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Drei Frauen und los
Escaping from their personal lives and taking refuge in a roadside nightclub, a kleptomaniac runaway bride, a recovering alcoholic and a downtrodden minister's wife adopt a retired circus lion and spend their days waitressing until their respective pasts catch up with them. By the best-selling screenwriter and author of How to Eat Like a Child. (general fiction).
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First published March 1, 2012
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About the author
Delia Ephron
25 books591 followersBestselling author and screenwriter Delia Ephron's most recent novel is Siracusa. Her other novels include The Lion Is In and Hanging Up. She has written humor books for all ages, including How to Eat Like a Child and Do I Have to Say Hello?; and nonfiction, most recently Sister Mother Husband Dog (etc.). Her films include You’ve Got Mail, The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, Hanging Up (based on her novel), and Michael. Her journalism has appeared in The New York Times, O: The Oprah Magazine, Vogue, and Vanity Fair. Her hit play Love, Loss, and What I Wore (co-written with Nora Ephron) ran for more than two years off-Broadway and has been performed all over the world. She lives in New York City.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 275 reviews
April 9, 2012
The Lion Is In is one of those wonderful books that you will fly through in a short time. The adventures of three women,on the run begin when they find themselves stuck in a small North Carolina town and working in a bar that houses a lion named Marcel (yes, a real lion). This majestic king of the jungle has a mystical and wise sense about him. Lana, Tracee, and Rita, each have their own struggles that we learn of that have led to them to being on the run, but through their relationships with each other and Marcel, over time each of the women begins to heal the wounds of their pasts and find a new road to travel in life. The Lion Is In starts off as a whimsical, joy-ride of a book fueled by Ephron-style humor but by the final page, the deep meaning about the power we have to change the course of our lives and the power of the human and animal spirit to rebound will touch you deep in your heart and bring a smile to your face.
January 24, 2018
Lana is a bitch
May 22, 2012
I liked the idea of this story. I like the way Delia Ephron writes. What didn't I like, that I didn't award this book 5 stars? Simple. It was too fluffy. I am not a Cottonelle reader. I prefer my steak to be steak, not tofeak(tofu steak. Does it exist? Highly unlikely. I made it up).
This is the first book in the new Penguin Book Club. I heard of it on Twitter and Re-tweeted to win a copy. Oddly enough(or not, with these crazy matters), I won a copy. Delia's book has also been optioned into a movie. I could tell you, and will, by the end of the post, who I think could play the parts of the three ladies.
Lana is a recovering alcoholic former beauty queen. Tracee is a runaway bride and kleptomaniac. Rita is trapped in a boring marriage and looking to find out what life is really about. One hot night in North Carolina, they decide to go on the run in Lana's Mustang. They crash the car and seek refuge in what appears to be an abandoned nightclub. That's where Marcel comes in. Who's Marcel? A dashing mystery man? Sort of- mysterious, yes, but a lion. The ladies become fiercely protective, not only of each other, but also of Marcel.
This book is great at establishing witty repartee and the bonds of friendship among radically different women going through different stages of mid-life crisis. They attempt to come to terms with the way their lives have turned out- one who's run from her marriage before she even enters into it, one running from a marriage that she's been in for many years, and another who is so wounded from her past that she has no desire for a future with a man, although you catch glimpses of the loneliness in her. This book is also great at establishing a great character- in a LION. That alone got it a whole half a star higher than I was going to give it. Marcel is a whole entity I hadn't planned on enjoying. The lion brought some humor and real warmth to this book. I really am glad Ephron brought him into the story.
I'd like to describe this as Fried Green Tomatoes meets The Life of Pi. In fact, I think that's the best way to describe it.
The only thing I had a problem with is that it's so light. Fluffy is the word I keep coming back to. I can see why it's going to be a movie. My choices for the roles? Tracee would be played by Reese Witherspoon. Rita would be played by Andie McDowell. Lana would be played by Amy Adams. Marcel? Priceless.
This is the first book in the new Penguin Book Club. I heard of it on Twitter and Re-tweeted to win a copy. Oddly enough(or not, with these crazy matters), I won a copy. Delia's book has also been optioned into a movie. I could tell you, and will, by the end of the post, who I think could play the parts of the three ladies.
Lana is a recovering alcoholic former beauty queen. Tracee is a runaway bride and kleptomaniac. Rita is trapped in a boring marriage and looking to find out what life is really about. One hot night in North Carolina, they decide to go on the run in Lana's Mustang. They crash the car and seek refuge in what appears to be an abandoned nightclub. That's where Marcel comes in. Who's Marcel? A dashing mystery man? Sort of- mysterious, yes, but a lion. The ladies become fiercely protective, not only of each other, but also of Marcel.
This book is great at establishing witty repartee and the bonds of friendship among radically different women going through different stages of mid-life crisis. They attempt to come to terms with the way their lives have turned out- one who's run from her marriage before she even enters into it, one running from a marriage that she's been in for many years, and another who is so wounded from her past that she has no desire for a future with a man, although you catch glimpses of the loneliness in her. This book is also great at establishing a great character- in a LION. That alone got it a whole half a star higher than I was going to give it. Marcel is a whole entity I hadn't planned on enjoying. The lion brought some humor and real warmth to this book. I really am glad Ephron brought him into the story.
I'd like to describe this as Fried Green Tomatoes meets The Life of Pi. In fact, I think that's the best way to describe it.
The only thing I had a problem with is that it's so light. Fluffy is the word I keep coming back to. I can see why it's going to be a movie. My choices for the roles? Tracee would be played by Reese Witherspoon. Rita would be played by Andie McDowell. Lana would be played by Amy Adams. Marcel? Priceless.
February 17, 2012
My sales rep sent me this book, and though I don't think I would have otherwise picked it up on my own, I'm surprised by how fun it is. Two runaway women meet a third runaway woman and together they stumble upon a bar in the middle of nowhere. And oh, yeah--there's a lion, which means things are gonna get interesting.
This book turned out to be light and fun and the perfect antidote after reading a stream of extremely dark (but excellent) novels back to back. This is a novel where mostly nothing bad happens and things come out right in the end. You've got to enjoy a book that throws together Marcel the Lion, the hapless driver's ed instructor, a jewel thief, the downtrodden bartender who longs for the love of a good woman, a former Miss North Carolina, and a moronic preacher whose ideals make him the perfect 21st century counterpart to Jane Austen's Mr. Collins. The setting of a dilapidated bar in the Furniture Capital of America is pure bonus.
I recommend this book for anybody who is looking for something on the lighter side. I have the strong feeling that the author might turn this chic lit into a chick flick. Think "Thelma & Louise" meets anything by Billie Letts, minus the cliffside-plunge-to-the-death, and you'll have the right idea.
This book turned out to be light and fun and the perfect antidote after reading a stream of extremely dark (but excellent) novels back to back. This is a novel where mostly nothing bad happens and things come out right in the end. You've got to enjoy a book that throws together Marcel the Lion, the hapless driver's ed instructor, a jewel thief, the downtrodden bartender who longs for the love of a good woman, a former Miss North Carolina, and a moronic preacher whose ideals make him the perfect 21st century counterpart to Jane Austen's Mr. Collins. The setting of a dilapidated bar in the Furniture Capital of America is pure bonus.
I recommend this book for anybody who is looking for something on the lighter side. I have the strong feeling that the author might turn this chic lit into a chick flick. Think "Thelma & Louise" meets anything by Billie Letts, minus the cliffside-plunge-to-the-death, and you'll have the right idea.
February 13, 2013
This novel is a “Thelma and Louise” meets “The Runaway Bride” meets “Born Free” kind of story that is funny, charming, sad, and completely captivating from the first chapter.
Delia Ephron, who is well known for her screenplays (“You’ve Got Mail,” “The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants,” and “Michael”) has created a intertwining story of friendship, love, and a bit of mystery that will have readers enchanted and hooked to the very surprising ending. And since Ephron is a genius screenwriter, the book is laid out in such a way that you can almost see the movie already in your mind – now it just needs to be cast and brought to life on the big-screen – which I hope is in the works!
Delia Ephron, who is well known for her screenplays (“You’ve Got Mail,” “The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants,” and “Michael”) has created a intertwining story of friendship, love, and a bit of mystery that will have readers enchanted and hooked to the very surprising ending. And since Ephron is a genius screenwriter, the book is laid out in such a way that you can almost see the movie already in your mind – now it just needs to be cast and brought to life on the big-screen – which I hope is in the works!
May 13, 2024
CW: anti-Roma and anti-Indigenous slurs, ample fatphobia
I showed-up for Natasha Lyonne's audiobook narration and stayed for an actually kinda cute story. Not radically feminist by any means, but the text does pass the Bechdel Test easily and has important things to say about navigating sobriety and female friendships.
I showed-up for Natasha Lyonne's audiobook narration and stayed for an actually kinda cute story. Not radically feminist by any means, but the text does pass the Bechdel Test easily and has important things to say about navigating sobriety and female friendships.
September 9, 2017
An interesting story of three women who are lost in different ways. And the lion who helps them find themselves.
March 28, 2020
This book reminds me a lot about movie called “Bagdad Cafe”.
So I feel like that was entertaining but not really authentic.
And ending was mediocre happy ending found yourself kind thing.
So I feel like that was entertaining but not really authentic.
And ending was mediocre happy ending found yourself kind thing.
December 2, 2024
delightful story
A nice, light read. The story sucked me right in. Great characters, especially Marcel. It’s funny how everyone felt peaceful around him.
A nice, light read. The story sucked me right in. Great characters, especially Marcel. It’s funny how everyone felt peaceful around him.
July 15, 2012
Uuuuuuuuccchhhhh! File this under "where do I start?" I picked up this book at the library because although I had never before read Delia Ephron, I figured she was a safe bet because her movies are usually entertaining, though not excessively funny in my opinion (I prefer absurdist and dark comedy). Wow, was I ever wrong about The Lion Is In. Not only was it not funny or even charming, but the book was amateurish, if not in writing then in plot. I hate it when older writers try to write about younger characters. You know that old adage "write what you know"? Yeah, well ... do that.
The three main characters meet on a highway in North Carolina, and it's intentionally unclear why two of them (best friends since childhood) seem to be on the run, and maybe the third one as well. Why? You wind up not really caring because the essentially petty crime one of them committed is kind of dumb and contrived (as is most of the book), and it gets resolved a little too easily at the end. Wheeee! One of the characters is as dumb as a bag of hammers. I quote, "What's [a SWAT team]?" (p. 276 of the h/b edition). I'd venture a guess that even gigantic dummies know what a SWAT team is. She's an annoying character to begin with. Granted, I don't suffer fools gladly, but Tracee (see???) is a doozy. She's pretty much a woman-child who doesn't really advance toward any semblance of adulthood by the end of this book, other than to eventually live two states away from her best friend. You go, girl!!!!!! *high-five* (which BTW she actually does occasionally with her domineering best friend, and this seems as out of place and forced as the women I once saw high-fiving after finishing a Pilates class together, but I digress...)
Probably of the three characters Lana, a recent friend of Bill W., is the most developed in this story, but even she's pretty two-dimensional, with occasional brief forays into the third dimension. To me, angry people are entertaining because they usually have a decent backstory, and Lana's was so-so, at least. From what I understand, without having firsthand knowledge, her experience with addiction is pretty accurate, so maybe here Ephron was in fact writing what she knows. Another pet peeve of mine is when characters speak unnaturally, and I'm pretty sure no one has ever actually said, "I'm so obstreperous." (I'll wait while you look it up. I had to, but even if I hadn't, it's not exactly standard vocab especially for someone who didn't even finish college, as this character hadn't. Or someone who wasn't writing a term paper. Or anyone ever.) The third woman, Rita, had a much more interesting backstory but her actual character wasn't terribly well developed.
Now, the lion, Marcel...he was interesting. Though he had no actual dialogue (unless you count growling and what was interpreted as purring), he had more personality than the three others combined (PLUS the side characters). Yes, I'm exaggerating. But not by much. I was really kind of hoping that the story would turn dark and someone's limb(s) would end up in Marcel's mouth, but alas, this was not to be.
All in all, this book reads like a screenplay, though obviously that makes sense when the writer is also an accomplished screenwriter. I read somewhere that it was optioned into a movie, and maybe that's how it was intended. Unfortunately, it's pretty much a soulless buddy/road comedy-drama. I wasn't looking for Waiting for Godot but something with a little soul or thought put into it would have been nice. Yawn.
The three main characters meet on a highway in North Carolina, and it's intentionally unclear why two of them (best friends since childhood) seem to be on the run, and maybe the third one as well. Why? You wind up not really caring because the essentially petty crime one of them committed is kind of dumb and contrived (as is most of the book), and it gets resolved a little too easily at the end. Wheeee! One of the characters is as dumb as a bag of hammers. I quote, "What's [a SWAT team]?" (p. 276 of the h/b edition). I'd venture a guess that even gigantic dummies know what a SWAT team is. She's an annoying character to begin with. Granted, I don't suffer fools gladly, but Tracee (see???) is a doozy. She's pretty much a woman-child who doesn't really advance toward any semblance of adulthood by the end of this book, other than to eventually live two states away from her best friend. You go, girl!!!!!! *high-five* (which BTW she actually does occasionally with her domineering best friend, and this seems as out of place and forced as the women I once saw high-fiving after finishing a Pilates class together, but I digress...)
Probably of the three characters Lana, a recent friend of Bill W., is the most developed in this story, but even she's pretty two-dimensional, with occasional brief forays into the third dimension. To me, angry people are entertaining because they usually have a decent backstory, and Lana's was so-so, at least. From what I understand, without having firsthand knowledge, her experience with addiction is pretty accurate, so maybe here Ephron was in fact writing what she knows. Another pet peeve of mine is when characters speak unnaturally, and I'm pretty sure no one has ever actually said, "I'm so obstreperous." (I'll wait while you look it up. I had to, but even if I hadn't, it's not exactly standard vocab especially for someone who didn't even finish college, as this character hadn't. Or someone who wasn't writing a term paper. Or anyone ever.) The third woman, Rita, had a much more interesting backstory but her actual character wasn't terribly well developed.
Now, the lion, Marcel...he was interesting. Though he had no actual dialogue (unless you count growling and what was interpreted as purring), he had more personality than the three others combined (PLUS the side characters). Yes, I'm exaggerating. But not by much. I was really kind of hoping that the story would turn dark and someone's limb(s) would end up in Marcel's mouth, but alas, this was not to be.
All in all, this book reads like a screenplay, though obviously that makes sense when the writer is also an accomplished screenwriter. I read somewhere that it was optioned into a movie, and maybe that's how it was intended. Unfortunately, it's pretty much a soulless buddy/road comedy-drama. I wasn't looking for Waiting for Godot but something with a little soul or thought put into it would have been nice. Yawn.
June 7, 2012
I guess I expected something more comedic from Delia Ephron, but maybe it's her sister I'm thinking of. Three women find themselves stranded in a small town after crashing their car and having no money to pay for repairs. Lana and Tracee have been friends since childhood and are on the run after Tracee steals a couple of high ticket items. Rita meets up with the duo on the highway while they're attempting to fix a flat tire. She's on the run from a stifling husband and marriage.
The three women get jobs in the local bar, whose draw is an aged lion, retired from the circus. Marcel, the lion, becomes a sort of talisman to Rita, who takes the opportunity to transform herself. At the same time, she takes it upon herself to make Marcel's life better. Rita feels such a strong connection to Marcel because she too was living a caged life prior to her escape. No surprise here, Marcel was definitely my favorite character. The book cover shows him on a joyride in a convertible with the women (not an actual scene from the book) and he just looks so regal and peaceful. The cover is the reason I picked up this book.
A sweet story with the predictable life-changing events triggered by three women's search for something better.
The three women get jobs in the local bar, whose draw is an aged lion, retired from the circus. Marcel, the lion, becomes a sort of talisman to Rita, who takes the opportunity to transform herself. At the same time, she takes it upon herself to make Marcel's life better. Rita feels such a strong connection to Marcel because she too was living a caged life prior to her escape. No surprise here, Marcel was definitely my favorite character. The book cover shows him on a joyride in a convertible with the women (not an actual scene from the book) and he just looks so regal and peaceful. The cover is the reason I picked up this book.
A sweet story with the predictable life-changing events triggered by three women's search for something better.
July 4, 2012
Great summer read. OK -- weird story, but somehow it all makes sense. Two runaway girls, Tracee (kleptomaniac) and Lana (recovering alcoholic) meet up with Rita who is running away from her stifling life as a minister's life. They end up at a bar that has a caged lion. Their car is wrecked and they have no money so the owner of the bar, Clayton, hires them and they have to stay in town until they can earn enough to get the car fixed. They meet Tim who is immediately smitten with Tracee and Tucker, a local cop who has a one-night stand with Lana. But all three women have demons to fight in their past before they can move on in their lives. Marcel, the lion, is a help to them and they help him as well. At first the author's style was off-putting -- it seemed like some thing was missing from the narrative -- but after a couple chapters I was eager to read more to find out what happens to these three interesting women.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 8, 2012
The three main characters in this book (all women) come together as they are trying to escape from their past. They are quirky and all have issues but they learn from each other as well as the lion, Marcel. At first I thought the lion would take away from the story as it is unbelievable that a lion would be housed in a bar. However, the author uses the lion in creative ways that really add to the storyline. This is a fun, light-hearted read with a humorous plot. I will recommend it to my friends and look forward to reading more of this author's books. I won this book as a Goodreads giveaway.
January 31, 2016
I had this on my list to read for a while-I liked the back of the book. I didnt realize it is the same author as the Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants. I knew once I started reading it that it is the same style, but with just older characters. I liked the characters though. The book is like a chic flic on USA Sundays. Something that is on, but not something I rushed to see and I may not have made it through with the commercial breaks. The lion character, of course, and the breath it gave the characters made this book interesting enough to finish. If I had to deal with Lana And Tracee for a minute longer I may have tossed this book out a window.
June 30, 2012
This book just didn't do it for me. I was expecting light and humorous, but instead found the story preposterous. The characters weren't developed at all, so when they became involved in new relationships, there wasn't the foundation to understand them. Luckily I only invested a few days of my life on this one.
June 22, 2015
I enjoyed the story and the characters. It drew me in quickly wondering how the lion fits into this adventure. Love how he is such a powerful animal in their lives! Quirky is a good word for this book, exactly why I enjoyed reading it!
December 2, 2016
This book had a slow start for me but I ended up really enjoying it. It's a road trip/coming of age/finding yourself type of book. The book is about addiction, losing yourself to your life, finding yourself again.
It has a very, very satisfying ending.
It has a very, very satisfying ending.
June 20, 2012
I went into this book thinking it was going to be absurd, (the lion had me wondering) but I was pleasantly surprised. It is a great story about finding yourself in the most unlikely places.
March 7, 2015
I enjoyed the characters and especially the lion - easy to read .
June 26, 2025
This book is not good lol but i had to take a break from murder books !
November 9, 2017
I don't... quite... know what to give this book. It was nice-ish. It had a sort of unique premise.
But the premise was also kind of absurd. I'm pretty sure you need a license to keep a lion caged up in a bar. And I'm also pretty sure that having one without a license would get your business shut down. In such a small town, I feel like the cops--who frequent the bar--would probably be like, "Clayton, wtf dude, you can't have a lion. Especially one you bought off the black market."
I loved Rita's story with her husband, the emotionally abusive minister. But I found Lana and Tracee boring. I didn't like any of the romantic subplots because I just didn't feel a spark between any of the couples.
And overall, not much happened. There wasn't a lot to keep me interested in turning the pages, no overarching conflict. Not much conflict at all, really. Nothing really goes wrong. None of the characters' actions have real consequences. The dialogue often felt choppy and scattered, and I often had to reread whole portions of it just to follow.
2/5 stars for this one. I only kept reading to find out if Harry would come along and shake things up. After that was resolved in a couple pages, I got bored again. Meh.
But the premise was also kind of absurd. I'm pretty sure you need a license to keep a lion caged up in a bar. And I'm also pretty sure that having one without a license would get your business shut down. In such a small town, I feel like the cops--who frequent the bar--would probably be like, "Clayton, wtf dude, you can't have a lion. Especially one you bought off the black market."
I loved Rita's story with her husband, the emotionally abusive minister. But I found Lana and Tracee boring. I didn't like any of the romantic subplots because I just didn't feel a spark between any of the couples.
And overall, not much happened. There wasn't a lot to keep me interested in turning the pages, no overarching conflict. Not much conflict at all, really. Nothing really goes wrong. None of the characters' actions have real consequences. The dialogue often felt choppy and scattered, and I often had to reread whole portions of it just to follow.
2/5 stars for this one. I only kept reading to find out if Harry would come along and shake things up. After that was resolved in a couple pages, I got bored again. Meh.
October 2, 2016
3.5 Stars
Tracee and Lana are on the run. Lana is a runaway bride still rocking her gown while Tracee is battling kleptomania and alcoholism. On their way to a new life path they're not sure of just yet, they come across Rita on the side of the road. Rita turns out to be a minister's wife desperately trying to escape her husband's stifling ways. Rita helps the ladies with a flat tire so Tracee and Lana offer to give her a lift to the next town, which Rita accepts. Unfortunately, not long after pulling back onto the road the car has engine trouble so the ladies are forced to pull over once again. Miles away from anything but a shuttered up building, the trio decides to investigate, hoping to find shelter for the night.
The closed up building turns out to be a bar called The Lion. Imagine their surprise on taking a walk-through and discovering Marcel, an actual lion! They find some relief in seeing this feline is in a cage but Rita's curiosity leads her to be the first to bond with him. The following morning, the ladies discover that what they thought was an abandoned place is actually still a bar with regular clientele. The owner, Clayton, is not happy to discover he has temporary squatters in his place of business but once he hears their tale of woe he agrees to let the ladies work for him (as waitresses / kitchen help) long enough to get the funds to repair their car.
So starts the first step in these ladies starting their new life paths. Lana gets herself into a bit of a pickle, having a drunken night out with an off-duty cop that leads to a humorous internal debate the next morning about whether to "borrow" his squad car to get herself back home! Rita's bond with the lion Marcel continues to grow. Her discovery that the two of them seem to love the music of Julio Iglesias (particularly the song "Bambelo") gives her an idea of how to bring more business to Clayton's little watering hole. Her gentle ways also begin to attract the interest of Clayton himself.
This story gave me a little of a Boys On The Side vibe, with the different stories unfolding between Tracee, Lana and Rita. Tracee and Tim's budding romance was adorable; I loved how Tim had a bit of old world gentleman style to his way about him. When we get introduced to Rita's estranged husband later in the later parts of the story -- ugh, I just found him disgusting and could completely see why Rita had reached her limit with him!
I also got a kick out of Delia Ephron's acknowledgement page. Not only does she give a shout-out to my hometown, San Diego (specifically the Wild Animal Park where she observed the lions to get a feel for Marcel's mannerisms) but she also gives nods to not only her sister, the late director / screenwriter Nora Ephron (famous for movies like When Harry Met Sally, Sleepless in Seattle and Julie & Julia) but also actress Natasha Lyonne (who appeared in the play Love, Loss and What I Wore, written by the Ephron sisters). Apparently these two women served also served as readers for early drafts of The Lion Is In.
Tracee and Lana are on the run. Lana is a runaway bride still rocking her gown while Tracee is battling kleptomania and alcoholism. On their way to a new life path they're not sure of just yet, they come across Rita on the side of the road. Rita turns out to be a minister's wife desperately trying to escape her husband's stifling ways. Rita helps the ladies with a flat tire so Tracee and Lana offer to give her a lift to the next town, which Rita accepts. Unfortunately, not long after pulling back onto the road the car has engine trouble so the ladies are forced to pull over once again. Miles away from anything but a shuttered up building, the trio decides to investigate, hoping to find shelter for the night.
The closed up building turns out to be a bar called The Lion. Imagine their surprise on taking a walk-through and discovering Marcel, an actual lion! They find some relief in seeing this feline is in a cage but Rita's curiosity leads her to be the first to bond with him. The following morning, the ladies discover that what they thought was an abandoned place is actually still a bar with regular clientele. The owner, Clayton, is not happy to discover he has temporary squatters in his place of business but once he hears their tale of woe he agrees to let the ladies work for him (as waitresses / kitchen help) long enough to get the funds to repair their car.
So starts the first step in these ladies starting their new life paths. Lana gets herself into a bit of a pickle, having a drunken night out with an off-duty cop that leads to a humorous internal debate the next morning about whether to "borrow" his squad car to get herself back home! Rita's bond with the lion Marcel continues to grow. Her discovery that the two of them seem to love the music of Julio Iglesias (particularly the song "Bambelo") gives her an idea of how to bring more business to Clayton's little watering hole. Her gentle ways also begin to attract the interest of Clayton himself.
This story gave me a little of a Boys On The Side vibe, with the different stories unfolding between Tracee, Lana and Rita. Tracee and Tim's budding romance was adorable; I loved how Tim had a bit of old world gentleman style to his way about him. When we get introduced to Rita's estranged husband later in the later parts of the story -- ugh, I just found him disgusting and could completely see why Rita had reached her limit with him!
I also got a kick out of Delia Ephron's acknowledgement page. Not only does she give a shout-out to my hometown, San Diego (specifically the Wild Animal Park where she observed the lions to get a feel for Marcel's mannerisms) but she also gives nods to not only her sister, the late director / screenwriter Nora Ephron (famous for movies like When Harry Met Sally, Sleepless in Seattle and Julie & Julia) but also actress Natasha Lyonne (who appeared in the play Love, Loss and What I Wore, written by the Ephron sisters). Apparently these two women served also served as readers for early drafts of The Lion Is In.
June 13, 2017
Loved this book about 3 runaway women. Two, Lana and Tracee, have known each other forever and they pick up Rita along the way who is an older minister's wife. They all have various issues and end up at an old strangely put together bar that has a real live resident Lion named Marcel. The owner of the bar is rather disheveled and down on his luck and poor Marcel is just trapped in his cage. What happens is Rita makes an unusual connection to Marcel and thru that relationship, finds a different part of herself as the real Rita coming out. Marcel becomes their shrink and they all love him dearly. I have to say, I too loved him dearly. Ms Ephron gave this Lion a wonderful personality that was never achieved until he met the three women. Awesome read for me!
June 19, 2018
An interesting parable. I liked how the experiences of the women intertwined and I enjoyed the weight that each of the women brought to the story. While I didn't love the women characters, I did think that the men brought the story to focus. The lion certainly takes the pivotal role, though, hmmmm, I couldn't overlook that and trying to not find it exotic and unusual. With that, I will call it unusual!
The writing was quite simple. I thought the development in writing from simple sentences toward the more detailed descriptions of the past was OK but I didn't find it strong and I still didn't have a great deal of empathy. I did like the end pieces, though wrapping everything up with a bow seemed also a bit of a let down.
The writing was quite simple. I thought the development in writing from simple sentences toward the more detailed descriptions of the past was OK but I didn't find it strong and I still didn't have a great deal of empathy. I did like the end pieces, though wrapping everything up with a bow seemed also a bit of a let down.
January 16, 2021
There is nothing necessarily wrong with "The Lion is In" it just wasn't my thing. I enjoyed the characters and felt connected to them. I felt that there was deep character development and the story felt wrapped up by the end. But I just didn't feel anything at the end. I did enjoy the happy ending and for some reason I loved Tracee and found her very innocent - despite her criminal tendencies. Tim is such a pure man and his mother seems so fun. The three of them were my favorite.
Throughout the entire book I was waiting for a revelation that Marcel was going to be a metaphor for something or he would be something other than a lion. It was a surprise that he really is just a lion. There were times that the relationship between Rita and Marcel felt slightly odd or borderline bestiality.
Throughout the entire book I was waiting for a revelation that Marcel was going to be a metaphor for something or he would be something other than a lion. It was a surprise that he really is just a lion. There were times that the relationship between Rita and Marcel felt slightly odd or borderline bestiality.
May 10, 2020
It was not until the end that I realized this book was written by Nora Ephron's sister. It is a charming tale with lesson to be learned. Two young ladies are running away and come upon a third who is walking. They pick her up and later have an accident. They see a building and it appears abandoned. They break in through a window to get shade and water. But they have stumbled into a bar and dance floor which has the opposite hours of normal people. They have many interesting situations which usually teach a lesson of sorts. I enjoyed reading this book. The story was fun as were the characters. The morals were useful. It was a fun ride.
August 11, 2023
This read was an unexpected delight! I save my 5* ratings for literature, but for The Lion Is In, I’m making an exception. Or am I? Perhaps this is, in fact, literature. It will probably take me a while to absorb the fullness of the story and the message of this book. The author creates relatable female characters who bond and enrich each other’s lives around a cleverly conceived metaphor. The writing is reminiscent of The Unlikely Pilgrimage Of Harold Fry, and I mean that in the best way. It’s about finding our way, ourselves and our purpose in the most unlikely way. I love this book, and I’ve now decided that for me, it IS literature.
April 25, 2021
So disappointed. It reads like a script, but a bad script. More like a Hallmark movie, not even a real movie.
But it was a fast read and occasionally funny (but not funny enough.)
Best friends since 5 years old, now in their 20s flee Maryland and along the way pick up a hitchhiker- an older woman also fleeing something. They wind up in a tiny town in North Carolina and get waitressing jobs at a bar that happens to have a lion (yes) in a cage. Eventually you find out what everyone is fleeing, all problems are solved and everyone lives happily ever after, including the lion.
But it was a fast read and occasionally funny (but not funny enough.)
Best friends since 5 years old, now in their 20s flee Maryland and along the way pick up a hitchhiker- an older woman also fleeing something. They wind up in a tiny town in North Carolina and get waitressing jobs at a bar that happens to have a lion (yes) in a cage. Eventually you find out what everyone is fleeing, all problems are solved and everyone lives happily ever after, including the lion.
November 28, 2022
was really excited about this but honestly didn’t love it. so much happens & none of it feels fully unpacked like it seems like all the issues were just tied up as easy as possible. the only characters i was obsessed with were tracee and tim but lana had like no redeemable qualities and rita was cool but just didn’t do it for me. also each of their pasts are so heavy and they’re barely unpacked? idk. i see a lot of reviews saying this was really light and fluffy but honestly it wasn’t light and fluffy enough for me if that was the goal :/
November 5, 2017
What a wonderful book! Friendships and relationships can be found when you least expect them and this book does a wonderful job showing that. In addition, I love how all of the characters truly find themselves with the help of Marcel.
If you want to read a book that will make you laugh, cry and think, this is it. I wish that there was a sequel as I now feel quite attached to the characters -- a sign of a really great book!
If you want to read a book that will make you laugh, cry and think, this is it. I wish that there was a sequel as I now feel quite attached to the characters -- a sign of a really great book!
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