I've always had an interest in "Big Cats." When I was younger I often wondered what it would be like to have a tiger as a pet and when I am at the zoo I rarely leave without a visit to the lions, tigers, and other assorted cats. So, when I was at the library a while back, Zamba: The True Story of the Greatest Lion That Ever Lived, boasting a large lion and a small girl on the cover was hard not to notice.
I carried it down stairs while the boys played and flipped through, reading through chapter 17 first - I was hooked. I took the book home and flew though the pages, finishing the book in 3 days. By far, this is the best book that I have read this year and one of the best books that I have ever read.
The writing is down to earth and very conversational, which may turn some people off. Zamba is also about doing something no one should ever do - have an exotic animal for a pet; so that may turn off some readers as well. However, if you can get past those two minor hurdles, you're in for a treat. I laughed, I cried, and I couldn't get the story out of my mind.
Author Ralph Helfer was the first person to use affection based training on Hollywood animals and in doing, revolutionized the industry. The level of trust that developed between him and Zamba makes the story almost unbelievable. The love and the care that they show one another as they face floods, Africa, and the movie industry pulls you into the story, encouraging you to root for, fear for, and care for Zamba even though you have never met.
Rarely does a book pull as much emotion from me as this. Twice, I cried - once almost uncontrollably sobbing as I worked my way through the pages seeking a happy outcome. At times, I was angry or disappointed at the turn of events but remembered that this is a true story and not every subplot will have a happy ending. As I think about how this book spoke to me, I realize that I will be tempted to ramble, so let me close this review with a question. After Zamba loses his sight, Henry wonders why animals are so accepting of their circumstance:
Why is it that animals have attained such perfection in their existence, while man has never known anything even approaching such tranquility? I have always believed that animals listen to one perfect voice - nature's voice - and do as it bids them. We, on the other hand, listen only to ourselves, and we do as we please. Our ego, our pride, is our instructor, and that force is so powerful that it can make us ignore the reality presented to us by our intellects, and by common sense. It forces us to live superficially, driven by personality, not character.
After lunch today Kevin and I stopped by Barnes & Noble. I planned to let him browse the children's section for about an hour while I did some work. As it turned out, we were there less than 30 minutes. In that time, Kevin read 10 books, then one more as he was putting the books away.
