471 ratings | 311 reviews | avg rating:4.36

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Nancy Runstedler

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516 books | 119 friends

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460 books | 2,285 friends

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Catherine Austen

Goodreads Author

Born

Canada

Website

http://www.catherineausten.com/

Member Since

November 2010

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I grew up in Kingston, Ontario. I studied political science at Queen's University and environmental studies at York before moving to the Ottawa area to work in the conservation movement. I now write freelance (reports as well as books) from my home in Quebec, where I live with my husband and two sons. I love wildlife, music, museums, and books and I'm grateful that my life is full of all of these.

I read all types of books but usually forget to review them. I'll only post about books I like here (hence the high average rating). ...more

301 posts
Catherine Austen's Blog

New Short Fiction: “Stripe the Revolutionary Skunk Reflects on his Attempt to Change the World”

I’m happy to announce the upcoming launch of NōD Magazine featuring one of my stories among its many fab pieces.

Gorgeous recent NōD covers

NōD Magazine is a print litmag run out of the University of Calgary, based in the English Department but edited by undergraduate students from all departments. They publish prose, poetry, and artwork from new and established writers from everywhere, launch

Combine Editions
Catherine Austen’s books

Average rating: 3.71 · 1,862 ratings · 299 reviews · 12 distinct works • Similar authors

	All Good Children 3.69 avg rating — 1,578 ratings — published 2011 — 9 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Walking Backward 3.80 avg rating — 188 ratings — published 2009 — 5 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	28 Tricks for a Fearless Grade 6 3.85 avg rating — 34 ratings — published 2014 — 6 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	My Cat Isis by Catherine Austen (Goodreads Author), Virginie Egger (Illustrator) 3.41 avg rating — 29 ratings — published 2011 — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	26 Tips for Surviving Grade 6 3.95 avg rating — 22 ratings — published 2011 — 5 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Horse: Magnificent, Playful, Loyal by Catherine Austen (Goodreads Author), Sarah Gorrie, Pippa Roome 4.33 avg rating — 3 ratings	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	When the Squirrels Stole My Sister by Catherine Austen (Goodreads Author), Sean Cassidy (Illustrator) really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 2 ratings — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Choosing & Looking After Your Horse by Catherine Austen (Goodreads Author), Pippa Roome really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 1 rating	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Little Book of Cheltenham 0.00 avg rating — 0 ratings — published 2015 — 4 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Enciclopedia ilustrada de caballos y ponis / Illustrated Encyclopedia of Horses and Ponies by Catherine Austen (Goodreads Author), Sarah Gorrie, Pippa Roome 0.00 avg rating — 0 ratings	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

More books by Catherine Austen…

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Catherine’s Recent Updates

Catherine Austen rated a book it was amazing The Stranger in the Woods: The Extraordinary Story of the Last True Hermit by Michael Finkel (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Truly an extraordinary story. I read this a couple of years ago and I've thought about it at least once a week ever since. So worth reading. I should go reread it... ...more
Jul 16, 2026 11:57AM · like · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of The Stranger in the Woods by Michael Finkel. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — The Stranger in the Woods by Michael Finkel <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Catherine Austen rated a book really liked it Black Mass: Apocalyptic Religion and the Death of Utopia by John Gray	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
I'd read anything by this guy. I'd read anything by this guy. ...more
Jul 16, 2026 11:51AM · like · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Black Mass by John Gray. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Black Mass by John Gray <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Catherine Austen rated a book really liked it Burial Rites by Hannah Kent (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Beautifully written historical novel. Lots of tension to the plot, complicated characters and vivid setting. I kept hoping....
Jul 16, 2026 11:50AM · like · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Burial Rites by Hannah Kent. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Burial Rites by Hannah Kent <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Catherine Austen rated a book it was amazing Elena Knows by Claudia Piñeiro	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
More of a literary novel than a mystery. This will stay with you. The narrator's life, and the illness that has taken it over, are so well captured. (The daughter's life, too, though she's absent from the story, is always there -- the fatigue is palp ...more
Jul 16, 2026 11:49AM · like · see review
Catherine Austen rated a book it was amazing If Nietzsche Were a Narwhal: What Animal Intelligence Reveals About Human Stupidity by Justin Gregg (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
About the nature and value of human intelligence compared to the rest of the animal kingdom. This is a fascinating and fun read. Well written, expansive, fact-packed, with lots of references to research you can read once you're done. I loved it, but ...more
Jul 16, 2026 11:42AM · like · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of If Nietzsche Were a Narwhal by Justin Gregg. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — If Nietzsche Were a Narwhal by Justin Gregg <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Catherine Austen rated a book it was amazing The Fairy Tellers by Nicholas Jubber	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
So fascinating! This is a look at the tellers of fairy tales (mostly European), with chapters on many lesser known tellers and many at the edges of the well known. I especially loved the chapter on Ivan Khudiakov -- I'd never heard of him, despite Tu ...more
Jul 16, 2026 11:29AM · like · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of The Fairy Tellers by Nicholas Jubber. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — The Fairy Tellers by Nicholas Jubber <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Catherine Austen rated a book really liked it Bewilderment by Richard Powers	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Beautifully written with vivid characters. I loved the family tradition of telling exoplanet stories. I loved the kid and the mother (such a full character for someone absent). The father's exhaustion is so well depicted. I loved the plot, the strang ...more
Jul 16, 2026 11:16AM · like · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Bewilderment by Richard Powers. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Bewilderment by Richard Powers <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Catherine Austen rated a book really liked it To the Other Side: A Powerful Immigration Story About Siblings and Hope for Kids (Ages 4-8) by Erika Meza	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Jun 01, 2026 12:01PM · like
Catherine Austen rated a book it was amazing The Bear and the Wildcat by Kazumi Yumoto	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Best picture book I've read for a while. So honest and touching and expressive and unique. For all ages. Heavy theme of grief, and there's gravity in both the art style and the narrative -- not a fun storytime read, but it's just beautiful. ...more
Jun 01, 2026 11:56AM · like · see review
Catherine Austen rated a book it was amazing The Fairy Tellers by Nicholas Jubber	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
So fascinating! This is a look at the tellers of fairy tales (mostly European), with chapters on many lesser known tellers and many at the edges of the well known. I especially loved the chapter on Ivan Khudiakov -- I'd never heard of him, despite Tu ...more
May 14, 2026 05:21AM · like · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of The Fairy Tellers by Nicholas Jubber. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — The Fairy Tellers by Nicholas Jubber <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">

More of Catherine's books…

Quotes by Catherine Austen (?)

“Living with hope is like rubbing up against a cheese grater. It keeps taking slices off you until there's so little left you just crumble.”
― Catherine Austen

tags: creative, depressing, humor

25 likes

“...it saddens me that she has to grow up and make friends with humans. I hear the future coming for her. Stomp, stomp, stomp.”
― Catherine Austen, All Good Children

tags: childhood, future

3 likes

“So who do you think would win in a fight, Max? Us or the rest of the world?”
― Catherine Austen, All Good Children

tags: dallas

2 likes

See all Catherine Austen's quotes »

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What's the Name o...: SOLVED. Vaccine makes all town kids "perfect", One by one, The "Bad" children of the town are Vaccinated then slowly they start to vaccine the good children... [s]	8	173	Dec 26, 2015 08:24AM
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What's the Name o...: SOLVED. YA Fiction. Teenage boy discovers that his peers are being injected with a serum that makes them behave. [s]	4	24	Aug 31, 2023 12:22PM

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Catherine’s Quotes

“Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.”
― Martin Luther King Jr., I Have a Dream: Writings and Speeches That Changed the World

tags: inspirational

8066 likes