Review - Saroo Brierley: A Long Way Home

Saroo Brierley
A Long Way Home (also titled 'Lion') (4*)

A remarkable true story, recently retold in the film 'Lion', about the search for his birth family by a man from India who years earlier had been adopted by Tasmanian foster parents after becoming hopelessly lost on the Indian railways at the age of five. The book tells the fuller and more accurate version of the incredible story. The writing is fairly artless, but I thoroughly enjoyed this uplifting tale.

Key to star ratings: 5*** wonderful and hope to read again, 5* wonderful, 4* enjoyed it a lot and would recommend, 3* enjoyable/interesting, 2* didn't enjoy, 1* gave up.

Review - Barbara Pym: Quartet in Autumn

Barbara Pym
Quartet in Autumn (4*)

This initially seemed a dull book about four elderly people who work in the same office, all approaching retirement. I picked it up during the process of sorting out books to take to the charity shop, began reading, and was hooked by the author's gentle humour. The author was a favourite of Philip Larkin. This was one of her last novels. It was published in 1977 and made the Booker shortlist.


Key to star ratings: 5*** wonderful and hope to read again, 5* wonderful, 4* enjoyed it a lot and would recommend, 3* enjoyable/interesting, 2* didn't enjoy, 1* gave up.

Previous book reviews