I stupidly thought this was going to be a book about the zoo, with maybe a bit of human drama thrown in, but it was exactly the opposite. I didn't like the characters; I didn't like the plot; and I didn't like the writing style. I struggled to finish it. ( )

Some time ago I went into my local Borders store minus my purse (the safest way to go into Borders, I find). I’d seen this on the shelf, thought it looked interesting and resolved to buy it next time, without bothering to take note of the title or author. So last week when I returned, money burning a hole in my pocket, I couldn’t find it (surprise, surprise). After half an hour of looking, I located the nearest assistant and said “I’m looking for a book about people who look after zoo animals during the war, in Germany, maybe set it 1943.” I felt a little bit like Mr Mann on Little Britain. I was gobsmacked when she actually managed to find it.

Steven Conte’s first book, The Zookeeper’s War is the story of Axel Frey, Director of Bahnhof Zoo in Berlin, and his Australian wife Vera, and their struggle to preserve what’s left of the zoo after numerous bombing raids. As the war continues, the zoo is soon the least of their worries as Axel and Vera are forced to relocate to Reichenbergerstrasse in Kreuzberg, where Vera comes under the suspicion of Frau Ritter, informant of the Gestapo. Finding her nationality a liability and challenged by the presence of POW’s working in the zoo, Vera’s place in Berlin becomes all the more precarious as her friend Flavia speaks openly about the failings of the German army and the idiocy that is the Nazi regime. As the last bastions of Vera’s stability crumble, she finds the motivation to survive in the most unlikely of places.

Erna mopped her mother’s mouth with a handkerchief. A head-cold had mottled Erna’s nose, so that it seemed unrelated to her pale face. She shook her head. ‘Our poor soldiers.’ Her voice barely carried across the table.

‘Not our poor soldiers,’ snapped Frau Ritter. ‘Brave!’

‘Stupid, is how I’d put it,’ said Flavia. ‘Fighting to the death, and for what? The war is lost.’

Vera caught her breath, and the whole table fell silent. Frau Ritter glared. At this late stage it would be hard for her to make a denunciation, but if she succeeded the consequences would be dire. Her husband glanced from side to side, unnerved by such a frank expression of defeatism. Schiefer stooped and re-tied his laces.

Frau Ritter squared her narrow shoulders. ‘I resent that. Who are we to doubt the Führer?’

‘Who are we?’ Flavia replied, mock sweetly. ‘We are the ones with high explosives dropping on our heads.’

The Zookeeper’s War is beautifully written. Whilst the subject matter is often confronting, the book is written in a delicate, almost lyrical way that attempts to protect the reader from the worst of the novel’s atrocities. It is also wonderfully detailed, providing a rich and seemingly accurate depiction of the characters life’s at such a tumultuous time.

But don’t be fooled into thinking that this book will be about the Bahnhof Zoo. As the novel progresses it becomes apparent that the primary theme of the book is in fact the way in which war and its associated stresses impact on personal relationships. The characterisation was quite strong and supported this element of the story — I particularly liked Flavia, and the looming figure of Frau Ritter — however I couldn’t help but feel cheated. I wanted escaped carnivores, medical emergencies and starving animals, though I expect that’s the animal enthusiast coming out in me (and perhaps an unrealised yearning to read Jurassic Park).

Nevertheless, I think the true value of The Zookeeper’s War lies not only in its richly detailed prose, but more so in its ending. I don’t think I’ve read anything quite so haunting — such a beautiful and carefully composed piece of writing, it stayed with me for hours after I finished reading to the point I couldn’t sleep when the time came. For that alone I would recommend this book to everyone, if only to experience what I did in those last few pages. I can’t wait to read Conte’s next book. ( )

I was tricked into thinking this would be more about the Zoo. It wasn't. ( )

A shocking insight, and an extended metaphor, describing into how war impacts the citizens of a (soon to be) defeated country. It took me ages to read this book because of the sense of dread I felt in every few pages. ( )

An interesting book to provoke discussion about collaboration, loyalty, patriotism and 'speciesism.' When people are starving and at risk, should animals be fed and cared for? What moral choices should we make when survival is at risk? ( )