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In the Skin of a Lion
In the Skin of a Lion | Michael Ondaatje
17 posts | 41 read | 25 to read
Bristling with intelligence and shimmering with romance, this novel tests the boundary between history and myth. Patrick Lewis arrives in Toronto in the 1920s and earns his living searching for a vanished millionaire and tunneling beneath Lake Ontario. In the course of his adventures, Patrick's life intersects with those of characters who reappear in Ondaatje's Booker Prize-winning The English Patient. 256 pp.
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review
Kazzie
In the Skin of a Lion | Michael Ondaatje
Pickpick

Loved this book. He is such a beautiful nuanced writer. Will read again. Cool to See working class Torontonian immigrants who built the city

review
vivastory
In the Skin of a Lion | Michael Ondaatje
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Pickpick

Published in '87, Ondaatje's thoroughly researched novel includes several important characters, chief among them is Patrick Lewis. The son of a a dynamiter working in a logging camp, Patrick observes his father at work & learns his dangerous profession. Once an adult Patrick is working various jobs, including trying to find an eccentric millionaire, Ambrose Small. He falls in love with Small's mistress Clara Dickens. But is Clara really the👇

vivastory love of Patrick's life? Throughout the relatively short novel (my copy clocks in at 200 pages) Patrick moves among various levels of society, with a large section of it spent among the immigrant communities in Ontario & Toronto. The tension of the novel, & one of the themes that Ondaatje returns to throughout, is the conflict between the personal & the political. I am honestly not sure what to make of the ending. I think that perhaps my (edited) 2y
vivastory interpretation of the events are different from others. Patrick Lewis would enjoy more fame in Ondaatje's most well-known work published 5 years later, The English Patient. 2y
merelybookish I read this years ago and found it powerful. But now it's my turn not to remember much about it. 🤣 2y
See All 14 Comments
vivastory @merelybookish When Patrick & Caravaggio break into the waterworks & Patrick plants the dynamite etc, do you think that really happened? The way it's structured is that he confronts Harris, & talks to him about the people who died during the construction of the tunnel, but ends up not detonating the dynamite. But right after that he is woken up by Hana so they can go pick up Clara... 2y
LeahBergen Exactly what @merelybookish said. 🤣 2y
vivastory @LeahBergen Do you have other favorites by Ondaatje? The only other one that I've read by him is 2y
LeahBergen My two favourites of his are The English Patient and Warlight. 2y
batsy I've not read this one but I remember enjoying The English Patient. My favourites are his books about Sri Lanka; Anil's Ghost is a novel and Running in the Family a memoir of sorts (parts of it fictionalised). 2y
vivastory @LeahBergen Thanks! I have both on my shelves! 2y
vivastory @batsy I'm glad to hear that Anil's Ghost is good. I added that one to my TBR list tonight. I think I'll read English Patient soon. 2y
Branwen I really love Ondaatje! The English Patient is one of my favorites. His writing is just so honest and beautiful! ❤ I'll have to look into this one! 2y
vivastory @Branwen I'll be curious to hear your thoughts. I will definitely be reading more of his work soon! 2y
merelybookish @vivastory I really don't remember Scott. I'm sorry. 😬 2y
vivastory @merelybookish No worries! I agree with you that it's a powerful work. Really enjoyed the integration of real events into his fictional world. 2y
75 likes1 stack add14 comments
review
Jari-chan
In the Skin of a Lion | Michael Ondaatje
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Mehso-so

I liked the book in the beginning, but as soon as the first part was over, I started to get a little bored with it. The desciptions of how the bridge was being built were fascinating, but then everything had to be about lovey-dovey again 🙄 The third part was a bit more interesting again, but the author had mostly lost me by then. But I still love his writing style.

@TheAromaofBooks #BookSpinBingo

TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!! 2y
33 likes1 comment
review
Pauline888888
In the Skin of a Lion | Michael Ondaatje
Mehso-so

Not bad, but not as brilliant as “The English patient“. Definitely worth being read once or twice though.

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Centique
In the Skin of a Lion | Michael Ondaatje
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Happy Canada Day @KVanRead and thanks for the tag @Billypar
1) This is my fave book by Michael Ondaatje - though I‘ve loved all his books so far
2) LM Montgomery. AOGG is my childhood BFF. A trip to PEI is on my bucket list
3) my sister makes Nainamo bars every Christmas. I just found out they‘re Canadian from my new Canadian in-law. So yummy!

@Rissreads have you got some thoughts about all things Canadian to share?

Rissreads Ha! I wouldn‘t have a clue who a Canadian author is and I‘m not sure if I‘ve read any Canadian fiction. Maybe I need to rectify this? I‘m thinking I may need to participate in one of those round the world book challenges next? To make me mix up my reading? 4y
Rissreads Ok, so I have read The English patient, which I liked but it is one of the only books where I loved the film more! I‘m not doing so great am I? I bet you wished you had tagged someone else now! 🤣 4y
Centique @Rissreads that could be fun! I recommend Ondaatje if you need a start for Canada. (Or theres Atwood and Alice Munro and Miriam Toewes) 4y
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Centique @Rissreads nah! You don‘t have to answer it anyway 😉 English Patient is the trickiest of his books I reckon. The film is great 😍 4y
Rissreads Do you mean Margaret Atwood? I‘ve read 3 of her books! 4y
Rissreads I shall research the other authors you have mentioned. 😊 4y
Centique @Rissreads there you go! Yes, the most famous Canadian I know of - isn‘t she fabulous 😍 4y
LeahBergen Yes, yes, yes! Yes to the tagged book, yes to LM Montgomery, and yes to Nanaimo Bars. 😆😆 And you must make it to PEI one day; it‘s unbelievably beautiful and there are several really cool Montgomery sites to visit. 4y
Billypar I've never read Ondaatje- I'll keep this one in mind! 4y
CarolynM @Rissreads @Book_Fiend_Melissa is running the #ReadCanada challenges that started on 1 July. You might like to join, but even if not there are some great suggestions for Canadian authors under that hashtag 🙂 4y
CarolynM @LeahBergen A long time ago I worked with a Canadian who introduced me to the delights of Nanaimo bars. I haven't made any for years, but now I've been reminded... 4y
KVanRead @centique Thanks for playing! @Billypar ❤️ Ondaatje. The tagged book is my favorite of his. Also love his poetry. Bear Hug is my favorite poem. Google it if you want to smile. 4y
KVanRead @Centique I went to AOGG house in PEI at 4 and in my 40s and both visits are among my happiest memories. 4y
Billypar @KVanRead I did enjoy Bear Hug- thanks for recommending it! I forgot that Ondaatje is included in an anthology of Canadian poetry I have, so I was reading a few from there too- really good stuff. 4y
KVanRead @Billypar Yay! Glad you liked it. 4y
batsy PEI is on my bucket list, too 💖 We'll get there someday! 4y
batsy (also, Ondaatje is a great shout) 4y
Rissreads @CarolynM thanks for the info. I will definitely have a look! 4y
Centique @batsy it would be a dream if some Littens could do it together right? I know that‘s a one in a million chance but I‘m just going to imagine it happening - all fangirling about LMM together 😍 Since COVID I‘m getting practiced at daydreaming myself on holidays 🤷🏻‍♀️ 4y
batsy @Centique That is THE dream, my friend 😍 Like Anne and Emily, we will believe 😊🤞🏽 4y
62 likes1 stack add20 comments
review
Bibliogeekery
In the Skin of a Lion | Michael Ondaatje
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Pickpick

I just revisited this old favourite. Such an exquisite book. This is how historical fiction should always be written. It's romantic, gritty, and evokes the lives of the people who worked to build parts of the city I live in (Toronto).

Moray_Reads I've read a couple by Ondaatje but I'm not familiar with this one. Adding it to the TBR 5y
Melissa_J I really need to get to this one! I‘ve had it sitting on a shelf pretty much forever. 5y
53 likes4 stack adds2 comments
blurb
Bibliogeekery
In the Skin of a Lion | Michael Ondaatje
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Client is running late so I'm snatching a few moments with my audiobook!

PerksOfBeingABookworm I love all of the plants. I spy a swiss cheese plant in the back. The room looks very cozy. 5y
PerksOfBeingABookworm It‘s one of my favorite indoor plants 😊 5y
47 likes1 stack add3 comments
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Bibliogeekery
In the Skin of a Lion | Michael Ondaatje
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I'm revisiting this old favourite on audiobook. 💕

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tricours
In the Skin of a Lion | Michael Ondaatje
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Mehso-so

It took me two tries to get started with this book, and now having finished it I have no idea what I have listened to. This might not be great audiobook material.

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Cathythoughts
In the Skin of a Lion | Michael Ondaatje
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Dear Suba , Many thanks for these great books ... both of which I‘m really looking forward to.. Thankyou my bookish friend♥️. What a very lovely surprise 😘I‘m very grateful X X Cathy.

erzascarletbookgasm 💗 👏 I liked the Ira Levin book! 5y
Cathythoughts @erzascarletbookgasm I have a feeling I will too 👍🏻♥️ 5y
TrishB Lovely ❤️ 5y
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batsy I'm glad it arrived Cathy and I'm sorry it was delayed for your birthday ❤️ Tracking told me it was en route to Ireland on the 12th of March but something about the mail between our countries 🤷🏽‍♀️ I hope you enjoy 😘 I was gifted A Kiss Before Dying by the lovely @erzascarletbookgasm and hope to get to it soon, as well! 5y
Cathythoughts @batsy thankyou !! Post between our countries is really any ones guess ... I‘m so thrilled to receive your gifts. Both books are going to be brilliant .. I know because you have a way with picking the good books 😍XXX ... you are very good 👍🏻♥️& one of my first Litsy friends 🙏🏻 5y
batsy ❤️❤️ 5y
55 likes6 comments
blurb
TheKidUpstairs
In the Skin of a Lion | Michael Ondaatje
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1. "The first sentence of every novel should be: Trust me, this will take time but there is order here, very faint, very human" from the tagged book

2. "If you want me, just whistle. You know how to whistle, don't you, Steve? You just put your lips together and blow."

3. Awry. Whenever I read it, I pronounce it aww-ree in my head and have to correct myself.

4. Thanks for the tag, @Avanders! I'll tag @BookishMe and @MinDea

TheKidUpstairs So happy to see the return of @JenLovesJT47's #TuesdayTidbits 😁 6y
readordierachel Love your quotes! 6y
JenlovesJT47 Love number 2! Great movie 💚 6y
58 likes3 comments
blurb
charl08
In the Skin of a Lion | Michael Ondaatje
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This cover reminds me of a cheesy 90s poster of a guy with a baby.

shrewandsnail It reminds me of the video for Madonna's Express Yourself! 6y
charl08 @shrewandsnail channelling the 90s 6y
53 likes2 comments
quote
TheKidUpstairs
In the Skin of a Lion | Michael Ondaatje
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So happy to end a fantastic photo challenge with one of my all time favourite literary quotes. The first time I read this it stopped me in my tracks. If you have not read this book, but are interested in history, immigrant stories, the lives of cities, beautiful poetic prose, Toronto, humanity, Canada, any of the above, please pick up a copy now!

#Novel #QuotsyNov17 @TK-421

merelybookish Great quote and great book! 6y
70 likes2 stack adds1 comment
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AlaMich
In the Skin of a Lion | Michael Ondaatje
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Megan, I came home to your package today and I just want to say thank you. Your choice of books is perfect—they are both TOTALLY in my wheelhouse—and the candy, well...YUM!!! I am looking forward to the Coffee Crisps especially 😉. This was so very thoughtful of you....😘

#youreawesome #bookmail
@TheKidUpstairs

TheKidUpstairs Wow, that was fast! I just mailed it out on Friday! Enjoy 😁 6y
AlaMich @TheKidUpstairs Fast indeed!! Something the US postal service is not exactly known for. 6y
LeahBergen That's a mighty Canadian parcel! 🇨🇦🇨🇦 6y
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LeahBergen Oh! And we are doing a casual #LostGardenBuddyRead this month, too. 👍🏻 6y
AlaMich @LeahBergen I just started it this morning so I can join in the #lostgardenbuddyread! 😊 6y
LeahBergen @AlaMich Awesome! I‘ll have to catch up - I can‘t seem to put Middlemarch down lately ❤️ 6y
AlaMich @LeahBergen I know the feeling! 6y
44 likes7 comments
review
KVanRead
In the Skin of a Lion | Michael Ondaatje
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Pickpick

#recommendsday My English Patient post reminded me of this earlier Ondaatje novel that I loved to death when I read it, a looong time ago. It includes the stories of some of the characters who reappear in The English Patient and some pretty incredible, lyrical odes to the immigrants who built Toronto.

charl08 Well that jumped straight onto the wish list. 7y
LeahBergen Yeah, it's great! 7y
40 likes3 stack adds2 comments
blurb
Bibliogeekery
In the Skin of a Lion | Michael Ondaatje
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I'm feeling under the weather on this rainy, gross day. Why, why, why do I have to work when staying in bed with a book would be SO much better? #shelfie

cariashley What lovely shelves 😍 7y
Smangela Love the way you've organized your shelves! 7y
WordWaller This shelf is perfection 👌 7y
Bibliogeekery @cariashley @Smangela @WordWaller - thx! I could just stare at this shelf all day! My house is full of books and shelves but this one is my favourite 💓📚 7y
88 likes1 stack add4 comments