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fred454's review against another edition
5.0
I always wanted to read this book growing up and never got a change just finished it and was not disappointed
kerveros's review
2.0
So, I actually read this book yesterday but have only just gotten around to writing a review, so my thoughts may not be as fresh as they were.
This is one of those books from my childhood that I swear I put in a pile to give to charity years ago, how it ended up in a bag of books from a friend of my Mum's that she thought my Mum (and I) would like I'm not sure (especially as a number of the books in that bag are historical romance, or period romance or some such!)
Now, re-reading this book I did remember that I wasn't overly impressed with it as a child. It was okay but not really stand out - I'd say the same now re-reading it as an adult. That said, the interactions with the people of war-torn Britain were interesting - especially as I have been reading a lot of memoirs of soldiers from WW2.
The story of the cat itself is sweet, and a nice idea but it is almost too unrealistic to be believable. There are some saccharine moments, some upsetting imagery but never anything really gut-wrenching - I suppose because it is a child's book. Possibly I read it too late in my childhood to appreciate it, I knew of the horrors of war and this was almost too sanitised? That said, there is a scene of soldiers returning traumatised from war which is somewhat harrowing but almost... dealt with far too quickly.
As such I'm not sure who this is recommended for really - certainly not adults or teenagers, and I think most pre-teens would find it dull. It's not a book I'd remember for any future children or recommend to friends with children already.
This is one of those books from my childhood that I swear I put in a pile to give to charity years ago, how it ended up in a bag of books from a friend of my Mum's that she thought my Mum (and I) would like I'm not sure (especially as a number of the books in that bag are historical romance, or period romance or some such!)
Now, re-reading this book I did remember that I wasn't overly impressed with it as a child. It was okay but not really stand out - I'd say the same now re-reading it as an adult. That said, the interactions with the people of war-torn Britain were interesting - especially as I have been reading a lot of memoirs of soldiers from WW2.
The story of the cat itself is sweet, and a nice idea but it is almost too unrealistic to be believable. There are some saccharine moments, some upsetting imagery but never anything really gut-wrenching - I suppose because it is a child's book. Possibly I read it too late in my childhood to appreciate it, I knew of the horrors of war and this was almost too sanitised? That said, there is a scene of soldiers returning traumatised from war which is somewhat harrowing but almost... dealt with far too quickly.
As such I'm not sure who this is recommended for really - certainly not adults or teenagers, and I think most pre-teens would find it dull. It's not a book I'd remember for any future children or recommend to friends with children already.
settare's review
3.0
Because war is just as bitter, just as resentful, just as atrocious, from the point of view of a cat.
3/5 stars
3/5 stars
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