In the Skin of a Lion

Michael Ondaatje

Reminiscent of The English Patient, and written before it, some of the characters in this book reappear in that novel - for example, there's a burglar called Carravagio and a child called Hannah.

A heart-rending romance, or rather pair of romances, run through the book, which is about immigrants in America. The book pulls together lots of disparate stories, and you see connections falling into place.

The stories are fascinating and very well written - Jean liked the book more than The English Patient. Very good and powerfully romantic.
Jean 27/8/00

Caroline struggled with this. Felt the author was ‘practising for the English Patient’. Characters confusing, lost track of who was who.
Caroline 21/1/01

I didn't understand a word of this but it does have some beautifully written sections. Various elements of the story seemed unrelated.
Bob 14/9/03

By the same author

Anil's Ghost

The frames have gone all funny - click to make it good.