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You may have read Helen Brown’s previous books about the cats in her life and fallen in love with Cleo, Jonah, and Bono. With Mickey: The Cat Who Raised Me, Brown takes her readers back to when it all began: her childhood cat Mickey.
From the publisher:
The youngest daughter of an eccentric engineer and a musical theater fanatic, Helen Brown grew up in the New Zealand coastal town of New Plymouth in a crumbling castle overrun by nature, and overshadowed by nearby, beautiful Mount Taranaki. It’s 1966, the Pacific islands are being used for atomic bomb testing, and her parents and siblings are swept up in their own lives. Twelve years old, struggling in school, and facing eye surgery—for the second time—Helen feels lonely and lost. . . .Until her father gives her a three-month-old, gray-and-brown tiger-striped tabby with extra toes on each paw.
I almost gave up on this book several times, because I expected a memoir about a cat, and it’s really more of a coming of age story of a young girl growing up in a pretty dysfunctional family. But I loved Brown’s other books, and her beautiful writing style kept me reading – and I’m glad I stuck with it.
Brown is a gifted story teller. Her descriptions of both people and place are often almost lyrical, and so vivid that you can imagine yourself right there in 1960’s New Zealand. And yes, there’s plenty of Mickey in the book, even if he isn’t at the center of the story.
If you enjoy coming of age stories with a feline twist, you will enjoy this book.
Mickey:The Cat Who Raised Me is available from Amazon.
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Another book to put on my to read list.
Have you read “My Beloved Monster” by Caleb Carr? I read several reviews and it’s supposed to be one of the best cat books ever. I bought it but haven’t started it yet. I was hoping you would review it.
I read a review and sounds like it will be a real tear jerker. I just ordered it.
I hope you enjoy it, Theresa!
I had not heard of that book. I just requested a review copy, so stay tuned!
It sounds like Helen has lived an interesting life. I’m glad she had Mickey to help her through her early years. I had a cat named Timmy who was my best friend when I was growing up.
It sounds like maybe Timmy needs his own book!