Father of Lions is the powerful true story of the evacuation of the Mosul Zoo, featuring Abu Laith the zookeeper, Simba the lion cub, Lula the bear, and countless others, faithfully depicted by acclaimed, award-winning journalist Louise Callaghan in her trade publishing debut. Combining a true-to-life narrative of humanity in the wake of war with the heartstring-tugging account of rescued … of rescued animals, Father of Lions will appeal to audiences of bestsellers like The Zookeeper’s Wife and The Bookseller of Kabul as well as fans of true animal stories such as A Streetcat Named Bob, Marley and Me, and Finding Atticus.
“An unexpectedly funny and moving book. … Through the story of a man who loves both lions and life, Louise Callaghan shows how humour and defiance can counter cruelty, and why both humans and animals crave freedom.” — Lindsey Hilsum, International Editor, Channel 4 News and author of In Extremis: the life of war correspondent Marie Colvin.
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An excellent true story of a family and a team of strangers that fight to save the animals of a neglected zoo in Mosul. An informative and dramatic look at Mosul civilians that face danger all around them due to an on-going war just outside their front doors, and facing starvation, cruelty, and violence from the occupying soldiers of the Iraq Army then Daesh and Isis. With much sacrifice and unwavering dedication, Abu Laith (Imad Sabah) gave everything he had and more to care for the animals of the Mosul Zoo after they were abandoned by their owner during the ISIS occupation. Following his instruction, his children worked just as hard as he did to provide for the animals, with only the resources contained in their small neighborhood and every step outside of the house being a life or death decision, the children pleaded for help and begged for scraps and not to feed their near-starving family or themselves but to feed the animals of the zoo. A true sense of a struggle to help the helpless. I truly enjoyed the way this non-fiction work was delivered, from the alternating perspectives to the storytelling to the dialogue. This is a good read even if you don’t think you are interested in non-fiction, this story reads like fiction while delivering a recap of actual events
Father of Lions tells the story of a man determined to save the Mosul Zoo during 2010’s Isis invasion of Mosul, Iraq. Abu Laith is the man who is running the zoo, getting absolutely no help from the man who owns the zoo. This a book based on a true story, an the lengths Abu Laith goes to to save these animals.
This book is filled with so much drama, heart, love for animals, and the cruelty of war and how it affects the whole country. Abu Laith had to go to extreme measures to save these animals, and it is no easy task when his home is being overrun by war, cruel acts, murder and many other things.
Abu is trying so hard to keep animals alive that are pretty much starving, just as the people and his own family goes hungry.
Together with the help of Four Paws, and particularly their Doctor Amir, they have the challenging job of arranging to get the animals out of Mosul. This is really tricky as well for Abu as he is a wanted man, living in a war zone.
It takes a lot to just get two animals out of that zoo and to safety. This story is filled with a great compassion that came out of a war zone destroying peoples lives and the animals suffered even worse.
I really thought about everything after I read this book, and I think everyone should read this book to see that he war we read about and hear about on social media and the news doesn’t really show the depth of the suffering in these countries.
I gave this book 5 stars and hopes this book is read and appreciated!
This is an unexpectedly funny and moving book. You might not expect to laugh when reading about ISIS-held Mosul, but through the story of a man who loves both lions and life, Louise Callaghan shows how humour and defiance can counter cruelty, and why both humans and animals crave freedom.
Ordinary people in extraordinary times can accomplish the heroic.
Father of Lions: One Man’s Remarkable Quest to Save the Mosul Zoo by Louise Callaghan tells the story of the people who worked to save the Mosul Zoo animals under unimaginable circumstances. The privations of wartime, the societal and political shifts under ISIS, and the extraordinary measures taken to extract the animals are vividly rendered.
Abu Laith loved animals. As a boy, he brought home two dogs who became his constant companions, which set him apart in a society that condemned dogs as unclean. He learned everything he could about wildlife from National Geographic and dreamed of creating his own zoo where the animals had open spaces instead of cages.
Upset by the neglect of the zoo animals across the street from his Mosul home, he contacted the distant zoo owner and became the zookeeper. He hand-raised a baby lion he called Zombie. He loved the lions and bears and monkeys and took great pride in their care.
When ISIS took over Mosul and set up camp in the zoo, Abu Laith went into hiding with his family. He fretted over his beloved animals’ neglect, but under threat from ISIS was unable to leave his home. He hired a man out of his own pocket to care for the zoo.
And then the Iraq war came.
For over two and a half years, Abu Laith endeavored to keep his beloved animals alive. At the end of the ISIS occupation of the zoo, there were only a few starving animals left. A former government scientist became involved and contacted an Austrian charity that rescued animals. Egyptian veterinarian Dr. Amir risked everything to bring the remaining animals out of Mosul.
Life in Mosul before and during ISIS occupation is central to the story. One of the most difficult scenes involved Abu Laith’s wife giving birth–unable to even raise the veil covering her face!
During the war, families squeezed into one room while under bombardment, enduring long hours of boredom and isolation. It was a struggle to find food and dangerous to even prepare it.
After the war, women lifted their unveiled, pale faces to the sun for the first time in years. The streets once again were filled with people. Zombie was repatriated to his native element. And readers rejoice with their reclaimed freedom.
I received an ARC through Bookish First in exchange for a fair and unbiased review.
During the war in Iraq, Abu Laith, a car mechanic, persevered to save as many animals living in the Mosul Zoo as possible even after the area was taken over by Isis. His favorite animal, however, is a lion cub named Zombie (after Simba in The Lion King but butchered by incorrect subtitles).
I found this story heartbreaking, heartwarming, and I was amazed by Abu’s determination to save the animals while also caring for two wives and ten children. Luckily, he did have some help, including Hakam, a young man who helped bring attention to the plight of the zoo animals and Dr. Amir, a vet with an international rescue organization for zoo animals.
I received an advance copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
What would you do in the middle of a war? Louise Callaghan, a Middle East journalist, researched and wrote this true story of Abu Laith who is responsible for a lion, a bear, his huge family and how they live in Mosul during the time that ISIS comes in and takes over.
All Abu knows about animals has been learned by watching National Geographic.
I lost count how many children he has. He was a widower and he married a widow. Both had children and they have children together. Callaghan’s descriptions of when ISIS takes over Mosul are vivid and I felt like I was there with them. I sometimes had to put the book down and take a break. These people were extraordinary. Emotions of fear, sadness, laughter, strong will and many others were felt while reading. Abu is a true hero in his quest to take care of Simba and his family. I recommend this book. It is one I will not forget. Thank you Bookishfirst for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. 5 stars
This book is about the people who helped keep the animals of the Mosul Zoo alive during the city’s occupation by ISIS and just after its liberation. I had thought the book would be more about the animals, but I was not at all disappointed that the focus was on the people. Sadly, I’d never really stopped to think about the hardships they endured during that period, so this book was eye opening for me. It really mattered to me what happened to them, so I was a little disappointed with the way Abu Laith and Hakam pretty much disappeared from the account once Dr. Amir entered the picture. Abu Laith still had some involvement in getting the animals to safety, so I would have liked to have seen some of those scenes through his eyes. Also, I would have liked to see a little more how Hakam was involved with the animal rescue. Also, I wish there had been a map and some photos, though I did read an ARC. Hopefully those features are available in the finished copy.
Overall this was definitely a worthwhile read, reminding us that, though difficulties bring out the worst in some, in others they bring out the best. Thank you BookishFirst for the ARC.
Abu Laith, whose name means Father of Lions, has always had a fondness for animals; ever since he was a young boy and felt closer to animals than he did to other children. His dream is of one day opening a zoo, one where the animals can roam free, but many obstacles stand in his way, including the ISIS occupation of Mosul and it’s zoo.
Father of Lions is an intense, honest telling of the horrible consequences of war—the hunger, the fear, and the destruction—as well as the strength that people have, even when placed in stressful and heartbreaking situations. It shows the strength that love, of people and life, brings, and its ability to conquer whatever is placed in its way. There were some slow-moving sections, but others were fast-paced and intense, effectively communicating the strength within people, the horrors of conflict, and the resiliency of the human spirit. It allows the reader a perspective they may not otherwise have, and maybe some compassion for others by the time they read the last page. I highly recommend it.
Thank you to Forge Books and BookishFirst for an ARC of Father of Lions, given in exchange for an honest review.
Father of Lions is excellent book about the Mosul Zoo and its keeper Abu Leith. This books chronicles Mosul through the end of its occupation by American and Iraqi forces through the years it is under the control of Daesh. Abu Leith is in charge of Mosul’s zoo and is especially attached to the lion he has called Zombie. Abu Leith, with the help of his incredible wife and family, attempts to keep the animals alive through what can only be described as hell. The people of the city live through terror, deprivation and hunger, as do the animals. This book is well written, extensively researched, and describes the efforts of Abu Leith and Dr. Amir who liberate the surviving animals in the face of what seem to be impossible and highly adverse circumstances. It is heartbreaking, inspiring and compelling.
I appreciated the story of the self-appointed “father of lions” and not just his struggles, but all of those in war-torn Mosul. I can’t imagine the daily fear that would be involved for people that live in and around the region, with ever-changing rules that you have to abide by. When you don’t live in the region, it’s easy to not know or understand the daily fight for the people that live there. While I had made it a point to know this information, having an account such as this, with Abu Laith’s love of animals shining through.
When I first read the blurb for this, I had assumed that the lions and other animals would take the precedence in this book, but it was the daily life, the war, and life under Isis that took the focus, and while it wasn’t what I was picturing, it was still an endearing story. Callaghan took care to tells us Abu Laith’s story in the present, as well as the past, to establish just how deep his love for animals runs. As some others have said, there are parts of this that seem to be filler that doesn’t necessarily move the story forward. But I appreciated the underlying story and how well it was told.