Helpful Score: 2
The story of Antonia, Jan, Rys, and their human and animal companions caught up in a Nazi-controlled Warsaw during WWII is fascinating. Sometimes, however, I was so struck by the beauty of Ackerman's prose, or caught by a word she used that I'd never seen before, that I lost the thread of the narrative. I found that I could only read a few pages a night. Still, this is one of those histories that is written in such a memorable and dramatic way that I'm sure it is slated to become a much-anticipated motion picture. I'm already visualizing Kate Winslet or Tilda Swinton in the role of Antonia.
Helpful Score: 2
Great book! I found the book easy to read and filled with details that added depth and clarity to the story. Many reviews I have read complained about the level of detail and the tangential nature of the writer. I did not find this to be true. If you enjoy historical fiction, especially specific to the Nazi era, this is a great book.
Helpful Score: 2
A beautifully written story of a zookeeper and his wife, not only surviving war-torn Warsaw during World War II, but saving and sheltering about 300 Jews who otherwise would not have survived. I imagine the author's prose to be exactly how this main character would have wanted it written. It's astounding that the story of Antonina Zabinski is not already known the world over, blending a perfect balance of her and her family's personal challenges, the zoo and the war itself. We've all heard of "Schindler's List", but The Zookeeper's Wife not only tells another tale, but makes you realize that there are probably countless other heroes and heroines whose stories from that time might be lost forever.
My only complaint is I wish there was a little more information about Antonina and her life after the war - I don't even know how long she lived or what became of her, and she is far too interesting a person to be left with loose ends.
My only complaint is I wish there was a little more information about Antonina and her life after the war - I don't even know how long she lived or what became of her, and she is far too interesting a person to be left with loose ends.
