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The Girl and the Tiger
Isha is a girl who loves animals, but struggles in the confines of school. When she is sent away to live with her grandparents on the Indian countryside, she discovers a sacred grove where a young Bengal tiger has taken refuge. Isha knows that the ever-shrinking forests of India mean there are few places left for a tiger to hide. When the local villagers also discover the tiger, Isha finds herself embroiled in a life or death cultural controversy.
Isha's crusade to save the tiger becomes the catalyst of an arduous journey of awakening and survival across the changing landscape of modernizing India. Her encounters with tribal people, elephants, and her search for the wild jungle are the source of her revelations about the human relationship to the natural world in a gripping story of determination, discovery, and coming of age.
Isha's crusade to save the tiger becomes the catalyst of an arduous journey of awakening and survival across the changing landscape of modernizing India. Her encounters with tribal people, elephants, and her search for the wild jungle are the source of her revelations about the human relationship to the natural world in a gripping story of determination, discovery, and coming of age.
344 pages, Paperback
First published September 17, 2019
About the author
Paul Rosolie
2 books79 followersHello! I’m Paul Rosolie, author of Mother of God (2014), and The Girl and the Tiger (2019).
Growing up my parents read me Sherlock Holmes, Lord of the Rings, The Chronicles of Narnia, James Herriot, White Fang by Jack London and more. Because I am dyslexic it took me a long time to learn to read, much longer than other kids. So being read to was really important. It wasn’t until I was an adult that I fell in love with reading on my own. Today it amazes me the extent to which the books I love have influenced my life, and I feel that story telling, more than anything else, is my greatest passion.
Along with being a writer, I work as a conservationist protecting wildlife and ecosystems – mostly tropical rainforests. I work in the Amazon, India, Indonesia and other places where biodiversity and habitat loss are rampant. I believe we live in the most crucial time in history because our natural systems and wildlife are dwindling and we as a global community have little choice but to reassess our relationship to the natural world. That is the focus of my writing.
My book Mother of God (Harper Collins) is non-fiction and was my first book. It gained the praise of environmentalists and adventurers such as Jane Goodall, Bear Grylls, and Bill McKibben who have called the book a “gripping”, “awe inspiring”, “rousing tale”, “with a great and enduring point”. It mostly chronicles my formative years as an explorer and protector of wild places. This book had the very real world result of helping to protect over 30,000 acres of primary jungle in the Amazon Rainforest.
My NEW book The Girl and the Tiger (Owl Hollow Press) is a work of fiction, though this story is very much based on the last ten years I’ve spent in India tracking the migration of wild tigers and elephants. I tell everyone that this book is less my own creation and more a collection of moments, truths, and legends I found over the years in the Indian jungle. It is a necklace of a book, a series of seeds and teeth, stones and bones, gathered from the forest floor; I only added the string. It is the result of following elephants, searching for tigers, sitting late into the night around campfires, and becoming acquainted with the tribes of the forest, both human and animal.
I’m so excited to bring this story to the world. If you’d like to follow along I’m going to be sharing the journey on Instagram @PaulRosolie .
Growing up my parents read me Sherlock Holmes, Lord of the Rings, The Chronicles of Narnia, James Herriot, White Fang by Jack London and more. Because I am dyslexic it took me a long time to learn to read, much longer than other kids. So being read to was really important. It wasn’t until I was an adult that I fell in love with reading on my own. Today it amazes me the extent to which the books I love have influenced my life, and I feel that story telling, more than anything else, is my greatest passion.
Along with being a writer, I work as a conservationist protecting wildlife and ecosystems – mostly tropical rainforests. I work in the Amazon, India, Indonesia and other places where biodiversity and habitat loss are rampant. I believe we live in the most crucial time in history because our natural systems and wildlife are dwindling and we as a global community have little choice but to reassess our relationship to the natural world. That is the focus of my writing.
My book Mother of God (Harper Collins) is non-fiction and was my first book. It gained the praise of environmentalists and adventurers such as Jane Goodall, Bear Grylls, and Bill McKibben who have called the book a “gripping”, “awe inspiring”, “rousing tale”, “with a great and enduring point”. It mostly chronicles my formative years as an explorer and protector of wild places. This book had the very real world result of helping to protect over 30,000 acres of primary jungle in the Amazon Rainforest.
My NEW book The Girl and the Tiger (Owl Hollow Press) is a work of fiction, though this story is very much based on the last ten years I’ve spent in India tracking the migration of wild tigers and elephants. I tell everyone that this book is less my own creation and more a collection of moments, truths, and legends I found over the years in the Indian jungle. It is a necklace of a book, a series of seeds and teeth, stones and bones, gathered from the forest floor; I only added the string. It is the result of following elephants, searching for tigers, sitting late into the night around campfires, and becoming acquainted with the tribes of the forest, both human and animal.
I’m so excited to bring this story to the world. If you’d like to follow along I’m going to be sharing the journey on Instagram @PaulRosolie .
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 81 reviews
May 23, 2019
Yes, the author is my brother, but, I LOVED this book!
When it comes to strong and compelling young protagonists, this books falls into the same camp as The Goldfinch and the Harry Potter series for me. What I love about The Girl and The Tiger is that it take its time unraveling, the plot isn't hurried, but it's still filled with action and adventure. It's grounded in thoughtful character development and relationships that feel so real and familiar. This book is such a blend of elements that you don't often get in a single narrative. It centers around an adolescent girl, but it doesn't shy away from political and environmental brutality. Beautifully written, and overall an incredible amalgamation of adventure, heart, and high stakes.
When it comes to strong and compelling young protagonists, this books falls into the same camp as The Goldfinch and the Harry Potter series for me. What I love about The Girl and The Tiger is that it take its time unraveling, the plot isn't hurried, but it's still filled with action and adventure. It's grounded in thoughtful character development and relationships that feel so real and familiar. This book is such a blend of elements that you don't often get in a single narrative. It centers around an adolescent girl, but it doesn't shy away from political and environmental brutality. Beautifully written, and overall an incredible amalgamation of adventure, heart, and high stakes.
August 21, 2019
As both a wildlife conservationist and avid reader, the foundation of my passion for the natural world was built with the great classic stories inspired by it: the Jungle Book, Call of the Wild, Moby Dick, Tarzan, etc. As I got older, I was moved by the literature of naturalists like Muir, Carson, Thoreau and Steinbeck. Of course, gobbling them all up from an early age leaves you wishing you could read them all again for the first time, because it's rare that a modern-day novel come close.
Having loved Paul Rosolie's first book, Mother of God, a memoir about his adventures in the Amazon, I was eager to read the Girl and the Tiger and already knew to expect a quality work. It did not disappoint. In fact, the Girl and the Tiger is honestly what I'd consider a masterpiece.
I loved and felt every minute of this story. Paul is a timeless, poetic writer with an effortless style that is easy to get swept away by. It's long and as plot-driven as it is character driven, heavy with vivid detail, character development and a slow-burning plot that unravels naturally, but fans of classic literature will appreciate the time taken to truly whisk you into the world built around you. Moments of pure beauty, bliss and wonder are balanced alongside raw, haunting imagery that holds nothing back and tells a story that people often want to avert their eyes from; one that desperately needs to be told.
The adventure and heart are there, but this story is also one of incredible substance thematically. This is a coming of age story that challenges our own humanity in a way that will unsettle readers and empower them to step outside of the story and do more in the real world for our planet and the creatures we share it with.
Much of the story was born out of actual events from Paul’s wild, unfathomable and yet stranger-than-fiction life. The passionate authenticity of his narrative style not only wholeheartedly convinces the reader, but brings you right into the storm alongside him and the characters.
I loved the moments from the perspective of the animals, especially the tigers. To me, as someone who works with wild animals every day, I felt that it was real, raw and perhaps the closest any human could ever come to being inside one’s mind.
Isha is the fearless, indomitable protagonist that I’ve waited my whole life to read about, and one that is so important to other little girls who will find their hearts inside the great, classic stories. I’m so glad that they’ll have this one.
Having loved Paul Rosolie's first book, Mother of God, a memoir about his adventures in the Amazon, I was eager to read the Girl and the Tiger and already knew to expect a quality work. It did not disappoint. In fact, the Girl and the Tiger is honestly what I'd consider a masterpiece.
I loved and felt every minute of this story. Paul is a timeless, poetic writer with an effortless style that is easy to get swept away by. It's long and as plot-driven as it is character driven, heavy with vivid detail, character development and a slow-burning plot that unravels naturally, but fans of classic literature will appreciate the time taken to truly whisk you into the world built around you. Moments of pure beauty, bliss and wonder are balanced alongside raw, haunting imagery that holds nothing back and tells a story that people often want to avert their eyes from; one that desperately needs to be told.
The adventure and heart are there, but this story is also one of incredible substance thematically. This is a coming of age story that challenges our own humanity in a way that will unsettle readers and empower them to step outside of the story and do more in the real world for our planet and the creatures we share it with.
Much of the story was born out of actual events from Paul’s wild, unfathomable and yet stranger-than-fiction life. The passionate authenticity of his narrative style not only wholeheartedly convinces the reader, but brings you right into the storm alongside him and the characters.
I loved the moments from the perspective of the animals, especially the tigers. To me, as someone who works with wild animals every day, I felt that it was real, raw and perhaps the closest any human could ever come to being inside one’s mind.
Isha is the fearless, indomitable protagonist that I’ve waited my whole life to read about, and one that is so important to other little girls who will find their hearts inside the great, classic stories. I’m so glad that they’ll have this one.
June 24, 2019
Paul Rosolie takes you through desert, treacherous mountain passes, montane rainforests and lush southern jungles with Isha and her rambunctious striped companion. This incredible journey celebrates the best that human-kind can be when interacting with nature while reminding you of what can happen when humanity loses its historical connection with wildlife. He gives dignity to the complex Indian culture that has lived alongside wildlife for thousands of years. I truly could not put this book down. The Girl and the Tiger shows us that a little girl with fire in her heart, and a cosmic love for the wild can transform herself into a legend with the capacity to change the world. If you enjoy adventure, conservation, and traveling to the far reaches of your imagination and childlike wonder consider this book your passport.
August 12, 2019
I want to go into this review by first saying that I definitely appreciated what this book set out to do. The interesting conflict between Modern India and the animal kingdom is definitely worth exploring, and I was very interested in learning in the afterword that most of the characters and events are based on real people/ occurrences. Though, it must worth noting that reality, when pushed together as a narrative, does not necessarily make interesting fiction.
My main problem with this book is that I just could not get into it. Whether it was the writing style or simply that I couldn't connect to the characters I wasn't totally sure, but i did find it a struggle, especially as a few of the plot sections felt a bit long winded and uneventful. I also felt a lot of the settings blurred into one and that the sequences could be a bit muddled. There were standout moments of brilliance - Isha running from packs of wild dogs - the interactions between Isha and Kala - but ultimately I felt like a lot of the scenes felt a bit stunted and cold.
I'm not someone who needs action all the time in a book, but I think the balance was slightly off here and we veer from nothing really happening to high octane and back again too many times and without a real build up.
The nature elements of the book are fantastic, and it was a beautiful insight into the wildlife of the country - you can tell the author is in touch with the natural world and dedicated to understanding animals and their habitats. What didn't feel so real was the human interaction, and I also struggled with parts where the narrative occupies the minds of animals for short bursts - they felt out of place, sometimes overwritten and a bit awkward. I also feel like the supporting cast of characters didn't have particularly strong stories and I wanted more of a reason for them to help Isha achieve her goal.
In the end I think my this might be a case of "it's not you, it's me" and this is one of those rare occasions where a book is thoughtful and well written, but just on a different wavelength to me as a reader.
My main problem with this book is that I just could not get into it. Whether it was the writing style or simply that I couldn't connect to the characters I wasn't totally sure, but i did find it a struggle, especially as a few of the plot sections felt a bit long winded and uneventful. I also felt a lot of the settings blurred into one and that the sequences could be a bit muddled. There were standout moments of brilliance - Isha running from packs of wild dogs - the interactions between Isha and Kala - but ultimately I felt like a lot of the scenes felt a bit stunted and cold.
I'm not someone who needs action all the time in a book, but I think the balance was slightly off here and we veer from nothing really happening to high octane and back again too many times and without a real build up.
The nature elements of the book are fantastic, and it was a beautiful insight into the wildlife of the country - you can tell the author is in touch with the natural world and dedicated to understanding animals and their habitats. What didn't feel so real was the human interaction, and I also struggled with parts where the narrative occupies the minds of animals for short bursts - they felt out of place, sometimes overwritten and a bit awkward. I also feel like the supporting cast of characters didn't have particularly strong stories and I wanted more of a reason for them to help Isha achieve her goal.
In the end I think my this might be a case of "it's not you, it's me" and this is one of those rare occasions where a book is thoughtful and well written, but just on a different wavelength to me as a reader.
July 22, 2019
This book is phenomenal and provoking! The narrative is fluid and draws beautiful, scary pictures in our minds.
The story is about a girl who adopts a tiger and their journey across South India. They are accompanied by a terrific uncle-nephew duo and a boy with an elephant. This adventure takes this gang of misfits from the forest plantations of Mangalore to the heart of tribal populated jungles in the Periamangalam range of Tamilnadu.
This book includes anecdotes of nature learning, the age old human conflict of morality and a girl's unbridled love for animals. It will make you laugh and cry at times and question the laws of nature, politics and the core of what we are.
The author has done a remarkable job at telling a story that every Indian needs to know. His way of writing is delightful and evocative. Although, I found a lot of typos, which I hope will be smoothed out in fhe final editing.
The story is about a girl who adopts a tiger and their journey across South India. They are accompanied by a terrific uncle-nephew duo and a boy with an elephant. This adventure takes this gang of misfits from the forest plantations of Mangalore to the heart of tribal populated jungles in the Periamangalam range of Tamilnadu.
This book includes anecdotes of nature learning, the age old human conflict of morality and a girl's unbridled love for animals. It will make you laugh and cry at times and question the laws of nature, politics and the core of what we are.
The author has done a remarkable job at telling a story that every Indian needs to know. His way of writing is delightful and evocative. Although, I found a lot of typos, which I hope will be smoothed out in fhe final editing.
June 12, 2019
Rosolies passion and knowledge is evident with the vivid imagery contained in the girl and the tiger. Every time I opened it I felt like I was transported directly to India, this book kept me engaged until the very last page where the ending is not what i had imagined. He brought to life in a very compelling way, the challenges of preserving nature while accommodating the needs of man. I was very quickly immersed into the story of The Girl and The Tiger and came away with renewed respect for our remaining natural lands and the creatures that inhabit them. Whether you are an experienced conservationist or more recently become aware of the perils facing the rainforests and jungles, this book will reignite your passions.
July 28, 2019
Paul Rosolie’s sojourn into Indian forests, in- depth research and interaction with conservationists has combined fiction into realistically portraying the intricacies of human- animal relationships, conflict and the tight rope that wildlife in present day India, walk; in fragmented landscapes where the lines between forests and human settlements are blurred, the story weaves through despair with a sense of prevailing hope. This heartfelt novel does much to resonate with people working on the ground, with the challenges faced to safeguard what remain of India’s heritage- its natural treasures, as it gets pushed to the brink, with each passing day.
February 17, 2021
The book shows the bitter conflict between humans and nature. It highlights the political state and materialistic aspects of the country and how it always creates negative impacts on the forests, jungles and the wildlife within it. And also how the tribal people are forced to choose between being in harmony with the jungle that they belong to or disrupt it by cooperating with the government to put forth projects such dam projects etc.
This book has touched me on various levels as it portrays a heart-warming relationship between a girl and a tigress and the adventures they have together in order for the girl to protect the tigress from the outside world. It has got my heart heavy with this epic relationship that will not be found elsewhere. And the unexpected friendships that was made through the adventure.
This book has touched me on various levels as it portrays a heart-warming relationship between a girl and a tigress and the adventures they have together in order for the girl to protect the tigress from the outside world. It has got my heart heavy with this epic relationship that will not be found elsewhere. And the unexpected friendships that was made through the adventure.
August 22, 2019
This story takes place in India you follow along with fifteen year old Isha who is pretty smart but she does not seem to fit in at school. Isha has a special knack with animals of all kind, a animal whisper she even has the birds communicating with her. She spends a lot of time in the country side it is a world she understands. She is in tune with nature to the point she will not even kill a mosquito. This story is told from at least two different angles one from the humans side and one from the various animals side mostly tigers and elephants. By spending so much time in the country when a tiger becomes an orphan it is naturally attracted to her it knows her scent. The story follows along with Isha main goal is the protection of the tiger because the only other options are the zoo or death. Along the way she picks up a cast of characters who she bonds with and looks after her. This was a real good story. I was not sure when I first stated to read this if I would like it but it was well worth the time and I would definitely recommend it. The last two to three chapters were really intense. So give this a read you will not be disappointed. Thank you NetGalley for the ARC
September 3, 2019
The thrilling adventure this book takes you on, will make it very difficult to put it down once you start! Paul has done the most brilliant job of balancing the adventures while conveying the true scenes of threat to wildlife and conservation issues/challenges witnessed regularly by conservationists in India, today. Being from India, the accurate references of India made me nostalgic for home and i love that the main character is a girl on an impossible mission but is brave to take on any hurdles that come her way to ensure, the tiger cub, can one day go back to surviving where it truly belongs; in the wild!
June 27, 2019
This is the first book in years that I literally could not put down. I love how the narrator role moves back and forth between different characters, and the storylines are woven together masterfully. It was easy to feel and appreciate the author’s love and respect for nature. Even before I finished the book, my commitment to see some of India’s remaining wild jungle was cemented. The author’s previous book, Mother of God, is next on my reading list!
September 29, 2019
Paul Rosolie writes as a contemporary Jack London. His magic works Jumanji-like, sucking you onto the battlefield of conservation in modern India. "The Girl and the Tiger" makes you bleed and dream as if you were there too. A realistic, heart-breaking, yet awe-inspiring journey on which everyone should embark and a holy-must-read for every single Indian.
July 8, 2019
This is a beautiful novel, a tribute to wild animals in particular and Nature in general. As another review were mentioned, there are places where it was difficult for me to read because of the graphic nature of the way the villagers treated certain animals and also the way that animals capture and kill their prey. However, I highly recommend this book to anyone who has ever felt akin to wild animals in any shape or form. It is beautifully written, with much compassion and attention to lush descriptive detail. I read a lot of books and I write a lot of reviews; this book will not be forgotten!
Be sure to also read “A Note from the Author” at the end as it gives fascinating background and let’s you know which characters are based on real people.
Thanks to NetGalley, the author and publisher for an advanced reading copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Be sure to also read “A Note from the Author” at the end as it gives fascinating background and let’s you know which characters are based on real people.
Thanks to NetGalley, the author and publisher for an advanced reading copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
September 30, 2019
I have read this book and could not put it down! All the good feels and some tears (you want to feel something right?) This book is so true and sound! I loved it and ordered another from the author. You wont regret it! Get ready to lose yourself in the wilds of Isha and Kala...great read!
March 23, 2020
This book changed the way i used to the see nature, And makes realize wild animals are not there on earth to entertain or support mankind, it is there to live just like us.
The best thing human race can do to wild nature and animals to let it live their life without interfering in it rather than controlling it on the presumption of saving it. Nature has its way to protect them.
The best thing human race can do to wild nature and animals to let it live their life without interfering in it rather than controlling it on the presumption of saving it. Nature has its way to protect them.
September 6, 2019
Such a beautiful book, with great visual storytelling, while still including strongly developed characters. Highly recommend.
March 12, 2020
Paul Rosolie’s first foray into fiction, The Girl and the Tiger, is a resounding success. For me, it rates as one of the most entertaining examples of naturalist writing in existence. This book sinks its claws into you early on, and never lets go, building to a climax worthy of your rabid anticipation. It captures some of the highlights of Rosolie’s first book, Mother of God, with vivid descriptions of the natural world and stories of transcendent adventure—but it goes much further, with well-developed characters reflecting genuine truths and insights, and a captivating plot.
The Girl and the Tiger is a McCarthyian treatise on the interconnectivity of life. Rosolie deftly examines the tension between the human and natural worlds. Littered with poetic, lyrical description and quiet profundities, the story seduces the reader with immersive detail while still managing a fast pace. Each phase of Isha’s harrowing journey, as she struggles to find comfort and nourishment for herself and her tiger, is more exciting than the last.
The characters are relatable and genuine, and they invite a strong emotional connection with the reader. The author makes use of parallel narratives to create multiple perspectives and an episodic structure. Rosolie’s deft handling of cultural interactions and political issues makes Isha’s journey come alive. It leaves you feeling that your eyes have been opened; I have never visited these places and yet India now feels somehow familiar through the story’s vivid detail.
The Girl and the Tiger asks us to examine our lives and the lives of those around us, no matter what species they may be. Passages written from the perspective of an animal are painfully insightful, as Rosolie guides the reader to a revelation: that the struggles of life in the natural world mirror the struggles in the human one. The Author’s Notes section, which adds context for the characters and their adventures, is as enlightening as the rest of the book, like a magician showing you how he does his tricks. This enjoyable novel is made even better with startling insights, it will reward repeat readings.
The Girl and the Tiger is a McCarthyian treatise on the interconnectivity of life. Rosolie deftly examines the tension between the human and natural worlds. Littered with poetic, lyrical description and quiet profundities, the story seduces the reader with immersive detail while still managing a fast pace. Each phase of Isha’s harrowing journey, as she struggles to find comfort and nourishment for herself and her tiger, is more exciting than the last.
The characters are relatable and genuine, and they invite a strong emotional connection with the reader. The author makes use of parallel narratives to create multiple perspectives and an episodic structure. Rosolie’s deft handling of cultural interactions and political issues makes Isha’s journey come alive. It leaves you feeling that your eyes have been opened; I have never visited these places and yet India now feels somehow familiar through the story’s vivid detail.
The Girl and the Tiger asks us to examine our lives and the lives of those around us, no matter what species they may be. Passages written from the perspective of an animal are painfully insightful, as Rosolie guides the reader to a revelation: that the struggles of life in the natural world mirror the struggles in the human one. The Author’s Notes section, which adds context for the characters and their adventures, is as enlightening as the rest of the book, like a magician showing you how he does his tricks. This enjoyable novel is made even better with startling insights, it will reward repeat readings.
June 29, 2019
I received an ARC copy of this book and cannot seem to forget the haunting images and dynamic characters that inhabit Paul Rosolie’s Girl and the Tiger. The main character, Isha, is an indomitable young girl, admirable and enviable for her bottomless reservoirs of strength, integrity, and moral responsibility as she faces constant and massive obstacles on a journey to save a tiger cub. As she makes this trek across a land ravaged by deforestation, superstition, fear, and bureaucracy, the author adeptly weaves together Isha’s self-doubts, sense of futility, and the touching loyalty she feels to the tiger with her repeated faces-off against an India she never fully experienced before. A reader can only wonder if he/she would have half the mettle of this inspirational, totally badass girl.
Thus, as a whole, this amazingly compelling novel delivers at every turn, providing readers with strong, well defined characters against the backdrop of a land and its people caught between the past and the ravaging influences of the 21st century. As Isha and her tiger move forward, the suspense is unrelenting, culminating in an explosive ending which spans the final 80 or so pages. When you reach that end, you will literally wipe the sweat from your forehead, breathlessly exclaim, ‘Wow!’ and anxiously begin to plan when you will read this book again.
Thus, as a whole, this amazingly compelling novel delivers at every turn, providing readers with strong, well defined characters against the backdrop of a land and its people caught between the past and the ravaging influences of the 21st century. As Isha and her tiger move forward, the suspense is unrelenting, culminating in an explosive ending which spans the final 80 or so pages. When you reach that end, you will literally wipe the sweat from your forehead, breathlessly exclaim, ‘Wow!’ and anxiously begin to plan when you will read this book again.
Read
September 16, 2019Readers often ask novelists, “Where do you get your ideas?” Experience, observation, news stories are common responses. Imagine, though, you’re an environmentalist about to embark on a long-planned adventure to the Amazon. You wake up at 4 a.m. and decide to check your email. There among the usual messages is an intriguing one from a thirteen–year-old girl in India asking for your advice—about a tiger. What would you do?
While Paul Rosolie made his trip to the rainforest, he didn’t forget the teenager’s email. Instead he recognized his deep personal experiences in the jungles of India put him in the singular position to give us The Girl and the Tiger (Owl Hollow Press)—an unbelievable story.
Unbelievable—in the truest sense of the word.
It’s farfetched that Isha, an “utterly untamable” fifteen-year-old girl, runs away from her grandparents’ home after discovering an orphaned tiger cub. It’s improbable that Kala, the young tiger cub, trusts a human and clings to her for her very existence. It’s amazing that along their journey they meet an elephant boy, a priest and a hunter, each of whom play a meaningful and personal role in helping Isha achieve her goal—releasing the tiger into the jungle once she’s able to survive on her own.
The rest of the review: https://booktrib.com/2019/09/paul-ros...
While Paul Rosolie made his trip to the rainforest, he didn’t forget the teenager’s email. Instead he recognized his deep personal experiences in the jungles of India put him in the singular position to give us The Girl and the Tiger (Owl Hollow Press)—an unbelievable story.
Unbelievable—in the truest sense of the word.
It’s farfetched that Isha, an “utterly untamable” fifteen-year-old girl, runs away from her grandparents’ home after discovering an orphaned tiger cub. It’s improbable that Kala, the young tiger cub, trusts a human and clings to her for her very existence. It’s amazing that along their journey they meet an elephant boy, a priest and a hunter, each of whom play a meaningful and personal role in helping Isha achieve her goal—releasing the tiger into the jungle once she’s able to survive on her own.
The rest of the review: https://booktrib.com/2019/09/paul-ros...
June 16, 2019
This is a truly beautiful book which, at its centre, tells the story of a young girl trying to protect and save a tiger cub she has taken responsibility for and return it to its natural habitat. The book explores many current issues surrounding wildlife conservation and the complex relationship between people and animals and raises some difficult questions. The story is very hard to read at times as it depicts animal cruelty and animals hunting their prey in rather graphic detail. Some may find this off-putting but the unflinching approach to describing animal behaviour and the treatment of animals in certain places feels necessary for the raw story being told. This book would appeal to anyone interested in nature, wildlife and conservation. The author draws brilliantly on their own experiences to tell a story that feels authentic and truthful.
Thank you to Netgalley and Owl Hollow Press for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you to Netgalley and Owl Hollow Press for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.
June 25, 2019
For me, this book solidifies Rosolie’s talent as a writer. His first, Mother if God, was incredibly well written but also relied heavily on simply recounting his incredible life. The Girl And The Tiger showcases his talent in imagining up true fiction. For anyone who loves animals, India, and cliffhangers at every chapter, you will love this book. And the best part is that he weaves some of the things he’s actually lived into the story, which makes it even more fun to think that things that seems too fantastical to actually be true... are. The book will leave you wanting to get out there and see for yourself and sacrifice everything to do what you believe in.
April 14, 2021
I adore this book, as well as his previous book Mother of God, set in the Peruvian Amazon. This one set in Nagarhole in the Western Ghats had me totally gripped. In fact, my husband read it at the same time and could not put it down. Tigers, wild elephants, Indian wildlife is here, in all its splendour, and Rosolie gives us the struggle between animals and humans to stay alive. The descriptions are poetic and dynamic, tragic in places. I’d like to live in this book forever!
May 23, 2019
I had the opportunity to interact with Paul Roaolie when was writing this book based on his wildlife experience in Western ghats of south India. He has been out solo travelling in jungle meeting people and understanding the engagement between people and wild life in Karnataka and Kerala. Can't wait for read this book!!
July 11, 2019
A lovely, touching story about a young girl trying to rescue a tiger cub. Set in modern day India and very insightful. Wonderful descriptions of wildlife and landscapes, with a hint of Born Free thrown in. A very enjoyable book and well written with nice character development. I would recommend this book to anyone interested in conservation and wildlife. My thanks to Net Galley for my ARC.
November 22, 2019
Bit dramatic. But the evergripping story inspired by some true events definitely adds value. Not to forget the focus on the unique bond between nature and people, jungle and humans where we all should work forward to!!!
June 1, 2020
This is a wonderful book! This book was recommended to me by a friend who is a biologist. I trust his recommendations because he hates every time that a movie/book/meme/show is not accurate about the plants, animals, and ecosystems that they portrait. Me, as an anthropologist, I have the same pet peeve about social and cultural accuracy. I mean, everything I read doesn't have to feel like a documentary, but at least the authors should do their research. If you like animals and well researched yet pleasant to read novels, this is for you... Isha is a teenager who loves animals and lives in a city in India. Since she has a wild spirit, she has trouble staying calm at school, so her father sends her to her grandparent's house in a rural village. There, because of a series of events that I will not spoil for you, she meets a baby tiger. That is how her adventure begins, as she commits to taking this cub to the forest so it can be free and live as tigers are supposed to.
What I liked: The author manages to explain several things that are complicated in an adventurous and moving book. There were some chapters that were hard to read because they explored experiences of social inequality, indigenous communities being forced to abandon their traditional territories, animal cruelty, and violence. I liked that these chapters were not explicit or shocking enough to keep me from reading them, but I think it is very important to discuss these issues and realize that people go through this every day. Also, I think it is great that most chapters actually describe the wonderful relationship of Isha and the tiger, her strength and independence, the challenges they encounter, and the friendships she makes along the way. I loved reading about Isha's commitment to the tiger and what it represents. I liked the characters and how the author explained their life stories, I think that made it really easy to connect with them. There are some moments in the story that almost seems like fantasy (Isha is extremely lucky and smart), but I consider this as a positive thing because that makes this book a story full of hope, regardless of the social problems that it portraits. I laughed, I cried, and I didn't want this story to end.
What I did not like: I can not think about something I disliked in this book, it was great :)
What I liked: The author manages to explain several things that are complicated in an adventurous and moving book. There were some chapters that were hard to read because they explored experiences of social inequality, indigenous communities being forced to abandon their traditional territories, animal cruelty, and violence. I liked that these chapters were not explicit or shocking enough to keep me from reading them, but I think it is very important to discuss these issues and realize that people go through this every day. Also, I think it is great that most chapters actually describe the wonderful relationship of Isha and the tiger, her strength and independence, the challenges they encounter, and the friendships she makes along the way. I loved reading about Isha's commitment to the tiger and what it represents. I liked the characters and how the author explained their life stories, I think that made it really easy to connect with them. There are some moments in the story that almost seems like fantasy (Isha is extremely lucky and smart), but I consider this as a positive thing because that makes this book a story full of hope, regardless of the social problems that it portraits. I laughed, I cried, and I didn't want this story to end.
What I did not like: I can not think about something I disliked in this book, it was great :)
August 27, 2019
An exceptional book that draws you in so well to contemporary India. I read this as parts of the Brazilian rainforest were burning, due to human profiteering ad lack of consideration for the wildlife that exist in forests and jungles worldwide.
It is like a modern Jungle Book but Isha says she is not 'Mowgli'. She is a girl who struggles when confined as does Kala the young Bengal tiger she finds has taken refuge in a sacred grove near where she has moved to live with her wonderful grandparents Ajji and Ajja. As she seeks to take Kala away from the growing human demands to kill her she joins with a wonderful group of fellow travellers - Arun who runs an animal sanctuary, Thimma (who was orphaned at 9 years) and works with his loyal blind elephant Hathi and their guide Gowda.
I work at Bateman's (Rudyard Kipling's home between 1902 to his death in 1936) and felt the parts of the novel that described the jungle alongside the narration by the animals themselves were superb and really delved into the reality of the forest and the jungle.
Modern concerns in India were shared (such as hunting and rape of young women) so it is not a sentimental idealistic portrayal. The long passages make you feel as a reader that you are travelling with young Isha and I loved how she was also able to reveal her insecurities with those she met alongside the true symbiosis with the tiger. Meeting the tribes and the realities of the Forest Department showed the concerns that the country is trying to balance this world alongside what is now a leading economic power.
It was as if Isha and the group and the animals were retelling a new Jungle Book and one young readers would love to hear (an audiobook of the story would be wonderful) as well as teenagers growing in concern about the environment and loss of habitats for wildlife and for all of us adults who must still need to know that this world has a tricky balance between nature and its destruction. Reading this book should make us all value what we must do our best not to destroy.
It is like a modern Jungle Book but Isha says she is not 'Mowgli'. She is a girl who struggles when confined as does Kala the young Bengal tiger she finds has taken refuge in a sacred grove near where she has moved to live with her wonderful grandparents Ajji and Ajja. As she seeks to take Kala away from the growing human demands to kill her she joins with a wonderful group of fellow travellers - Arun who runs an animal sanctuary, Thimma (who was orphaned at 9 years) and works with his loyal blind elephant Hathi and their guide Gowda.
I work at Bateman's (Rudyard Kipling's home between 1902 to his death in 1936) and felt the parts of the novel that described the jungle alongside the narration by the animals themselves were superb and really delved into the reality of the forest and the jungle.
Modern concerns in India were shared (such as hunting and rape of young women) so it is not a sentimental idealistic portrayal. The long passages make you feel as a reader that you are travelling with young Isha and I loved how she was also able to reveal her insecurities with those she met alongside the true symbiosis with the tiger. Meeting the tribes and the realities of the Forest Department showed the concerns that the country is trying to balance this world alongside what is now a leading economic power.
It was as if Isha and the group and the animals were retelling a new Jungle Book and one young readers would love to hear (an audiobook of the story would be wonderful) as well as teenagers growing in concern about the environment and loss of habitats for wildlife and for all of us adults who must still need to know that this world has a tricky balance between nature and its destruction. Reading this book should make us all value what we must do our best not to destroy.
June 30, 2019
“The Great Stories are the ones you have heard and want to hear again.” –The God of Small Things
“The moon was setting and the night birds finishing their song when he woke”. From the moment this book began I was sucked in. I got a feeling I haven’t had since I was a child. This is a story that feels like an old-style adventure in the modern world. It feels like a modern day JungleBook. It feels like Kipling and Jack London got together for a collaboration.
Isha is a girl in India who hates school and loves the wild, which there isn’t much of in Bangalore. Very quickly she is sent away to live in the countryside where…. There is a tiger living. The author goes back and forth between Isha’s story and the Tiger’s for a bit. I found the perspective of the tiger fascinating. But let me tell you, I thought I knew where this story was going… I was wrong.
I wont do more summarizing. There are scenes in here that will haunt me for years to come. There are moments of beauty and wonder. Just suffice to say that Isha’s journey gets more and more intense as the story goes on. And so few adventure stories have a female as the protagonist, as the explorer, as the hero. The people she meets along the way are incredible too. The creatures she meets (the elephant herd scene! (wow!)). That so much had happened that by the end I thought I knew how it would go. I was wrong. The ending of this book is INTENSE… to say the least. I felt emotionally drained by the end. This is a beautiful classical adventure set in the modern world. It is a book that considers the hearts of animals, our relationship to nature, and the power of each of us to change the world.
I received an ARC of this book, in exchange for an honest review.
“The moon was setting and the night birds finishing their song when he woke”. From the moment this book began I was sucked in. I got a feeling I haven’t had since I was a child. This is a story that feels like an old-style adventure in the modern world. It feels like a modern day JungleBook. It feels like Kipling and Jack London got together for a collaboration.
Isha is a girl in India who hates school and loves the wild, which there isn’t much of in Bangalore. Very quickly she is sent away to live in the countryside where…. There is a tiger living. The author goes back and forth between Isha’s story and the Tiger’s for a bit. I found the perspective of the tiger fascinating. But let me tell you, I thought I knew where this story was going… I was wrong.
I wont do more summarizing. There are scenes in here that will haunt me for years to come. There are moments of beauty and wonder. Just suffice to say that Isha’s journey gets more and more intense as the story goes on. And so few adventure stories have a female as the protagonist, as the explorer, as the hero. The people she meets along the way are incredible too. The creatures she meets (the elephant herd scene! (wow!)). That so much had happened that by the end I thought I knew how it would go. I was wrong. The ending of this book is INTENSE… to say the least. I felt emotionally drained by the end. This is a beautiful classical adventure set in the modern world. It is a book that considers the hearts of animals, our relationship to nature, and the power of each of us to change the world.
I received an ARC of this book, in exchange for an honest review.
November 16, 2020
This is one of the most amazing and underrated book I have ever read. I can't think of any other book that has so beautifully and yet so simply highlighted the deep and complex connection between humans, animals and nature. This novel isn't just a story of a compassionate girl (when usually its a boy) who tries to save the life of a tiger despite all odds. It also gives the perspective of the tiger, the elephants and numerous other animals, from a viewpoint that is non human but rooted in reality and scientific research.
Hence, when author says a tigress can attract a dog by making a barking sound and just kill it with the strike of a paw to avoid detection, it has really happened. When he says a tribal can interact with a herd of wild elephants and form a deep connection with a jungle, he has seen it. The scenario where all animals, both predators and prey, come to a truce and take refuge in a single body of water to escape a forest fire, it has been recorded. The novel makes us realize how blind we are to the intelligence and sensitivity of animals, just because we live in cities and they live in wild.
Along the journey, the author also manages to rope in the plight of tribals, the constant jostle between politics, development and nature as well as the struggle of few who still fight to save forests and wildlife. And he does all this without a hint of lecture or moral superiority. He does this by appealing to our compassion and showing us the fragile beauty that we are on course to lose. The best part is that the protagonist of the story, the girl Isha and the tiger Kala are inspired from real life figures. The fact that the author has spent a lot of time in Indian wildlife and is married to an Indian really helps him bring to life the diversity and complexity of India. Hence we come across smattering of words from local languages such as Kannada, Hindi and Malayalam.
Although I have never read the jungle book, I have a strong feeling that this book leaves Kipling far behind and tries to approach animals as they are and not how they should be. It is therefore surprising that this book is not famous enough. Read it and open a new door to the jungle.
Hence, when author says a tigress can attract a dog by making a barking sound and just kill it with the strike of a paw to avoid detection, it has really happened. When he says a tribal can interact with a herd of wild elephants and form a deep connection with a jungle, he has seen it. The scenario where all animals, both predators and prey, come to a truce and take refuge in a single body of water to escape a forest fire, it has been recorded. The novel makes us realize how blind we are to the intelligence and sensitivity of animals, just because we live in cities and they live in wild.
Along the journey, the author also manages to rope in the plight of tribals, the constant jostle between politics, development and nature as well as the struggle of few who still fight to save forests and wildlife. And he does all this without a hint of lecture or moral superiority. He does this by appealing to our compassion and showing us the fragile beauty that we are on course to lose. The best part is that the protagonist of the story, the girl Isha and the tiger Kala are inspired from real life figures. The fact that the author has spent a lot of time in Indian wildlife and is married to an Indian really helps him bring to life the diversity and complexity of India. Hence we come across smattering of words from local languages such as Kannada, Hindi and Malayalam.
Although I have never read the jungle book, I have a strong feeling that this book leaves Kipling far behind and tries to approach animals as they are and not how they should be. It is therefore surprising that this book is not famous enough. Read it and open a new door to the jungle.
January 17, 2022
The Girl and the Tiger
By Paul Rosolie
Narrated by Deepti Gupta
Popsugar prompt 04: a book with a tiger on the cover or “tiger” in the title
“You can't stop them. Some people don't care if a girl cries, or a tiger dies. They have rules. I did what I had to and we survived.”
3.5/5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I love books about the wilderness, and about people living among and with nature. This book was so atmospheric and the descriptions of the jungle were so vivid. The Girl and the Tiger is just what it says on the tin. It’s about a girl who rescues a tiger cub and tries to save her and take her back to the jungle. While trying to keep the tiger alive the girl becomes enmeshed in the politics of India and the battle for conservation.
At times it is a difficult book to read. There is a LOT of animal cruelty and animal death that is just heartbreaking. Made even worse because you know it’s real and is happening all the time. Rosolie writes beautifully and compassionately, and has a real skill for making you feel completely immersed.
Unfortunately at times the book seemed overly long. I think it would have benefited from being about 20% shorter. At times I felt impatient, like I wanted it to hurry along so I could find out what happened. I would still definitely recommend if you love stories about the wilds. Be wary of content warnings though, as it does get brutal.
By Paul Rosolie
Narrated by Deepti Gupta
Popsugar prompt 04: a book with a tiger on the cover or “tiger” in the title
“You can't stop them. Some people don't care if a girl cries, or a tiger dies. They have rules. I did what I had to and we survived.”
3.5/5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I love books about the wilderness, and about people living among and with nature. This book was so atmospheric and the descriptions of the jungle were so vivid. The Girl and the Tiger is just what it says on the tin. It’s about a girl who rescues a tiger cub and tries to save her and take her back to the jungle. While trying to keep the tiger alive the girl becomes enmeshed in the politics of India and the battle for conservation.
At times it is a difficult book to read. There is a LOT of animal cruelty and animal death that is just heartbreaking. Made even worse because you know it’s real and is happening all the time. Rosolie writes beautifully and compassionately, and has a real skill for making you feel completely immersed.
Unfortunately at times the book seemed overly long. I think it would have benefited from being about 20% shorter. At times I felt impatient, like I wanted it to hurry along so I could find out what happened. I would still definitely recommend if you love stories about the wilds. Be wary of content warnings though, as it does get brutal.
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