What an inspiring book. I read this for a book club, and thoroughly enjoyed it. Francoise is so impressive in how she managed to carry on her elephant sanctuary after the unexpected loss of her husband.

I hate that stuff like this happens. I want to rescue all the endangered critters on Earth and put them all in one protected place with honorable security and caretakers. Humans can be sooo horrible. But this is a book that, though hard to read, needs to be read, to learn about conservation of these precious animals. Great book.

I loved this book so much, but it hurt my heart to read it. Francoise is the wife of the late Lawrence Anthony, a conservationist who ran the Thula Thula game reserve in the Kwazulu Natal region of South Africa until his death in 2012. After losing her husband, Malby-Anthony must take over the reserve herself, running the business, all while protecting the elephants, rhinos, and hippos from poachers. She focuses a lot on the poaching problem in this book and it is difficult to read if you're an animal lover like myself, but I feel better-informed for doing so. I had no idea of the extent these poachers will go, using drones, hijacked radio signals, and corrupt security guards to locate their targets, breaking through electrified fencing, and leaving the animals to die, all for their horns, tusks, and teeth, which on the black market, can draw a lot of money. This book isn't all doom and gloom though. Francoise tells of the infants she cares for and the relationship she builds with the matriarchs of the herds in her care. It's a heart-warming story, but also realistic, sharing the struggles of running a conservation project. *Advance copy provided by the publisher in exchange for my honest review.

Years ago I read The Elephant Whisperer (by Malby-Anthony’s late husband) and it made me fall even more in love with elephants and dream of visiting Thula Thula. I was thrilled when I received an ARC for the newest book about Thula Thula, this time written by Francoise Malby-Anthony. Her story picks up life in Thula Thula mostly after the passing of Lawrence (her husband). While there are some older events told from her point of view, the majority of the book are new stories from the conservation.

Malby-Anthony gives us a glimpse into the world of elephants, rhinos, and even a baby hippo. Parts of the story were heartbreaking (every instance with poachers made me so angry and teary), but overall this warmed my heart to read about the amazing people helping the animals and also the adorable animals themselves.

I received an advanced copy from the publisher in return for an honest review.

In 1998 Francoise and her husband Lawrence founded a game preserve in South Africa which they named Thula Thula. Their mission was to help an elephant herd. However, when Lawrence dies unexpectedly in 2012 she hardly had time to grieve as there were many gentle creatures who needed help. When an orphaned baby found its way onto the property after its mother was killed for her ivory, Francoise decided to carry on the dream of her late husband by catering to orphaned babies: elephants, rhinos and hippos as well.

Some of this book was sad to read but, it was also insightful, funny at times and heart-warming. A beautiful book that animal lover's who enjoy reuse stories should try.

A must read for anyone that is an animal lover and wants to know more about poachers and wildlife reserves.

Interesting perspective and wonderful addition to the story of Thula Thula. The story is told from the perspective of the management side of conservation with many happy animal adventures thrown in. While not all stories have a happy ending, they provide an honest look at the trials faced by the conservation team at this place in the wild of Africa. Well written and an enjoyable read.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing an ARC copy of the book. The opinions expressed above are my own.

I enjoy books that practically pick you up from your cosy reading spot and drop you into locales far far away and then let you enjoy the sights, sounds and smells that you don't get to experience everyday.

For me, An elephant in my kitchen is such a book. I was at Thula-Thula witnessing the ups and downs that Francoise Malby-Anthony faced while fighting for the welfare and even the lives of her elephants and rhinos. I must say I was a bit disappointed that there was more story about the rhinos than the elephants. I really thought the book would be about elephants that she got to mingle among day in and day out. Instead, she revealed her own discovery why she actually never went on a game drive after her husband died.

Nevertheless, the words that were skilfully used to make the behavior of the mammals seem almost human kept me enthralled. So did the stories about the baby rhinos and elephants though not all had happy endings.

I admire the dedication that went into the conservation of these animals, and I hope they continue with every success. Who knows, one day I may actually get to visit Thula-Thula!

Thank you Netgalley and St Martin's Press for this ARC. This is my honest review.

"An Elephant In My Kitchen" Francoise Malby-Anthony , Katja Willemsen. Truly a beautiful book! Take Francoise, a chic Parisian lady who falls in love with Lawrence Anthony, a conservationist, set in South Africa. Their life as they knew it at the beloved Thula Thula
a game reserve ends with his death. But, she does not let the dream die. The reader will follow along with her as faces adversaries of poachers, saving an elephant family and an orphaned hippo. This is a story of over coming grief and keeping a drea.m alive. And, the connection between man and animal. A story of inspiration and lessons learned. Fall in love with the lushness of Africa. For the lover of nature and animals.

An Elephant in My Kitchen drew me based solely on the cover, if I'm being completely honest. I've always bee fascinated by elephants and the grace and power they exude, and it disgusts me what humans have done to decimate such an incredible animal.
This book follows François on her journey with her late husband Lawrence as they establish Thula Thula, a game reserve in the bush of South Africa.
After suddenly losing Lawarence, François is left to pick up the pieces of her life, far from home and her family, and continue to build the legacy that she began with Lawrence. Despite having the option to pick up and run home at the first difficulty, François stuck it out, creating a legacy of conservation, protection, and rehabilitation for the animals of the bush. Despite the book being aptly titled An Elephant in My Kitchen Thula Thula is so much more than an elephant reserve. Repeatedly we are struck with fear and despair over the length that humans will go to in order to obtain a rhino horn, and François and her team must remain vigilant in protecting Thuba and Ntombi, in addition to all of the other animals who trust them.
As readers we are taken on a rollercoaster journey of learning, heartbreak, pain, joy, and healing, as François describes the ups and downs of establishing a game reserve with little experience doing such a thing. Despite the lack of knowledge, she throws herself wholeheartedly into the endeavor and I couldn't help but find myself holding my breath every time a new orphan came to the orphanage, or an animal was found caught in a snare, or a drone was seen flying over Thula Thula. But mostly I loved experiencing François' adoration for the animals that call the reserve home. It's easy to ascertain the why behind Thula Thula. It's not a money-making business, and it's an all-day-every-day type of venture, but the beauty and serenity of the herd of elephants, or the peacefulness of the rhino pair, or the exuberance of the crash of babies in the orphanage, and even the careening around the kitchen of François' house of several baby elephants described is a beautiful reminder of why we need to protect these precious animals. There is no coming back if we hunt them to extinction. And to deprive the next generation from the opportunity to learn from these creatures is the biggest shame.
An Elephant in My Kitchen is in the similar vein to the Previously reviewed Three Ways to Disappear by Katy Yocum. They are a call to action, a reminder that we need to do everything we can to end the disgusting trade of ivory. Poaching is something that should be unacceptable to everyone in the 21st century. The fact that rhino horns are often chopped off a rhino's face while still alive is barbaric and disgusting. These animals are left to suffer for some made up claim of medicinal properties. Rhino horn does not cure cancer.
Rhino horns, elephant tusks, and hippo teeth belong where nature intended, not where ignorant, barbaric men have decided they can get top dollar.
If you're reading this, please visit the Thula Thula website (linked above), The Elephant Sanctuary, or any other game reserve whose mission is conservation and rehabilitation. Learn more about what you can do to help. We cannot allow these animals to become extinct. Donate, educate, anything helps.

This book should come with a warning: Will make readers want to visit Thula-Thula - caution, expensive trip ahead!

This book is incredible. The author manages to transport you to South Africa right along with her. She explains facts about rhinos, elephants, and hippos very naturally as she is sharing her own learning experiences with the reader. Despite jumping back and forth in time to as she links memories together, there is no disjointedness and the writing flows naturally.

I actually had to make myself put this book down so that I wouldn't finish it too quickly. It is definitely a book to savor.

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This book is another fascinating look into wildlife conservation and what it REALLY takes to do it well. I was moved to tears by this true accounting of the tragedies and hardships of the animals and the people who love them. I also found much joy as Francoise and her teams succeed in doing things that seem impossible to help endangered animals in South Africa. Francoise has the heart of a true warrior as she faces the day to day problems of running such a huge conservation operation, like Thula Thula. She stepped up to the plate, when she was suddenly widowed and found herself alone and in charge of Thula Thula. Anyone with an interest in Elephants or other wildlife will enjoy this book. Anyone who has read her husbands book will want to get there hands on this very adventurous next chapter.

An Elephant in my Kitchen by Françoise Malby-Anthony with Katja Willemsen

You’ll be in heaven with this book if you like big game animals like elephants and rhinos. This straightforward story is thoroughly engaging with great insight to these wonderful creatures.

Françoise, a typical gal from Paris, marries Lawrence, a guy living in South Africa. With a love for animals, they establish a haven for injured wildlife, keeping them safe from poachers. At least, that’s the plan.

At some point, Françoise finds herself running the animal rehab, orphanage and guest lodge on her own with all the possible problems and hardships that entails. Bad weather, poachers, injured and sick animals fill her days. Also running the guest lodge and security team is a mammoth task.

Françoise’s heartwarming book will fill you in on all the details of the special affection and sense of family elephants can show humans.
The perils of life in the bush will astound you. The need for further protection for rhinos and elephants from their greatest predator-mankind-will be clearer than ever.

You will not be untouched by this story of those with whom we share our planet, and those who, against all odds, help care for them.

An Elephant in My Kitchen is a beautiful book. Despite the loss of her husband, Francoise continues the preserve and the wonderful animals it homes. Her stories are heartwarming about the babies they saved and sorrowful for the ones they lost. The attack on the orphanage was heinous and the endless fight against poaching exhausting. I applaud the author and all other like her who fight so hard to keep beautiful animals on this earth. I love the elephant herd and learned so much about those magnificent giants.