Book Review: A Long Way Home by Saroo Brierley
A Long Way Home: A Memoir by Saroo Brierley
Publisher: Putnam
Release Date: June 12, 2014
My rating: 4.5of 5 stars
Publisher’s Description:
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.
Saroo’s story is amazing in so many ways. First, that he was able to survive on the streets of Calcutta (Kolkata) for weeks at only five-years old. Then, that he was adopted by a wonderful Australian couple within four months of arriving at an Indian orphanage – a process that would take years today. And finally, that he was able to find the town in India he was originally from with Google Earth when he didn’t even know the town’s name!
I really enjoyed learning Saroo’s story. I was once again fascinated by the culture in India – this time learning about the very poorest slums where Saroo’s Indian family lived. Saroo tells his story in a conversational, easy style that was a pleasure to read.
I’ve included the link to Saroo’s interview on the Australian version of 60 minutes, which can be found on his website. It’s long but worth watching. In the last part of it, Saroo’s Australian mom meets his Indian mom for the first time. The emotion that his Australian mom has in that moment is astounding. Saroo talks about her being supportive in the book and it is evident at the meeting. She expresses nothing but gratitude and love to Saroo’s Indian mother. Not a hint of jealousy.
Saroo’s story is also being made into a motion picture which I hope turns out to be as good as his book. His is an incredible story worth reading.
(I received this book courtesy of the publisher.)
