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The Cat
SINGLE MOTHER ELISE IS completely devoted to her eleven-year-old son; he is her whole world. But that world is destroyed in one terrifying moment when her son is killed in a car accident just outside their home. Suddenly alone, surrounded by memories, Elise faces a future that feels unspeakably bleak—and pointless.
Lost, angry, and desolate, Elise rejects everyone who tries to reach out to her. But as despair threatens to engulf her, she realizes, to her horror, that she cannot join her She must take care of his beloved cat. At first she attempts to carry out this task entirely by herself, shut away from a frightening new reality that seems surreal and incomprehensible. But isolation proves to be impossible, and before long others insinuate themselves into her life—friends, enemies, colleagues, neighbors, a former lover—bringing with them the fragile beginnings of survival.
Powerfully moving and deeply humane, The Cat is an unforgettable novel about the extraordinary resilience of the human spirit.
Lost, angry, and desolate, Elise rejects everyone who tries to reach out to her. But as despair threatens to engulf her, she realizes, to her horror, that she cannot join her She must take care of his beloved cat. At first she attempts to carry out this task entirely by herself, shut away from a frightening new reality that seems surreal and incomprehensible. But isolation proves to be impossible, and before long others insinuate themselves into her life—friends, enemies, colleagues, neighbors, a former lover—bringing with them the fragile beginnings of survival.
Powerfully moving and deeply humane, The Cat is an unforgettable novel about the extraordinary resilience of the human spirit.
230 pages, Paperback
First published September 11, 2012
4 people are currently reading
454 people want to read
About the author
Edeet Ravel
23 books84 followersEdeet Ravel is the author of sixteen books for children and adults. Her books have been translated into over a dozen languages and have won numerous awards, including the Hugh MacLennan Book Award, the J.I. Segal Award, the Canadian Jewish Book Award (in two categories), the Janet Savage Blachford Prize for Children’s and Young Adult Literature, and the Snow Willow Award. Edeet's books have also been shortlisted for the Giller Prize, the Commonwealth Book Prize, and the Arthur Ellis Crime Award. Edeet was a three-time Governor General's Award finalist in two categories. Her novel The Saver (Groundwood) was adapted into film by Wiebke von Carolsfeld. Her latest (crossover) novels are A Boy Is Not a Bird and A Boy Is Not a Ghost, about a child who is exiled to Siberia in WWII, and Miss Matty, in which a teenager in Montreal of 1942 dreams of being a Hollywood star. In the words of one young reader, "Edeet has a vision where what is strange is loved and what is beautiful -- our planet, our humanity -- is protected." Edeet lives in Montreal, Canada.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 76 reviews
December 15, 2012
This is one of the most extraordinary books I've read this year.
This is a painful book, told from the point of view of a woman who has just lost her only child, and wishes she could die. She can't, of course, because she has to take care of the cat - Pursie. Pursie was her son's cat, and she knows she is obligated to take care of her, because it's what her son would want her to do.
This book goes to some sensitive places, emotionally. I recognized an awful lot of myself in this book, including the period of hibernation, the disinterest in being around any other person in the world, and the lack of will for the world to keep turning. Even the need to keep moving because of someone else, rather than for yourself was familiar. It's been a few years for me, and I found myself pulling for the main character so hard. I knew she could make it out the other side; I knew because I've made it. I knew because I'm a part of the world again, and so I knew she could do it.
If you know someone who has lost a child, and want to know what goes on in their heads afterwards, this is an excellent read. If you want to know how hard it is to deal with the inappropriate things, the hurtful things that people around you say, this is an excellent read. If you want to see the cycle of grief from the inside, this is an excellent read.
This is just plain, flat out, an excellent read.
This is a painful book, told from the point of view of a woman who has just lost her only child, and wishes she could die. She can't, of course, because she has to take care of the cat - Pursie. Pursie was her son's cat, and she knows she is obligated to take care of her, because it's what her son would want her to do.
This book goes to some sensitive places, emotionally. I recognized an awful lot of myself in this book, including the period of hibernation, the disinterest in being around any other person in the world, and the lack of will for the world to keep turning. Even the need to keep moving because of someone else, rather than for yourself was familiar. It's been a few years for me, and I found myself pulling for the main character so hard. I knew she could make it out the other side; I knew because I've made it. I knew because I'm a part of the world again, and so I knew she could do it.
If you know someone who has lost a child, and want to know what goes on in their heads afterwards, this is an excellent read. If you want to know how hard it is to deal with the inappropriate things, the hurtful things that people around you say, this is an excellent read. If you want to see the cycle of grief from the inside, this is an excellent read.
This is just plain, flat out, an excellent read.
July 26, 2022
Sometimes there isn't a light at the end of the tunnel, but as long as you keep walking you're okay.
August 27, 2012
****I recieved this book free from Penguin Exclusive Firstreads****
What a journey...a journey no parent ever wants to take. "The Cat" by Edeet Ravel, propels the reader into one woman's grief over the loss of her 11 year old son.
I found the beginning of the book slightly confusing, with Elise the central character, rambling on and jumping from one topic to the next....until my brain clicked in that this was written this way on purpose. The author was pulling us into the vortex of emotions of a grieving mother: sadness, fear, denial, anger, defeat. The fact that it was jumbled and confusing was just re-enforcing her state of mind. I thought the fact that her son's name is never mentioned and is only ever referred to as "my son" or "our son" was one of the most heart wrenching parts and spoke volumes. The ending of the book left me a little unsatisfied....I found it rather unrealistic and felt that it didn't match the tone of the rest of the book.
Overall, the book was extremely well written and as the story progressed I enjoyed it more and more. This is a book that will linger in your subconscious long after you finish reading it.....
This would make a fantastic Book Club read.
Enjoy! :)
What a journey...a journey no parent ever wants to take. "The Cat" by Edeet Ravel, propels the reader into one woman's grief over the loss of her 11 year old son.
I found the beginning of the book slightly confusing, with Elise the central character, rambling on and jumping from one topic to the next....until my brain clicked in that this was written this way on purpose. The author was pulling us into the vortex of emotions of a grieving mother: sadness, fear, denial, anger, defeat. The fact that it was jumbled and confusing was just re-enforcing her state of mind. I thought the fact that her son's name is never mentioned and is only ever referred to as "my son" or "our son" was one of the most heart wrenching parts and spoke volumes. The ending of the book left me a little unsatisfied....I found it rather unrealistic and felt that it didn't match the tone of the rest of the book.
Overall, the book was extremely well written and as the story progressed I enjoyed it more and more. This is a book that will linger in your subconscious long after you finish reading it.....
This would make a fantastic Book Club read.
Enjoy! :)
February 19, 2019
I loved this book. It is such a difficult and sad topic, but bearable for me since I don’t have children. Her ability to put emotion into words is amazing.
August 25, 2023
Compelling. The story of a single mother faced with the sudden and accidental death of her 11 year old son.
September 15, 2013
Stunning.....absolutely stunning story. I almost didn't read this after scanning the jacket blurb:
Single mother Elise is devoted to her son; he is her world. But that world is shattered in one terrifying moment when her son is killed in a car accident. Lost, angry, and desolate, Elise sees no point in going on, and longs to join her son. But despair is not an option; Elise must stay alive to take care of her son's beloved cat, Pursie.
Already this wasn't working for me bu this one is elegant, lean writing at its best. There isn't a wasted word. While the reader can feel and understand the torture that Elise goes through, and can become immersed in the struggle, the detached dreamlike quality of the narration keeps it from becoming too maudlin, too ugly, or too unthinkable. Having Elise herself narrate what it happening, and letting her memories surface to explain how and why she is grieving makes this a beautiful tale.
The cat is the excuse Elise uses to continue on, but the feline never becomes the real story. Had that happened it would have been a travesty. Instead, the good kitty stays in the background, available when needed, but never pushing into the limelight. As Elise goes through the first few months of her self-imposed isolation, she deals with the memories of her own childhood, her feelings toward her mother, her son's father, her previous lover, and her only childhood friend. Each of these characters is described with just enough detail to fit in, but never intrudes on the story which is essentially Elise's.
Although it's set in Canada, the setting could have been anywhere. The time frame is a bit more important because the isolation and communications issues are very much influenced and framed by modern day media and communications devices.
In the end, Ravel manages to leave the reader with a sense of hope without closing the door on any possibilities. I wish she had been able to expand the ending a bit more. It seemed almost to say "OK, now here's a way to solve this mess, I'll leave it right here." Disappointing perhaps, but then again, this young woman is never going to have her life wrapped up with a pretty bow, so leaving the future open is quite realistic.
Single mother Elise is devoted to her son; he is her world. But that world is shattered in one terrifying moment when her son is killed in a car accident. Lost, angry, and desolate, Elise sees no point in going on, and longs to join her son. But despair is not an option; Elise must stay alive to take care of her son's beloved cat, Pursie.
Already this wasn't working for me bu this one is elegant, lean writing at its best. There isn't a wasted word. While the reader can feel and understand the torture that Elise goes through, and can become immersed in the struggle, the detached dreamlike quality of the narration keeps it from becoming too maudlin, too ugly, or too unthinkable. Having Elise herself narrate what it happening, and letting her memories surface to explain how and why she is grieving makes this a beautiful tale.
The cat is the excuse Elise uses to continue on, but the feline never becomes the real story. Had that happened it would have been a travesty. Instead, the good kitty stays in the background, available when needed, but never pushing into the limelight. As Elise goes through the first few months of her self-imposed isolation, she deals with the memories of her own childhood, her feelings toward her mother, her son's father, her previous lover, and her only childhood friend. Each of these characters is described with just enough detail to fit in, but never intrudes on the story which is essentially Elise's.
Although it's set in Canada, the setting could have been anywhere. The time frame is a bit more important because the isolation and communications issues are very much influenced and framed by modern day media and communications devices.
In the end, Ravel manages to leave the reader with a sense of hope without closing the door on any possibilities. I wish she had been able to expand the ending a bit more. It seemed almost to say "OK, now here's a way to solve this mess, I'll leave it right here." Disappointing perhaps, but then again, this young woman is never going to have her life wrapped up with a pretty bow, so leaving the future open is quite realistic.
March 22, 2015
I liked this book at first, but by the end it had become tedious. Different characters came and went, but nothing actually changed. The main character is grieving for her son, an 11-year-old who died in an accident. I thought this book would chronicle her road to recovery, but it simply did not do that. Nothing even changed until the last 5 sentences.
Obviously, it's extremely difficult to accept the death of one's child, and I almost assumed that she would never fully recover. I thought this book would be emotional, and real, with poignant moments. I thought that by the end she would have gained some new insight into life and death, maybe, or have come to some sort of conclusion about her son. Or at least started down that path. But no. There was no development whatsoever. She had all of the same opinions about everything as she had at the beginning of the book. All that happened in 200 pages was her talking about her past, and meeting up with people - some from her past. Most of these people weren't interesting at all. Don't read this book.
Obviously, it's extremely difficult to accept the death of one's child, and I almost assumed that she would never fully recover. I thought this book would be emotional, and real, with poignant moments. I thought that by the end she would have gained some new insight into life and death, maybe, or have come to some sort of conclusion about her son. Or at least started down that path. But no. There was no development whatsoever. She had all of the same opinions about everything as she had at the beginning of the book. All that happened in 200 pages was her talking about her past, and meeting up with people - some from her past. Most of these people weren't interesting at all. Don't read this book.
July 27, 2013
So did I decide to read this book because of the title? Absolutely. And, I'm ok with that.
This book made it's way into my hands by way of a Goodreads giveaway. The writing is lean and told solely from the perspective of single mother Elise. It's pages are filled with her expressions of grief following the death of her eleven-year-old son. She doesn't want to live. Pain comes each time she finds herself awaking to a new day without her beloved son. Pain comes with the knowledge that her suffering is a mere blip in the grand scheme of things. The rest of the world moves forward and Elise reluctantly survives so her son's cat may be taken care of.
I loved the natural flow of the author's writing but I was disappointed by the oddly tidy ending.
This book made it's way into my hands by way of a Goodreads giveaway. The writing is lean and told solely from the perspective of single mother Elise. It's pages are filled with her expressions of grief following the death of her eleven-year-old son. She doesn't want to live. Pain comes each time she finds herself awaking to a new day without her beloved son. Pain comes with the knowledge that her suffering is a mere blip in the grand scheme of things. The rest of the world moves forward and Elise reluctantly survives so her son's cat may be taken care of.
I loved the natural flow of the author's writing but I was disappointed by the oddly tidy ending.
April 29, 2013
2.5 This book was just okay for me. It is well written but I had trouble warming up to Elise. Losing a child is every parents worst fear and Elise looses her only child. Since she is also unmarried he was basically her whole world. She wants to leave this world but cannot because she needs to take care of his cat. The author does a fantastic job describing the grief and anguish of Elise, but it also made Elise seem very cold. The other characters seem static, as if they are the way they are and cannot change. The cat, itself makes very few appearance and those are short.
November 27, 2013
When Canadian single mom Elise's 11-yr old son is killed on their front lawn she can think of no reason to go on living... except for his cat Pursie, whom she must feed and care for. Joyce Carol Oates's blurb on the front says, "Edeet Ravel is utterly, heartbreakingly convincing". I can't add to that except to say I must find more of her to read.
August 21, 2012
Although this book was about a woman dealing with life after a tragedy, I really found it to be an enjoyable read. It was a believable story about love and loss. I would highly recommend it.
August 17, 2020
I had in my head that this was a sweet book about a woman living in a remote part of Canada with her cat. That's true, but the starting point for the book is that her eleven-year-old son is killed when a pill-taking driver falls asleep at the wheel and the car crashes into the yard. If I'd realized this was a book about profound grief, I might not have picked it in these anxiety-rich times. This isn't the books fault, obviously, just the general mess that is 2020.
As a portrait of grief though, the book is powerful and moving. The protagonist is vulnerable and flawed here--she was a weird person before her son died and her processing of the tragedy is colored through her preexisting issues. But it was a caring and gentle portrait deftly handled by this author. I'll definitely read more by this writer.
As a portrait of grief though, the book is powerful and moving. The protagonist is vulnerable and flawed here--she was a weird person before her son died and her processing of the tragedy is colored through her preexisting issues. But it was a caring and gentle portrait deftly handled by this author. I'll definitely read more by this writer.
December 1, 2025
This is Elise's story as she grapples with the overwhelming grief of losing her son. The cat is Persephone, Pursie for short, whose very existence is the only reason Elise forces herself to keep going.
They say grief has 4, possibly 5, stages, the last one being acceptance. I don't agree. You never accept the loss of someone really close, but, eventually you learn to 'live with it'. You are a bit, or a lot, broken so you keep going with the broken bits.
People from Elise's past reappear, some for good, some not. She gathers the pieces and has a go at carrying on.
The story is wrongly titled. Yes there is a cat but apart from stopping Elise's suicidal thought, it does not feature much. But the process of grief is very truly written. A thoughtful read.
They say grief has 4, possibly 5, stages, the last one being acceptance. I don't agree. You never accept the loss of someone really close, but, eventually you learn to 'live with it'. You are a bit, or a lot, broken so you keep going with the broken bits.
People from Elise's past reappear, some for good, some not. She gathers the pieces and has a go at carrying on.
The story is wrongly titled. Yes there is a cat but apart from stopping Elise's suicidal thought, it does not feature much. But the process of grief is very truly written. A thoughtful read.
January 8, 2017
Utterly heartbreaking. The first half of the novel is particularly intense and devastating; tears came to my eyes often, and I wasn't sure I would be able to finish this novel. Raw, terrible grief permeates every page...but you can't turn away, no matter how much your brain might be screaming "enough!" However, the ending (discover it for yourself) is the most controversial part of this book; I'm sure some people might claim it to be an unrealistic cop-out. But while the final act of the novel it isn't quite as powerful as its opening, it remains satisfying to those of us who look very, very hard for the light in the bleakest darkness.
September 28, 2020
The author needs to research all aspects of a story. In this case the hospital laboratories. Trashing the profession of MLT and having no Knowledge of how these cases are handled either legally or medically smacks of someone whose views have been formed by watching too much bad American TV. The title of the book is misleading and the content jumps around with no real character development. The ending-a hatchet job.
December 30, 2020
It is fitting that the title of the novel is in lower case letters as the cat (Prrsephone) is the underpinning of the whole tragic story. This work is compelling and profound as the protagonist, Elise struggles to grapple with the death of her young son and only keeps herself alive because he would have wanted the cat taken care of.
Throughout the novel, Ravel draws the reader into the emotional upheaval without becoming maudlin and thus preserves the integrity of the tone.
Ravel very cleverly never gives the son a name.
I loved this book!
Throughout the novel, Ravel draws the reader into the emotional upheaval without becoming maudlin and thus preserves the integrity of the tone.
Ravel very cleverly never gives the son a name.
I loved this book!
February 7, 2020
Of course the title drew me in when I was looking for another book on the library shelf...I have never had a child hence I’ve never lost one, but the author writes a compelling and believable book about grief. I know what it’s like to grieve many losses...I have most all of my life. I can truly relate.
January 6, 2021
This book was great. Sad and a challenge at times to take in the amount of pain happening for Elise. I began this book kind of blindly and it became the exact book I needed at a really tough point for me personally. Grief is a moving emotion and comes in all forms. And there is always something to keep going for. Even if it’s to feed and look after a cat.
May 13, 2018
So....pointless! Nothing happened!
December 27, 2021
I read this book in 4 days. I enjoyed it very much. I couldn’t put it down.
Read
July 19, 2023I'm not sure about this one. Not bad. Just odd.
September 14, 2012
I received a copy of this book as part of the goodreads first reads giveaways.
I was not sure what to expect from this book, it sounded interesting, and a little different from something that I would typically read, and I am glad that I won and had the chance to experience this novel. There is no other way to explain it, you don't read this, it is something that you experience along with the main character Elise, the events, the emotions, it is like reading someone's diary, and it is fantastic. I feel a little odd saying that as this is not a happy story, and these are not good emotions that she is going through, but there is no way not to enjoy this novel, the author brings you right there with Elise and you can't help but feel what she is feeling, and want to somehow help, even though you know it is not real.
Elise lives with her son alone, he is her world, and they are together most of the time as she has the bonus of being able to work from home. They are best friends, and very rarely disagree on anything. I don't remember her in the entire book mentioning her sons name, but she did talk about him, and from what she said, he seemed like an old soul, a very insightful young man, very grown-up for his age. One day tragedy strikes, and he is hit by a car and killed, that happens at the beginning of the novel, and the rest is of Elise trying to cope with her feelings, and life without him. I cannot begin to imagine how I would feel or deal with the loss of a child, but the way Elise remembers, and her behaviour etc seems very realistic to me.
The name of the novel comes from the fact that Elise and her son adopted a cat, and after the tragedy that takes place, she wants to make a big decision, however, everything that she wants to do, she can't because of the cat, and she is convinced that she cannot leave Pursie alone as her son will not forgive her. You get to see how she handles this along the way with everything else that she is going through.
I looked up the 7 stages of grief, and by thinking back on the novel, you can see her going through most of these different stages for sure 1) shock and denial 2) pain and guilt 3) anger and bargaining 4) depression, reflection, loneliness. The parts that I didn't really see are 5) the upward turn 6) reconstruction and working through 7) acceptance and hope. There was maybe little moments, but they did not last long, and even at the end of the novel, I just thought that it was not very realistic as to what her emotions had been all along, and it almost felt like a rushed ending that wanted to be a happy one, but it lost the mark for me on that aspect.
So overall, I would have to give this book a 4/5, it was very close to being a 5/5, however, the ending disappointed me, I was looking for something different, I don't want to say what as it would be a spoiler.
I was not sure what to expect from this book, it sounded interesting, and a little different from something that I would typically read, and I am glad that I won and had the chance to experience this novel. There is no other way to explain it, you don't read this, it is something that you experience along with the main character Elise, the events, the emotions, it is like reading someone's diary, and it is fantastic. I feel a little odd saying that as this is not a happy story, and these are not good emotions that she is going through, but there is no way not to enjoy this novel, the author brings you right there with Elise and you can't help but feel what she is feeling, and want to somehow help, even though you know it is not real.
Elise lives with her son alone, he is her world, and they are together most of the time as she has the bonus of being able to work from home. They are best friends, and very rarely disagree on anything. I don't remember her in the entire book mentioning her sons name, but she did talk about him, and from what she said, he seemed like an old soul, a very insightful young man, very grown-up for his age. One day tragedy strikes, and he is hit by a car and killed, that happens at the beginning of the novel, and the rest is of Elise trying to cope with her feelings, and life without him. I cannot begin to imagine how I would feel or deal with the loss of a child, but the way Elise remembers, and her behaviour etc seems very realistic to me.
The name of the novel comes from the fact that Elise and her son adopted a cat, and after the tragedy that takes place, she wants to make a big decision, however, everything that she wants to do, she can't because of the cat, and she is convinced that she cannot leave Pursie alone as her son will not forgive her. You get to see how she handles this along the way with everything else that she is going through.
I looked up the 7 stages of grief, and by thinking back on the novel, you can see her going through most of these different stages for sure 1) shock and denial 2) pain and guilt 3) anger and bargaining 4) depression, reflection, loneliness. The parts that I didn't really see are 5) the upward turn 6) reconstruction and working through 7) acceptance and hope. There was maybe little moments, but they did not last long, and even at the end of the novel, I just thought that it was not very realistic as to what her emotions had been all along, and it almost felt like a rushed ending that wanted to be a happy one, but it lost the mark for me on that aspect.
So overall, I would have to give this book a 4/5, it was very close to being a 5/5, however, the ending disappointed me, I was looking for something different, I don't want to say what as it would be a spoiler.
May 7, 2013
A rather unassuming title that would sooner quirk your eyebrow in curiosity than make you think of heartache and loss, yet that is where the story begins; deep within the depths of a heart touched by tragedy and a life ended well before its time.
The book is broken up into months and through the days that pass we meet our lead character, Elise. She is a single mother whose world revolved around the life of her son and when his light was snuffed out, her walls came tumbling down.She tucks herself away from the world fully intent upon removing herself from it all together until a small plaintive cry of one small fur-baby that was near and dear to her son's heart, Pursie, brings her back from the brink of the abyss. She recounts in detail the matching of boy and said cat, the love that flowed from one to the other and back again so freely and without pretense. Someone has to be there for her when she wakes, feed her when her bowl empties, caution her from straying too far from the front door for one never knows what dangers lie in wait. Someone has to take care of the little gal as her boy is no longer able to do so...it might as well be her.
So now you see how the title was chose, but that's far from the end of Elise's journey. The path we travel in life if fraught with the unknown, some for the better and some for the worse, and for Elise, this is certainly a part of THE WORSE but as you've probably heard, the worst of times brings out the best in people...including herself.
I loved how the author portrayed Elise's wandering from moment to moment in broken pieces that were still connected by the never ending flow of time. You could see how two steps forward did not always equal the one giant step back she was forced to take emotionally but also the cracks in the armor of her heart; a heart that was still viable, still able to love and show mercy.
In conclusion, this is a story of loss, tragedy and a life ended before its time...but also one of hope. If you're looking for a heartfelt read not afraid to lead you into the dark of night in order to show you the brightness that a new dawn has to offer, this one is for you.
**review copy was received in exchange for my honest review - full post can be viewed on my site**
The book is broken up into months and through the days that pass we meet our lead character, Elise. She is a single mother whose world revolved around the life of her son and when his light was snuffed out, her walls came tumbling down.She tucks herself away from the world fully intent upon removing herself from it all together until a small plaintive cry of one small fur-baby that was near and dear to her son's heart, Pursie, brings her back from the brink of the abyss. She recounts in detail the matching of boy and said cat, the love that flowed from one to the other and back again so freely and without pretense. Someone has to be there for her when she wakes, feed her when her bowl empties, caution her from straying too far from the front door for one never knows what dangers lie in wait. Someone has to take care of the little gal as her boy is no longer able to do so...it might as well be her.
So now you see how the title was chose, but that's far from the end of Elise's journey. The path we travel in life if fraught with the unknown, some for the better and some for the worse, and for Elise, this is certainly a part of THE WORSE but as you've probably heard, the worst of times brings out the best in people...including herself.
I loved how the author portrayed Elise's wandering from moment to moment in broken pieces that were still connected by the never ending flow of time. You could see how two steps forward did not always equal the one giant step back she was forced to take emotionally but also the cracks in the armor of her heart; a heart that was still viable, still able to love and show mercy.
In conclusion, this is a story of loss, tragedy and a life ended before its time...but also one of hope. If you're looking for a heartfelt read not afraid to lead you into the dark of night in order to show you the brightness that a new dawn has to offer, this one is for you.
**review copy was received in exchange for my honest review - full post can be viewed on my site**
April 15, 2013
Don't roll your eyes based on the title on this novel, as it's just not another story about a cat. It's actually a story about loss, grief and moving forward. A work of fiction that almost feels like it's based on a life experience, the story is about a woman named Elise who loses her only child, her eleven-year old son in a tragic accident.
Mother and son lived in a remote area of Ontario in a cozy little cottage perfect for just the two of them. Elise is an artist, and although we never learn the name of her son, which kind of bothered me, we did learn that he was a smart, gentle boy who loved nature and animals. He was doing what he loved, searching in the tall grass for something that moved, when he was struck by a car and killed instantly.
Though it is said that many people find extra strength when they need it the most, Elise was not one of those people. She couldn't deal with what needed to be done and instead called her ex-husband to take care of all of the final arrangements. Almost immediately she drifted into a paralyzing grief that made her want to end her own life as well, but then something happened. Her son's cat Pursie, who was adopted from a shelter two years earlier was constantly at her side, often purring loudly. Something eventually clicked and Elise realized that her son would be very disappointed if she was not there to care for Pursie.
Over a period of seven months, Elise leads a life of isolation. She closes her email account, and cuts herself off from the living -- just her and Pursie, until finally she realizes that life goes on however painful the past may seem.
I found this story pretty powerful, but Elise was a character I could not warm up to. Although Pursie was the reason she never ends her life, the story is never about "the cat". It's really a story about loss, pain, grieving and finding a reason to keep going after tragedy strikes -- in this case "the cat". Overall this was a short yet memorable read, one that would be a good choice especially for someone who has lost a child.
3.5/5 stars
September 10, 2013
When I saw the cover of this book, I said, "Ohh! A book about a cat!" and was strangely excited.
When I read the first page, I said, "Ohh! A book about a mother, a son, and their cat!" and hurriedly read on.
When I read the second page, I didn't say anything, and let a bereft mother tell me about the loss of her son, and the way she desperately clings to life only to keep alive the cat her son once loved.
This book is wonderful. It's sad when it needs to be (which is often); snarky only when appropriate. Elise, the narrator, types a little each day, which we learn is truly to keep herself from going mad with the sadness she feels. Ravel does a great job of portraying grief in all of its stages, as well as showing how isolated one feels throughout a tragedy. Elise is surrounded by others, but is either unable or unwilling to see this because of her desire to hide inside the small house her son once shared with her.
Over the course of several months, Elise experiences grief. There are five stages (denial & isolation, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance), yet they aren't sharp and defined. Ravel gives Elise the chance to revel in her pain, taking her time at each stage, sometimes back tracking (as it true of all pain). I feel this is incredibly effective.
While this book is titled The Cat, it is really about her son. Pursie is only a minor character, with her son being the ever-present silent character that inspires her every action or inaction.
However, the reader learns the cat's name, Pursie, on the first page, and never learns her son's name. I believe this is because
1. the narrator, despite the way she shares her pain, does not want to share this last secret with her reader
2. the narrator, knowing how deeply she is retreating into herself, doesn't say her son's name because she knows that will make all too real his death.
This is a very short read. I suggest taking some time between each chapter - a chapter is one month.
When I read the first page, I said, "Ohh! A book about a mother, a son, and their cat!" and hurriedly read on.
When I read the second page, I didn't say anything, and let a bereft mother tell me about the loss of her son, and the way she desperately clings to life only to keep alive the cat her son once loved.
This book is wonderful. It's sad when it needs to be (which is often); snarky only when appropriate. Elise, the narrator, types a little each day, which we learn is truly to keep herself from going mad with the sadness she feels. Ravel does a great job of portraying grief in all of its stages, as well as showing how isolated one feels throughout a tragedy. Elise is surrounded by others, but is either unable or unwilling to see this because of her desire to hide inside the small house her son once shared with her.
Over the course of several months, Elise experiences grief. There are five stages (denial & isolation, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance), yet they aren't sharp and defined. Ravel gives Elise the chance to revel in her pain, taking her time at each stage, sometimes back tracking (as it true of all pain). I feel this is incredibly effective.
While this book is titled The Cat, it is really about her son. Pursie is only a minor character, with her son being the ever-present silent character that inspires her every action or inaction.
However, the reader learns the cat's name, Pursie, on the first page, and never learns her son's name. I believe this is because
1. the narrator, despite the way she shares her pain, does not want to share this last secret with her reader
2. the narrator, knowing how deeply she is retreating into herself, doesn't say her son's name because she knows that will make all too real his death.
This is a very short read. I suggest taking some time between each chapter - a chapter is one month.
July 7, 2013
This is a short book, but a full one. The narrator, whose name we never learn, has just lost her young son (whose name we also never know), killed in their own front yard by a drunk driver, who ironically is also a child psychiatrist. The boy's father, Neil, is living in the same town, but with another woman and her children. He and the boy had regular visits, but the boy's mother is the one telling the story, so it is completely her account of things.
She and her son had gone to a shelter and adopted a cat to fill out their family. The cat, Persephone - or as they call her Pursie - is the only reason that the mother sees to live. She doesn't want to let her son down, knowing he would want her to always take care of Pursie. Since she knows no one to give the cat away to, she keeps going so that cat will live.
The book is the story of her grief and how it feels to have no reason left in the world to live. She prefers for most of the story to stay in her house, with only Pursie for company. Any efforts by neighbors and bereavement counselors to help are completely ignored. Eventually, she finds a therapist who is non-judgmental and very understanding. This helps her become involved again in her own life. She connects with Neil, looks up some old friends, and starts to take an interest again - however small - in the world around her.
The chapters cover months at a time. Except for her son's cat, it's clear there would be a tragic end to the story. But having the cat is what actually saves her in the end.
This book is very raw, and I could see some thinking it was mostly depressing. I found it to be a real description of loss, grief, and depression. Though you hope the narrator will come back and join the world, you can't be certain that is going to happen.
Very well written and very realistic.
She and her son had gone to a shelter and adopted a cat to fill out their family. The cat, Persephone - or as they call her Pursie - is the only reason that the mother sees to live. She doesn't want to let her son down, knowing he would want her to always take care of Pursie. Since she knows no one to give the cat away to, she keeps going so that cat will live.
The book is the story of her grief and how it feels to have no reason left in the world to live. She prefers for most of the story to stay in her house, with only Pursie for company. Any efforts by neighbors and bereavement counselors to help are completely ignored. Eventually, she finds a therapist who is non-judgmental and very understanding. This helps her become involved again in her own life. She connects with Neil, looks up some old friends, and starts to take an interest again - however small - in the world around her.
The chapters cover months at a time. Except for her son's cat, it's clear there would be a tragic end to the story. But having the cat is what actually saves her in the end.
This book is very raw, and I could see some thinking it was mostly depressing. I found it to be a real description of loss, grief, and depression. Though you hope the narrator will come back and join the world, you can't be certain that is going to happen.
Very well written and very realistic.
September 19, 2013
We've all heard the expression that the hardest thing for a parent to do is bury their child. We've heard it so much that it's become cliched, but Edeet Ravel rips the cliche to shreds in The Cat. Her novel is an excruciating, suffocating, yet uplifting and inspiring look at a woman dazedly trying, failing and trying again to put the pieces of her life back together.
At times, single mother Elise's decline into depression seems too heavy, and we almost wish Ravel would move on with the story. Yes, we get it, Elise is sad, she's lost all hope, fast-forward. But who among us could dare imagine what it's like losing the most important person in our lives? Elise grew up with distant parents, she was abandoned by her two serious lovers, and all she has left in her world is her son, who is taken from her in a heartbeat. As she spirals further and further into isolation and feelings of suicide, thoughts that Ravel might have overdone it are tempered by how powerfully horrifying and empty Ravel has written Elise's life, or what remains of it.
There are no happy endings in books with this kind of verisimilitude, but Ravel ends it on a note that is simultaneously hopeful and believable. In a story that was filled with crushing nihilism, resentment and rejection, the journey of Elise gradually coming to terms with her son's death and re-acceptance of the world around her is fascinating, moving and captivating. The Cat is an immensely thought-provoking book about life, death, and what's left behind.
At times, single mother Elise's decline into depression seems too heavy, and we almost wish Ravel would move on with the story. Yes, we get it, Elise is sad, she's lost all hope, fast-forward. But who among us could dare imagine what it's like losing the most important person in our lives? Elise grew up with distant parents, she was abandoned by her two serious lovers, and all she has left in her world is her son, who is taken from her in a heartbeat. As she spirals further and further into isolation and feelings of suicide, thoughts that Ravel might have overdone it are tempered by how powerfully horrifying and empty Ravel has written Elise's life, or what remains of it.
There are no happy endings in books with this kind of verisimilitude, but Ravel ends it on a note that is simultaneously hopeful and believable. In a story that was filled with crushing nihilism, resentment and rejection, the journey of Elise gradually coming to terms with her son's death and re-acceptance of the world around her is fascinating, moving and captivating. The Cat is an immensely thought-provoking book about life, death, and what's left behind.
October 26, 2013
I might never have found this book if it weren't for LibraryThing. I entered (and won) a giveaway for the title on that site, entering because it sounded like a unique and affecting story. I wasn't wrong.
This tells the story of a single mother whose world has just been shattered completely - her beloved son was struck by a vehicle and killed. Now, she is left alone in the world with nothing tethering her - nothing, that is, except her son's cat. Driven by the inexplicable need to care for the cat in her son's absence, she struggles to understand her life now, in the aftermath.
Initially, this book was a bit difficult for me to get into. A lot of the details of Elise's background and even of the tragedy that changes her life are not given to readers at first. Bits and pieces of the story are slowly revealed as the story goes on. It makes it kind of hard to empathize with Elise and hard to believe that she has no reason to live. However, the strength of this book lies in the incredibly realistic and moving portrait of grief. Never having lost a child, I can't exactly understand what Elise goes through. However, I have suffered the loss of an immediate family member, and I can empathize with the difficulties she sees in her new life.
This is a really well-written and quiet novel about a personal tragedy that most of us can't even imagine. It ends on a hopeful note, though, and works beautifully.
I received this book as part of LibraryThing's Early Reviewer program.
This tells the story of a single mother whose world has just been shattered completely - her beloved son was struck by a vehicle and killed. Now, she is left alone in the world with nothing tethering her - nothing, that is, except her son's cat. Driven by the inexplicable need to care for the cat in her son's absence, she struggles to understand her life now, in the aftermath.
Initially, this book was a bit difficult for me to get into. A lot of the details of Elise's background and even of the tragedy that changes her life are not given to readers at first. Bits and pieces of the story are slowly revealed as the story goes on. It makes it kind of hard to empathize with Elise and hard to believe that she has no reason to live. However, the strength of this book lies in the incredibly realistic and moving portrait of grief. Never having lost a child, I can't exactly understand what Elise goes through. However, I have suffered the loss of an immediate family member, and I can empathize with the difficulties she sees in her new life.
This is a really well-written and quiet novel about a personal tragedy that most of us can't even imagine. It ends on a hopeful note, though, and works beautifully.
I received this book as part of LibraryThing's Early Reviewer program.
April 6, 2013
- An easy quick read with good writing.
- Ravel evokes a true feeling of grief and loss, but I thought the ending with Fede was a bit strange and almost a letdown somehow??
- I know it's meant to be uplifting and not wanting to be cliché (like her getting back together with her child's father, Neil), but it felt weird to me, like he just appears outta nowhere and then the book ends. Not satisfying.
- I feel Elise's character could've been better explored...I didn't feel like I KNEW her...just only her grief. I feel her parents were better written as full fledged characters, and even Neil - I got a sense of who they were as people.
- The plot was quite slow/non-existent, but I expected it of a book like this.
- Also, the title is misleading, because you think it'd be more about "THE CAT", or at least 50% or 25% about "THE CAT", since it's named as such, but honestly, Pursie is just a mild, perusing figure who is honestly not even essential to the plot, and if she were left out, it would have been perfectly fine with me. (It seemed more like a gimmick to name the book "THE CAT", or that Elise needed something to fixate on instead of her grief, so *insert* random pet *HERE*.)
- Overall, despite these drawbacks, a decent book, especially one that hits on the theme of grief.
- Ravel evokes a true feeling of grief and loss, but I thought the ending with Fede was a bit strange and almost a letdown somehow??
- I know it's meant to be uplifting and not wanting to be cliché (like her getting back together with her child's father, Neil), but it felt weird to me, like he just appears outta nowhere and then the book ends. Not satisfying.
- I feel Elise's character could've been better explored...I didn't feel like I KNEW her...just only her grief. I feel her parents were better written as full fledged characters, and even Neil - I got a sense of who they were as people.
- The plot was quite slow/non-existent, but I expected it of a book like this.
- Also, the title is misleading, because you think it'd be more about "THE CAT", or at least 50% or 25% about "THE CAT", since it's named as such, but honestly, Pursie is just a mild, perusing figure who is honestly not even essential to the plot, and if she were left out, it would have been perfectly fine with me. (It seemed more like a gimmick to name the book "THE CAT", or that Elise needed something to fixate on instead of her grief, so *insert* random pet *HERE*.)
- Overall, despite these drawbacks, a decent book, especially one that hits on the theme of grief.
November 19, 2016
Edeet Ravel's new novel, The Cat, tells the story of a single mother whose son is killed in a car accident. Beginning shortly after Elise returns from the hospital, the story is weighted down with an overwhelming grief. Already solitary by nature and her upbringing, Elise wants nothing more than to join her son in death, but the presence of her son's cat prevents her; she knows he would want her to care for Pursie. And so, painfully, Elise continues to live and slowly finds herself drawn back into the living world despite herself.
As you might imagine, this isn't a fun or comfortable read. There are stark and unforgiving emotions on display. I have a son just a few years younger than Elise and, like them, my son and I went to the Humane Society one afternoon to adopt a cat. But the emotions Ravel describe ring so horribly true that I don't think one needs to identify with the main character so much as to identify with her humanity and the pain she's enduring. Despite the subject matter, I enjoyed The Cat. Elise is prickly and unfriendly, but she's also capable of kindness and understanding. And the book ends on a note of hopefulness.
As you might imagine, this isn't a fun or comfortable read. There are stark and unforgiving emotions on display. I have a son just a few years younger than Elise and, like them, my son and I went to the Humane Society one afternoon to adopt a cat. But the emotions Ravel describe ring so horribly true that I don't think one needs to identify with the main character so much as to identify with her humanity and the pain she's enduring. Despite the subject matter, I enjoyed The Cat. Elise is prickly and unfriendly, but she's also capable of kindness and understanding. And the book ends on a note of hopefulness.
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