Genre: Fiction
Rating: 5/5
About The Book
Long ago Andrew made a childhood wish. One he has always kept in a silver box with a too-big lid that falls off. When it finally comes true, he wishes it hadn't...
Long ago Ben dreamed of going to Africa to volunteer at a lion reserve. When he finally goes there, it isn't for the reasons he imagined...
Ben and Andrew keep meeting where they least expect. Some collisions are by design, but are they for a reason? Ben's father would disown him for his relationship with Andrew, so they must hide their love. Andrew is determined to make it work, but secrets from his past threaten to ruin everything.
Ben escapes to Zimbabwe to finally fulfil his lifelong ambition. But will he ever return to England? To Andrew? To the truth?
A dark and poignant drama, The Lion Tamer Who Lost is also a mesmerisingly beautiful love story, with a tragic heart.
My Thoughts
This book has left me without words; delicious and moving, a must read book.
The story is told between memories and the present of our two main characters Ben and Andrew, we don't know which is their relation in the beginning, simply that Ben is enjoying his life dream living in Zimbabwe in a lions' natural reserve while Andrew has stayed in England. Why are they separated?
Ben seems that is running from his past, even if we don't know why, we can sense his sadness and conflict inside him. His family is troubled, his love life is quite a mess, but he loves the lions and is the tamer of one pretty lion cub called Lucy, he hopes she will be free, but will he ever be free of all his fears?
This beautiful love story is told like a tale, it touched me, delighted me and left me without words in the end, because this story can not had a better ending than the one the author had given, not happy, not sad, real. This is what makes this story so powerful and beautiful, because is not simply a story, from now on will be a part of my life.
I would like to share more things about the story with you, but then it will be filled with spoilers, and let me tell you, read this book without knowing anything about it, simply enjoy the read, devour the words and let yourself learn about The Lion Tamer Who Lost, is an amazing book.
About The Author
Louise Beech knew from being small that she wanted to write. She was a columnist for the Hull Daily Mail for ten years, and part of the Mums' Army on BBC Radio Humberside for three. Her short fiction has won the Glass Woman Prize, the Eric Hoffer Award for Prose, and the Aesthetica Creative Works competition, as well as shortlisting for the Bridport Prize twice and being published in a variety of UK magazines. Her debut novel was a Guardian Readers' Pick for 2015 and Maria in the Moon was a Must-Read in Prima, Red and the Sunday Express. Louise lives with her husband and children on the outskirts of Hull – the UK’s 2017 City of Culture – and loves her job as a Front of House Usher at Hull Truck Theatre, where her first play was performed in 2012.
Labels: 2018, Blog Tour, Fiction, Orenda Books, Review
Long ago Andrew made a childhood wish. One he has always kept in a silver box with a too-big lid that falls off. When it finally comes true, he wishes it hadn't...
Louise Beech knew from being small that she wanted to write. She was a columnist for the Hull Daily Mail for ten years, and part of the Mums' Army on BBC Radio Humberside for three. Her short fiction has won the Glass Woman Prize, the Eric Hoffer Award for Prose, and the Aesthetica Creative Works competition, as well as shortlisting for the Bridport Prize twice and being published in a variety of UK magazines. Her debut novel was a Guardian Readers' Pick for 2015 and Maria in the Moon was a Must-Read in Prima, Red and the Sunday Express. Louise lives with her husband and children on the outskirts of Hull – the UK’s 2017 City of Culture – and loves her job as a Front of House Usher at Hull Truck Theatre, where her first play was performed in 2012.