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18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
I Met Him On a Monday.........And My Heart Stood Still, February 6, 2002
On Monday, September 10, 2001, I was idly perusing a current issue of "People" magazine when a vision of surpassing splendor met my grateful retinas: a little gray feline with a precious, round face, huge, limpid eyes that seemed to mirror a soul of similar perfection; and the cutest, folded ears I had ever seen (on either human or cat). This ray of loveliness was, I soon learned, Norton Gethers, whose final adventures were soon to be published in "The Cat Who'll Live Fovever," the third in author Peter Gethers's trilogy of Norton-ology. I sprinted to my local bookstore to purchase this wonderful book, and I also picked up a copy of "The Cat Who Went to Paris," the book that introduced the discerning literary public to the world's cutest cat. And what a delight this book has been: quite simply, I have fallen in love with Norton - hopelessly, happily and blissfully smitten with the little gray wunderkind. Employing a witty, at times self-deprecating, and always engaging writing style, Gethers draws us in to the tale of a six-week-old Scottish Fold kitten who, in early 1983, burrowed his way into the author's heart with a most disarming skill and flair. Gethers, up to this point an inveterate cat-hater, was quickly transformed by his furry little friend: throughout his 16 years on this earth, Norton taught his loyal caregiver (and his many friends) countless lessons and enhanced more than a few lives. (If you don't believe me, I dare you to read this book and the two books that followed it. "A Cat Abroad" and "The Cat Who'll Live Forever" do noble service to Norton - and to the author himself.) I have been a lifelong cat-lover, and I naively believed I knew everything there was to know about felines, about pet loss and grief and mourning. But Norton has thrown me for a loop. I owned one cat named Natasha who died in 1987, and she was quite similar to Norton in her physical beauty, super-sweet temperament, silky-soft fur and a startling skill at causing everyone within pawing distance to fall in love with her. However, Norton was in a class by himself. Like Natasha before him, Norton was a sublime, perfect creation. Alone of the entire feline race, however, Norton possessed uncanny emotional and mental acuities that I, for one, have never observed in any cat. How enhanting it is for the reader to thumb through this book and learn about Norton's first meeting with Peter Gethers, the poignant and charming manner in which Norton converted and stole the heart of Gethers's late father, and the skill and cunning with which Norton guided Gethers's romantic relationships. I can't say it enough: Norton was nonpareil. All three Norton tomes are still available, and now there's a marvelous calendar titled "Norton's Journey." This Connoisseur of Cats strongly advises all Norton fans to purchase this book. It does not disappoint; rather, it stirs the heart, comforts the soul and staggers the senses. In these turbulent times, Norton is a rare gift indeed.
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16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Cure for Depression!, May 24, 2002
By A Customer
Living alone, I don't often hear myself laugh out loud ... but the first time I read this book, I think I laughed so hard I had tears running down my face! I, too, was a dog lover .... until after my husband died (at age 30) and my father dropped a homeless cat off one night to keep me company. Since then, I've rarely been "cat-less," although none I've owned have been as memorable as Norton. I stumbled across this book, combined with "A Cat Who Lived Abroad," and finished both in the blink of an eye. If you've ever owned a cat ... or even contemplated owning one . . . .or cat sit for friends, this book is for you! I've just ordered "The Cat Who'll Live Forever," and although I know it will be sad, I can't wait to finish the trilogy. Mr. Gethers knows how to communicate --- whether with cats or humans, and I admire his gift for description. His aside about Pounce was delightful, and his description as it being "nector" oh so true. It's rare that I take the time to write a review, but this is one book I can't recommend highly enough!
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11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
I hope Norton has turned Mr. Gethers into a real cat lover, March 31, 2002
I read only the first book of the three in the series, but I cried a lot whilst I was reading it as I've already realised that Norton's gone before I came to know him. So I can imagine I'll cry even more when I read the two other books I ordered (Further Advertures and Final Advertures). Norton is surely every cat-lover's dream cat. But, what I want to say here is that after reading the book, I love my own cat even more. A cat's life is relatively short and vulnerable compares with human being, and so we should cherish the days when we still have our cat with us. Finally I sincerely hope that Mr. Gethers can extend his love for Norton to other cats as well, as, I do believe, that's what little angel Norton tried to teach him.
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