A review by terrym10
The Puma Years by Laura Coleman

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!