The Zookeeper's Wife

A War Story

By: Diane Ackerman

Narrated by: Suzanne Toren

Length: 10 hrs and 55 mins

Publisher's summary

The New York Times bestseller now a major motion picture starring Jessica Chastain.

A true story in which the keepers of the Warsaw Zoo saved hundreds of people from Nazi hands.

Jan and Antonina Zabinski were Polish Christian zookeepers horrified by Nazi racism, who managed to save over three hundred people. Yet their story has fallen between the seams of history.

Drawing on Antonina’s diary and other historical sources, bestselling naturalist Diane Ackerman vividly re-creates Antonina’s life as “the zookeeper’s wife,” responsible for her own family, the zoo animals, and their “guests”: resistance activists and refugee Jews, many of whom Jan had smuggled from the Warsaw Ghetto.

Jan led a cell of saboteurs, and the Zabinski’s young son risked his life carrying food to the guests, while also tending to an eccentric array of creatures in the house: pigs, hare, muskrat, foxes, and more. With hidden people having animal names and pet animals having human names, it’s a small wonder the zoo’s code name became “The House under a Crazy Star.” Yet there is more to this story than a colorful cast. With her exquisite sensitivity to the natural world, Ackerman explores the role of nature in both kindness and savagery, and she unravels the fascinating and disturbing obsession at the core of Nazism: both a worship of nature and its violation, as humans sought to control the genome of the entire planet.

©2007 Diane Ackerman (P)2007 BBC Audiobooks America

Critic reviews

"Ackerman's writing is viscerally evocative, as in her description of the effects of the German bombing of the zoo area....This suspenseful beautifully crafted story deserves a wide readership." ( Publishers Weekly)
"Ackerman's affecting telling of the heroic Zabinskis' dramatic story illuminates the profound connection between humankind and nature, and celebrates life's beauty, mystery, and tenacity." ( Booklist)

Good, but not great.

Very good story. It didn't have what it takes to MAKE me look for every opportunity to listen to it.

So interesting!

This is a Must Read for history buffs and animals lovers. I loved the narration by the voice actor on Audible.

zookeeper's wife

I watched the movie. I loved the background information and history. The diary parts being read out loud.

Beautifully written but slow moving

This book will probably win literary awards since the writing is excelent and the language is beautiful. That being said, the story itself is very slow moving and I was never able to really feel a connection with the characters. Given the subject matter, I expected some degree of suspense, but it never developed. Some chapters were totally descriptive and interrupted the story line completely. While the reader does a really good job, the presentation is so lyrical it becomes monotonous. Perhaps an abridged version would be a better choice.

LOVED this book.

What did you like best about this story?

I loved the way the author described some of the animals and plants and scenes. I could almost see, smell, taste and feel the things she was describing. Great history lesson also. Makes me want to visit the places she talks about. In fact, I looked it up on the internet.

What does Suzanne Toren bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Loved the authentic accent...beautiful language.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Absolutely.

Any additional comments?

Wonderful book.

Transporting!

So warmly written and beautifully read. I hesitate to oversell, at first the animal discussions seemed excessive, before you know it, you find yourself planning a trip to the zoo or to Warsaw. Thank you for retelling this courageous and inspiring story.

Brings to life an untold story

This narrative is by turns engrossing in describing the risks this courageous family took; and then a bit tedious when covering less than essential side stories (such as the fate of an insect collection or the philosophy of breeding to revive extinct species). Nevertheless it is an important contribution to our knowledge of WW II atrocities.

couldn't put it down

great narrator, beautiful writing, bittersweet story. I finished it in 2 days I couldn't turn it off!
I don't want to see the movie for fear it might not do the book justice.

Dry

Struggled to finish the book. Well written, but seemed superficial. Had a difficult time warming up to the characters.

Let Down

This story bored me. I kept thinking more would happen. Every event only seemed to brush the surface. Too descriptive with no action.