We Bought a Zoo

Author: Benjamin Mee
Published: 2008
Genres: Narrative non-fiction
Rating: 4

Summary
In the market for a house and an adventure, Benjamin Mee moved his family to an unlikely new home: a dilapidated zoo in the English countryside. Mee had a dream to refurbish the zoo and run it as a family business. His friends and colleagues thought he was crazy.

Nothing was easy, given the family’s lack of experience as zookeepers, and what follows is a magical exploration of the mysteries of the animal kingdom, the power of family, and the triumph of hope over tragedy.

Review
The prose is colloquial and flows well, and the story is compelling. I was particularly fascinated by learning about the animal's personalities and experiences. This is a story that will stay with me for a long time.

My one complaint is the smattering of a very strong expletive in the second half of the book. If you read this book, be prepared for that foul language; and I recommend skipping the section titled "Tourette Tony."

Note: The story was documented by BBC2, and you can view those episodes online.

Book Ratings

For each entry on the blog, I will give the book a rating from 1 to 5 as follows:

1 I disliked the book so much I didn't even finish it.
2 I am not likely to recommend this book to anyone.
3 This books was acceptable: not great literature but worth the time.
4 I really enjoyed most aspects of this book.
5 This is one of my favorite recent reads.