Will’s review of The Tiger: A True Story of Vengeance and Survival > Likes and Comments

Can't believe I overlooked your review of this book. I was also happy to see that a number of writers had posted positive reviews after I had read the book. In my opinion, it was one of the most underrated books of the year. The combination of story and research was spectacular.

I would also recommend Ruth Padel's Tigers in Red Weather, in which she visits all the sites where tigers currently live.

Rebecca wrote: "I would also recommend Ruth Padel's Tigers in Red Weather, in which she visits all the sites where tigers currently live."
Cool. Sounds like Among the Great Apes: Adventures on the Trail of Our Closest Relatives, in which the author travels the world to see the last remaining native great apes in nature.

I also enjoyed this book and reading your review reminded me of how mesmerized I was by the Amur. I found some interesting facts while researching the tiger for a review I wrote in 2011. I am including a bit of them, The sonic roar, the hooked tongue, wow what a majestic beast to us mere mortals, but sadly, what an unfair fight.>>>>>Imagine--the largest species of tigers, the Amur, or Siberian tiger: 700 lbs., with a chest girth of 56 inches, 12 feet long from nose to tail, 4 feet high at the shoulder. The best camouflaged animal in the forest, stalking you, unseen--silently on giant paws hiding retractable claws the size of a velociraptor's. The golden eyes are unblinking, and the mouth slightly open revealing teeth that are 5" long and over an inch thick at the base; the jaw has the power of 1200 psi; the tongue is covered with small hook-like projections that can lick the paint off a building--or strip meat from a bone. If you are average, you can run about 11 mph--but you are in knee high snow...the tiger can run 50 mp--in the snow. From a crouch, it was thought the tiger could jump 12 feet high, until at a San Francisco zoo an Amur tiger jumped a 12 1/2 ft. fence, escaping it's enclosure. Launched from a run, the tiger can cover a distance of up to 30 feet. The roar of the animal is so loud it is in the *sonic realm* and distorts the neurological pattern. Now, imagine that animal has a memory, a temper, and can hold a grudge...

Here, kitty, kitty

Obviously, you can run about 65 miles an hour! They do look cuddly.

awww, how cute! Now wouldn't your little girls love one of those?
Those paws are the size of my head already! (One day you'll have to tell me how to post pictures)

I would love to read this book if I only had a little more time. Since I don't, I have to make do with the documentaries about tigers I have seen on TV.

I love all animals, and especially all cats, no matter what their size. I would love to pet a baby tiger. Would be a bit careful with an adult tiger. :-)

I once had a baby lion on my lap, in some safari park, in Florida. It did not feel as cat-like as I had expected. It felt as stiff as a dog. And it peed on my lap. :-)

P.S. The above photograph is simply adorable. I'd be tempted to not only pet the baby but also the mother tiger. Yet this might not be recommendable.

You might wind up with some unwanted stripes on your hide.

Will wrote: "You might wind up with some unwanted stripes on your hide."

Is that all? As long as the sweet, big cat won't eat me.

It did not work out so well for the Russian poacher in the book

Will wrote: "It did not work out so well for the Russian poacher in the book"

I think tigers are sweet pussycats. The only problem is their size. If I imagine our cats this size, there might be a few problems with some of them, too, for instance, the nervous ones or those that give us love bites. (And we might have to get a bigger house. :-))

I just looked at the picture you added to your review. The facial expression and body language of this tiger is the very same as our cats have when they have killed some prey. The only difference is the size.

(Not all of our cats hunt. Our Mao, for instance, would be more likely to adopt a mouse if he were fast enough to catch one. Mao is a slow motion cat. He would definitely not survive in the wild.)

One of ours is fond of the love bite as well. Would not be pretty were she 60 times larger. If some of ours every got out, pipe cleaners would soon be an endangered species.

I love little pussycats but love is not what I feel for the big beauties - awe, fear, sorrow, guilt, delight at their beauty, amused at their arrogance, etc..., etc..., etc.... Furtastic review!

Thanks, Lela

Ok

I love this book so much

@ Will: You have to explain this thing with the pipe cleaners a bit more. I didn't get it.

Pipe cleaners is the prey of choice for our kitties

Will wrote: "Pipe cleaners is the prey of choice for our kitties"

Don't tell me you are smoking a pipe.

Hah! No, we get them for the cats to play with. I stopped smoking in 2002, and never smoked a pipe.

Will wrote: "Hah! No, we get them for the cats to play with. I stopped smoking in 2002, and never smoked a pipe."

Thank God!

Ok

I have this book, but haven't read it yet. I might, now. I studied Russian in college, so maybe the words you referenced will pry open my memory.

You certainly can't judge a book by its cover. If so, this would get a 10. I don't know if you agree, but the cover is one of my favorites in my collection.

Great review.

Glad you liked the review. Yeah, the cover really works. Were I reading this now I would have kept a list of the Russki words. Alas.

Last week, while down in Oaxaca, Mexico I was talking with a friend about his kids and he mentioned how his son was away playing with a friend. He then mentioned the friend's father, because "he's a writer, like you, but he does non-fiction. He wrote a NY Times best-seller, you might've heard of it, it's called The Tiger?" Yeah, I'd heard of it. In fact, I read it and loved it. Great book and great review. Thanks, Will!

Small world, and a wonderful book

Will wrote: "Small world, and a wonderful book"

I was thinking the same thing(s).

Terrific review, Will. Another one!

it's.my birthday today May 13

Happy birthday,Elizabeth, mine was on the 4th.

Thank u henry urs is May 4th coolwell happy late birthday what did u do on ur birthday

Not much...

Aw im sorry well did u at least do something with ur family?

Yes, family, is all.

Well did u have fun like what did u get for presents or areu older than 20 and u did nor get any presants

I come from a big Portuguese family, I'm always getting presents.

nice wait even when ur 30 wel I come from a Russian Family

or are u over 30??????

Will:

As usual, excellent review.

And I agree, some books scream for an index and glossary. Have no idea why editors or authors don't see that.

Enjoyable review from beginning to end.

Thanks for a mesmerizing review ... LEW ... http://lewweinsteinauthorblog.com/

I found it thoroughly well researched, often insightful, well put together and a good read.

My only objection to "Tiger" was his repeated anti Russian and Soviet canned waxing. "Repeated" being the key word. I am willing to accept and overlook an author's personnel political views to a point - at least, until it becomes either space filling or until it goes beyond the pale of making a point into the realm of a PC crusade (esp. one I do not embrace).

4 stars

Thanks for the info, Sanjay

Thanks for the intel

Great review, Will!

Thanks, Supratim

Thanks, Will. I'm going to check out the extras.

Jay wrote: "Thanks, Will. I'm going to check out the extras."
A fascinating book, and the NatGeo piece is also quite interesting.