The Tigers of Lents ended out on my shelf because its about home. There are not many years in my long life that I haven't lived within a few zip codes from the Lents neighborhood and years of my working and early salad days in the downtown Portland and outer areas. Reading this author's story was a crazy head trip. . .I've had a quick lunch on the run at the feet of Lincoln in the Park Blocks. . .how many times? Hell. . .I truly think I've met Ken and hung with him often. . .he was one of my favorite parts of this read, especially his Wendell Berry quote.

I am often intrigued by patterns, and fell in with the rhythm of Pomeroy's end of chapter statements, usually a person, place or thing in an attitude of a personified full stop. . .period. . .I had to stop collecting them. . .but so interesting. . .probably just a me thing.

As for the characters, the Garrison family and their cohorts, it took me a while to sort them. Because the reader is in their heads so much and many seemed similar in thought that was a challenge. Basically this is a story of a family falling apart - not a fun thing, having gone through it myself in this very locale. But every family falling apart has hard work to do on the Other Side of the Coin: once children turn into parents each generation moves to the next shelf - if you want contact with the following generations - the cute new darlings in the care of people who you raised up and who can now choose not to share them with you - you must make a different choice for the good of everyone.

Families need all their members, those who know each others' beginnings, laughter, prankster acts, the mad faces, or stupid-in-love faces, happy tears versus sad tears versus run-for-the-hills tears, and the terrifying silent scream. Every family falling apart has to learn how to fall together somehow - to reassemble differently - facing the new situations, choices, and the new faces they bring into the circle, that can also come and go. There's a bunch of forgiveness, reunion, letting go of stuff, patience and compassion to dish out with no strings attached and to receive from others with acknowledgement. That's what I took away from this read. I'll be thinking about it for a long time.

Kudos to Mr. Pomeroy for getting Portland and the Garrisons on bookshelves. and . . .Tell Ken I've missed him, and hope he's well.

*A sincere thank you to Mark Pomeroy, University of Iowa Press, and NetGalley for an ARC to read and review independently.* #TheTigersofLents #NetGalley

"The Tigers of Lents" by Mark Pomeroy is a poignant and deeply moving story that follows the lives of the Garrison family, particularly focusing on the three Garrison sisters: Sara, Elaine, and Rachel. Set in Lents, an outer neighborhood of Portland, Oregon, the novel explores themes of poverty, family dynamics, and the resilience of the human spirit.

One of the novel's strengths lies in its well-developed characters, particularly the Garrison sisters, who are portrayed with depth and complexity. Sara, the eldest, is determined to break free from the cycle of poverty, while Elaine struggles with her self-image and Rachel finds solace in literature. Their individual journeys are compelling and relatable, making them easy to empathize with.

Pomeroy's writing is emotive and evocative, drawing readers into the world of the Garrisons and the challenges they face. The portrayal of Lents as a vibrant yet struggling community adds authenticity to the story, highlighting the socio-economic issues that many face.

While the novel tackles heavy themes, such as poverty and self-doubt, it is ultimately a story of resilience and hope. The Garrisons' ability to find strength in each other and in themselves is inspiring, and their journey is a testament to the power of family and perseverance.

Overall, "The Tigers of Lents" is a beautifully written novel that offers a poignant portrayal of family, resilience, and the human spirit. Pomeroy's storytelling is engaging and heartfelt, making this a book that will stay with readers long after they turn the final page.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and publisher for an advanced copy to review for my honest opinion.

am a fan of family drama and stories of sisters and coming of age…this is a little of all of those things

Thanks to Netgalley for the free advanced copy in exchange for an honest review