P.S. Your Cat Is Dead (Paperback)

~ (Author) "Did things ever get so outlandishly rock-bottom rotten that you went around muttering, not necessarily out loud, but muttering nonetheless: I don't believe it!..." (more)
Key Phrases: fleet enema, sink unit, Bobby Seale, Vito Antenucci, Fiddler's Fuck (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review

Critical Praise for P.S. Your Cat is Dead:

"With every page the situation gets crazier, zanier, more improbable, also funnier...Kirkwood's bizarre humor comes off, thanks to his ability to throw opposites together, with a stand up comic's timing."
- Publishers Weekly

"An extraordinary novel...an ingenious, intriguing, and also moving story about two losers who become friends. It is also a revealing book about burning your bridges behind you."
- Sacramento Union

"This novel is woven together with such artistic acumen that suspense never ebbs. The plot structure, characterization, dialog and style are virtually flawless."
- Chicago Sun-Times

"James Kirkwood manages to combine the most marvelous light witty dialogue with the most harrowing of events...absolutely fascinating -- I couldn't stop reading from the minute the first shot was fired."
- Nora Ephron
-- Review

Review

Critical Praise for P.S. Your Cat is Dead:

"With every page the situation gets crazier, zanier, more improbable, also funnier...Kirkwood's bizarre humor comes off, thanks to his ability to throw opposites together, with a stand up comic's timing."
- Publishers Weekly

"An extraordinary novel...an ingenious, intriguing, and also moving story about two losers who become friends. It is also a revealing book about burning your bridges behind you."
- Sacramento Union

"This novel is woven together with such artistic acumen that suspense never ebbs. The plot structure, characterization, dialog and style are virtually flawless."
- Chicago Sun-Times

"James Kirkwood manages to combine the most marvelous light witty dialogue with the most harrowing of events...absolutely fascinating -- I couldn't stop reading from the minute the first shot was fired."
- Nora Ephron

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin (November 15, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312321201
• ISBN-13: 978-0312321208
• Product Dimensions: 8.1 x 5.3 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (41 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #136,034 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A great read that will have you laughing out loud, January 14, 2004

By	gac1003 "gac1003" - See all my reviews

The past few months have been terrible for James Zoole. His apartment's been robbed twice. His best friend Pete passed away. He was laid off from the play in which he had a lead role (and rehersals hadn't even started). His girlfriend Kate dumps him on New Year's Eve. And, Bobby Seale, his cat, died. What a way to bring in the new year!

Feeling angry and sad, Jimmy decides to hole up in his apartment and to not answer the phone, knowing that if he'd been robbed twice, the burglar was sure to come back again. Enter Vito Antenucci, a bisexual burglar who returns for a third robbery. They struggle, and Jimmy knocks Vito out, then ties him to the kitchen counter.

Throughout this New Year's Eve together, Jimmy discovers what he's been avoiding in his life and begins to understand that he and Vito aren't that different from each other in what they want from life. To Jimmy's surprise, he begins to find friendship with his captive.

A few unexpected interruptions from people in Jimmy's life help to liven up this dark comedy from one of the writers of "A Chrous Line." It's full of strong characters, even those with only minor roles such as Jimmy's Aunt claire, a rich spinster who sublty tries to control Jimmy's life, and Crazy Carmine, a drugged-out sex fanatic who's been trying to get into Jimmy's pants for years. It's the developing friendship between Jimmy and Vito that drives this story, though. I wanted them to get together at the end, either as friends or lovers, it didn't matter.

I laughed out loud while reading some of the passages. Though it was written in the 1970's, the humor is defintiely NOT dated. If you're looking for some light, fun reading, then this is the perfect book for you.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Unequalled to any recent book with humor, satire, tears., June 27, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: P.S. your cat is dead!: A novel (Hardcover)

This book is just one of Kirkwood's many, with insight to human behaviour. He could get you spell-bound with his phrases, descriptions, dialog. Talked on phone one time with him, and he talked just like he wrote. When he died, I almost stopped reading. His 'dead cat' is just one which displays his ability to make you 'see' the characters, and know them. He could make your stomach hurt from laughing, reduce you to tears, and make you realize just how precious we all are. His 'dead cat' should be taught in schools; perhaps it would encourage more compassion and humor into our daily, often-stressed lives. Mr. Kirkwood had a unique way of telling a story. One could almost reach out and feel the room, Vito, Jimmay...Bobby Seale (his real cat), and his selfishly-loving Aunt, whom he almost shot via Ma Bell. Tremendous book. I have had to tape my copy together; it's been shared so much. I would like to have his entire collection in my library. Must have read each one twenty times. I really miss his passing, and his gifts to humankind, in the name of satirical comedy-drama. What a guy! We've all had one of THOSE days when even getting up in the morning seemed like the wrong thing to do. He was so able to put these feelings in print, and make some sense out of it all. We shake our heads, and say, "Yep, been there, Jimmy." I truthfully want to fill my library with all of his books, which will be hard, since a lot are out of print. Shouldn't be...he gave so much to us. Laughter is wonderful, and Mr. Kirkwood did his all to produce some belly-laughs, and some tears. And lots of insight to me. I understand my human contacts a lot better now. I am not alone when I say that James Kirkwood left a great legacy... himself. I watched him get a Grammy on t.v. from Kirk Douglas, for A Chorus Line. I was as thrilled as he was. I don't think anyone could put this book down after reading the cover. Too hilarious and touching...one of his many masterpieces. Ganoog is Ganoog. I'm finished.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars you will never laugh harder, or loan - & lose - more copies, March 7, 2000

By	scott nilsson (atlanta, georgia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: P.S. Your Cat is Dead (Mass Market Paperback)

if you love witty writing - this comedy of errors, losses and loves will break your heart with laughter. buy all the copies you can find. you will loan them all, lose them all - and happily go to great lengths to find more. it will make you lifelong friends with your local used book stores. . .

life is never funnier, and rarely more challenging. "P.S." lampoons the seriousness with which we hold pale tragedy, and forces deeper examination of what is profound and important in life. and of the enduring nature of trust. part bombeck and buckwald and robin williams, part 'zen and the art', and as atmospheric as `la cage au folles' and `midnight in the garden' - this gentle philosophical picture of the oddest of couples celebrates hidden eccentricity, and the humanity that binds us all - through the most trying of circumstances.

as james kirkwood is long gone, we will never know what happened to jimmy and vito. and, like people who touch us as they pass through our lives before disappearing into the mist, we will always wonder...

if you've ever felt like - you just can't go on. and you're taking life far too hard, and far too seriously. and life's small and inconsequential problems are about to bury you, despite their seeming pettiness... then read. and laugh until your face aches, and smiles cramp your cheeks,,, and fall in love with life again.

then buy every copy you can find. because the honesty and whimsy are too special to go unshared. and you will always know someone who will love to read this book, and then share it too.

where ever you are, james kirkwood - for this, and for `the chorus line' - thank you.