Book Log 2021 #56: In the Skin of a Lion by Michael Ondaatje

This book follows Patrick Lewis as he moves from his rural Ontario town to Toronto, where he applies what he learned about dynamite from his father on construction sites in the city.  He quits his job to find a millionaire who's disappeared, becomes involved with the man's mistress, and eventually falls in with political radicals who can use his knowledge of explosives. He also becomes more familiar with the immigrant community he's worked and lived among for years, developing personal and romantic attachments.

The title of the book comes from the Epic of Gilgamesh, and is supposed to reference the convergence of voices in history. In this case, it comes from Ondaatje focusing on immigrant communities and marginalized people who helped build Canada but rarely figure in its official story. Ondaatje researched this period of Canadian history to make sure he depicited life in the Toronto area accurately, and that definately helped make this a richer story. It's also a prequel of sorts to The English Patient, as a couple of characters from this book show up there, and it tells us what ultimately happens to Lewis.

I liked the book, it reminded me a little of Sinclair Lewis and his ability to use personal stories and conflict to show a contrasting view of accepted history.