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The Tower, the Zoo, and the Tortoise
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The Tower, The Zoo, and the Tortoise by Julia Stewart 4.5 stars
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Karin wrote: "I have to say that I was very happy that I needed a 7 letter title and ..."I hope you needed a 7-WORD title ...
In any case, glad you enjoyed this. I've also read The Matchmaker of Périgord which I found delightful.
Book Concierge wrote: "Karin wrote: "I have to say that I was very happy that I needed a 7 letter title and ..."I hope you needed a 7-WORD title ...
In any case, glad you enjoyed this. I've also read [book:The Matchma..."
Great, because I plan to read it.
Yes, I really enjoyed this novel--poignant, humorous, quirky, sad, happy, fun.
Set primarily in the Tower of London, although also in a few other interesting places around the city, we see a bevvy of wonderful characters. We have a beefeater, Balthazar Jones (named after one of the wiseman) who is asked to care for the Queen's animals, which are to be moved there nearly 200 years after the Tower's menagerie was closed. He and his wife, Hebe (named after the Greek goddess) are each privately grieving for their son, who died several years before, and I thought the handling of this in the midst of all the quirky things was sensitive and well done. We have an erotica writing clergyman, a philandering Ravenmaster, a middle aged ticket inspector hopelessly in love with Hebe's coworker and so on.
I have to say that I was very happy that I needed a 7 letter title and that I chose this one. I plan to read the novel Julia Stuart wrote before this, and then, if there are others, read more by her.