Lion in the Bedroom

by pat-cavendish-o-neill

The author was born into an Australian wine family of enormous riches, eccentricity and intrigue. She tells the story of her charmed life and of the day everything changed. When a lover in Africa presented her with a tiny lion cub she entered a world more magical and inspiring than anything she had ever known.

Genres: Nonfiction, Biography, Kenya

Paperback

First published August 2, 2004

Reviews

[Phillipa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has taken me absolute ages to read, and not by any means because it was a dull story (it's just pretty lengthy at 600 pages)! I chose it as an out-of-the-ordinary read for myself but after my recent trip to Kenya (and a visit to Joy Adamson of Born Free fame's house), I thought it would be worth it ... and I was right.

It is a well-written easy to read book and a fascinating life story. Pat Cavendish O'Neill has certainly lived to experience a many-varied lifestyle. From being a decadent heiress (although a naive one), with enough money to travel around the world many times over (which she did) and have family homes in so many countries to being a dedicated "mother" to more lost animals than one could count.

Her story takes you back to a time I can hardly imagine, with experiences I could barely relate to with the common-place-ness of the Royal guests and the long list of famous friends. But in the end, nothing can prepare you for the depth of emotion she manages to convey when she tells the stories of her beloved Tana and the incredibly bond they have.

I'd recommend it to anyone who loves a good biography, because this woman has truly lived!

[Leslie · Rating 3 out of 5]

FINALLY finished this book after a month I will never get back. Glad I finished it and it had some super interesting stories of the “rich and famous”, but the author was a bit over the top-saving live lobsters in a restaurant etc. I love animals too, but making pets out of wild animals never works out. Just way too long-almost 600 pages. 😴Was recommended to me. Onwards and upwards….. 💕📚

[Ellie · Rating 5 out of 5]

An amazing book by and amazing lady.

[Marjolein · Rating 3 out of 5]

Loved the incredible story, disliked the boring writing... I would reccommend reading only act 2 (starting with chapter 34) but don't forget to look at the gorgeous photos throughout the entire book!

[Heidi de Goede · Rating 3 out of 5]

Took me ages but was interesting enough to finish.

[Robert · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book could have been so much better if somebody had edited it into a biography - as it is it reads like a novel of sorts. The author leaps about her memoirs in a totally undisciplined manner back and forth in time and location with no reference to date and sometimes location. All of which is a huge pity as she led her life in an interesting period and met some of the worlds most influential people. A map or two would have helped particularly so in part two of the book.

[Gillian · Rating 3 out of 5]

When I told my husband the name of the book I was reading, he said, "That sounds like a disgusting book!" But I assured him it wasn't pornographic, but at least partially, about a pet lion.
It is a wonderful read, and a terrible read - wonderful because it is such a good story, and terrible because it needs editing in the worst way. Perhaps because of that I should have given it only 3 stars. But I think the story, the description of that period and the heart of the author, carry the day.

[Jayne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved it.The book illuminates the life of the rich and famous in America and then, in contrast, Pat's life is turned upsidedown during the war she moves to London. The events then take her to Africa.The mixing the elements of the rich and famous and life in Africa to me was amazing.

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed the second part of this book, what an interesting story and dedication Pat showed all animals.

[Jenn · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lovely memoir of a fantasy life in high society Europe and the African plains. Inspiring and transitive.

[Odette Angliss · Rating 4 out of 5]

An amazing tale of wealth and excess.

[Norma Wall · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read it and was fascinated by it. So many famous people involved in the lives of the very rich .

[Vicki · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a wonderful book. How the rich and famous lived growing up in the 30s and having all sorts of wonderful adventures. Fascinating!

[Ruth Pieterse · Rating 2 out of 5]

One of the few books I couldn't finish. I read about 100 pages and then stopped. It's a good story poorly told.