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curby's review against another edition
emotional
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
4.0
I applaud Laura for what she has done. I couldn’t do it. She wrote a beautiful book describing her experiences in Bolivia at the rehabilitation zoo Her relationship with the puma wayra was special and inspiring.
celtic67's review against another edition
4.0
This was an outstanding book. The likes of which I've never read before. It is a memoir, but much more than just than that. It tells the story of Laura, who tiring of mundane jobs decides to backpack in Bolivia. Whilst there she comes across a flier that tells her about a wildlife park looking for volunteers and decides to give it s go. Another way to fill in a few weeks.
This is where the story really takes off and Laura finds herself having to put up with hardships and learning to care for wild animals. Not only wild but damaged in someway. A book that you learn along with Laura as she faces not only her fears but the fears of the animals she is caring for and trying to understand how they feel. Laura finds herself caring for a puma named Wyra. It is a tale of caution and learning to trust one another.
A book that teaches you as you read. It tells the story of hardships, Forest fires, the illegal animal trade. It tell a tale that makes you angry, sad and despairing of the effect mankind is having on the environment and the natural world.
A tale of Laura, the natural world and maybe all is not lost and we can change the path we seem set upon.
The writing is of an exceptional quality with not a wasted word and is all tied up in a bundle of food for thought. Highly recommended!
This is where the story really takes off and Laura finds herself having to put up with hardships and learning to care for wild animals. Not only wild but damaged in someway. A book that you learn along with Laura as she faces not only her fears but the fears of the animals she is caring for and trying to understand how they feel. Laura finds herself caring for a puma named Wyra. It is a tale of caution and learning to trust one another.
A book that teaches you as you read. It tells the story of hardships, Forest fires, the illegal animal trade. It tell a tale that makes you angry, sad and despairing of the effect mankind is having on the environment and the natural world.
A tale of Laura, the natural world and maybe all is not lost and we can change the path we seem set upon.
The writing is of an exceptional quality with not a wasted word and is all tied up in a bundle of food for thought. Highly recommended!
terrym10's review against another edition
4.0
Oh my goodness, this book brought up so much emotion in me! It’s about a college grad who isn’t happy living the “normal” life she thought was the only path available to her. She finds herself volunteering at a wild animal sanctuary in Bolivia and her life is changed forever in dramatic ways. She is charged with caring for Wayra, a female Puma (mountain lion). The insane living conditions, physical ailments and mental health all of the people there have to deal with is mind-boggling. But it resonated heavily with me. My husband & I quit our jobs & moved to a few acres in rural Nevada at the end of 2020. While our living conditions were nowhere as extreme as the ones described, we had it pretty rough living in a old trailer with our 60-pd dog while remodeling (down to the studs) a 1940 farmhouse all by ourselves. The amount of insects, wildlife and weather took a bit of getting used to, but neither one of us ever considered doing anything different. Once you obtain the mindset of living a true country life (we still don’t have internet) it’s hard to imagine doing anything different. I truly understand the mindset of the people in this book. I think the world would be a better place without all the materialistic things we think we need, that are destroying not only the world, but our mental health. I highly recommend this book to all, but especially to those who find themselves knowing there has to be a better way to live. Do something outside your comfort zone, it might just turn out to be the best thing you’ve ever done!
lastpaige111's review against another edition
5.0
I fell in love with the puma and the girl, and have no idea how the latter tolerated that jungle. One mosquito bite is enough to drive me mad. But back to the puma—long live Wayra! Tonight I’m focusing on the wild fear in and unpredictability of my “domestic” short hair. What if actually none of us is meant to be domesticated? Hmm?
A beautiful, honest, brave book!! Oh, her ability to evoke a place, a mood, an emotion … One caveat: Enter with courage.
A beautiful, honest, brave book!! Oh, her ability to evoke a place, a mood, an emotion … One caveat: Enter with courage.
machster9's review against another edition
4.0
I fell in love with Wayra myself, just reading this book. An honest account of a young woman's time volunteering at a wildlife rescue in Bolivia, describing the good, bad and ugly bits. The difficulties of dealing with the wet season, mosquitoes, lack of electricity and plumbing, poor nutrition, unclean living quarters... You wonder way she stayed - Until you start reading about her experiences with the animals, particularly a female puma named Wayra. A beautiful love story about a broken girl, a broken cat, and the jungle that helped heal both of them.
rebeconda's review against another edition
4.0
I’ve never read anything quite like this. My best description is that it’s a transformative sensory overload memoir/love letter that immerses you in the intimacies of the Bolivian jungle. It is a twitch too long at times but it is an unforgettable portrait of a woman finding herself through falling in love with Wayra, a puma. I hold in me the visceral experience of the jungle and what it means to love and be loved by the more-than-human world.