those facts and what an enjoyable story it is. It starts out in the year 2025 with a healthcare worker at a long-term Veterans Administration elderly care center gathering up the possessions of a recently deceased man. Woodrow Wilson Nickel had lived to the ripe old age of 105, a century and a nickel. In his belongings was a porcelain giraffe from the San Diego Zoo’s gift shop and stack of notebooks and though the notebooks should be considered private, the first lines of the first notebook caught her eye. “Few true friends have I known and two were giraffes . . .” With those lines, she was ensnared and continued to read. And, if you read this book, you will be reading what she read. From the author’s nickname, Woody Nickel, you can guess that while this book is a dramatic story, there is also a touch of whimsy as well. Woody was a young boy living in the Texas panhandle during the Dust Bowl years and watched as the “dust pneumonia” slowly took the lives of his neighbors and his family. As an orphan, he bummed his way to New York to find the only relative that he knew, a cousin working on the docks, but he arrived only a month before the hurricane which also killed his cousin. And yet, as the wind died down and the rain stopped, he was fascinated to see two smashed crates being unloaded which contained the most majestic animal he had ever seen. When he heard that they were going to be taken to California, he knew that he had to follow. Author Lynda Rutledge has crafted a road trip like nothing you have ever imagined. There are dangers around every turn from the winding roads with steep dropoffs across the Shenandoah mountains, the crossing of the Mississippe on a plank “add-on” to a railroad bridge, long stretches across the desert, run-ins with sleazy circus directors who try to “kidnap” the giraffes, and more. There is a bit of romance thrown in with a young woman, Augusta Red, following them in a Packard, trying to get photos to sell to “Life” magazine. And there is the crusty “Old Man” who is tasked with delivering the giraffes. Is this how the journey really happened? I’m sure it is not. It is fictionalized and much is placed in there to make it a good story. And yet, that trip must have truly been an adventure back in 1938, with the Dust Bowl weather system still in force, with the rudimentary roads, with the lack of services for travelers, and with two animals on the back of a truck who are not going to just stand still, who need to be fed and watered, who have very long necks that had to stick out of the top for air. But what this book provides is just a really good story with the ring of truth and where at least the outline is true. It would be hard not to enjoy this book.

West With Giraffes by Lynda Rutledge has all the elements of a great novel: thrills, romance, shootouts, hunger, poverty, temptation, fear, misogyny, racism, fist fights, honor, and love of animals. It is an exciting, heartfelt story based on a real event in history. The author captured the essence of each character in her story. It is an exceptional book.

This is a great story It was a really great read I loved every single bit of it I do not want it to end

Absolutely! Here's a revised version of your book review that incorporates the elements you mentioned:---**Just finished this, and I can confidently say it’s now one of my all-time favorites.**This beautifully written novel unfolds as a life story told from the perspective of an old man, who is not only retelling his past but also writing it down—layering memory with reflection in the most poignant way. Based on historical events, the story is rich with emotional depth, unexpected twists, and moments that truly stir the soul. The ending brought me to tears—so moving, so human. It left me with a sense of joy that touched something deep inside. A powerful, unforgettable read.

Heartwarming, heart breaking, and a grand adventure. I couldn't put it down for wanting to know what could happen next. The writing is honest and lyrical, down to earth and captivating. It's the best storyI've read in a long time.

This is one of the best books I’ve read in years. The history of the times is very well researched and the story telling brings that history home to you, the reader. It’s a book that every animal lover should read, and if you’re not an animal lover you will be by the end of this book.

Transporting via a Truck of two crated giraffes during the height of the depression from New York City to San Diego California’s Zoo sounds boring- but it is NOT.! It is an unpredictable cross country Adventure evoking every human emotion. You will laugh out loud, cry and not be able to turn the page fast enough!

It took me a while to really sink my teeth into it but I’m so glad I stuck with it. A round about love story and coming of age. A beautiful transformation that really gives you all the feels. If you have trouble “pressing on” …this may not be for you but if you can be stick with it, you sure will be glad!