The Tower, the Zoo and the Tortoise

The Tower, the Zoo and the Tortoise (2010) by Julia Stuart. This is a surprisingly delightful book about a Beefeater, or Yeoman Warder, named Balthazer Jones, his wife Hebe, his deceased son Milo, and the "world's oldest tortoise," Mrs. Cook. The story is told tongue-in-cheek, and the humor is so sly that it took me a while to catch on to it. Once you get into the rhythms of the book, however, it is a lot of fun to read. One example: a character who is short is described as a "London Underground ticket inspector of limited height." The book is not all just fun and games, though. Jones and his wife have lost their way as a couple in the wake of their 11-year-old son's death, and Hebe leaves because of it. One of the central story lines of the book involves whether they will ever get back together or not. Another main story line involves the royal menagerie, which for bureaucratic reasons gets moved to the Tower. Balthazer Jones becomes the chief warder in charge of the Menagerie, and rather than resent it he develops an affection for the animals. When I read this book, I was surprised to find myself developing an affection for the characters. It's well written, alternately amusing and moving. Grade: A