Review: A Long Way Home by Saroo Brierley

At only five years old, Saroo Brierley got lost on a train in India. Unable to read or write, to 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 pored 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 biological 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.

Paperback, 288 pages

Published June 24th 2013 by Penguin Aus. Imprint:Viking 

Genre: Non Fiction/Autobiography/Memoir

Kristine's Thoughts:

I received a copy of this book through a Goodreads giveaway in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!

I was really excited to receive this book. After reading a few different books that take place in India I have discovered that I have a real fascination with it. Also, my sister Terri (the other half of Twin Spin), spent an extended period of time living there and I found her stories incredible. The way of life there is so extremely different from what I know and I couldn't wait to dive into the book. I did not know Saroo Brierley's story before reading it but I can assure you that I have since thoroughly researched it and watched the 60 Minutes Australia segment on him.

My rating is based solely on the story itself and not on the writing. This is a Memoir and I don't think it is fair to base my thoughts on the actual writing because Brierley is recounting his story and does not have a background in literature and writing. For this my rating is based only on the incredible story itself, how it made me feel and how much of my normal day was ignored in the effort to finish it.

I absolutely loved this story! It is amazing what this man was able to do and if I hadn't read it I never would have believed it was possible. I don't want to go into too much detail because it is not a long book and I could never do it justice. Everyone needs to read this story to believe it. What Brierley goes through as a five year old boy lost in one of the most populated cities in the world to his eventual adoption and his unthinkable search for his birth place is beyond words.

Brierley's story is being made into a major feature film and I for one will be sure to watch it. Readers of all ages will be sure to enjoy the book and eventually the film. It is just a fascinating story.

About the Author

When Saroo Brierley used Google Earth to find his long-lost birthplace half a world away, his story made global headlines. That story is being published in several languages around the world and is currently being adapted into a major feature film. Brierley was born in Khandwa, Madhya Pradesh, India. He lives in Hobart, Tasmania.

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