Audible Edition of The Lion Trees Scores Big with INDIE READER

So pleased to receive this ringing endorsement of the Audible Edition of The Lion Trees from INDIE READER: “A stunningly realized debut evoking shades of vintage John Irving, the recently released audiobook version of Owen Thomas’ THE LION TREES has transformed this must-read novel into a ‘must-listen.’” The full review is below.

A sprawling multi-generational saga that explores a dysfunctional family’s complicated inner-workings from multiple angles.

Owen Thomas’ THE LION TREES is a sprawling multi-generational saga that explores a dysfunctional family’s complicated inner-workings from multiple angles. At the heart of Thomas’ story is the Johns family: Hollis, his wife Susan, and two of their children, David and Tilly. Each is struggling to find their way in an ever-complicated world. Hollis and Susan grapple with late-life crises while Tilly and David befall career woes that send them spiraling personally and professionally. To make matters worse, each member of the Johns family harbors a lifetime of mixed feelings and qualified resentments. As the novel unfolds, an intricate tapestry of good-intentions-gone-awry unravels, revealing a family trapped in a cycle of self-sabotage.

These days, most novels seek to entertain above all else. Sweeping sagas sporting massive page counts and dozens of characters certainly have the potential to do just that, but they often require a far more substantial investment of time than, say, your average ‘beach book.’ THE LION TREES may not qualify as a page-turner, but Thomas’ masterful writing is nonetheless captivating. The novel is a brilliant mix of traditional literary hallmarks (such as heady themes and impeccable dialogue) and bold, unconventional elements (such as multiple points of view or nesting a ‘story within a story’). The narrative passes back and forth between the four main characters, with a change in voice and tense accompanying each chapter. It may sound jarring, but Thomas’ refusal to commit to a single POV ultimately delivers a captivating narrative the unfolds in serialized, digestible installments. Perhaps best described as a massive ‘slice of life,’ Thomas often frames plot points with a menagerie of minutiae, crafting a hyper-realistic world that one cant help but feel a part of.

Released nearly a decade ago to rave reviews, THE LION TREES still feels remarkably contemporary. No, there are no mentions of global pandemics or quarantines, but Thomas’ characters endure a myriad of emotional and spiritual hardships, including isolation. The Hawaii-based, Alaskan-born writer even manages to tether a portion of the plot to the chaotic political landscape that marked the early 2000s. In the hands of a lesser writer, the result would’ve been a woefully dated story. But those without a vivid recollection of the ‘W’ years will likely find that much of THE LION TREES continues to resonate with today.

With a runtime clocking in at over sixty hours, the recently-released audiobook version of THE LION TREES is far from a ‘quick’ listen. That said, the production is top notch, and given the massive page count of Thomas’ novel, the audiobook format may be the best option for a busy audience who’s fallen out of the reading habit. With a pair of narrators (Elizabeth Austin, Robert Ashker Kraft) tackling the large ensemble cast, each chapter presents a new perspective. Considering the average chapter running time (forty-five minutes to an hour), THE LION TREES makes for a great addition to any morning commute.

A stunningly realized debut evoking shades of vintage John Irving, the recently released audiobook version of Owen Thomas’ THE LION TREES has transformed this must-read novel into a ‘must-listen.’

~James Weiskittel for IndieReader