Christine's Ark

by John Little

Christine Townend is an extraordinary Australian. Animals and their protection have been her life's work. In the 1980s she founded Animal Liberation in Australia in an attempt to prevent cruel farming practices. It made her a highly controversial figure, yet Christine never turned away from her mission to lessen animal suffering. However, Christine's real lifework was still ahead of her. A visit to India in 1990 offered her the opportunity to run a decrepit animal shelter just outside the city of Jaipur called Help in Suffering. When she first arrived it contained a few stray dogs and the odd goat. Yet from that small star Christine has had an enormous impact on the lives of thousands of animals and the people who rely on animals for their livelihood.

Genres: Nonfiction, India

336 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2006

About the author

There is more than one author by this name in the Goodreads data base.

Reviews

[Kirsti · Rating 5 out of 5]

A sad but uplifting book, about one woman's struggle to find where in this world of suffering she belongs and can offer the most help. She faces opposition from her family, from different government ideals and from the inbuilt Indian traditions and beliefs. Still, she perseveres, and by the end of the book you are hopeful about her works and immensely grateful that there is someone out there helping as she does.

A little confused as to why this book is listed as being authored by Christine Townend herself, as it is in fact written by John Little, and is a biography, not an autobiography. However, this misleading impression doesn't stop the book from being a well written piece, whomever it was written by. I found myself wrapped up in the story, in the animals especially. If you love animals, and biographies about strong women who have made their mark on the world, then this book is for you. Hired from my library, I think I will have to look into buying a copy for myself.

[Decima Regatule · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the best books I've read and a moving story. It is very moving in a sense that Christine is from relatively a well do background and when she decided to leave the well-do upbringing to help in the animal shelter in India and help those who work in the shelter, it takes one to leave your/my comfort zone and do likewise. I'd like to visit India one day.

[Nez · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fantastic read. It is incredibly sad at times but also equally fantastic what Christine and her organisation achieves for animals. It makes you want to go to India to help.

[Milanola · Rating 4 out of 5]

Christine’s Ark sheds light on huge animal and human rights issues and how these might have improved in some parts of the world but also how slow the change can be, no matter if we are talking about developed world or a developing one. But the book highlights the importance of small acts and the effort of starting somewhere, and how animal welfare can be directly connected to quality of human lives.

The book starts explaining the traditional and privileged road of Christine trying to find her dharma, purpose in life, which takes her to India and starts the infatuation and love connection she has with this diverse country. In her memoirs she very honestly describes the raw and brutal experiences and feelings she has about the country over the years and paints a truthful picture of the social and financial injustices in Indian culture and casts, and points out how a household animal and a worker can be the only thing supporting the livelihood of families but because of the lack of education people have a tendency to choose a short term gain and not see the value in investing in and cherishing that source by abusing their chance to nurture and grow that opportunity by taking good care of an animal.

There are several stomach churning tales that make you feel sad about the inequalities in the world but also stories of the everyday heroes who instead of choosing a capital gain, will fight for the rights of those who can’t speak for themselves. Christine goes through her own internal battles of trying to share her maternal love and love and devotion not only with her family but also the creatures who need it the most.

[Diane Morter · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a biography of Christine Townsend written by John Little who also wrote Hospital by the River. Christine devoted her life to animals, founding Animal Liberation Australia in the 1980s and after a visit to India in 1990 she took over a very run-down animal centre called Help in Suffering in Jaipur.
I couldn't help but feel sorry for her husband and sons but she has done amazing work in both Australia and India in helping animals.

[Valerie · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great read ... poignant and spiritually uplifting

[Kate · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a curious story. It was clearly written in admiration of Christine and the tireless work she's done to help the domestic animals of Jaipur, India. But at the same time it's kind of a study of a woman who clearly has some compulsions, if not issues, with life. She gave up an awful lot to pursue her work with animals, including many years with her husband and a relationship with her son and family.

The anecdotes from India were amazing, saddening and distressing. It's a country full of suffering, on so many levels. But there were some great stories too.

[Maggie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank goodness there are people like Christine Townend in this world.

[Nicola · Rating 5 out of 5]

As amazing as I anticipated. This book gave me the last push I needed to finally travel to India. An honest account, at times frustrating but totally uplifting.

[Bettina · Rating 3 out of 5]

It has been at least 4 years since I read this but I am still inspired by what Christine created. Especially her simple, cheap method for spaying stray dogs in India. See workingforanimals.org.au