King of Cats [Paperback]

Blake Fraina (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 25, 2004

What makes a person fascinating? Is it what they hide or what they reveal? Is it who they are or who they appear to be?A struggling filmmaker believes he recognizes the face of a man in an old painting and becomes obsessed with finding him. On the cusp of his band's success, a closeted guitarist walks out on his longtime male lover to live with a woman he hardly knows. After spending one fateful night in bed together, two youthful musicians enter into a bitter and emotionally devastating power struggle for control over their band and one another. And eight years later, tragedy forces both men to confront the inescapable and bitter legacy of their fathers' influence.Peopled with vivid characters and told in sharp dialogue, the five stories that comprise King of Cats tell the provocative, sometimes heartbreaking story of luminous, enigmatic rock star Jimmy 'Strange' Lyons. Weaving back and forth through time, from a tenement in Alphabet City to a luxury co-op overlooking Central Park to a semi-detached in North London, Jimmy's life unfolds like a mystery, gradually revealing his secrets and exposing the vast gulf that often lies between what appears to be and what is.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Blake Fraina lives and writes in suburban Connecticut.

Product Details

• Paperback: 250 pages
• Publisher: iUniverse, Inc. (February 25, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0595307566
• ISBN-13: 978-0595307562
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6.2 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (34 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #434,863 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A five-star tale in five parts, December 26, 2006

By 

Benjamin (UK) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: King of Cats (Paperback)

King of Cats is a collection of five interlinked novellas set mainly in New York telling not in chronological order the story of English rock guitarist James Lyons, as well as those with whom he comes into contact. It not surprisingly includes drink and drug abuse, and (mainly gay) sex, but only in so much as these are a part of the lives of the characters; it is primarily a story about relationships and self-discovery and loss.

In the first story of the title, set in 2002, Jimmy hardly figures; but this is where we first meet a friend or lover of his, Elliott, slight in stature, beguilingly boyish, garrulous and rather impish, when he introduces himself to the surly Samson Clark, a part time film editor and wannabe film director. They meet in the Metropolitan Museum as they both sit mesmerised before a painting entitled King of Cats, an apparition of the tantalising Jimmy. Peter is at first indifferent to Elliott's advances, but then has second thoughts and so begins to seek him out, which proves to be more difficult than he expected. With whatever relationship that finally develops he discovers that Elliott is not at all what he claims. It is during his search for Elliott that Jimmy Lyons is first alluded to and whom Sam briefly meets.

In part two, The Bargain, we go back a year to 2001, and Jimmy takes centre stage, then a member of the band The Mogs. We learn of his first encounter with promiscuous Elliott and how they live together for a time and enjoy an ongoing sexual relationship. Jimmy also has becomes involved with Lisa DeBenedetto of the record company that eventually signs The Mogs. He subsequently moves in with Lisa and escapes the immediate clutches of Elliott.

Part three, 1995, Kissing the Gunners Daughter explains Jimmy's meeting with wealthy student Adam and his invitation to join the band. In addition to Jimmy's musical prowess, Adam is also attracted to him physically and succeeds in seducing him on their first meeting. While Jimmy is finally accepted into the band, the fact that Adam is a bit of spoilt brat who likes to have his own way hinders their relationship.

In part four, My Father's House, 2003, the band achieves success, and while on tour the relationship between Jimmy and Adam takes an interesting turn, however on return to New York Elliott is still very much in evidence and has a big impact on Jimmy and Adam, but sudden tragedy has a big impact on their lives.

In the final part, Hidden History, we go back to 1987 and Wembley, London, and learn about Jimmy's childhood. The sexual abuse by Eamonn his older cousin, the severe physical abuse at the hands of his father and his experiences in a local band of older musicians go a long way to explaining Jimmy's character.

The many diverse characters are well developed, especially the three main characters. Lively, manipulative, seemingly helpless and clinging Elliott certainly has his charm. Bullish Adam as he matures has his redeeming features. The truculent, shy, reserved and strikingly good looking Jimmy, his complex character fully explained by his experiences, is irresistible despite his faults.

The story is well written and makes for an effortless read. The explicit sex is well handled, not unnecessarily dwelt upon, and is always in the context of the developing story. I found this an engrossing book peopled with likeable characters despite their human failings. I enjoyed the first part, and it got even better as the story unfolded. A very moving tale, that at various times is tantalising, titillating, heartbreaking, but always captivating.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Unsettling, but powerful debut., October 3, 2007

By 

Jem (MD, USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 500 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: King of Cats (Paperback)

If you're looking for a heart and flowers gay romance, you're barking up the wrong tree with "The King of Cats." If you want a well written, disquieting, ugly, beautiful life story, then Jimmy Strange is your man. Only, it won't be easy to get to know him. It will be a painful struggle, much like his life. He's charming, he's gifted, he's elusive. All part of the author's devious plan to unravel a life.

The structure of this novel is very unique, and can be difficult to adapt to at first. Five novellas is a trifle misleading. Each is a chapter in the life of Jimmy Strange, but they are not chronological, nor are they always directly about him. Often, we learn more about a person through the people they know and Fraina makes good use of this. The first novella takes place in 2002, where we meet a not very likeable British chap who starts a liaison with a young man named Elliott. Elliott is not all he appears to be and I quickly felt like I had fallen down the rabbit hole. To top it off, Jimmy doesn't even appear until the last couple of paragraphs. But, what we learn about Elliot is integral to understanding Jimmy. Each novella does the same in a different way; introducing first Elliot, then Lisa, then Adam, in a weaving path to get to Jimmy. It begins in 2002, jumps to back to 2001, then further back to 1995 before ending in the "present" of 2003. But, we are not left there. The last novella gives readers what most biographies give us in the beginning - the beginning. In 1987, we finally learn the uncomfortable story of Jimmy's childhood and how it shaped him. And, the impact will leave readers stunned. Sure, this book could have been put in chronological order, but that is not how we meet people in real life. We learn about them from themselves, we learn about them from others, and rarely in sequence. So, the style is ideal and implemented flawlessly.

There is sex in the story. How could there not be? Sex, drugs and Rock n' Roll. Jimmy is a musician and he has the stereotypical musician's life, at least on the surface. But, the sex is not gratuitous. It has an influence on this story, on this life, and it is often not the least bit erotic. It can be hot, but more often leaves the reader feeling unsettled. As happens to people who aren't certain about the sexual choices they've made, like Jimmy.

The writing in the book deserves five stars, hands down. It was obviously edited with care, and the writing was smooth. I continued to think about the book long after I finished the last page. But I gave it four stars for a reason, albeit a personal one. Jimmy Strange's life is almost too real. This is not a feel good book. There is no happily ever after, there is only living. So, while the book was incredibly engaging and undeniably genuine, I was not satisfied at the end. I was left sad, because this life may very well exist for someone out there, and I want them, wanted Jimmy, to be happy. I highly recommend "The King of Cats" to those looking for a thought-provoking, sometimes harsh, sometimes disjointed, but always honest look at life. I'm glad I read it. But, those that need a happily every after will be quickly disillusioned.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars King of Cats, January 30, 2007

By 

Eric Arvin "Author of The Rest is Illusion" - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: King of Cats (Paperback)

King of Cats: A Life in Five Novellas

by Blake Fraina

An interesting, well-written story told through five different stories, each set in a different period of life of the musician Jimmy "Strange" Lyons. The basic question Fraina asks is, what makes anyone interesting. Is it what is revealed, or what is hidden? In truth, both add to the complexity of the human being so one without the other would be like a turtle without a shell. What we reveal shelters us from what we would prefer to hide.

I wasn't sure if I would get into this tale (I'm not big on rock n'roll stories), but this one grabbed me. Fraina has a very easy style. It sweeps the reader along at a good pace. The dialogue is used sparingly; only when needed. Otherwise, it's as if we are watching the characters like subjects. Which goes well because we are first introduced to Jimmy in the first novella through the discussion of a two-dimensional painting.

I can see this book gathering a cult following if it got enough attention. It's a bit off-putting at parts (the characters seem to switch from like-able to hateful to absolute pricks in the course of a few pages, and then back again), but that makes perfect sense in this instance. These are damaged folk, and damaged folk can fall to pieces at any momnt. One can only understand the subject in front of them if they study the trail behind.