We hope you will find at least a book or two to read from these selections.
.
Diane Ackerman. W. W. Norton & Company. New York, NY. 2007. Book review by Jane
Another story that is stranger than fiction, this book is an account based on the memoirs of Antonina Zabinski and other references left over from Poland during World War II from right before the onset of the war to after the Polish Uprising demonstrated by the Polish people against the Nazis. The zookeeper's wife was an ordinary person who happened to have special gifts that extended to the emotions of people and animals; calming and convincing everyone everything was all right when needed, while at other times, soothing and protective. She had a small family--Jan her husband, and one young boy who was accompanied by a newborn sister well into the war. (Ms. Ackerman pointed out that many families were not having children during this time.) Through her husband Jan, she started to acquire more animals and people into her household as the war progressed. The people were Jewish and would have secret animal names. The animals in the house often had human names, which was interesting. This setup allowed Jan to help in managing an Underground that bombed and sabotaged the invader's interests and helped provide much needed provisions to the people in the Warsaw Ghetto and some to escape through a brief stay at the zoo. Jan often became very serious at times with the weight of his secrets. The whole place could be anxious, but also there was joy in the household as well. It was amazing the way that Antonina kept spirits up around her, especially in all that she had lost--the zoo gutted and her beloved zoo animals killed or taken during the war.
There is quite a bit of information about the Nazis and their purpose in Poland in the book. Another subject that was well covered was the Nazi interest in Bialowieza, the ancient protected forest that (still) exists in Poland. Jan was also interested in the animals that resided there. The Zabinskis and people they sheltered were all brave, and one thing that stands out is the risks they took and the close calls they had. By all accounts, they got away repeatedly, and they escaped discovery through quick thinking and the natural qualities that Antonina had of persuasion. This is not to play down Jan and her amazing son, either. Jan was obviously a natural born leader and used his skills for the benefit of others and animals alike. The son is still living and the author visited him for information about the book.
If you know very little about Poland during World War II, this book will enlighten you. If you think you know about World War II, I suggest you read this book and get a glimpse of the human side of Poland during the war and what people can be even while suffering great loss. Keep the book in your library and pass it down as a great history lesson.
Jane.
Visit Book Reader's Traverse Home Page for more selections.
E-mail
This Page
Free JavaScripts
provided
by The JavaScript Source
by The JavaScript Source
Would you like to see more reviews like this one? Jane of Book Reader's Traverse prefers to scan the library database for books to read, grabbing titles from many sources. She reviews many non-fiction titles, as well as some fiction of the day. Visit her picks page for her bio and other reviews--Jane's Picks.
Read Behind the Scenes at Book Reader's Traverse--blog
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
©2004-2008 by Book Reader's Traverse. All rights reserved.
