Lion

I read Lion because I saw the film adaptation, and unsurprisingly I loved it. The book reveals more details about his mother and father, the role of religion in their separation, his siblings and his broader inability to communicate as a child, which exacerbated his inability to return home. The autobiography also details the practical logistics of returning home as an adult and communicating with his family when they no longer share a common tongue. I am delighted to report that his relationship with his brother is far better than depicted in the film, and that he remained friends with a fellow Indian Australian adoptee. Brierley also makes a special point about the agency that ultimately helped him find a better life. Lion, formerly known as A Long Way Home, is a very quick read so film lovers hungry for more detail about Saroo Brierley’s life should definitely take the time to read it.