Modoc audiobook

I think this is a wonderful story, but it is not written well at all. This books is written by an animal trainer, and on the one hand, I commend him for doing such a great job, but on the other hand, writing is clearly not his calling.That being said, he is writing a so-called "true story" but most of the book is written from the point of view of someone else, so you lose some of the first hand experience. Therefore, the title character seems to lack feeling and emotion. The author does state at the beginning that he may have added in some of his own parts, obviously conversations, which led me to question a lot of what happened in this book. I think it is an incredible story, and Bram and Modoc went on incredible adventures, but I have to wonder how "true" each parts are. If you move past what is "true" this is really an amazing story of the bond between man and animal, and how smart elephants truly are. Not knowing a lot about elephants, there are very descriptive passages about how elephants are, their abilities, and it is so interesting. I honestly could get past some of the poor writing though and I couldn't put this book down. Of course, it has a happy ending as well, and that always helps.

This book was first published in 1997. I have been looking at it over the last several years promising myself that I would read it. I was fascinated by the cover and the reviews. The cover alone should have you reading the book. My only regret is that I did not read it the first time I saw it."Modoc" is probably the most unusual pet book I have ever read. It is hard to believe that this is a "true story".Bram Gunterstein was the son of a circus animal trainer. He was born on his father's farm and, at the same time, an elephant to be named "Modoc" was born in the farm's barn.Bram and Modoc grew up together and formed a relationship that would be like no other. Bram's father believed that animals were to be trained with kindness and understanding, instead of with a whip. It is this context that Modoc took commands from Bram. Sometimes they seemed to be able to read each other's thoughts.The closing of the circus and Bram's fathers death caused Modoc to be sold to a circus operating in the United States. Bram was not part of the deal and his love for Modoc forced him to stow away on the ship transporting Modoc to the States. The ship runs into a typhoon and is sunk. Modoc and Bram survive and help in the rescue of other passengers. Modoc, at the point of drowning, is saved and both he and Bram are courted as heroes in India.The circus owner, in trying to find Modoc, causes Bram and Modoc to travel to the teak forests of India to work. They are captured by militants and almost die in traversing the mountains in India and engaging in a gunfight between the militants and the Indian Government. Both Modoc and Bram are injured, Modoc seriously, but they both pull through and find themselves attached to the circus in the United States.The book is filled with unbelievable love, caring, and devotion between Bram and Modoc. I cannot imagine or think of a human/animal relationship that even comes close to what they had. A magnificent read for those who just want to read a good book, or one who loves books about animals, or one who likes a book where relationships really matter.

Story Description:Modoc is the joint biography of a man and an elephant born in a small German circus town on the same day in 1896. Bram was the son of an elephant trainer, Modoc the daughter of his prize performer. The boy and animal grew up devoted to each other. When the Wunderzircus was sold to an American, with no provision to take along the human staff, Bram stowed away on the ship to prevent being separated from his beloved Modoc. A shipwreck off the Indian coast and a sojourn with a maharajah were only the beginning of the pair's incredible adventures. They battled bandits, armed revolutionaries, cruel animal trainers, and greedy circus owners in their quest to stay together. They triumphed against the odds and thrilled American circus audiences with Modoc's dazzling solo performances, only to be torn apart with brutal suddenness, seemingly never to meet again. Hollywood animal trainer Ralph Helfer rescued Modoc from ill-treatment and learned her astonishing story when Bram rediscovered her at Helfer's company. His emotional retelling of this true-life adventure epic will make pulses race and bring tears to readers' eyes. My Review:“Modoc is a love story, a gut-wrenching afternoon kind of love story that should not be attempted without a full box if tissues within easy reach.” –Detroit Free Free“…sweeping across the timber land into the gray, misty valleys of the Black Forest…baby sounds! Below the fog layer, the insistent waits a baby could be heard, their temerity as if from Mother Earth herself.And then another voice arose. Deeper, brassy, trumpety, but still a…baby sound.”Thus begins the true story of Modoc. Bram, borne to Josef and Katrina Gutterstein, and named after Josef’s father, was a beautiful baby boy with blonde hair. Bram’s blonde hair and features came from the strong Nordic ide of Katrina’s family, and the sweet and gentle warmth radiated so strongly from Josef’s heritage. They lived in Hangendorf Valley, Germany and Josef just knew that Bram would be would become: “a fine elephant trainer.Josef himself is an elelphant trainer working for a small circus in the nearby town of Hassengross. Emma, had just given birth to her elephant up, “Modoc” and Josef was determined to make Emma’s baby the best trained elephant the world has even seen. If anyone could do it, he could as his whole family was circus and the last three generations were all elephant trainers when Josef’s own son Bram, was old enough, he would be turned over to him from training and he’d follow in his father’s footsteps.I immediately fell in love in love with “Modoc’ and “Bram”. This large mammal and young boy had a bond like no other I’ve ever seen. The closeness, the love, the depth of the relationship was beyond anything I had ever encountered. A most mesmerizing story not to be missed!

Top 5 favorite book!!! I loved it so much!!!!!!!!!!

This is one of my favorite books ever! It tells the story of a boy and an elephant who are born on the same day in Germany in, I think, the 1920's. The boy is the son of an animal trainer and grows up with the circus. When he is a teenager, the circus is sold and he leaves his home and family to stay with the elephant, Modoc. Their bond lasts their entire life and they have all kinds of adventures together ranging from a shipwreck to an Elephantarium in India to a job in a teak forest to running from armed fighters to going to America... Honestly I thought at first that this would just be an okay book -- enjoyable because almost all animal stories are, but just another animal story -- but I was totally wrong; I was captivated by the writing and the story immediately. There is something about the author's style that makes the story sound like it is either translated from another language, or written a long time ago, but I checked both of those things and neither one applies. The whole story has a mystical or spiritual dimension to it, having to do not only with the depth of the human-animal bond but also with a person's own ability to experience emotion and transcendence. I would recommend this book to anyone who loves a good story! (It is supposed to be a true story. I don't know if it is or not; it reads kind of like a make-believe story but at the same time is profoundly true in essence, whether it is true in real life or not.)

Modoc may be one of my favorite books this year. I mean, who can say no to amazing elephants? And this is more than just about an elephant, it's about the greatest elephant that ever lived! Without giving away spoilers, Modoc and Bram's story is one you'll be glad you'd read. You'll cry, you'll be angry, and you'll smile.... a lot.

Wonderful book, beautifully written . Truly a mesmerizing story and very touching. I would read it again. Should be considered a classic.

I loved this book. It is a story about an elephant and a boy born on the same day. It's a story of unconditional love and survival.

Modoc: The True Story of the Greatest Elephant That Ever Lived is one of the greatest stories that has ever been told. It took me a long time to read this book--not because I wasn't into it, but because I kept wanting to postpone the inevitable sob fest that was even referenced in a blurb on the book's cover. I felt such a myriad of emotions throughout the course of Modoc: childlike wonder, nostalgia, heart ache, pure joy, and nearly constant bursts of love.From the Black Forest of Germany, to the rain forests of India, and finally to the hustle and bustle of 1940's New York City, Modoc took me on an adventure I'll never forget and showcased a special bond between man and animal that spanned from birth to death and undoubtedly endures in the afterlife. I can't describe how truly special this book is. I finished it several days ago and just thinking about it in order to write this review has me all tear soaked and snotty again. These tears are the bittersweet kind, I promise. My heart is so full of Modoc, it could just bust. There aren't enough stars in the world for a book like this.

Okay, okay. Ich hab geheult. Nicht nur am Ende, sondern auch immer mal wieder mitten drin. Was ist das? Es tut auf eine verstörende Art und Weise weh, dass dieses Buch jetzt zu Ende ist. Die Freundschaft zwischen einem Elefanten und einem Jungen, die so viele Widrigkeiten überstanden haben, über Kontinente und Jahrzehnte hinweg ... Ah. Ah, mein Herz.Es gab aber ein paar Ungereimtheiten in meinen Augen, deswegen keine vollen 5 Sterne.

Ok, where do I start. A true story. This was a boy who had a best friend who just happened to be an elephant. The continuing story of how short life is for all of us was a background theme. I cried, I laughed, I felt the pain of loss with each successive death of his parents, his friends, Sian. As long as we have someone( Modoc) to help us through the hard times it gets a little easier.

One of the best adventure stories I’ve read in a long time. Heartwarming, suspenseful, and a page turner from page one. I highly recommend this book.

This was such a moving and beautiful story, especially if you love animals.

This book really tugs are your heartstrings 🥺🥺 so sweet and such a beautiful story. The kind of human animal bond that makes you SO JEALOUS.