A collage of fascinating characters and beautiful language, this book is one of those that you'll wonder at as you read, and look forward to rereading. What seems in the beginning simply a collection of characters and situations comes together quickly into a surprising and beautiful story of loves, regrets, and slanted idealism. Ondaatje's prose is magnificent and poetic, and I can't recommend it highly enough. This is a book to read alone when you have the time to appreciate it, and a book that will suck you in and become your world for some hours if you allow it to take you away. Halfway through this book, I knew I'd be rereading it, and that hasn't changed. This is a wonder of a book: graceful, solid, heartening. Recommended. ( )

In the Skin of a Lion is, in my world, pretty much the definition of a perfect book.

It is the story of Patrick Lewis, a young man working in Toronto in the 20s and 30s. It is also the story of Toronto itself - the growth of the city, the immigrants who built it, and the business men who took the credit. It is a story of love, loss, and love again, and of revenge. Most of all, it is a story about life, and what it is that makes life worth living.

I read Ondaatje's The English Patient last summer, and loved every second of it. It is definitely Ondaatje's most well-received book, and the one that is most widely read. This, in my humble opinion, is unfortunate. Yes, I love The English Patient, but In the Skin of a Lion is better.

Ondaatje's style is definitely non-linear. Here is a book that jumps through time, and slowly unveils several storylines. The result is a complete picture, but it is told through fragments. The work falls squarely on the shoulders of the reader. It is our job to piece the puzzle together, and to make what we can. Ondaatje's work reminds me of an Impressionist painting - up close, we see what looks like random brush-strokes; step back, and the picture is clear. An individual chapter or instance in this book won't give us the answers, won't make everything clear; in the end, however, the entirity of this story just might shed some light on the confusion.

Practically speaking, if you enjoyed The English Patient, you will probably enjoy In the Skin of a Lion - and enjoy learning more about certain characters who inhabit both books. If you didn't love The English Patient, I would urge you to try In the Skin of a Lion. It is a beautiful book, one that goes straight to the top of my memorable reads for the year. Ondaatje deserves more recognition then he gets - he is, in my mind, nothing short of a brilliant author - one of Canada's best. ( )

Too many books. Will get back to it if time. ( )

Ondaatje is an accomplished writer of beautiful prose and this one is my favorite (RUNNING IN THE FAMILY, the memoir of his family in Sri Lanka, comes in a close second). I couldn't get through THE ENGLISH PATIENT (I did see the movie though), and ANIL'S GHOST was beautiful but a bit meandering for me. Still, do yourself a reading favor and pick up any Ondaatje title. ( )

one of the best from a fine fine writer - set in Toronto 100 years ago (or so); many of the landmarks still stand ( )