October Book Group

On October 15—notice date change—we will travel West with Giraffes to discuss Lynda Rutledge’s novel at St. Matthew’s at 2:30 pm.
 
Woodrow Wilson Nickel, age 105, feels his life ebbing away. But when he learns giraffes are going extinct, he finds himself recalling the unforgettable experience he cannot take to his grave . . . It’s 1938. The Great Depression lingers and world-weary Americans long for wonder. They find it in two giraffes who miraculously survive a hurricane while crossing the Atlantic. What follows is a twelve-day road trip in a custom truck to deliver the first giraffes to the San Diego Zoo. Behind the wheel is the young Dust Bowl rowdy Woody. Inspired by incredible true events, this emotional, rousing tale weaves real-life figures with fictional ones, including the world’s first female zoo director, a crusty old man with a past, a young female photographer with a secret, and assorted reprobates as spotty as the giraffes. Part adventure, part historical saga, and part coming-of-age love story, West with Giraffes explores what it means to be changed by the grace of animals, the kindness of strangers, the passing of time, and a story told before it’s too late.
 
Save the date: On December 10, we will discuss Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver.