Heartbreaking, Enlightening, Inspiring in Equal Measures

Honestly, Father of Lions by Louise Callaghan is one of the best books I've read all year! A true story that reads like a novel, Callaghan takes us into the hearts and lives of the civilians struggling to exist in the midst of a war zone. As we go about our day-to-day lives it is easy to forget what others must endure simply to survive. Father of Lions makes that painfully clear. Average families doing their best to live through the violence, exploitation, and heartbreak. Amid the chaos, one man, Abu Laith, does his best to protect and provide for the animals of the Mosul Zoo. This is a story of ordinary people facing overwhelming adversity and finding a way to survive. It is a testimony to the indomitable spirit of both man and beast.