Dear readers,
I hope that you enjoyed my ‘Hippo Love Story’.
Feel free to add your comments on the book and share with all of us about your feelings.
Love
Karen
Latest News from April 2024
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A Hippo Love Story review; 5 stars
This is a wonderful book of courage, determination, ingenuity, strength and love. I highly recommend it to readers who love animals and like adventure stories. The author, Karen Paolillo, lives in Zimbabwe and has labored for decades to protect the animals, especially the hippos, who inhabit the bush area and Turgwe River banks. Karen’s story is one of a strong woman pursuing her life’s work with a passion while trying to maintain her marriage. She writes in such a way that the reader is there with her as she faces and overcomes obstacles presented by nature and by man including drought, flooding, poaching and even politics. One does not need to have a particular affection for hippos to enjoy this book, though hopefully, readers will come away with a greater understanding and appreciation of these magnificent animals. I also hope the book will inspire others, especially the younger generations, to get involved in the preservation of wildlife worldwide by increasing the awareness of the importance of the cause, making donations of time and/or money and, if we are very lucky, a few will follow in Karen’s footsteps.
thank you Gail and I too hope that young generations will be inspired by my book to follow their dreams. Whatever we really want in life is possible but we have to remain focused and determined and never give up. Love Karen and the hippos
I found “A Hippo Love Story” to be a most unique ‘read’. The beginning, which tells the development of their lives that led to the real friendship between you,Karen, and the hippos was fascinating and unbelievable but told in such a real way. This could only increase my kindly feeling for the hippos. The middle section was very sad as it told the horrendous story of their treatment in the wild — men breaking laws with no care for the animals. Toward the end of the book I felt some relief and hope for the work of ‘the Trust’ and your life with the animals — particularly the hippos. It is certainly a story worth telling and worth reading. Hopefully, you’ll continue to feel rewards of your work over so many years.
Dear Alberta I really do thank you for your review of A Hippo Love Story and I appreciate so much that people from the UK, USA, Canada, Netherlands, Zimbabwe and so on are all making their comments which seem to be all positive. It really makes it all so worth while. To write a book and know that it touches people is such an honour that I do not take lightly. Love Karen and the hippos I hope one day I will get to meet more of you wonderful people and not just know you virtually.
Karen what a wonderful story,I never realised what a tough time you had both had. I read the book in one sitting and have now passed it on to my sister.
The book was so descriptive, at times I felt I was there with you.
Karen it is great to know that you felt as if you were here with me that is the best accolade yet. Love Karen and the hippos
Karen Paolillo weaves a unique and richly colorful true story. Her destiny unfolds as Karen and her husband Jean Roger settle on the banks of the Turgwe River in Zimbabwe. Many animal species share this space with them, but a family of hippos become the central key.
Karen’s love of animals and the natural world shine through as she describes this family and her study of them. Her bond with Bob, a magnificent dominant male hippo is so special and endearing. Ultimately Karen not only becomes an expert on wild hippo behavior but becomes their savior.
This story also takes the reader into the heart of Africa, the joys, the beauty and the hardships at times of living so close to the edge. In fact the sheer dangers encountered by Karen and Jean Roger are not from the animals but from man.
Karen was once told she had the courage of a lion. I see this time and again throughout the book, as well as the love and compassion she bestows on the hippos and all the creatures that cross her path.
A remarkable book by a remarkable woman, thank you so much Karen!
Thank you Donna for your comments and for supporting the hippos. Everyone who buys a book is helping the Turgwe Hippos and without you we would not be able to achieve some of the things we have managed to do here. Love Karen and the hippos
I had the pleasure of meeting Karen a few years back when she came to the UK at the invitation of the charity I work for, the Hwange Conservation Society (which helps Hwange National Park, also in Zimbabwe). Karen gave a series of talks about the hippos at various venues around the UK and we received many, many positive comments about her passion for animals in general and for the hippos in particular. This passion and enthusiasm shine through her book. If, like me, you are a committed animal lover, you will find this book fascinating for its observations on animal behaviour; you will also find it both heart-breaking and heart-warming – heart-breaking to read about the cruelties inflicted on those same animals at the hands of man but also heart-warming that there are people like Karen who are prepared to put their lives on the line to help Zimbabwe’s beleaguered wildlife. It is certainly a difficult read at times in the sense that if you love animals you don’t like to think about the terrible things that people can do to them but it is a story that needed to be told so well done to Karen, Jean-Roger and all the people at the Turgwe Hippo Trust – the world needs more people like you!
Anne I have never forgotten your lovely home in the UK and your husbands humour! and also I really enjoyed that talk there which you organised.I thank you for your very kind words and I believe everyone of us makes a difference if we care. You two work so hard for Hwange National Park and I am sure it is appreciated.
Love from me and your adopted hippo Tembia. Karen and the hippos
I had plans to go for a nice walk yesterday then made the mistake of picking up your book to start before I went out – needless to say the walk never happened and neither did any of the other plans for the day. I could not put the book down and in the end my partner took it off me so that we could eat! It is so heartfelt and honest whilst giving a true picture of your lives in Zimbabwe. Having visited you at Hippo Haven recently has helped so much with visualising some of what you are writing about but I cannot imagine how hard it was for you at other times. I have not quite finished the book but felt I needed to leave a comment now to let everyone know how brilliant the book is and how much it has touched me. I will write more once I have finshed. A truly amazing story that I cannot wait to finish but unfortunatley I have to go to work.
Helen I was honoured to introduce you to Banky your adopted hippo and for you and your lovely sister to meet some of the other animals here at the Trust. Then you even came to my book launch and spoilt us with chocolates and kindness, now your review touches me deeply. I hope the end of the book will not disapoint. Thank you Helen and I am sure one day we will see you here again when Banky has grown some more. Love and thanks Karen and the hippos especially Banky
Excellent book. A great story about this wonderful organization and one woman’s constant struggle and work to make it all happen.
Hello Don I am so pleased that you find my book an excellent read and I thank you for taking the time to let me know this. It is the reviews on this site that are something I am turning to more and more of late, as they renew my focus and determination. The hippos thank you as well. Love Karen and the hippos
Bravo Karen and Jean-Roger
You both are heroes, as so ably expressed in your wonderful book Karen, and (obviously) I agree with your comments on that splendid husband of yours.
But seriously it was great to read about your saga and the dedication that involved. really humbling. But also there was almost a feeling of jealousy – that someone could have such a clear vision of what they wanted to do, and the courage and strength to go through with it. I’ve never come within ‘Coo-ee’ (a great OZ expression, denoting both the call and the distance across which it could be heard) of that, in other words so remote as to be not worth considering.
Of course the story had so much meaning for us, having been involved – even if so briefly – with you both and the hippos. Especially Bob. I still remember vividly the day when Karen called for him to show off for me – and he did. I still treasure the photo.
But even though we met you and the hippos, more than once along the Turgwe, there was so much that we did not know, about Bob, about you two, about Roger Whittall’s help, and – more shockingly – about the invasions and the threats. I remember you writing about the snares and poaching but never appreciated the extent of the threats and dangers. The dedication, the courage, the bloody mindedness, the ‘bugger you this is my life my home my work’ attitude. Easy to write, hard to do.
We treasure our copy of the book – and even boast about it and our connection.
Not at all sure we will get to Zim again but we will continue to support your work and the hippos. You shall hear more of us.
Slala gahle, with love and admiration
Penny and Ron
Hi Ron and Penny it meant so much to me that day you a very good and talented Travel writer not only met the hippos, but then did a wonderful piece about them in the UK Sunday Times Newspaper. Was it really over two decades ago! yeeks! thank you for enjoying my book and for your words. You two are remarkable people and both are heroes in your own ways.
Love from me Jean-Roger and of course Mr Tembia hippo your boy! Bob’s son.xxx
Oh Karen, I so enjoyed your Book! … to see you fulfill your Dreams & to NEVER give up in the face of Adversity! … you are one Gutsy Lady Karen & your Story … your Life … made me laugh, cry & hold my breath in fear for you All at times! I really had no idea what your Life really entailed until I read this Book … of course we all follow you on FB, but there’s a difference in seeing some Cute or Sad Pictures to actually knowing what you really have to go through to Save these Wonderful Creatures … We wish you well, keep smiling Karen, you really are a True Inspiration x … EVERYONE SHOULD READ THIS BOOK! & ALSO, IT WOULD MAKE A BRILLIANT FILM…
Jill, thank you as I really love to read that my book inspires. When I gave my book launch the other week in Zimbabwe that was one of the key things I mentioned to all, that each one of us can make such a huge difference if we have the focus and the passion. It can be from cooking, to mothering to race car driving, to dancing, to animal causes, or in helping people. We all can do it we just have to believe. Love and thanks Karen and the hippos
Thank you Jill for your kind words and yep it is life that is so so different from the Country of my birth UK. Yet I know I made the right deci
sion to follow my dreams. Love Karen and the hippos
The new book “A Hippo Love Story” by Karen Paolillo has it all – amazing characters, both human and animal, wild location, adventure, romance (Karen and Jean-Roger, what a powerful, long love), danger, struggle and continuing success at triumphing over same. And its all true! This astounding book written by a compassionate woman about her decades long efforts to protect Turgwe River hippopotamuses in Zimbabwe should be made into a movie. Get to it filmmakers!
Judy, you are another American hippo supporter who I have come to know over the years and hope to one day meet. I thank you so very much for your words and yes a movie would certainly get the Turgwe Hippo Trust right out there. The story is true and at times it would have been much better for our health and sanity if it had been not so real, but we survived and the hippos have to date had 51 babies so that is what counts. Love to you Karen and the hippos