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3.99 AVERAGE
3.99 AVERAGE
informative
slow-paced
Spectacular. Gripping narrative of an incident in far eastern Asia, near the border between China and the former USSR, where an injured tiger attacked, killed, and ate the man who injured him. Vaillant describes the habitual relationship of tigers and inhabitants of the area, and how this particular man and tiger changed the rules of the relationship, both in an effort to survive changing conditions. He also examines the ancient relationships between man and large predators over the millenia. Vaillant's portraits of the people involved are detailed, evocative and empathetic. Vaillant has obviously worked hard to climb into the tiger mind and understand it, with great success (as far as I can tell... being neither a tiger nor someone who has interviewed a tiger about the book, I feel I should offer that caveat :)). The book pulls the reader along to its final conclusion.
adventurous
dark
informative
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
Big cats are just incredible. The fact that we’re more bone than flesh, making us less desirable as a prey species, is probably the only reason they didn’t gobble our ancestors into extinction long ago. The fact that they still see us this way, as nearly worthless on the calorie scale except when illness or injury prohibits normal hunting behaviors, I think is very telling of their ancient, unchanged, and unchallenged nature.
The topic (tiger attacks on the Russia/China border) was fascinating, but this book managed to be not exciting. I'd still recommend reading it, but it may not hold your attention for long periods....
adventurous
tense
fast-paced
adventurous
reflective
medium-paced
adventurous
dark
informative
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Valliant is a terrific nonfiction writer-
adventurous
tense
medium-paced