Customer Reviews

Cat's Crossing

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

As someone who loved this book (I've read it twice, and the first time I read it all in one night) I feel I have to defend it. The first reviewer is right when she (?) says she was not in the "right frame of mind" when she read this book. Sadly this book may be misinterpreted by cat lovers as "the wacky adventures of a gosh-darned cute cat!" This could not be further from the truth. Jones the cat in Cat's Crossing is a REAL cat, not a Disney one -- pure animal instinct.

I'm going to address some of the points the previous reviewer made:

"But seriously, am I supposed to BELIEVE this story?"

You're onto something here. This is a SATIRE, and a dark one too.

"Firstly, this cat (Jones)... he thinks like a person. Feline Anthropomorphism has escaped and is running amok!"

I have to disagree. I think the author, as I said above, is capturing a cat's natural instincts. Cats are stealthy killers, and clever when they hunt.

"Secondly, this unnamed city is supposed to have a population of three million people... but from the co-incidental wanderings of this cat... you would swear that this city could not possibly contain more than twenty or thirty homes. I mean, the cat goes straight to places where this person knows that person who is related to that other person etc., etc."

You'll have to use your suspention of disbelief, as you have to in many great books. The extreme coincidences that occur here are part of what makes the book so fun to read. If the cat was just wandering from random house to random house with no order, the book would be quite pointless and boring.

My take: for those who enjoy their satire, this book will be quite a fun, enjoyable read. This is definitely black comedy, all the way. That's not to say there aren't moments of great sensitivity intertwined with the cruelty. If you're the type who laughs at the Jerry Springer Show, you'll enjoy this book, because it's basically a much more intelligent version. The author satirizes our society (esp. the media and the rich) by showing it almost completely dissolving into chaos over the actions of one cat, and a city of low-lifes chasing after it. Surely a book featuring a murderous television reporter and gangs of dogs, poisoned by tainted drinking water, forming rabid, killer hunting packs is not meant to be taken at face value.

For those of you with a dark sense of humour: I guarantee you'll love this book!

The second reviewer describes this book very well. Personally, I think it was a waste of my time. I kept thinking that it would get better, but it doesn't. Maybe the point is that when money is involved people get crazy, but there seemed to be many unreasonable things going on in this book. ex. the crazy little blood thristy dogs--please, this is just ridiculous. I wondered by the time I finished it if the author wasn't some sort of mental patient that should have been locked up.

I was initially drawn to this book because of its subject matter... a cat! (I love cats). A cat goes missing. Filthy rich owner offers an outrageous reward for the return of the cat. City becomes a rabid, raging mob of cat hunters... violence and mayhem ensue...
It's actually a great idea, and I am sure something LIKE this would, in fact, happen... it's quite believable. Think of it... two million bucks to whoever can find this cat! I would be out there too, ramming my pauper's cranium right into recycle bins and garbage cans... CITYWIDE! And clobbering anyone who got in my way!
At times this book is captivating, I will say that much. But I should have paid more attention to the dustjacket blurb that said it is a "dark and mischievous satire" before I tore into the story. I think I would have enjoyed it more if I came at it with a full awareness that the author is not trying to write a realistic story. The things that go on in Cat's Crossing are so absolutely far-fetched (co-incidence wise, and otherwise)... that it lost me. It lost its credibilty for me.
If the author ever reads this review, please Mr. Cameron, send me an email and chastise me.... correctify me, and I swear, I will recant and show my sincerity by deleting this review.
I hate to give a book with such a good IDEA... two stars.
But seriously, am I supposed to BELIEVE this story?

Firstly, this cat (Jones)... he thinks like a person. Feline Anthropomorphism has escaped and is running amok! His initial escape from the house is so that he can seek out a healing herb for his injured hip! Later, when he finds himself in a certain home, he drowns another cat by repeatedly dunking its head under water... there are no sounds or seeming counter-attack from the other cat... the occupant of the house does not even hear any kafuffle going on. Now, if this were really taking place... even the neighbours would hear it! But what is with this methodical human-like homicide (caticide?) in the first place... does any cat really think his crime through like this?
Jones seemed to stop just short of smoking cigars behind the barn!

Secondly, this unnamed city is supposed to have a population of three million people... but from the co-incidental wanderings of this cat... you would swear that this city could not possibly contain more than twenty or thirty homes. I mean, the cat goes straight to places where this person knows that person who is related to that other person etc., etc.

But thirdly, and probably most annoying is the fact that the characters (all of them) do things that are so inconsistent with who they were two chapters earlier... that it is truly disturbing. I would give examples, but it would ruin the story yet worse for those who have not dived into it yet.

I want to give the thing the benefit of the doubt... maybe I just read it in the complete wrong frame of mind? When I read a book I sort of like to be saying to myself "Yes... it would be just like that" but I found that I seldom, if ever, said those words to myself as I read this one. So, if you like "stark realism" too... this book will not do it for you.
It was disappointing... like a colander with holes so big that the pasta noodles fall right out into the sink!