Bite-sized book reviews
Bite-sized book reviews
A novel, in free verse, based on actual events and records of the first two elephants and their enslaved handler that were brough to the United States in the early 1800’s. It’s a short book, probably took me 90 minutes or so to read. I think it’s a fair assessment to say that I cried through about 85% of that 90 minutes. I’m extremely sensitive to any stories (real or fiction) that have any elements of a lack of compassion to animals. I usually steer away from those topics because I know that is a sensitve subject for me, this book, however, was a book club pick so I powered through. It was really a beautifully done book. Free verse isn’t my favorite medium but I think it added, not detracted, to the storytelling here. It’s definitely a part of history I had never considered before and feel like I’m better for having learned more about the subject. The author states that she did extensive research, but was limited by the lack of documentation on the subject so she did take her own liberties to create a story from the fragments that she gathered. Both elephants die an untimely death, which is heartbreaking, but more heartbreaking is the life they led. Elephants are majestic, deeply caring (I think we can say this without anthropomorphizing based on objectively observable behaviors), intelligent, amazing creatures that deserve our highest respect.