This is not a light read; it covers not just the environmental side of things that we hardly ever consider but also a personal journey. The author read out the book herself, and you can feel the mental processes, anguish, and growth through the experience. The proceeds of this book go towards the conservation activities spoken about. This one fact is enough to encourage more people to pick it up! It is a unique journey. The author was not someone with a clear plan for her future. She stumbles upon a volunteering program that involves tremendous and more challenging work (both mental and physical) than she could have imagined herself capable of successfully seeing to fruition.

There are three sections to the book, and each carries its own weight. I would have preferred three separate books, or at least two. Tackling this as one book was hard for me personally. This is the only reason I am rating it the way I am. I have not encountered such a story before, nor the depth of connection described here. I did find it a little troubling that everyone smokes in the book. I only recently found out about the microplastics in most cigarettes. The amount they consumed makes me a little sad that they unknowingly might be harming the very land they are working with since they probably were disposing it into the surrounding area. They do have bigger issues to tackle, though. The scope of what the team has to do to keep things afloat and achieve their goal on a day-to-day basis is unimaginable. The one thing that the size of the book does is take us along on the various minute tasks as well as large sudden ones and educate us while not talking at us.

As mentioned earlier, the author did a great job of narrating the book, and I recommend it to anyone who finds this topic even mildly interesting.

This is the most beautiful memoir I have ever read, and indeed one of the best stories, memoir or fiction, I have read. It is a love story—for Wayra, the puma, and the other abused wild animals cared for by this Bolivian animal rescue park, and for the jungle and wilderness that humans are very rapidly destroying. It is stunningly written, every character bursting from the page: from the birds and animals to the swamps, lakes and tangle of the jungle, to the bug-bitten, mud-covered, dedicated people who stick out unbelievable living conditions so they can spend the day with their cat, or bird, trying to give it some small experience of what it feels like to be wild. There is nothing romantic, or air-brushed about it; it is in-your-face horrific in parts, and exhilarating and deeply sad, often all at once. And through all this, we, the reader, sitting in our comfortable chair in our privileged and clean, tidy, and civilized environment, 'experience, at least as much as that is possible, the frightening, rapid destruction of the Amazon in a way that is not feasible simply by reading the statistics. Buy this book and buy it again and give it to people who will love it and people who need it because they don't get the statistics. All the proceeds from the book sales go to the organization Laura Coleman started to support not only these rapidly diminishing places where captured and abused wild animals can be cared for, but the environmental movement more generally. Thank you to Laura Coleman for writing this memoir and for her incredible work in this field, and to the publisher and NetGalley providing me a digital advanced review copy.

Every time I turned a page I was filled with fear that I would have to read about an animal death. Even reading about Laura learning that they had to turn away a baby puma and its cries left me in such a depressive state. The Puma Years is Laura Coleman’s memoir about her volunteer work at an animal sanctuary in Bolivia. Facing wildfires, climate change, animal trafficking, and lack of funding we read about Coleman’s experiences turn from weeks into months into years. The deep bond Coleman develops with Wayra, a puma, is filled with gentleness and love that every time Laura had to leave I felt I was leaving too. Even her relationships with the other animals affected me.

Just by describing the daily work at the sanctuary Coleman is able to demonstrate how much work and sacrifice the volunteers give to the animals. They suffer from ticks, parasites, lack of resources, physical and emotional exhaustion just to make sure the animals feel some sort of stability. Hearing about the wild fires left me so anxious (especially as someone who has grown up around bushfires my whole life and understand the devastation and grief they cause).

This isn't just a memoir about one woman, it's a climate memoir, an environmental memoir. It's so easy to write about being a white woman going to the global south to find herself, but instead Coleman addresses the issues that local communities and indigenous groups face.

I think this book is definitely worth your time. If you love animals you should read it. If you're worried about climate change you should read it. If you like reading about life in the Bolivian jungle you should read it also.

Many thanks to author Laura Coleman, Little A publishing and NetGalley for an ARC copy of "The Puma Years". This is my honest review.

Laura Coleman wrote an incredibly revealing and mesmerizing memoir of her experiences at a wildlife sanctuary in the Bolivian Amazon.

In 2007 a lost and confused Laura steps off the bus on a jungle road in the middle of nowhere. She is surrounded by kooky rescued wild animals and only slightly less kooky humans (well, some of them are also total whackos) and in no time, she finds herself caring for a (slightly neurotic) puma - Weyra.
Weyra is even more lost and confused than Laura. She is also afraid. Of everything. She wants to be free to roam the jungle but is afraid of being out of her cage. Laura is terrified of Weyra but is also instantly drawn to her. This jumpy, fearful, wild cat who keeps hissing and snapping at her, needs her.
Laura recounts her unlikely love story with Weyra and the story of how she learned to accept and love herself in a humorous and heartwarming way. Reading her story was very emotional for me.

On a personal note, a long time ago I too went backpacking across South America and I could visualize lots of the crazy anecdotes in this book, I remember the stark Bolivian villages, where the locals wear tire-soled sandals and eat fried chicken and drink cheap beer. I also remember learning a lot about myself over there.

This memoir is about acceptance and caring and it was thought provoking but also very easy to read, which is not an easy accomplishment.

Well done!

I loved it!

This book is absolutely gut wrenching. It’s hard to believe it’s a memoir but sadly the issues facing the Amazon are real. I liked how the story brings to life the wildlife staff & other volunteers, they are so committed and dedicated to the animals!

As a young woman, Laura Coleman embarks on a trip to find herself. She ends up in Brazil, and volunteers at a wildlife refuge. Intending to stay only for a couple of weeks, her relationship with the organization, its people, and its animals has become a lifelong endeavor. Coleman's storytelling is engaging. She pulls you into her experience with her vivid descriptions and funny stories. I can't say enough good things about this book--it's worth a spot on your shelf!

The Puma Years is the story of Laura Coleman, a young woman who leaves her unfulfilling life in England to travel in Bolivia. There she volunteers at a wildlife sanctuary in the jungle, where she is assigned to take care of Wayra, a rescued puma. Despite the uncomfortable, primitive conditions and the constant fear, Laura discovers this jungle home may also rescue her.

Coleman's vivid writing brings the jungle experience to life with thrilling intensity and emotion. The book also doesn't shy away from the effects of climate change, deforestation, and wild animal poaching and illegal pet trade. It was wonderful to escape with Laura and Wayra to their magical place, and I was left wanting to rescue all of the people and animals at the sanctuary, and the Amazon itself.

Wow!
A beautiful and tense journey about Laura and a puma named Wayra. Both are females feeling lost and alone. They have been through a lot and they find solace with one another. Laura's life has been full of disappointments and she goes backpacking which leads her to help out at a jungle animal sanctuary in the Amazon. Despite the terrible living arrangements, she finds herself tasked to look after Wayra, a young puma who was captured in the wild as a kitten and raised to do circus tricks before being rescued. She is not a happy cat and very cranky but she and Laura manage an understanding - and ultimately, a bond.

I will not be able to review this book as the same day that I was sent a notification that I had been approved (email on June 15 2021) was the same day that it was archived and I never had the opportunity to download the book.

However, if I do get the opportunity to read it in the near future, I will return to offer my opinions.

My apologies because I'm certain I would have enjoyed it.

I'm going to start off by saying this isn't my usual kind of book, non-fiction and memoirs aren't something that would be top of my list, but the beautiful cover enticed me in (my favourite colour and just so evocative). I have been speaking the English language for over 30 years on this planet but reading this book it was as if I had never come across it before, it's the most beautifully written book I have ever read. Laura does to the English language what flowers do to a garden or what a sunset does to the sky, every simile, metaphor and nuance transported me to a place I would never dream of visiting. I was a traveller in my younger days but since starting a family of my own I don't get away as much as before and this book was like a small part of me was able to visit without leaving the comfort of my own home. I absolutely loved to see the transformation of not only Laura but the animals too, particularly Wayra, and it was really gratifying that she made sure to include an update of all the characters (human and animal) that were involved with the parque; as I'm a reader that often has lots of questions at the end of a book, whereas everything was nicely answered. I have read reviews of people saying that there was too much repetition or not enough happening, I personally felt like that didn't matter as it was so eloquently written. This was Laura's first book and I really hope it won't be her last as I'm excited to read more by her.

*Thank you to NetGalley, Little A publishers and Laura Coleman for the copy of this book. All views are my own.*

When they are well written, a memoir features as one of my favourite genres or types of writing. I have read quite a few good ones, but also some bad ones. The issue is that there is quite a disparity between having an interesting life and being able to fascinate, transport and earn the respect of the reader without coming across as egotistical or self-righteous.

Thankfully, Laura’s talent and ability as a writer shines through this book. The stories of mistreatment of animals by selfish humans are all too accurate and realistic, and she definitely does highlight some important issues around conservation, the environment, deforestation and wildlife.

What spoke to me more than any of that though, was definitely the way that Laura describes her disconnection with nature and the environment as part of her Western culture and the change that occurred as a result of her time in Bolivia. You can clearly see how she re-established a connection with nature that is all often to sadly lost past the inquisitivity of childhood.

The writing is beautifully atmospheric and I feel that I have been transported to Bolivia and experienced this country through Laura’s eyes, but also in some ways my own. My partner has always spoken about a desire to visit Bolivia, and I always thought of that as very random, but I have definitely been exposed to the natural beauty of the country through reading this book. However, I definitely feel that if I were to ever visit Bolivia or a similar country with lots of wildlife and jungle, I would definitely be a more conscious and thoughtful traveller as a result of reading this book.

Laura is an inspirational person and this is an inspirational book that really brings home the harsh and heart-breaking reality of what it means to be a wild animal in the modern world.

I loved the way she writes so candidly about being faced with Wayra and the way their relationship and trust is built but also tested as we reach some dramatic and threatening scenarios in the book.

I believe this to be a must read for animal lovers, memoir fans and anyone who is looking for an evocative, atmospheric, emotional and thought-provoking read. It is both a book to get thoroughly lost in while reading, but also a book that will stay with you for a long time after you’ve finished it.

I didn't realize this was a memoir until I had downloaded the book, and admittedly I wasn't thrilled. However, I came to really enjoy the story and it held my interest. Sometimes the descriptions of the wildlife and her surroundings were amazing, and other times I got tired of the flowery language. I also had a hard time remembering the different names of the characters and animals. It definitely does what it intends and makes the reader think about global issues.

Kindly received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

A beautiful memoir of a young woman finding her way in life while physically working in a jungle and caring for wild, abused animals. This is not a statement on correct or incorrect practices in a wildlife rescue. One reviewer, who has VISITED other rescue facilities suggests otherwise, but there is a bigger picture here. Here it is the struggle to save animals with the love, back breaking labor and ability to learn by extraordinary volunteers. The lovely animals that are given a second chance is what matters. Loved the book.

Very engaging and interesting book!.In felt so moved by the time I was done reading this ebook!
The journey this book takes you on is something amazing! I don't think I have read a book like this before!
This was a very moving magical book!
Thank you NetGalley and Little A for this amazing ebook copy!