Customer Reviews

A Cat Abroad The Further Adventures of Norton, the Cat Who Went to Paris, and His Human

5 star:		(15)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Before you read another of word of this glowing review, know this: I am an unabashed, unambiguous, gushing and adoring Norton-phile - and I always will be. If you're looking for objectivity, you won't find it from this reviewer..."A Cat Abroad" was author Peter Gethers's second installment in his trilogy of Norton-ology. Originally published in 1993, the book chronicled the adventures of a precious Scottish Fold named Norton, whose enchanting and coquettish personality, singular intelligence and other-worldly savvy endeared him to all who knew him - or read about him. Norton was such a brilliant little creature - and such a treasured companion to Gethers - that his stunning physical beauty could have been a mere sideline to his power and magnetism. But it wasn't. Norton was so staggeringly cute and handsome (those ears! those eyes - which look like irridescent half-moons when he looks down! The fur like spun silk!) that he commanded the attention - and deference - of Oscar-winning actors, filmmaking geniuses, hotel managers, restaurant proprietors, best-selling authors (i.e., Gethers), and anyone else who had the pleasure of meeting him. Of course, there was much, much more to Norton than a handsome face and physique, as Gethers lovingly depicts here. Norton guided his owner's professional sphere, love life, and varied friendships with skill and ease - and taught him many lessons in the process. In return, Gethers provided his beloved little companion with the most wonderful life any animal has ever enjoyed. (Get a load of the answer Gethers provides when one Norton fan asks him, "Why won't my cat act like Norton?" Trust me, Gethers was the owner Norton was born to have....) How it warms the heart to read of Norton's intriguing adventures throughout Europe and how he charmed everyone within purring distance with his charisma and stellar comportment! In the first Norton installment (The Cat Who Went to Paris), Gethers describes his first meeting with his new friend - and how he lost his heart in approximately one-tenth of a second. "I don't think he's a normal cat," Gethers was told, in what was probably the understatement of the year. Sadly, however, Norton had one trait in common with the remainder of the feline race - length of life...If you think you know all there is to know about pet loss and grief read this book - as well as "The Cat Who Went to Paris" and "The Cat Who'll Live Forever." Norton has captured a part of my heart as no other animal ever has - and it's a love that endures beyond death.

When I was in Third to Fourth grade I read A Cat Who Went to Paris. I fell in love with a cat named Norton, and a human, who put up with this regal feline's cat-titude. When I went to the bookstore and saw that he had a second book about the small cat, I spent all my christmas money (I was 11 and only had 15$ in my hands) on that book.

I started reading it in the car with the interior light and began again, the adventures of Norton the Cat. From starting at the Superbowl all the way to going home after spending time abroad in Paris. I was yet again hooked. There were touching parts, and some parts which made you want to laugh. In fact the part where Norm and Peter and everyone was piled into the car and stuck in Italian traffic had me rolling for an hour. Even now I get a good chuckle out of it when I read it over again.

I'll never forget the first time I heard that Norton had died. I was at the beauty shop reading People Magazine when I came across that article. I remember tears starting to burn in my eyes and people asking me what was wrong. When I showed them, they blamed it on me being a kid (I was 14). I'll never forget Norton nor Peter for the rest of my life.

I found this to be the least interesting of the three Norton books. Norton is not quite as prominent, and it's more about Peter and Janis and their travels through Europe, the things they did, and the people they met. Gethers' humor is a little overdone here too. After THE CAT WHO WENT TO PARIS, the same type of gags can get a little tiring, though it may be my fault for reading all three books at once. The fact that I did go through all three books shows however that Gethers captured my interest, and while comparing this to the other two can only disappoint, Norton fans will probably enjoy it anyway.

Anybody that loves cats will love this book! The cat, Norton, is unbelievably smart! Norton goes everywhere with his human, Peter Gethers - to the best restaurants and hotels. The book is also a wonderful diary of their trip to the Provence region of France and nearby areas. The book has a happy ending (I never read books if anything bad happens to the animal). In fact, I believe Norton goes on to write his own book, "Historical Cats".

I liked this book, the sequel to "Norton, The Cat Who Went to Paris." This beautiful Scottish Fold with the folded ears is no longer a baby kitten, but a playful full grown cat who travels the world with his owner. Here the reader will learn of Norton's adventures in Germany, Italy, Holland, Spain and his ability to win audiences along the way. Wherever Norton goes, he is given the red carpet treatment.

Gethers' first book was worth a hundred stars; however, this book was a step down from that simply because the adventures in A Cat Abroad seemed to be focused more on Gethers and his career than that of Norton's adventures. The book is still a fantastic book, but not quite up to par with "The Cat Who Went to Paris."

A guy friend bought the Norton books for me when I was having a tough day. He said these will cheer you up! I thought it was comical....and they sat on my shelves for awhile. Then I thought he went to the trouble of getting those books specifically for me that I should give them a go. I could not put them down. Norton is intriguing and his adventures are fun to read. Even better is the style, wit and genuis of Peter Gethers. His life is SO interesting. I would ready any book by him any day!

I am a person who really only likes people who like animals. Humans, in my opinion, exist only to be awed by the beauty and mystery of the other animals on the planet. Nuf said? I'm nuts about animals. So I wanted to love this book, I should have loved this book, sadly, I didn't. Mr. Gethers is an entertaining writer, who is an easy and enjoyable read. However, this book is about the author, his travels, his meeting up with famous people, and his robust and endearing love of food. Norton seems quite incidental to the whole book. Certainly, Norton accompanies the author on his journeys, but at the end of the book I felt I knew the author and his friends, but, when I think about Norton, there really is just a blank. Any cats I have ever been lucky enough to share my life with have had personalities I could rattle on for days about. That famous people are charmed that a cat appears in unlikely situations (restaurants, theatres, etc.) seems to be enough to keep the author enthralled with the experience. But having grumped about this book, I will also tell you that it was an enjoyable (if hollow) read. You won't be made angry, depressed, or offended by anything in it (and anymore, that goes a long way for me). This is an entertaining book for a summer's afternoon diversion.

Norton is an unforgettable cat. If you love cats, you must read the story of this fantastic little being. There are two other books about him also.

This is an excellent book for cat lovers. a great series of books. Witty and really fun to read. Very well done and cute.

Norton is a jewel. The book reads smoothly and progresses logicaly. It is only too bad to add the very sad note that Norton died May 12, 1999.