corner corner Mr. Cat

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Mr. Cat
by George Freedley | Pets & Animals
Registered by wingGoryDetailswing of Nashua, New Hampshire USA on Thursday, February 13, 2003
Average 8 star rating by BookCrossing Members 

status (set by solimano): travelling


This book is in the wild! This Book is Currently in the Wild!

13 journalers for this copy...

Journal Entry 1 by wingGoryDetailswing from Nashua, New Hampshire USA on Thursday, February 13, 2003

9 out of 10

Found this little book (charmingly illustrated by Victor Dowling) while browsing through Mori's Used Books (Amherst, NH), and, as the saying goes, I couldn't resist it...

The book's author was heavily involved in the New York theater scene, as actor, stage manager, drama critic, and librarian (he was the curator of the Theatre Collection at the New York Public Library). This book is sprinkled with references to his theatrical friends - there's even a foreword by Lillian Gish - but the best part is Mr. Cat, whose personality shines through whether he's traipsing up and down fire escapes to visit friends (human and feline), filching hats from the neighborhood workshops, or auditioning for a stage role in "I Remember Mama" [he didn't get it, possibly because his owner demanded that he be paid scale].

The tone is chatty and light, with a wonderful sense of the author's besottedness with his cat. I liked this one so much that I'm getting a second copy to release... 

Journal Entry 2 by wingGoryDetailswing from Nashua, New Hampshire USA on Monday, February 24, 2003

This book has not been rated.

Ready, set, go: "Mr. Cat" goes into the mail today. Please journal the book when you receive it so we know it's arrived at each leg, and again when you send it along; when you get it, PM the next person on the list for their mailing address so you'll be ready to send the book when you've finished it; and try to read it and pass it along reasonably promptly. The list is as follows:

djf1968 (San Ramon, CA)
bayouposte (Bossier City, LA)
grenouille1 (Toronto, ON)
keeprdg (Duluth, GA)
palomaranch (Corpus Christi, TX)
caretta (Auburn, Alabama)
marinaw (Austin, TX)
mojosmom (Chicago, IL)
bodesoda (NC)
solittletime (Maine)
sprockitt (Singapore)
***Added
solimano (Italy)

[Yes, I realize this isn't as efficient as it might be, location-wise, but as the book's a small one all the intra-US mailings can probably be sent first class for less than the cost of media mail, and I've checked with the folks who'll be sending it across borders to confirm that they're OK with the postage.]

Bonus: when my release copy of the book arrived, I discovered that it not only includes the complete text and illustrations of "Mr. Cat" but also contains "More Mr. Cat and Amber Too," which Freedley wrote later on. Tip for shoppers: I think that the paperback editions of "Mr. Cat" all include both books, while hardcover versions will be either "Mr. Cat" or "More Mr. Cat" but not both.

Hope you all enjoy the book as much as I have! 

Journal Entry 3 by djf1968 from San Ramon, California USA on Monday, March 03, 2003

This book has not been rated.

I got this in today's mail, with the most charming bookcrossing bookmark I've ever seen... thanks GoryDetails! :) I'll do my best to read it this week and send it back out on its journey! 

Journal Entry 4 by djf1968 from San Ramon, California USA on Friday, March 14, 2003

8 out of 10

What a charming story about a delightfully intelligent yet mischievous cat! Mr. Cat and his faithful human companion kept me great company during my lunch breaks the first week on a new job. I suspect I'll finish this one up tomorrow at lunch and send on to bayouposte tomorrow. Thanks for sharing! 

Journal Entry 5 by bayouposte from Bossier City, Louisiana USA on Monday, March 24, 2003

This book has not been rated.

The title of chapter one is "Mr. Cat Arrives," and arrive he did today. Will get right on this "love story for cat people" so I can get Mr. Cat back in the mail and on his way to his next stop. 

Journal Entry 6 by bayouposte from Bossier City, Louisiana USA on Monday, March 24, 2003

8 out of 10

I enjoyed not only the story of Mister Cat, but the descriptions of New York, the plays that were running, and the name-dropping of various actors and actresses. Quick and easy read that took me away from the current stresses. Will get it into the mail tomorrow or Wednesday and back on its way through the names on the list. 

Journal Entry 7 by Grenouille1 from Toronto, Ontario Canada on Wednesday, April 09, 2003

9 out of 10

What a delightful little book! This book arrived just in time to cheer me up at the end of a very long and strange Canadian winter.

I will be sending to keeprdg very shortly. 

Journal Entry 8 by keeprdg from Duluth, Georgia USA on Sunday, April 20, 2003

This book has not been rated.

How nice! I came back from visiting my parents (and their cat) for Easter weekend, and Mr. Cat was in my mailbox, in an envelope covered with cat stickers. I've flipped through it, and the illustrations are really cute. This looks like it will be fun to read. 

Journal Entry 9 by keeprdg from Duluth, Georgia USA on Thursday, April 24, 2003

9 out of 10

This was an adorable little book. The author clearly shows his love and appreciation of cats. I think any cat lover will recognize many of Mr. Cat's personality traits, and will enjoy sharing in his adventures. Several times while reading I found myself thinking "how cute" or "how sweet."

This book also contained some surprises: several bookmarks and some confetti. I'll have to think of something to add before I send it on to palomaranch (which I plan to do either Friday or Saturday). 

Journal Entry 10 by keeprdg from Duluth, Georgia USA on Saturday, April 26, 2003

This book has not been rated.

Mailed to palomaranch today. Enjoy! 

Journal Entry 11 by palomaranch on Thursday, May 01, 2003

This book has not been rated.

I received this book in the mail yesterday from fellow BookCrosser Keeprdg in Georgia; it is in a book ring initiated by GoryDetails. 

Journal Entry 12 by palomaranch on Wednesday, May 07, 2003

This book has not been rated.

This little book, published in 1960, is supposedly the author’s tribute to his feline, Mr. Cat, whom he purchased in 1943. However, this cat is allowed to freely come and go from his human’s city apartment and roams the streets of the city, twice finding himself in dire straits. Once he almost lost his home, and later he came within 'ounces' of losing his life. As an individual involved in animal rescue, I have to admit I found these two incidents very unsettling.

I did love the story of Mr. Cat quietly nibbling away at the veil of the hat worn by Rosamond Gilder, while her companions watched in silence. I also love the delightful pencil drawing on the cover, as well as the adorable cat stickers included by keeprdg. (Don't forget you can click on the photo for an enlarged view.)  

Journal Entry 13 by palomaranch on Tuesday, June 24, 2003

This book has not been rated.

Mailed today to caretta to continue book ring. 

Journal Entry 14 by caretta from Lynchburg, Virginia USA on Sunday, June 29, 2003

This book has not been rated.

Mr. Cat has arrived in Alabama! I'm looking forward to getting to know him :-) 

Journal Entry 15 by caretta from Lynchburg, Virginia USA on Friday, July 11, 2003

This book has not been rated.

This book is a tribute to cats in general and the very personable Mr. Cat in particular. I enjoyed the descriptions of his pilfering gloves, bows, and other objects from the dress store downstairs. But I must say, Chapter 3 (Mr. Cat and Small Animal Life) was so disturbing that I almost did not read the rest of the book. How could the author flush live mice down his toilet?! How appalling!

{ For info on cats and their effects on native wildlife, please visit www.abcbirds.org/cats }

This book will be on its way to marinaw in Texas. 

Journal Entry 16 by wingGoryDetailswing from Nashua, New Hampshire USA on Friday, July 11, 2003

This book has not been rated.

I suppose the prey-flushing was a bit harsh - on the other hand, I expect it was about as merciful a solution as could be found at the time; leaving them for the cat to finish off would not have been kinder to the mice... I hope the episode didn't dampen your enjoyment of the rest of the book too much. [And thanks for the "Cats Indoors" link!] 

Journal Entry 17 by marinaw from Dripping Springs, Texas USA on Saturday, July 26, 2003

This book has not been rated.

Caught sometime in the past two weeks while I was between houses and mostly offline. Will place in the growing pile of rays and read ASAP in between unpacking. 

Journal Entry 18 by marinaw from Dripping Springs, Texas USA on Thursday, August 07, 2003

7 out of 10

How true it is that animal (antic) stories are timeless. Another boon of membership in BookCrossing: to have the opportunity to read LOL-entertaining stories one might never have had one’s hands on due to skimpy library holdings or being too young to have run across books on their first printing.

Personally, I’d be too afraid to allow cats of mine to roam a city neighborhood. I’m much too emotionally invested in my animals to run certain risks. One of our “someday” farm improvement plans includes a “cat run”--start date will fall somewhere between the building of the dog run and the library tower [people think I’m kidding about this one--I’m already collecting rocks during morning walkies].

My favorite stories of Mr Cat are: “Mr. Cat Gives a Ball”, “Mr. Cat On Fire Island”, and “Mr. Cat and the Electric Eye.” Also of note is the concluding essay “What I Know About Cats”, probably of more help than much of what’s currently in print (at least in terms of a basic, nutshell version).

“Cats I Have Known” prompted me to remember those I’ve had in my life:
Ralph
Sam
Tiger
Alexis
Kimmy (my current bitchy little sweetheart, now 13+ with failing hips)

And not to leave out the dogs:
Snowball
Winky-Dink
Bear
Ralph
North
Persphone (my current walkies partner) 

Journal Entry 19 by mojosmom from Chicago, Illinois USA on Thursday, August 14, 2003

This book has not been rated.

I came home from work to find that a third cat is joining our ménage, at least temporarily. The illustrations are adorable, and it appears, from the previous entries, that the book is a good one. And what a lovely, "old book" smell! 

Journal Entry 20 by mojosmom from Chicago, Illinois USA on Sunday, August 17, 2003

This book has not been rated.

Zipped through this one! Mr. Cat sounds like a charmer. I had to laugh about the lengths to which he would go to in order to avoid the cat carrier, as my Mr. Mojo shares the same dislike for that device. I have a couple of scars myself. Here's a story about it. A couple of weeks ago, we had to pay a visit to the emergency vet (he's fine now, thanks). I managed to get him in the box, though he did draw blood - so the vet tech treated me, too! Now, since he was going to our own vet the next day, and had to return in about a week for a check-up, I left the cat carrier sitting out, instead of putting it away. Mistake. Why? Because my other cat, Lilith, loves it! It's her little house to which she retreats at times. So when it came time to take Mojo to the vet again, I captured Mojo, went to put him in the box, and discovered Lilith, happily curled inside. Between getting her out and him in, the door got busted - so a new cat carrier is in the offing. (Maybe I should let him pick it out?) 

Journal Entry 21 by mojosmom from Chicago, Illinois USA on Wednesday, August 27, 2003

This book has not been rated.

Mr. Cat is travelling first class to visit bodesoda. 

Journal Entry 22 by bodesoda from Mount Airy, North Carolina USA on Thursday, September 11, 2003

This book has not been rated.

Came today. Can't wait to read it. 

Journal Entry 23 by bodesoda from Mount Airy, North Carolina USA on Saturday, October 04, 2003

This book has not been rated.

What a cute little book. It sums up most cats I know...while only talking about one. I miss cats in my life...but my son and freedom from his allergies is more important...so this let me live vicariously for a little while. Meow!

Am PMing solittletime for address and will send Mr. Cat out on his next to last trip. 

Journal Entry 24 by wingsolittletimewing from Portland, Maine USA on Sunday, October 12, 2003

This book has not been rated.

Mr Cat arrived today. Thanks to Gory and all those who faithfully forwarded him on to me. I'll journal more after reading, but for now I just need to say, bodesoda, I'm allergic to cats too, but can't live without them. That's what pills, shots and inhalers are for!!! And if I had to pick between my son and my six cats... hmmm, that's a tough one. 

Journal Entry 25 by wingsolittletimewing from Portland, Maine USA on Sunday, October 19, 2003

10 out of 10

I've lost internet (and therefore BookCrossing) access for most of the last three days, so I'm typing fast before I'm disconnected again!

I enjoyed Mr Cat very much. It is a great example of a book that I never heard of and would never have been exposed to pre-BookCrossing, but am very glad that I got a chance to read.

Mr Cat was mailed to sprockitt in Singapore on 10/16/03. 

Journal Entry 26 by sprockitt from Singapore, Singapore Singapore on Thursday, October 23, 2003

8 out of 10

Whoa, this book reached me really fast. Am now starting on it, though exams are next week! This book looks charming, shall check back later when I'm done. Thanks solittletime. Btw, I liked that piece of "advice" you added in, it was funny :)

 

Journal Entry 27 by sprockitt from Singapore, Singapore Singapore on Tuesday, November 18, 2003

7 out of 10

The book was charming, and a welcome change from the type of books I usually read. The author's naration is rather outstanding, so much so that reading through the story, it was as if Mr Cat was a real person, a friend.

Mailed the book out to solimano. 

Journal Entry 28 by solimano from Firenze, Toscana Italy on Wednesday, November 26, 2003

10 out of 10

It's here; Mr.Cat has just arrived in Florence.
Thanks! 

Journal Entry 29 by solimano at da qualche parte in Rignano sull'Arno, Toscana Italy on Monday, December 01, 2003

This book has not been rated.

Released on Monday, December 01, 2003 at da qualche parte in Rignano sull'Arno, Toscana Italy.

To a cat-ish friend ;-)
I hope you'll enjoy this book! 



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