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The Zookeeper's Wife

I've just started The Zookeeper's Wife by Diane Ackerman.  I've read other books by Ackerman, who is primarily known as a science and nature writer. This, however, is a work of history.  Ackerman tells the true story of Warsaw zookeepers Jan and Antonina Zabiniski, who sheltered Jews from the Nazis in their zoo in Warsaw during World War II.

The first few chapters set the scene and introduce readers to the Zabinskis, who seem delightfully eccentric in bonding with the animals under their care. Then Germany invades Poland and their sense of security in their zoo, which they are trying to turn into a really top-notch zoo, is shattered. Early in the book, many of their animals are killed by soldiers.

Ackerman's eye for detail is apparent in this book and I am learning a lot already. She wrote the book based on meticulous research, interviews, Antonina's old diaries, etc.  Through her writing, 1930s and 1940s Poland is truly coming to life for me.  I'll report back after I finish it but I think this is one I'm really going to like.

Juliet, Naked

I recently finished Juliet, Naked by Nick Hornby.  I've read and liked some of Hornby's other books but thought some of them were just so-so.

This, however, may be his best yet.

The story concerns Annie and Duncan, a British couple whose relationship is falling apart. Duncan is obsessed with 80s American musician Tucker Crowe, who was considered a musical genius but then abruptly quit making music and became a recluse.  When Crowe releases his first album in 20 years -- an acoustic ("naked") version of his masterpiece "Juliet" -- Duncan is beyond excited to see something new from his hero but Annie thinks it isn't as good as the original "Juliet". 

Meanwhile, Crowe himself is living a normal life, raising a kid, trying not to think about his glory days but feeling full of self-loathing at having messed up relationships with several ex-wives and older children.

But soon Tucker Crowe himself embarks upon a correspondence with Annie -- which sets the plot in motion.  What I loved about this is that there were a lot of thoughts about, for example, what is the nature of art?  If Crowe's music speaks to Annie differently than to Duncan, what does that say about the way different people respond to works of art?  Is its greatness universal or is it OK that different people interpret it differently?

Anyway, the book had well-drawn characters and some lovely sentence-by-sentence writing -- Hornby has an eye for little details and interesting turns of phrase.  Like I said, this may be his best book yet.