This book caught me by surprise and is not an easy review to write. Michael Ondaatje is a well-known and lauded Canadian author. My interest in the Skin of a Lion was peaked merely because of his name and fame. Reading In the Skin of A Lion did not live up to my expectations of a story well told. It does not follow a linear path, but jumps about from one place to another. The writing of each place, each character and each situation is quite beautiful, full of poetic depth of detail so that I was in each moment. Scenes of loggers, tanners and construction workers who have faded into Canadian history, scenes of romantic relationships, with their attendant struggles and joys seem to have inadequately defined connections to the story’s protagonist. Canadian history, specific to Toronto, mixed with Ondaatje's tapestry of fiction really, to me, define the meat of this story.
Just before I finished reading In the Skin of a Lion, I thought to myself that I would re-read this story so that I could understand it. Not to enjoy it’s beauty again, but to understand it. A second thought I had as I read this book was that it seemed, in parts, quite academic outside of any character’s traits. Then I thought that our book club discussion would clarify The Skin of the Lion for me. It did not. We seemed to be a divided group. Some with my concerns, others thoroughly enjoyed this story despite the apparent flaws of disconnection. Should I quibble about such details?
If you prefer a linear story, this is not the book for you unless you are willing to plumb it’s depths for the story. For me, I may read The Skin of a Lion again and then it will be for a wander with Patrick, the protagonist.
“The first sentence of every novel should be:
Trust me, this will take time but there is order here,
very faint, very human. Meander if you want to get to town.”
~ Michael Ondaatje, The Skin of a Lion
Title: In the Skin of a Lion
Author: Michael Ondaatje
Original Publisher: McClelland & Stewart, Inc. (1987)
First Vintage Canadian Edition - 1996
Copyright: 1987
Format: Soft Cover
ISBN: 0-394-28182-9
Type: Fiction
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