Praise for The Lion Trees
2020 BOOK EXCELLENCE AWARDS
FINALIST
AMAZON KINDLE BOOK AWARD
WINNER
GLOBAL EBOOK AWARDS
First Place Gold Medalist for New Adult Fiction
BOOK AND AUTHOR.COM BOOK AWARDS
Winner 2015 Book of the Year
THE ERIC HOFFER BOOK AWARD
Winner: Honorable Mention Award
FIRST HORIZON BOOK AWARD
Finalist
2019 READERS’ FAVORITE BOOK AWARD
Literary Fiction Finalist
BEVERLY HILLS INTERNATIONAL BOOK AWARDS
Finalist
LONDON BOOK FESTIVAL
Honorable Mention
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA BOOK FESTIVAL
Honorable Mention
GREAT MIDWEST BOOK FESTIVAL
Honorable Mention
LOS ANGELES BOOK FESTIVAL
Honorable Mention
GREAT SOUTHEAST BOOK FESTIVAL
Honorable Mention
PACIFIC RIM BOOK FESTIVAL
Honorable Mention
AMSTERDAM BOOK FESTIVAL
Honorable Mention
THE NEW YORK BOOK FESTIVAL
Honorable Mention
THE HOLLYWOOD BOOK FESTIVAL
Honorable Mention
Internationally Accredited Writing Competitions
Kirkus Reviews:
“[A] cerebral page turner…a powerful and promising debut.”
Alaska Library Association:
“The Lion Trees has the all hallmarks of a modern classic.”
The Eric Hoffer Book Award:
“A sweeping literary saga in the tradition of Dr. Zhivago, Gone with the Wind, and The Thorn Birds, this book has it all, including scandal, aspiration, treachery, and reinvention. Thomas’ fiction has a fresh feel—original and stirring—delivering a tale of monumental family dysfunction, which captures interest through numerous plot shifts, quickly alternate between poignant and humorous. By turns exhilarating and exhausting, Thomas creates compelling, rich characters. The ending is just as satisfying as the beginning. At 2,000 pages, the scope of the project alone is admirable.”
The US Review of Books:
“Owen Thomas’ Lion Trees… can be anointed any number of superlatives to showcase its brilliance; highly addictive, spectacular, and mind blowing will have to suffice. Thomas is a wizard of fiction, and his novel a captivating gem that engulfs the reader from the beginning. Whether it’s the reliability factor, exhilarating plot arcs, or the deep allegiances built with the characters, this novel is brought to life in the readers’ mind…. What makes this story a literary juggernaut is the fluidity of the prose and the impeccable pacing of the novel. Thomas gives readers just enough of each character’s perspective, and as that carrot is dangling seemingly within reach, he switches gears. Don’t let the length of the book deceive; there is never a dull moment, and the pages just seem to turn themselves. Ultimately, The Lion Trees is life personified. No man is either good or bad, but rather a tantalizing fusion of the two that makes life worth living.”
The Anchorage Press:
“Every now and then, seemingly out of nowhere, a new voice comes along and knocks your socks off. Owen Thomas owns that voice.
. . . .
Intoxicated by his prose, you gorge upon chunks of passages and while awestruck by the language’s majesty two discordant thoughts course through your brain: why is the book so long and then, superseding that sentiment, please don’t let it end. It is not often that a book like The Lion Trees graces our lives. Yes, making the commitment to engage in such a lengthy tome can be daunting. Here’s my response, throw caution to the wind, make this book your summer indulgence—it will be a vacation you’ll never forget.”
Book Ideas Reviews:
“In its structure and nature, [The Lion Trees] reminds me above all of John Updike’s wonderful Harry Rabbit novels and their ability to summarize the essence of change in American society across a decade at a time.”
Pacific Book Reviews:
“I loved The Lion Trees - and you will too. This is a powerful, gripping and realistic story. Once, a few decades ago, many authors would set out to write “The Great American Novel,” hoping to tap into whatever it is which makes the US and its people so unique and hopeful, particularly at a set point in time. The Grapes of Wrath comes to mind as such a novel. These days it doesn’t seem like anyone tries to write those kind of seminal novels anymore… until now. I don’t know that The Lion Trees will be held in this regard by others, but it certainly struck a nerve with me and I hope one day it comes to be considered a “Great American Novel.” The story is lengthy … but never dull. Don’t be intimated by the length. The novel is worth every minute you spend wrapped inside its world.
…
This is a wonderful, well thought out, well written tale, worth every minute, every hour, and every day that you spend in it. Mr. Thomas’ style is straightforward and easy (even with the various dialects he employs perfectly). He uses simple, detail-oriented diction, creating a wonderful base on which to build such a story. The Lion Trees does what so very few great novels can: it will take a lot out of you, but leave you with much more than you had when you began.”
Readers’ Favorite Book Reviews:
“This is the sort of novel which a light fiction reader might put down after the first dozen pages, and I’m here to implore that you don’t. Once you get used to the time-hopping, perspective-switching style of Owen Thomas’ deep and beautiful prose, the story of the Johns family flutters like a paper bag in the breeze that you can’t stop watching. Unpredictable, philosophical and deeply, intrinsically human, The Lion Trees explores a lengthy gamut of powerful emotional depths, asking important questions about life which we readers, like the Johns family, so often forget to stop and ponder. A superb and high quality literary drama.”
Moterwriter.com:
“By the time you are done with The Lion Trees, you [will] have forgotten all about the length and will realize what an amazingly entertaining piece of literature it was and do I dare say it, a serious novel that provides you with some genuine laugh out loud moments. ... The Lion Trees depicts people who can’t be slotted as just saints or monsters, they fall somewhere in between, just like any of us. Owen Thomas’s writing leaves you richer with emotions and contentment even before the ending arrives. If there is only one book that you are going to read this year, make it The Lion Trees.
Literary Litter.com:
“I’ve been an avid reader for well over thirty-five years. I’ve been a reviewer for over a dozen. I’ve been bombarded by today’s cookie cutter story assembly and I despise it. There are times when I just don’t think I can take another pre-fab book. Then, someone like Owen Thomas comes along and reminds me what the book world CAN offer, what a story CAN be. It reminds me of the reason I fell in love with reading in the first place and what a magical world the art of storytelling is…. If I were going to write a book myself, I would want it to be something that changed the world of the person holding it, and this book does that exceedingly well.
….
[T]his was an astounding read for me. Not only was the story telling mesmerizing, but Owen’s writing style is inspiring. His writing is seamless and flawless and makes me yearn for more.
After reading both of these books, I’ve nominated [The Lion Trees] for Book of the Year Awards, I truly believe this is the best story that I’ve read this year, actually in a long time. This is what fiction and novels were initially created to be. It’s not only beautifully crafted, but it becomes a part of you.”
