Entertaining take on the sinking of the Essex. Recommended by A2J. ( )

Some wonderfully poetic writing and evoctive descriptions, particularly of people and smells. It started off in a slightly Dickensian mode but soon went off in other directions entirely. I did find some of the later part of the book dragged slightly -hence 3 rather than 4 stars. I was one of the few that liked it in our book group but it certainly prompted some lively discussion. ( )

Began well - 1850's London, Mr Jamrach and his menagerie of birds and animals for sale.
Degenerates into a very long tale of shipwrecked sailors dying after the ship sinks - after their expedition to collect a komodo dragon (lost overboard). ( )

2.5
Taking into account the subject matter, this was surprisingly lacklustre. I loved the beginning but it just turned into a very a dull adventure on the high seas. I don't even know how that is possible! ( )

This book had me captivated and appalled. I read late into the night and then couldn't sleep.
As an 8 year old, young Jaffy Brown is confronted by a tiger on the streets of London. He reaches out to pat him but ends up in the tiger's maw. He is rescued by Mr Jamrach the owner of the tiger. Jamrach is in the business of importing exotic animals for sale to collectors or zoos. He sees in Jaffy a natural affinity for animals and in recompense for his experience offers him work in his yards. There Jaffy makes friends with Tim Linver and his twin sister Ishbel.
Seven years later, one of Jamrach's customers is prepared to pay for the capture of a dragon for his collection. Jamrach's friend Dan Rymer is the man for the job, an experienced sailor and whaler. He asks the boys to accompany him to help capture and care for the animal on the long voyage. The boys are excited and see it as an opportunity to see the world and have an adventure. What ensues is nothing any of them could have imagined.
The characters in this book are wonderfully drawn, the settings vivid and depictions at times confronting. Although fiction, parts of the story are based on fact. For me it was reminiscent of The North Water. ( )