Book Notes | 'West with Giraffes'
At age 105, Woodrow Wilson Nickel is living in a nursing home. He decides he needs to write his life story, and what a story it is. It’s the story of a destitute young man during the Great Depression who found a reason to keep living against all odds: driving two giraffes from New York City to San Diego.
The author, Lynda Rutledge, was doing research at the San Diego Zoo when she discovered the remarkable story of two giraffes that came to the U.S. from Africa and arrived during a hurricane. Based on news clippings and copies of telegrams in the zoo’s archives, Rutledge put together a fictional story of a relationship that developed between Woody, the young driver of the transport vehicle, and the giraffes.
Woody is hired by the Old Man, a representative of the zoo, to transport the giraffes to San Diego. We follow them through a number of frightening experiences—attempts by circus employees to steal the giraffes; encounters along the way with a female photographer, Augusta, who was determined to become famous and have a photo spread in Life magazine; a flash flood; and some hair-raising cross-country vehicular problems. Woody and the Old Man develop a good working relationship. They help each other through these trials and finally get to the San Diego Zoo.
After serving in WWII, Woody returns to the States and attempts to find Augusta and the Old Man. He heads to San Diego and is able to spend several years visiting his giraffe friends until he moves into a nursing home where he writes his story. His writings end up in his footlocker, the contents of which are given to a VA liaison.
The members of the UMRA book group liked the book and felt they learned many things about the Dust Bowl days, the hobos Woody and the Old Man encountered on their journey, discrimination experienced by African Americans during that time, and some basic knowledge about the Depression. Some in the group felt the book was improbable at times, and some thought the book was too long. I enjoyed it all. It’s quite a tale.
—Stephanie Daily, UMRA Book Club I member
Book Club I to meet November 18
Fri, Nov 18 2022, 2pm
Stephanie Daily will lead the discussion of West with Giraffes by Lynda Rutledge when the UMRA Book Club meets via Zoom at 2 p.m. on Friday, November 18.
Email Pat Tollefson at [email protected] for more information, including suggestions for starting a new book club.
Upcoming Events
Our July 15 "hike" is going to be a kayaking adventure on Bde Maka Ska (formerly Lake Calhoun) and Lake of the Isles! If you don't have a kayak (or paddleboard), Wheel Fun Rentals, located next to the new concession stand rents single kayaks at $15 an hour and double kayaks at $25. The second hour is free if we rent before noon. Life jackets are provided with the rental.
Laura Ericksen will lead the discussion of How Stella Learned to Talk by Christina Hunger, a true story by a speech-language pathologist who taught her dog, Stella, to communicate using buttons associated with different words.
Our August 5 hike will be a reprise of our hike last summer at William O'Brien State Park. This is a beautiful park with a winding trail and a great view of the countryside. The hike is about 5.5 to 6 miles and we'll go at a moderate pace with frequent water breaks. After the hike, we will eat lunch at Rustic Roots Winery, a half mile north of the park.
Kathy Cramer will lead the discussion of The Bookbinder by Pip Williams, a book set in 1914 Oxford chronicling the life of Peggy who works in the University bindery, but craves a life beyond binding books but to being a scholar herself.
Enjoy a two-hour cruise on the Jonathan Padelford, leaving from the Harriet Island dock in St. Paul, boarding time at 5:30 p.m. We will have a brief program on board by Patrick Nunnally from the River Life Program of the Institute on the Environment.
August 31 is the due date for annual reports and updates. Annual Reports, Toolkits, web page updates, operating document updates and archives collections are all due each year on this date.
Autumn is a wonderful season in Minnesota so plan to join UMRA at the Andersen Horticultural Library at the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum. Kristen Mastel, head librarian and curator, will reveal its treasure trove of publications and artifacts relating to plant history, horticulture, and natural history. After the tour, those who are interested may stay to eat lunch together, sitting outside if the weather is nice. Later, you are invited to a one-hour tram tour of the entire Arboretum that includes natural areas of flowering shrubs, bogs, and forests, family garden and landscaping showpieces, and the red barn farm
After a summer break the UMRA Photo Club will next meet September 10, 2024 in the meeting room of the Hennepin County St. Anthony Branch Library. For those interested in lunch, meet at the Great Dragon at 11:30 am. For September the THEME will be Curves
We will continue to discuss the pros and cons of Medicare Advantage. You will also hear about notable non-health plan and non-broker resources.