Book Review: The Tiger: A True Story of Vengeance and Survival
A heart-thumping action-adventure story, but much more.
To say it simply, The Tiger: A True Story of Vengeance and Survival is John Vaillant's account of the hunt for a man-eating tiger in Russia's Far East. But the book is not at all simple.
Layered and complex. Action-packed. Masterfully told. Awesome. These words would be more appropriate.
What makes the book so engrossing is that it tells a dramatic adventure story, but doesn't stop at just telling a dramatic adventure story. Instead, Vaillant's story of the hunt, which takes place in just a few days in 1997, unfolds over the course of 300 pages, and by the time you get to the heart-thumping climax, you've read a complete portrait of the Russian Far East and the people living in the taiga; surveyed Russian history and particularly the after-effects of Perestroika; delved a bit into anthropology, folklore, biology and conservation; and enjoyed novel-worthy character studies of the main actors (including the tiger) — all without once being the least bit bored. Far from it.
If you enjoy travel writing, history, conservation, natural science, action/adventure or ... oh hell, just read this book.
The Tiger: A True Story of Vengeance and Survival, $15.30 at amazon.com.
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