Reading in the Garden

 Remains of the Day This book immediately struck me as a character study. I didn’t expect much action, and predictably, didn’t get much.  Mostly it was about getting inside a stuffy, dignified butler’s head, listening to his internal dialogue, his thought process, and his many recollections of a thirty-year career, annnnnnnnnnd—I LOVED IT!!  💗 It had such depth and insight that I couldn’t wait to return each day to see what Mr. Stevens would reveal and what the outcome of his quest would be.  I was not disappointed.  In fact, the book stirred me more than I expected.  Yes, those tears fell freely when I wasn’t looking.  It snuck up on me—all of it, all of Mr. Stevens’ days that he shared moved me in some way.   I’m not sure this book is for everyone.  "Boring" is how one friend described it as he politely set it aside. BUT I truly believe if my friend got into his Zen mode and picked it up again, he might—if not quite LOVE it—at least appreciate it.  In my opinion this book

 Winner of a Book! This book is in a league of its own; there isn’t enough space to sing its praises!  A totally immersive story of two giraffes being transported across the US in 1938; it’s wonderfully atmospheric, bringing you right into the Great Depression and flashes of the Dust Bowl.  Even more than that it’s about tragedies, resolve, dreams, and love of life, with connections to animals and our fellow humans. A real winner of a book that will stay with me a long time!  It's based on a the true story of two giraffes who survive the devastating Great Hurricane that hit the East Coast in 1938.  Although one giraffe is injured, both survive and are then transported across the country from New York to California on a truck with special-made cages for them.  They are heading to the San Diego Zoo on the direction of Mrs. Belle Benchley, who was the first female zoo director.  Filled with such heart, this story is not just about the giraffes, dubbed "the Darlings," but abo