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A review by kelly_inthe419
The Lioness by Chris Bohjalian
3.0
This may be a bit of an unpopular opinion, but the Lioness was just an "okay" read for me despite having a nearly 4-star rating on Goodreads. I seem to have an up and down relationship with Chris Bohjalian's books. Some I have loved and would absolutely recommend (Skeletons at the Feast, Sandcastle Girls) and some that I didn't think were nearly as good. Unfortunately, The Lioness falls into the second category for me.
There were a lot of characters and each chapter was told from the point of view of one of the characters. My favorites were Carmen and Hollywood agent Reggie, who represents both Carmen and Hollywood icon Katie Barstow. I loved hearing their voices but then the story would jump to another POV just as I was settling in to their stories.
The family history and background of Katie, and her big brother Billy, was also fascinating and
heartbreaking. I was really interested in learning more about how the two formed such different personalities and strengths and weaknesses in the face of such a traumatic upbringing.
Ultimately, however, I found I was never really vested in the characters or what happened to them. The plot was tragic and somewhat predictable - although I did enjoy the final twist with the surviving characters. I did listen to this on audiobook and while I liked the narrator, I wonder if it would be better in print to better understand the multiple characters.
Thank you to PRH Audio for the free audiobook in exchange for my honest review. This final quote really got me as it's as true today as in the book's 1964 setting:
“The rhinos know we’re a threat, and the lions have learned we can be very risky prey,” Muema said, with that lovely professorial lilt to this voice. “But to the Russians and Americans? We’re just pawns on the chess board. Harmless and expendable.”
There were a lot of characters and each chapter was told from the point of view of one of the characters. My favorites were Carmen and Hollywood agent Reggie, who represents both Carmen and Hollywood icon Katie Barstow. I loved hearing their voices but then the story would jump to another POV just as I was settling in to their stories.
The family history and background of Katie, and her big brother Billy, was also fascinating and
heartbreaking. I was really interested in learning more about how the two formed such different personalities and strengths and weaknesses in the face of such a traumatic upbringing.
Ultimately, however, I found I was never really vested in the characters or what happened to them. The plot was tragic and somewhat predictable - although I did enjoy the final twist with the surviving characters. I did listen to this on audiobook and while I liked the narrator, I wonder if it would be better in print to better understand the multiple characters.
Thank you to PRH Audio for the free audiobook in exchange for my honest review. This final quote really got me as it's as true today as in the book's 1964 setting:
“The rhinos know we’re a threat, and the lions have learned we can be very risky prey,” Muema said, with that lovely professorial lilt to this voice. “But to the Russians and Americans? We’re just pawns on the chess board. Harmless and expendable.”