Another Booker Shortlist. I really enjoyed it. Very unexpectedly satisfying story of a young boy, Jaffy Brown, growing up in the slums of London in the 1800's who links up with a purveyor of exotic animals, Mr. Jamrach. I thought the novel would be about the very Dickensian urchins running about the filthy streets until it suddenly veers off in another direction. When Jaffy 15 he goes to sea with his best friend, Tim, from the Menagerie to hunt for a dragon in the South Pacific on a whaling boat, the Lysander. Not quite a dragon but a sort of enormous very unpleasant reptile that no one has seen before.The rest is too exciting, heartbreaking and enthralling to share.
Reading a little about the book I found out that there was a real Mr. Jamrach who supplied exotic animals to P.T. Barnum and other collectors. The story of what happens on the ship was real also and the dragon it turns out was a Komodo Dragon.
I am now conflicted about the Booker. Jamrach's Managerie or Pigeon English? Impossible to say. Just not Snowdrops!
2 comments:
GTCR...You cracked the bone marrow recommending this truly GREAT book... It was a bloody good read...and meaty too...with gut wrenching tidbits to savor once you're along for the ride.
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