Monday, September 7, 2015

Short and Sweet #1 - A Long Way Home - Saroo Brierley

What? Well, time flies and sometimes I just seem to run out of it! So, Short and Sweet will be just that - some brief thoughts on books I've read or listened to. And when you see S and S, chances are I'm either busy, tired or on vacation!

The first entry is A Long Way Home by Saroo Brierley with Larry Buttrose, read by Vikas Adam.

From the publisher, Blackstone Audio:

"At only five years old, Saroo Brierley got lost on a train in India. Unable to read or write or recall the name of his hometown or even his own last name, he survived alone for weeks on the rough streets of Calcutta before ultimately being transferred to an agency and adopted by a couple in Australia. Despite his gratitude, Brierley always wondered about his origins. Eventually, with the advent of Google Earth, he had the opportunity to look for the needle in a haystack he once called home and pore over satellite images for landmarks he might recognize or mathematical equations that might further narrow down the labyrinthine map of India. One day, after years of searching, he miraculously found what he was looking for and set off to find his family.

A Long Way Home is a moving, poignant, and inspirational true story of survival and triumph against incredible odds. It celebrates the importance of never letting go of what drives the human spirit: hope."

My thoughts: I was fascinated when I heard about this story! What are the odds? Truth is indeed stranger than fiction! I enjoyed the recounting of his journey to reconnect with his family very much. But.....with such a personal story, I would have loved to have Saroo actually read it himself. The chosen narrator was good - he is a 'professional', but it was over the top in some spots with his inflection and interpretation. 4/5 for this listener.

2 comments:

bermudaonion said...

I love stories like this and will have to look for this one.

Mystica said...

I'd look for this one too.