We Bought a Zoo

The Amazing True Story of a Young Family, a Broken Down Zoo, and the 200 Wild Animals That Change Their Lives Forever

By: Benjamin Mee

Narrated by: Gildart Jackson

Length: 8 hrs and 14 mins

Publisher's summary

Already a BBC documentary miniseries and excerpted in the Guardian, We Bought a Zoo is a profoundly moving portrait of an unforgettable family living in the most extraordinary circumstances. This touching memoir is set to be a major motion picture starring Scarlett Johansson and Matt Damon, in theaters December 23, 2011.

When Benjamin Mee decided to uproot his family and move them to an unlikely new home—a dilapidated zoo in the English countryside where over two hundred exotic animals would be their new neighbors—his friends and colleagues thought he was crazy. But Mee’s dream was to refurbish the zoo and run it as a family business. So in 2006, Mee, his wife and two children, his brother, and his 76-year-old mother moved into the Dartmoor Wildlife Park. Their extended family now included: Solomon, an African lion and scourge of the local golf course; Zak, the rickety alpha wolf, a broadly benevolent dictator clinging to power; Ronnie, a Brazilian tapir, easily capable of killing a man but hopelessly soppy; and Sovereign, a jaguar and would-be ninja, who devised a long-term escape plan and implemented it.

The grand reopening was scheduled for spring, but there was much work to be done and none of it easy for these novice zookeepers. Tigers broke loose, money was tight, the staff grew skeptical, and family tensions reached a boiling point.

Then tragedy struck. Katherine Mee, Benjamin’s wife, had a recurrence of a brain tumor, forcing Benjamin and his two young children to face the heartbreak of illness and the devastating loss of a wife and mother. Inspired by the memory of Katherine and the healing power of the incredible family of animals they had grown to love, Benjamin and his kids resolved to move forward. Today the zoo is a thriving success.

©2008 Benjamin Mee (P)2011 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Critic reviews

“Charming throughout, and touching as well.” ( New York Daily News)

Very enjoyable!

Well written and an interesting story. I’d seen the movie and enjoyed it but the book is much better. I’d love to visit the zoo someday.

Unique story and well worth your credit

What did you like best about this story?

The fact that it was so different from most books I read

Which character ??? as performed by Gildart Jackson ??? was your favorite?

The author

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

The day the zoo finally opened

Any additional comments?

This was such a fascinating story--interesting, funny, poignant and informative. The movie just cannot compare, and I'm surprised the author didn't object.

Much better than movie

The narrative provides information about ecology and zoology that are not in the movie. I appreciate that.

Interesting book story

The narrator is awesome. The story is an interesting tale about a family who purchases a zoo, and the obstacles they have to overcome. I definitely recommend giving this book a go.

Fantastic, funny and extremely well written

Loved this book! A very enjoyable listen. I thoroughly enjoyed the movie but it did not adequately portray the absolutely insurmountable challenges and amazingly colorful characters that made up the actual story. I found myself laughing so hard I was crying through parts of it. I highly recommend it.

Good True Story

What did you like best about We Bought a Zoo? What did you like least?

I didn't know it was a true story. That was pleasing. It was well written and flowed nicely. It was interesting. I have not seen the movie so can't compare, but I don't think the movie had the sadness of his wife's sickness. Not sure, though. I listen to several books per week driving and doing chores. I enjoy a good reader. I feel they make the story. I did not like the reader of this book. I found the voice flat and unimaginative. He did not do female voices well. I never forgot that a male was reading the book. I actually thought it was read by the author (seldom a good idea-most should stick to writing and leave to reading to the pros), until I looked to see. I would probably listen again.

Who was your favorite character and why?

The wife. I liked her positive attitude and tenacity. And the mother. She was interesting. I would have liked to hear more about her. She was very generous and trusting with her life's savings.

What aspect of Gildart Jackson???s performance would you have changed?

I would have found someone else. I did not like his performance at all.

Do you think We Bought a Zoo needs a follow-up book? Why or why not?

If someone else was the reader, I would listen to a follow up. Otherwise-no. I would like to hear more about the family.

Any additional comments?

Get a new reader.

Fabulous

The story was wonderful and the narration was spot on. Catherine would be very proud.

excellent read!!!

wonderful story told very well! engaging and draws you in like you are there!

Fabulous narrator.

He took an interesting story and made it irresistible. A lot went on in the re-opening of this zoo, and it could have been very dry reading. The author did a good job of interspersing the details with bits of humor, drama, and, yes, sadness, while the narrator did a fabulous job bringing the story to life. I wouldn't mind listening to it again, and I hope the author does a sequel, because I'd love to hear more about the zoo now that it has been open for a few years and the changes that have been made. I'll definitely be looking for other books the narrator has done the reading for, too.

Not "G" rated

Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?

Recommended for an adult audience. Although I read the reviews before I downloaded this story for a family road trip, nothing lead me to expect the string of F-bombs and other curse words in the latter half of the story. We had to have a long conversation with our young sons about curse words the day we listened to that part of the story; I considered turning it off, but we elected to finish the story. We did feel that the treatment of the author's wife's illness was well done and explores grief openly.

Did Gildart Jackson do a good job differentiating all the characters? How?

yes

If this book were a movie would you go see it?

Apparently it is a movie, and as per usual Hollywood treatment, the movie is very different from the book.