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Baba's Reviews > Lion: A Long Way Home
Lion: A Long Way Home
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It's India in the 1980s and Saroo, his siblings and his mum live in extreme poverty sharing a single room with only a single shelf as furniture; mum and older brother get work that pays very little, and the rest of the time the mother and kids have to beg, borrow or steal to survive. One night, on an adventure with his older brother, Saroo finds himself stuck on a train and travelling hundreds and hundreds of miles away from his home. With no resources, completely lost and alone, Saroo has to eke out some kind of living on the streets of Calcutta (now know as Kolkata)... oh... as I have yet to mention his age... he was five years old!
The memoir follows Saroo's life of poverty at home, to living on the streets of Kolkata, through to his getting adopted, and then on to his search for his family as an adult. Overall it is an uplifting story that pays tribute to Saroo's luck as much as his competency; it also give a huge nod to the power of acts of kindness. The book was co-written by Larry Buttrose, which may explain that even though the narration is very personalised, it feels distant. 8 out of 12, for the story itself, maybe a lot less for the writing.
The memoir follows Saroo's life of poverty at home, to living on the streets of Kolkata, through to his getting adopted, and then on to his search for his family as an adult. Overall it is an uplifting story that pays tribute to Saroo's luck as much as his competency; it also give a huge nod to the power of acts of kindness. The book was co-written by Larry Buttrose, which may explain that even though the narration is very personalised, it feels distant. 8 out of 12, for the story itself, maybe a lot less for the writing.
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Reading Progress
June 26, 2021
–
Started Reading
June 26, 2021
– Shelved
June 26, 2021
– Shelved as:
biog-or-memoir
June 27, 2021
–
Finished Reading
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Prabhjot
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Jun 27, 2021 06:20AM
Just reading your review is making me emotional Baba. Stellar review. Have you watched the movie based on this?
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Thanks Parbhjot, I haven't seen the film, and hadn't heard of it before reading the book (I rarely watch films!).
Good and affecting review here, Baba. I found Saroo to be such an incredibly resourceful child. Not sure many could do what he did at only 5 years of age.
Ron wrote: "Good and affecting review here, Baba. I found Saroo to be such an incredibly resourceful child. Not sure many could do what he did at only 5 years of age."Agreed Ron, although I do get the sense that children raised in extreme poverty (wherever in the world) have to grow up a lot faster just to survive!
Wonderful review, Baba! After watching the movie 4 times, I thought I better read the book. Both are so heartbreaking!
Debbie wrote: "Wonderful review, Baba! After watching the movie 4 times, I thought I better read the book. Both are so heartbreaking!"Thank you Debbie! Oh wow... I am hearing so much from people on Instagram about the movie! Four times! I hope you found it as life affirming as you found it heartbreaking? :)
I enjoyed your review and the memories that it led me to about the movie. I'll be adding this now, thanks.
The gifs 🥺🥺😠great review!!
Excellent review Baba ! Hope the book's gonna be so much better than the movie already was . Adding this one to my long tbr-list.😊
Peachy wrote: "I enjoyed your review and the memories that it led me to about the movie. I'll be adding this now, thanks."I hope you enjoy it Peachy :)
nitya wrote: "The gifs 🥺🥺😠great review!!"Great GIFs right! :)
Lieve wrote: "Excellent review Baba ! Hope the book's gonna be so much better than the movie already was . Adding this one to my long tbr-list.😊"Good luck with your long TBR Lieve,,, and thank you for your kind words :)
