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The Zookeeper’s Wife: A War Story Audiobook
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(3.00) - 18,245 listener ratings
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Publisher Description
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.
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"Amazing story about a family non-Jewish zoo owners in Warsaw harboring refugees during WWII. Loads of historical background, as well as quite a bit of zoological info. I think the aspect I'll remember the most is the young son growing up in an atmosphere of trust (his beloved animals) and terror (the German occupiers)."
— Isabelle (4 out of 5 stars)
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“Suzanne Toren’s respectful reading allows the horror of the Holocaust to emanate from the compelling story…Toren skillfully portrays the fear and revulsion expressed by Antonina in her diary and creates convincing accents for the many Polish characters.”
— AudioFile -
“Suzanne Toren deftly reads this account of Jan and Antonina Zabinski…This audio version, brilliantly set and realized and deeply compelling, offers a significant example of courage under fire. The book has also been made into a film.”
— Library Journal (audio review) -
“Ackerman…makes beautiful work of harrowing tales of [her characters’] determination to keep souls alive, in the actual and metaphorical sense both.”
— New York Daily News -
“A true story—of human empathy and its opposite—that is simultaneously grave and exuberant, wise and playful.”
— Washington Post Book World -
“Fresh and compelling…Ackerman has succeeded in a vivid, cinematically written book that’s bound to find its way to the screen.”
— San Francisco Chronicle -
“An inspiring read…may join Schindler's List and Hotel Rwanda as popular accounts of heroism in the face of genocide.”
— Salt Lake Tribune -
“This suspenseful, beautifully crafted story deserves a wide readership.”
— Publishers Weekly (starred review) -
“An exemplary work of scholarship…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 (starred review) -
“Ackerman has done an invaluable service in bringing a little-known story of heroism and compassion to light. Highly recommended.”
— Library Journal
Awards
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A New York Times bestseller
The Zookeeper’s Wife Listener Reviews
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rebecca, 11/3/2022
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" I was very excited to start this book, after hearing the reviews of the movie. I've not seen the movie, but I did not care for the book. The narration was uninspiring, to the point of putting me to sleep! I listen while doing needlework, so I am doing something I enjoy...I don't fall asleep while stitching. "
— Kari A, 6/22/2017 -
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K K , 12/30/2016
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Ann Palms, 9/20/2015
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" This is a fascinating story and I learned a good bit about the occupation of Poland and the Warsaw Ghetto -- but Ackerman is a bit far afield when it comes to telling history and a "story" -- so the jumping around and glossing over information was a negative. The other thing that bothered me throughout the book -- Antonina was terrified of being discovered by the Germans, yet she kept a written diary that survived and is the basis for the book -- just seems odd to me. The tale is heart-wrenching as is the brutality of the treatment of the Poles and the Jews, but ultimately the story illuminates humanity at its best as strangers help strangers and make sacrifices in life-threatening situations. "
— Lisa, 2/13/2014 -
" Not always the best writing, but the story is so intriguing you'll stay with it. Astonishing bravery and resistance in Nazi occupied Poland "
— Mary, 2/12/2014 -
" A curiously flat telling of how a Polish couple worked as part of the underground during World War II and saved hundreds of people (and animals too). A heroic story that deserves a better telling. "
— Holly, 1/29/2014 -
" Not quite as good as you would think. The premise is captivating. But slightly misleading. Though many people were hid in the zookeeper's house during the war, most were stationed there temporarily, en route to permanent hiding places. Also, the writing style was a bit too poetic and flamboyant for my tastes. "
— Peter, 1/22/2014 -
" I really wanted to love this book. I did learn a lot about Warsaw during WWII, so that was cool, but I just couldn't get into her style of writing. It felt random and disjointed. Amazing story though. "
— Kanoobie01, 1/16/2014 -
" I struggled through this book. It didn't hold my interest with all the animal descriptions trying to read between a war story and a zoo story just didn't do it for me. "
— Pam, 1/14/2014 -
" Loved this book. Very clever how they saved people during world war 2. "
— Nancy, 1/3/2014 -
" Eye opening experiences on Warsaw,Poland in WWII. How could the Germans treat the Jews so horribly and how could the Jewish people survive such treatment? "
— Pat, 11/8/2013 -
" Fantastic book. I couldn't put it down...hard to read some parts but the straightforward storytelling style kept me glued to the pages. Amazing story. "
— Marina, 11/7/2013 -
" Great war story that takes place in Warsaw, Poland in 1930-1940's. Surviving Hitler among animals and "Special friends". "
— Rita, 10/17/2013 -
" This was a fascinating and daring story of WWII. "
— Kristina, 4/29/2013 -
" I couldn't get into this book and didn't make it past page 50. "
— Noelle, 12/22/2012 -
" I didn't finish reading this. Would like to go back and finish it but not right now. There is a lot of technical information to wade through but have learned some interesting information about the Jewish Ghettos during the invasion of Poland. "
— Kathy, 6/21/2012 -
" Very interesting view into the war time life of a family in Poland. "
— Yvonne, 3/11/2012 -
" Nice and compelling read, if not a little slow and blunt. "
— Maria, 12/9/2011 -
" When I had tried before I could not read this book because of the names. By listening to this book I was able to read it! "
— Brenda, 9/21/2011 -
" My favorite read from my favorite author. "
— Earle, 8/16/2011 -
" I liked the topic of the book, but didn't care for the author's writing style.... "
— Marla, 7/23/2011 -
" Enjoyed it a lot.. full of humanity. "
— Ruthanne, 6/29/2011 -
" Fascinating! A different view of the Holocaust. "
— Barbara, 6/28/2011 -
" Even though it is an astonishing true story of nazi occupation of Poland, it's not a page-turner. The writing style is an awkward mixture of research and narrative. I can appreciate the author's goal to tell every detail and stay true to the research, though. "
— Brenda, 6/22/2011 -
" It was a bit dry but overall an amazing story and really interested within the context of the war and life in europe. I'd recommend it, i read it while traveling and it was perfect for that. "
— Carla, 6/22/2011 -
" I loved the Author's style. Very descriptive. "
— Mary, 6/21/2011 -
" Probably one of the worst books I've ever read... "
— Donna, 6/18/2011 -
" Historical true story...wish it was written in novel form "
— Patti, 6/16/2011 -
" If you like historical books this one was very touching and gave a literal "bird's eye" view of occupied Poland during WWII. "
— Michele, 6/10/2011 -
" I really enjoy reading the emotional stories of WWII. Unfortunately this book was filled with more boring research than actual plot. Less than 1/4 of the book was interesting to me. "
— Caroline, 6/9/2011 -
" I listened on tape. Another Holocaust book. Great story this one about Warsaw, Poland. Glad I listened on tape because it seemed like it went on and on, but it was also very interesting. "
— Linda, 6/8/2011 -
" This was an aspect of WWII that I had never thought about before. The story was heartbreaking as most stories that from that era are, but the courage and commitment by these zookeepers was inspiring. "
— Lisa, 6/7/2011 -
" Didn't finish it because it was just too sad. Book club for January 2011. "
— Nancy, 6/5/2011 -
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Cindy Toshie, 10/22/2010
About Diane Ackerman
Diane Ackerman is the author of many highly acclaimed works of nonfiction and poetry, including A Natural History of the Senses, a book beloved by millions of readers all over the world, and The Zookeeper’s Wife, a New York Times bestseller which received the Orion Book Award. She has taught at Columbia and Cornell and has been published in the New York Times, Smithsonian, Parade, the New Yorker, and National Geographic.
About Suzanne Toren
Suzanne Toren, award-winning narrator, has over thirty years of experience in narration. She was named a “Golden Voice” by AudioFile magazine in 2019. She has won the American Foundation for the Blind’s Scourby Award for Narrator of the Year, AudioFile magazine named her the 2009 Best Voice in Nonfiction & Culture, and she is the recipient of multiple Earphones Awards. She performs on and off Broadway and in regional theaters and has appeared on Law & Order and in various soap operas.