Poets Square: A Memoir in Thirty Cats by Courtney Gustafson

4.66 AVERAGE

pomegranatie's profile picture

pomegranatie's review against another edition

5.0
emotional informative inspiring medium-paced
caryncrossing's profile picture

caryncrossing's review against another edition

5.0
emotional informative inspiring reflective medium-paced
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toreadistovoyage's profile picture

toreadistovoyage's review against another edition

4.5
A memoir about cats, sure. But really a memoir about so much more. A heartfelt, vulnerable discussion of trauma, poverty, depression, and more, and how these interconnect with caring for cats (and people).
literaryrachael's profile picture

literaryrachael's review against another edition

4.5
 Very well crafted in both prose and in structure. 
 
The intertwining stories of the cats and of Gustafson’s own life made for a very compelling read. I was very moved by her story of caring for the stray cats on her property. There are so many complex topics explored in this memoir, from systemic poverty to misogyny to loneliness to hunger to community, and all of these themes are so carefully tied to stories of the cats that Gusafson cares for. 

My only critique is that this book ended fairly abruptly. I think that it would have benefited from an epilogue or some sort of closing paragraph.
zumirie's profile picture

zumirie's review against another edition

4.5
emotional hopeful inspiring
karinacharlton's profile picture

karinacharlton's review against another edition

5.0
challenging emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad medium-paced
daizie's profile picture

daizie's review against another edition

5.0
challenging emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad fast-paced
Not sure I'll ever be able to verbalize my thoughts on this, but it is probably the best book I've ever had the pleasure of reading. 

beautifulnyx's review against another edition

5.0
challenging hopeful sad tense fast-paced

taylorfaye's review against another edition

4.0
emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective medium-paced

hailmbyers's review against another edition

5.0
I’ve followed Poets Square on TikTok for many years, and Instagram before that. Courtney’s personal journey mirrored my own so closely there were times it felt as though she was writing about my life, about my struggles. This memoir doesn’t solve the problem of systemic poverty or misogyny, of loneliness or even feral cats. But it made me feel less alone in a world that so very often makes me feel helpless. There’s good in the world, even if it’s hard to see it sometimes.