Reviews

The Cat Who Went to Heaven by Elizabeth Coatsworth

bunbobabe's review

3.0

I read this during my Buddhism unit in my World Religions class. Definitely helps with the cultural references and nuances. Overall, a pretty meh reading experience. It wasn't overly tedious or boring, but it wasn't a good book for my reading curriculum (it's one of those reads where you can spark note the whole thing and it doesn't make that much of a difference as if you'd read the actual book).

mewpasaurus's review

emotional inspiring reflective

3.0

heyt's review against another edition

informative reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

amyl88's review against another edition

2.0

This was shaping up to be a really charming story - struggling artist wins a chance to paint a picture of the Buddha for the temple, which could propel him into stardom and alleviate his suffering. He takes the opportunity to meditate on the life of the Buddha and the various animals he had taken the form of, and decides to paint each animal visiting on his deathbed. I enjoyed the meditations on each animal form, how Buddha used each one to illustrate a philosophy. His little cat, Good Fortune, watches him paint and seems to him to be asking to be included in the painting.

And then, then end. I really hated the ending:

Spoiler

the artist didn't think the cat should be in the picture because "cats are usually proud and self-satisfied" and "refused to accept the teachings of Buddha." But the cat was so sad, he decided to include her anyway. When the cat saw that she was included, SHE DIED FROM JOY. WHAT THE ACTUAL F!

I MEAN REALLY HATED IT. In fact, I'm dropping a star now that I'm thinking about it again.

I have decided to try the Newbery challenge again. This one won the Newbery in 1931.

emdoux's review

4.0

I majored in religious studies, primarily focusing on Buddhism and Islam - but had never heard of a cat being dishonored.

Still, I enjoyed the story and think that the cat might have been used as a way to connect the story more to Western life - make it a little more accessible to children.

The housekeeper's songs jarred me out of Coatsworth's lovely prose and I have to admit after the third one, I skipped over them, only going back to read them all after finishing the whole book.


I might recommend this book to fans of LeGuin's Catwings series... I'm not entirely sure why, but I feel like the young girls I know who love Catwings would love to meet Good Fortune. (We'll see how it goes next time I see one of them in the library.)

wintermote's review

4.0

Interesting way to hear a number of legends about the Buddha becoming the Buddha, and second chances.

cherylg's review

1.0

I Dnf'd this book after only a few chapters. It was boring and not to my taste, but I can see why other people liked it. I don't think I would've picked it as a Newbery award winner, but it did win one year. Anyways, I didn't enjoy it. Too bad because I really wanted to.

allyoop's review against another edition

3.0

This is a very short, easy read, with stunning pictures. I liked the story, and thought it was growing in cuteness… and then I got to the ending, and suddenly I didn’t like it so much anymore. I suppose I shouldn’t have been surprised, as the ending is right there in the title of the book. Bugger. (As a side note, as someone else mentioned, if all of this about Buddha, why is it heaven, and not Nirvana?) I would recommend it for the pictures alone.

nairam1173's review against another edition

5.0

Wow, this is beautiful.

letstalkaboutbooksbaybee's review

2.0

1931 Newbery Winner

I wish they were all this short. 

But this one was a little strange, no doubt