Wait, what was that? This blog isn't only about novels? You're kidding me. I know, I know. I say I read other stuff, but novels are really my first love. And I'd love to be all high brow here, but really I borrowed this book from my mom's shelf thinking it WAS a novel. With a name like The Zookeeper's Wife, it sure sounds like one. There have been so many "wife" books: Ahab's Wife, The Time Traveler's Wife, The Pilot's Wife, to name a few. (Hmmm...maybe my future novel should have wife in the title.) But you see my point. And the good thing is, this historical account really does read like a novel most of the time. Written based on many first hand accounts and journals, it contains descriptions, dialogue, and thoughts that make the story very real.
The zookeeper mentioned is Jan Zabinski of the Warsaw Zoo in Poland. Along with his wife, Antonina, Jan creates an oasis for animals, animal lovers, and culture at the zoo. The beginning of the book describes the Zabinski's idyllic, slightly odd family life as they live in and run the zoo. When the Germans invade Poland and the zoo is bombed and ransacked, the Zabinskis turn the tunnels, cages, and their home into an oasis of a different sort-- they hide Jews. Hundreds of refugees hide in their keeping during the war, some for a short time before moving on to more permanent hiding places, and some for almost the duration of the war. Jan is also part of the undergroup resistance, a connection that helps the family feed and move the refugees, but also brings them into more danger at time.
One of the reviews of the book calls it a lovely story about the Holocaust, which seems a contradiction, but it's true. The book, like the zoo, is full of the art and culture of Poland, which never interested me before but now sounds so appealing. Ackerman also goes into detail about a number of other topics involved in the war, such as the Nazis' fascination with the blood lines of animals and people and the scientific developments of the time period. Most are interesting; some are distracting.
Even with as many rabbit trails as Ackerman explores, Antonina is clearly the central figure in the story. Jan is the official zookeeper, hence Antonina is, in name, just the zookeeper's wife. But in both the zoo and the resistance, she is much more than this submissive and subjugated person. She is the heartbeat of the family, the provider of emotional and physical needs, a tireless worker for the zoo and refugees, and just as brave as her husband in the face of extreme adversity. Ackerman often refers to Antonina's almost supernatural connection with animals and ability to calm both animals and humans. More than once, Antonina faces a marauding soldier and mentally wills him to back down. She IS the resistance. Actually, this makes me think I will NEVER title a book of mine "someone's wife."
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