The Zookeeper's Wife: A War Story
by: Diane Ackerman
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Amazon.com Review:
Amazon Significant Seven, September 2007: On the heels of Alan Weisman's The World Without Us I picked up Diane Ackerman's The Zookeepers Wife. Both books take you to Poland's forest primeval, the Bialowieza, and paint a richly textured portrait of a natural world that few of us would recognize. The similarities end there, however, as Ackerman explores how that sense of natural order imploded under the Nazi occupation of Poland. Jan and Antonina Zabiniski--keepers of the Warsaw Zoo who sheltered Jews from the Warsaw ghetto--serve as Ackerman's lens to this moment in time, and she weaves their experiences and reflections so seamlessly into the story that it would be easy to read the book as Antonina's own miraculous memoir. Jan and Antonina's passion for life in all its diversity illustrates ever more powerfully just how narrow the Nazi worldview was, and what tragedy it wreaked. The Zookeepers Wifeis a powerful testament to their courage and--like Irene Nemirovsky's Suite Francaise--brings this period of European history into intimate view. --Anne Bartholomew
Product Description:
A true story—as powerful asSchindler's List—in which the keepersof the Warsaw Zoo saved hundreds of people fromNazi hands.When Germany invaded Poland, Stuka bombersdevastated Warsaw—and the city's zoo along with it. With most of their animals dead, zookeepersJan and Antonina Zabinski began smuggling Jewsinto empty cages. Another dozen "guests" hidinside the Zabinskis' villa, emerging afterdark for dinner, socializing, and, during raremoments of calm, piano concerts. Jan, active inthe Polish resistance, kept ammunition buried in the elephant enclosure and stashed explosives inthe animal hospital. Meanwhile, Antonina kepther unusual household afloat, caring for bothits human and its animal inhabitants—otters, abadger, hyena pups, lynxes.Withher exuberant prose and exquisite sensitivity to the natural world, Diane Ackerman engages usviscerally in the lives of the zoo animals,their keepers, and their hidden visitors. Sheshows us how Antonina refused to give in to thepenetrating fear of discovery, keeping alive anatmosphere of play and innocence even as Europecrumbled around her. 8 pages of illustrations.
Amazon Significant Seven, September 2007: On the heels of Alan Weisman's The World Without Us I picked up Diane Ackerman's The Zookeepers Wife. Both books take you to Poland's forest primeval, the Bialowieza, and paint a richly textured portrait of a natural world that few of us would recognize. The similarities end there, however, as Ackerman explores how that sense of natural order imploded under the Nazi occupation of Poland. Jan and Antonina Zabiniski--keepers of the Warsaw Zoo who sheltered Jews from the Warsaw ghetto--serve as Ackerman's lens to this moment in time, and she weaves their experiences and reflections so seamlessly into the story that it would be easy to read the book as Antonina's own miraculous memoir. Jan and Antonina's passion for life in all its diversity illustrates ever more powerfully just how narrow the Nazi worldview was, and what tragedy it wreaked. The Zookeepers Wifeis a powerful testament to their courage and--like Irene Nemirovsky's Suite Francaise--brings this period of European history into intimate view. --Anne Bartholomew
Product Description:
A true story—as powerful asSchindler's List—in which the keepersof the Warsaw Zoo saved hundreds of people fromNazi hands.When Germany invaded Poland, Stuka bombersdevastated Warsaw—and the city's zoo along with it. With most of their animals dead, zookeepersJan and Antonina Zabinski began smuggling Jewsinto empty cages. Another dozen "guests" hidinside the Zabinskis' villa, emerging afterdark for dinner, socializing, and, during raremoments of calm, piano concerts. Jan, active inthe Polish resistance, kept ammunition buried in the elephant enclosure and stashed explosives inthe animal hospital. Meanwhile, Antonina kepther unusual household afloat, caring for bothits human and its animal inhabitants—otters, abadger, hyena pups, lynxes.Withher exuberant prose and exquisite sensitivity to the natural world, Diane Ackerman engages usviscerally in the lives of the zoo animals,their keepers, and their hidden visitors. Sheshows us how Antonina refused to give in to thepenetrating fear of discovery, keeping alive anatmosphere of play and innocence even as Europecrumbled around her. 8 pages of illustrations.
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Customer Reviews
Average Rating:
Rating: 
- fantastic
I got my promptly.I even recieved an personalized email prior to recieving the book assuring me that if anything was wrong that it would be quickly solved. But, there was nothing wrong the book was in excellent condition.Thank you.
Rating: 
- Interesting but not engaging
Lots of history here and certainly a close look at the Nazi invasion of Poland.The author obviously did much research and it shows.
In spite of the author's attempt to make this book very personal, I felt it almost read more like a history textbook in places.Although Jan and Antonina Zabinski were certainly interesting and admirable, I never felt any kind of real attachment to them.It was always as if I was "looking in" on the events.And, at times, I was simply confused with ... Read More
Rating: - Interesting but long
An interesting story from a different perspective of WW II.There is some difficulty in keeping the characters straight.
Rating: 
- Not what I expected..
I choose this book as my first summer read, as the cover was enticing and the story sounded fascinating.I made it to page 135 and quit.The details in this book (especially the ones that have nothing to do with the story) are dull and boring.I found myself skimming the pages looking for any small piece of action or plot.I would love to read this story by another author, as the story itself is a great piece of history.I do not like to give up, but I simply could not become involved with this ... Read More
Rating: - A gritty book
The Zookeeper's Wife is not for me...at first I liked the author's writing, but then got bogged down in WW2 facts, the politics, and (the deal breaker) awful things that happened to some of the animals...I didn't finish it.It was our book club book, and none of us rated it very highly.
- fantasticI got my promptly.I even recieved an personalized email prior to recieving the book assuring me that if anything was wrong that it would be quickly solved. But, there was nothing wrong the book was in excellent condition.Thank you.
- Interesting but not engagingLots of history here and certainly a close look at the Nazi invasion of Poland.The author obviously did much research and it shows.
In spite of the author's attempt to make this book very personal, I felt it almost read more like a history textbook in places.Although Jan and Antonina Zabinski were certainly interesting and admirable, I never felt any kind of real attachment to them.It was always as if I was "looking in" on the events.And, at times, I was simply confused with ... Read More
- Interesting but longAn interesting story from a different perspective of WW II.There is some difficulty in keeping the characters straight.
- Not what I expected..I choose this book as my first summer read, as the cover was enticing and the story sounded fascinating.I made it to page 135 and quit.The details in this book (especially the ones that have nothing to do with the story) are dull and boring.I found myself skimming the pages looking for any small piece of action or plot.I would love to read this story by another author, as the story itself is a great piece of history.I do not like to give up, but I simply could not become involved with this ... Read More
- A gritty bookThe Zookeeper's Wife is not for me...at first I liked the author's writing, but then got bogged down in WW2 facts, the politics, and (the deal breaker) awful things that happened to some of the animals...I didn't finish it.It was our book club book, and none of us rated it very highly.
