Retirado de: http://thestar.com.my/lifestyle/story.asp?file=/2011/6/26/lifebookshelf/8896824&sec=lifebookshelf
Sunday June 26, 2011
More on cat tales that charm
Tots To Teens
By Daphne Lee
Due to a technical glitch, this second part of our columnist’s round-up of books on furry felines was not published as scheduled last week.
ONE of my favourite novels about cats is Jennie by Paul Gallico. Unfortunately, it is no longer in print, though you can find secondhand copies online.
It’s about a boy, Peter, who is transformed into a cat and is cared for by a cat called Jennie, who has been abandoned by her owners. If you’re familiar with the way cats behave, you will realise that Gallico was obviously very fond of and familiar with cats. In fact, he also wrote The Silent Miaow which is a manual, supposedly written by a cat (translated from the feline into English by Gallico), that “instructs stray kittens and homeless cats in how to obtain, captivate, and dominate the families of their choice”.
There’s also The Three Lives Of Thomasina (readers of a certain age may remember the 1960s Disney adaptation) and Honourable Cat, a collection of poems and essays about cats.
Esther Averill’s series of book about the little black cat Jenny Linsky, who lives with a retired sea captain, has been re-issued by the New York Review Children’s Collection, as have Barbara Sleigh’s books about Carbonel, King Of The Cats. Both series are beautifully illustrated – Averill handling the drawings for her own books, and Richard Kennedy doing the honours for Carbonel’s adventures.
Over at Puffin, there are Ursula Moray Williams’ books about the young cat Gabbolino who, as he’s not at all wicked and doesn’t want to join the family business (assisting witches), is a great disappointment to his mother.
Then there are the assorted cats in Beatrix Potter’s tales: Tom Kitten, his siblings Moppet (who has her own story, The Tale Of Miss Moppet) and Mittens, and their mother Tabitha Twitchit. There is also Ginger from The Tale Of Ginger And Pickles. Ginger is my favourite of Potter’s cats. She keeps a grocery shop with the dog, Pickels, and their customers, mostly mice and rabbits, are naturally rather frightened of them, which is not good for business (Ginger’s mouth waters when she sees their mice customers leaving the shop with their little parcels). To make matters worse, Ginger and Pickles extend their clients unlimited credit and are never paid.
I’ve already mentioned in this column the charming Dayan stories by Akiko Ikeda. The charismatic cat, Dayan, lives in a mysterious and magical woodland world called Wachifield – a world of witches and singing frogs and dancing shadows, but no flying cats. If that’s what you’re after, there is Catwings and its sequels Catwings Return, Wonderful Alexander and the Catwings And Jane On Her Own by Ursula LeGuin, illustrated by J.D. Schindler.
Finally, there is I Am A Cat by Natsume Soseki. This is not a children’s book but might appeal to some teenagers and, of course, anyone who likes a good satire. The cat in question could have written The Silent Miaow. He is superior, scathing and sarcastic, and comments on humans and the human condition with undisguised contempt.
If you own a cat, you’ll recognise the derision reflected in this feline’s observations. Okay, I know cats don’t speak the same language we do, but surely you’ll agree that they don’t need words to express their disdain – those narrowed eyes and flicking tales say it all.
Daphne Lee reads to wonder and wander, be amazed and amused, horrified and heartened and inspired and comforted. She wishes more people will try it too. Send e-mails to the above address and check out her blog at daphne.blogs.com/books.
