After a bout with cancer, Australian author Helen Brown
decides she needs something more out of life than what she’s getting. She gets
an invite from her editor to come to New York City for a while, for the US
release of her book, Cats & Daughters.
I guess I should say, she asked her editor to ask her. She has been longing for
the bustle and energy of the city that never sleeps; her marriage, while happy,
(her husband is a jewel) is routine, and her days banal. So it’s arranged;
Brown will go to New York with her daughter (in hopes of making that
relationship better). She visualizes endless shopping, art, and Broadway shows.
Then her editor throws her a curveball: since Brown’s new book is about cats,
why not be the temporary foster parent for a shelter cat? That’s not what the
author had in mind, but she figures it’ll work. She envisions a cuddly lap cat
who dozes a lot, and, besides, what are the chances of actually finding a short
term dwelling that allows cats?
Neither dwelling nor cat are what she expected. The dwelling
is a dump when she gets there. It cleans up well enough, though. Then she goes
to get the cat. He is Bono, a black long haired refuge from hurricane Sandy.
Except his hair isn’t long now- due to horrible matting, he’s been shaved
except for his head, the tip of his tail, and his paws. And he seems
hyperactive. And he’s a special needs cat- he needs medication daily. Not the
low maintenance cat Brown had in mind at all.
The story tells the adventures of capturing the cat, getting
him to take his pills, and allow human contact are part of the story. The
majority of the story, though, is about Brown and her daughter’s- and later,
just Brown’s when the daughter leaves- adventures in New York. There is also a
good bit about Brown’s relationship with her daughter, and how it changes
during their stay. In the end, the book is more about these things than it is
about Bono and finding him a forever home. While the book is good, I would have
preferred more cat and less relationships- or, at least, an equal amount. Four
stars out of five.
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I received this book free in return for an unbiased review.
Neither of these things influenced my review.
