Sunday, February 23, 2020

The Tower, The Zoo, and The Tortoise

Book: The Tower, The Zoo, and The Tortoise
Basic Information : Synopsis : Characters : Expectations : Thoughts : Evaluation : Book Group : New Words : Book References : Good QuotesReferences

Basic Information:
Author: Julia Stuart
Edition: ePub on Libby from the San Francisco Public Library
Publisher: Doubleday
ISBN: 0385533284 (ISBN13: 9780385533287)
Start Date: February 3, 2020
Read Date: February 23, 2020
304 pages
Genre: Fiction
Language Warning: Low
Rated Overall: 2 out of 5


Fiction-Tells a good story: 2 out of 5
Fiction-Character development: 3 out of 5


Synopsis (Caution: Spoiler Alert-Jump to Thoughts):
Setting is in the Tower of London with a Beefeater and his wife being the main characters. He has been delegated the job of bringing back the Royal Menagerie back to the Tower. But he has to deal with the effects of his son’s sudden death a year before which neither him nor his wife wants to address.

There are other characters in this book, such as the Ravenmaster, the barkeeper, a clergyman and the Beefeaters supervisor. Each chapter has several sections, each dealing with a character.

The zoo gets starts, sans a couple animals. It is a big success. But the rift between the Beefeater and his wife widen until they separate. Each realizes that they miss each other.

Buckingham Palace decides that they want to Royal Menagerie back in the London Zoo. And the Beefeater and his wife reunite. The sub stories get tidied up.


Cast of Characters:
See the beginning of the book for this.


Expectations:
  • Recommendation: Laura S, Book Group
  • When: December 2019
  • Date Became Aware of Book: December 2019
  • How come do I want to read this book: Book group selection
  • What do I think I will get out of it?


Thoughts:
You can tell if you will like this book or not from the first page. If after reading it and you think, this is nonsense, rubbish-it is best, by all means, just to put this book down and enjoy some other story. On the other hand, if this thing appeals to you, then this may be your book.

The albatross and Jones seem to be paired-Stuart's way of saying Jones is lost without his wife.

One of the thoughts I was having is that Stuart seems to go overboard with the adjectives. Such as He left the fortress as fast as his excessively long legs could carry him… Why the excessively word? I think she was trying to paint a picture of him. But this quote is in chapter 12. The chaplain is described again this way in 13 and 17-twice. But she has already said this in chapter 4-twice. She also used the word in chapter five to talk about an elephant, I believe, and chapter 12 again about reading a magazine. I guess the thought is to give me a break.

I am under the impression that this is not a book to be read but to be watched. I wondered as I read this story if she was writing with John Cleese in mind? It sort of read like something of a Faulty Towers type story, but without the quality actors to make it pleasurable. I was reminded of a sentence from Annie Dillard, Novels written with film contracts in mind have a faint but unmistakable, and ruinour, odor.

Chapter 1
The chapter opens with Beefeater Batlhazar Jones collecting rainwater samples. It then goes on and talks about some of the characters and the background of the Tower of London.

Beefeater Balthazar Jones collects rainwater, different types of water according to the type of rain.

While ravens are not a major part of this story, they do serve as a backdrop of unpleasantness. There is another side to this story in the book, The Ravenmaster. This is a non-fiction book, told from the Ravenmaster’s perspective.

The Ravenmaster and Jones do not get along due to a raven attacking his turtle, Mrs. Cook. But even before that his wife did not like them. She felt that they got better living accommodations than they did.

I know this is a bit puerile, but Stuart gets points just mentioning a Moleskine journal. Of course she loses points by saying that Jones is recording his types of rain drops in this journal. My thought was, what a waste of a Moleskine.

Chapter 2
Hebe Jones is the wife of Batlhazar Jones. She works in the Underground (subway) Lost and Found. Tells about how he became a Beefeater. Years previous they lost a child-the reason is a mystery until the end of the book. Also talks about the clergyman in the Tower. The Queen has now decided to restore the Royal Menagerie, the zoo at the Tower. Jones will be the head keeper.


She then hunted around, searching amongst the rubble of their relationship for past hurst that she held up again in front of him. A picture of a marriage waiting to be broken apart. When you examine what is wrong and not what is good about your partner.

This is both what could have been right about the book and what is wrong with it. Stuart brings in a character, and I think it is mostly so she can talk about Thomas Crapper. The character Samuel Crapper is a distant descendant of Thomas Crapper. Crapper is known as the inventor of the modern toilet, which is false and Stuart notes that. But what does it matter in this book? It does not. She also gets it wrong that a Sir John Harington dis-according to The Plumber web site, it is an Albert Giblin. But why is Stuart so worked up about this? I do not know.

I learned something new. Elevenses is not just a Tolkien word. Evidently it is very British as Stuart uses it. Originally I thought she was just bringing Tolkien.

Chapter 3
Description of the Underground’s Lost and Found, including the misplaced cremation ashes, an unopened safe, and a magician’s box. Hebe has a co-worker Valerie Jennings. Also a ticket inspector by the name of Arthur Catnip who has a latent interest in Valerie. Describes collecting their son’s remains.

Chapter 4
The Tower Zoo and his involvement is hidden from Jones’ wife. Jones and the chaplain have been friends, but since Jones’ son’s death, they have been drifting apart. The plans for a zoo moves forward.

Chapter 5
Talks about the process of returning lost items to their owners. (Sounds like they have a lot of time to do their jobs.) Preparations for the zoo. A section on Milo’s life at the Tower.

Finally a statement which I can agree to. Jones is remembering a conversation with his son Milo about Sir Walter Raleigh. Potatoes are a questionable vegetable. But, personally, I would have locked up the person discovering brussels sprouts. I so much agree.

Chapter 6
The clergyman write erotic stories on the side. Life at the tavern. The zoo is announced to the other Beefeaters and families. The Ravenmaster is having an affair with the cook.

Chapter 7
The animals arrive at the Tower Zoo. Ruby Dore, unmarried, is pregnant. More Lost and Found. Story of Jones and Hebe’s engagement and Miloo’s birth.

Chapter 8
The penguins are missing.

Chapter 9
The interface with the Crown is informed of the status of the zoo before it opens. Four giraffes were mistakenly taken. Penguins are still missing. Hebe leaves her husband.

Chapter 10
Jones discovers his wife has left. Does not feel like working. More on how he and Hebe got together.

Chapter 11
Hebe wanders the streets of London alone, seemingly misplaced. More Lost&Found stories. Jones wonders what Hebe did last night. Ghost stories of the Tower of London an a need for exorcism.

Chapter 12
The chaplain has started a ministry for those who are engaged in prostitution with the money he received from erotica. He asks Ruby Dore out. More tales from the Lost and Found-including opening of a locked safe. Jones is missing his wife. History of Mrs. Cook, the tortoise.

There is a slam on men. One of the lesser characters notes she doesn't know why men talk about themselves when a story about a parrot would be much more interesting. Funny, and yet, where did this come from?

Hebe says that the only person who can really make her laugh is her husband. But since they lost their son but the laughter has gone out of their lives. And now they have lost each other. This seems like the most depressing line in the whole book. But it is also probably the deepest and most thoughtful line also.

Chapter 13
Looking for Mrs. Cook. Missing his wife still.Time to do the exorcism. The clergyman is making every excuse in the book not to perform one. Hebe is staying at her co-workers place. More Lost and Found stories. Jones goes into Milo’s room for the first time since his death.

Wonder what Stuart’s thoughts on religion is? In a scene where someone wants their place exorcised, the clergyman acts like a dufus. That someone feels like they have been duped during this whole exercise.

Chapter 14
Opens with the Ravenmaster and the Tower’s cook having sex. The Ravenmaster finds one of his raven’s dead. The zoo animals are accused. Jones still misses his wife and writes a love letter and tears it up. More Lost and Found. Somebody has opened the cages to the zoo and the chase for the animals is made.

Chapter 15
Results of the breakout. Ruby Dore finds the chaplain's erotic writings. Hebe rents out a place. More Lost & Found stories.

A good line For years, she [Hebe] and her husband had remained in a state of blissful delusion, seeing many more virtues in each other than really existed. That is a good marriage then.

Chapter 16
As the days go on, Jones is doubting that he and his wife will ever be reunited. The Etruscan shrew dies. The budding love between the clergyman and Ruby Dore is cooling. More Lost & Found stories. Then talking about how Milo died.

Chapter 17
Another Etruscan shrew has been procured. The chaplain talks with Jones about love and his wife. More Lost & Found stories. More emotions on her son’s death The chaplain gets an award for his writing-he dresses up in drag.

As loneliness sets in after Hebe left, Jones realizes that he will never be in bed with anyone else. It is the times apart in which a person realizes how much their spouse means to them. He confesses to the chaplain that he does not know how to love anymore. But in reality, he does as he cares. He just did not show it to Hebe. Maybe not the most pungent of thoughts in the world. And that is the theme of the chapter. When a husband is reunited with his wife’s ashes, he talks with Hebe and notes that they retired to spend time together.

Chapter 18
The decision is made to transfer the menagerie back to the London Zoo. History of the menagerie. And of course, more Lost&Found stories. One of interest to Hebe is a cabinet full of rain samples.

Chapter 19
The removal of the animals affected Jones more than he thought it would.The farewells. Ravenmaster was leaving. The chaplain was leaving-but the relationship with Ruby Dore was picking up. Hebe returns and they clear up the misunderstanding about Milo’s death. His ashes are scattered on the Thames.

Evaluation:
I do not know if this is true or not, but I am under the impression that this is not a book to be read but to be watched. I was reminded of a sentence from Annie Dillard, Novels written with film contracts in mind have a faint but unmistakable, and ruinous, odor. Anyway, that is the impression I am left with after reading this story.

There are  moments where this book is witty and funny. But there is so much of the “strange” that there is little basis in the normal. Also, much of the book is a showcase for how witty the author can be. There are moments where Stuart succeeds, but they do not overcome the rest of the book.

Addendum: I do not know the reason for the question, but it really made me start to wonder. In the Reader’s Guide, there is a question which says: The novel is strewn with historical anecdotes. Which do you think are true, and which do you think the author made up, if any? I have not gone through and checked her references, but it makes me wonder what is true and what is not in the book which she portrays as being historical.

 
Notes from my book group:

When we read The Curious Charms of Arthur Pepper, I asked if it had a “profound” thought in this book? Or is it mostly trying to be a feel good story? What did you find which had depth in the book?

What seemed real about the book and what seemed contrived? (Collecting rainwater samples.)

Did her usage of adjectives work for you? (I am thinking of her repeated use of the same adjective for the same object. For example the excessively long legs of the chaplain.

Is there any symbolism in collecting rainwater?

Did the Lost&Found stories help with the book? Was there a relationship to the stories and the chapters they were in? Did they add to the characters?

How did Beefeater Jones cope with becoming the royal menagerie keeper? What do you think it would take to be it?

Did her humor work? How did the heartache and humor intertwine?

Was the loss of Milo portrayed realistically?

What do you think about the line For years, she [Hebe] and her husband had remained in a state of blissful delusion, seeing many more virtues in each other than really existed.?

Do you think Hebe’s reasons for leaving Balthazar Jones were plausible? What were they?

And then there is the Rev Drew and his erotica stories. Is there a contradiction in narratives? Are these reconciled? If so how? If not, then does the tension add to the story?

After going out a few times, the chaplain and Ruby Dore get cold towards each other. Why do they get back together? Is the author trying to tell us something?

Does Stuart present any serious ideas about what she thinks of religion? If so, what are they?

The novel is strewn with historical anecdotes. Which do you think are true, and which do you think the author made up, if any? {Reader’s Guide Question] How do we know the difference? If there are false narratives in the story, how does it make you feel about the author’s integrity?

Jones realizes that he does not know how to love. What is the chaplain's response? What would your response be?

How does this book bring closure?

Many of these questions are either from or adapted from LitLovers.
  • Why the title of The Tower, the Zoo, and the Tortoise?
  • Does this story work?
  • Did the ending seem fitting? Satisfying? Predictable?
  • Which character was the most convincing? Least?
    • Which character did you identify with?
    • Which one did you dislike?
  • Every story has a world view. Were you able to identify this story’s world view? What was it? How did it affect the story?
  • In what context was religion talked about in this book?
  • Was there anybody you would consider religious?
    • How did they show it?
    • Was the book overtly religious?
    • How did it affect the books story?
  • Why do you think the author wrote this book?
  • What would you ask the author if you had a chance?
  • What “take aways” did you have from this book?
  • Describe the culture talked about in the book.
    • How is the culture described in this book different from where we live?
  • How did this book affect your view of the world?
    • Of how God is viewed?
    • What questions did you ask yourself after reading this book?
  • Talk about specific passages that struck you as significant—or interesting, profound, amusing, illuminating, disturbing, sad...?
    • What was memorable?
by Julia Stuart

1. While filled with humour, The Tower, the Zoo and the Tortoise has an undercurrent of heartache. Why do you think the author included the tragic element --- could the story have survived without it?

2. The novel is strewn with historical anecdotes. Which do you think are true, and which do you think the author made up, if any?

3. Much is made of British humour. Do you think that there is any difference between British and American humour? If so, how is it demonstrated in the book?

4. Explain the correlation between Balthazar’s inability to cry about Milo’s death and his obsession with collecting rain drops.

5. Hebe Jones sarcastically states that “It’s every woman’s dream to live in a castle.” (p. 22) How is this statement not true for Hebe. What do you think is Hebe’s dream?

6. What is the main attraction between Arthur Catnip and Valerie Jennings? How are they a well-suited match?

7. How is the lost safe significant to Hebe and Valerie? Is their any significance to the timing of when the lock is opened?

8. Reverend Septimus Drew seems to be a walking contradiction. Outside of his hidden hobby, what else is surprising/contradictory about his character?

9. All of the characters seem to be in search of something --- whether lost love, items, loved ones, or animals. Who do you think is the most fulfilled character in the book, if there is any? Why?

10. Sir Walter Raleigh and many other spirits claim to haunt the Tower. What element do these ghosts add to the book? Is it more spiritual or superstitious?

11. What is the significance of the urn that Hebe finds in London Underground’s Lost Property Office? Why is she so resolved to find its owner?

12. Explain how infidelity affects various characters in the book.

13. How does working in the menagerie make Balthazar feel closer to Milo?

14. What role does Mrs. Cook play in the novel? She is in part responsible for Balthazar’s job at the menagerie --- how else has she played an integral role in Hebe and Balthazar’s lives?

15. What role does storytelling and letter writing play in the book? Balthazar won both Hebe and Milo’s hearts with his grand storytelling. Who else from the Tower is a raconteur?


New Words:
  • Parapet (1): a low protective wall along the edge of a roof, bridge, or balcony.
  • Snub-nosed monkey (2): Snub-nosed monkeys live in Asia, with a range covering southern China (especially Tibet, Sichuan, Yunnan, and Guizhou) as well as the northern parts of Myanmar. Wikipedia
  • Elevenses (2): a short break for light refreshments, usually with tea or coffee, taken about eleven o'clock in the morning.
  • Eau du toilette (2): literally translated as toilet water (but more appropriately described as "grooming water") is a lightly scented cologne used as a skin freshener.
  • Mousaka (6): is an eggplant- (aubergine) or potato-based dish, often including ground meat, in the Levant, Middle East, and Balkans, with many local and regional variations. Wikipedia
  • Hirsute (7): hairy.
  • Flagrante (9): blatant
  • Japonicas (15): common camellia
  • Froideur (16): coolness or reserve between people.
  • Bergamot (17): the bergamot orange, is a fragrant citrus fruit the size of an orange
  • Plie (18): a movement in which a dancer bends the knees and straightens them again, usually with the feet turned out and heels firmly on the ground.
  • Zorilla (18): also known as the African Skunk, African polecat, Cape Pole Cat, zoril or zorille. In Spanish, the name “Zorro” means Fox and this is the word that name Zorilla has been derived from. It is nocturnal and likes to live in rocks and crevices.
Book References:

Good Quotes:
  • First Line: Beef*eat*er \’be-fe-ter\: the popular name for the official guardians of the Tower of London.
  • Last Line: And such was their contentment, neither of them heard the creaks as Mrs. Cook returned from her travels, an odious black feather still caught in her ancient mouth.
  • We can judge the heart of a man by his treatment of animals. Immanuel Kant, Lectures on Ethics

References:

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