#7: The Zookeeper’s Wife by Diane Ackerman

This one took me a while, but I finally finished it. Ackerman writes a twisty turny (not sure those are words) story that follows a Polish family throughout World War II as they hide Jewish individuals in the Warsaw Zoo. It is a true story and because of the courage shown, many lives were saved. The story of the Zoo is a fascinating one in itself and I wish it had been written in pure novel form. The author goes on slight tangents as she tells of other historical events and although they are interesting, it is hard to keep track of where the book is going. There is also quite a bit of lofty language that while pretty, is a little excessive at times. Overall, however, the book tells an inspiring story that shows hope in a time of astounding inhumanity.

Side Note: In the last year or so, I have read The Zookeeper’s Wife, The Memory Keeper’s Daughter, and The Time Traveler’s Wife. What is the deal with this trend? Why to do the titles have to be somebody’s something? Interestingly enough, these main characters that the books are written about are all women. So instead, the titles could be Antonina, Phoebe, or Clare. These women are individuals and deserve a title that respects their strengths, not just their relationship to another person.