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The House Guests
The House Guests, a classic memoir of animal companionship from John D. MacDonald, the beloved author of Cape Fear and the Travis McGee series, is now available as an eBook.
A master of the noir novel turns his sharp insights and considerable narrative talents to the human-animal bond in this charming work of nonfiction. In The House Guests, John D. MacDonald tells the story of his family’s unforgettable tomcats Roger and Geoffrey, two mischievous boys whose zany habits and remarkable senses of humor endeared them to everyone they met, and an extraordinary goose called Knees. Both a rare peek inside MacDonald’s private life and a fascinating compendium of information about the animal kingdom, The House Guests is by turns touching, hilarious, and absorbing, sure to mesmerize MacDonald fans and pet lovers alike.
Features a new Introduction by Dean Koontz
Praise for John D. MacDonald
“ The great entertainer of our age, and a mesmerizing storyteller.”—Stephen King
“My favorite novelist of all time.”—Dean Koontz
“To diggers a thousand years from now, the works of John D. MacDonald would be a treasure on the order of the tomb of Tutankhamen.”—Kurt Vonnegut
“A master storyteller, a masterful suspense writer . . . John D. MacDonald is a shining example for all of us in the field. Talk about the best .”—Mary Higgins Clark
A master of the noir novel turns his sharp insights and considerable narrative talents to the human-animal bond in this charming work of nonfiction. In The House Guests, John D. MacDonald tells the story of his family’s unforgettable tomcats Roger and Geoffrey, two mischievous boys whose zany habits and remarkable senses of humor endeared them to everyone they met, and an extraordinary goose called Knees. Both a rare peek inside MacDonald’s private life and a fascinating compendium of information about the animal kingdom, The House Guests is by turns touching, hilarious, and absorbing, sure to mesmerize MacDonald fans and pet lovers alike.
Features a new Introduction by Dean Koontz
Praise for John D. MacDonald
“ The great entertainer of our age, and a mesmerizing storyteller.”—Stephen King
“My favorite novelist of all time.”—Dean Koontz
“To diggers a thousand years from now, the works of John D. MacDonald would be a treasure on the order of the tomb of Tutankhamen.”—Kurt Vonnegut
“A master storyteller, a masterful suspense writer . . . John D. MacDonald is a shining example for all of us in the field. Talk about the best .”—Mary Higgins Clark
173 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1965
26 people are currently reading
127 people want to read
About the author
John D. MacDonald
575 books1,384 followersJohn D. MacDonald was born in Sharon, Pennsylvania, and educated at the Universities of Pennsylvania, Syracuse and Harvard, where he took an MBA in 1939. During WW2, he rose to the rank of Colonel, and while serving in the Army and in the Far East, sent a short story to his wife for sale, successfully. He served in the Office of Strategic Services (O.S.S.) in the China-Burma-India Theater of Operations. After the war, he decided to try writing for a year, to see if he could make a living. Over 500 short stories and 70 novels resulted, including 21 Travis McGee novels.
Following complications of an earlier heart bypass operation, MacDonald slipped into a coma on December 10 and died at age 70, on December 28, 1986, in St. Mary's Hospital in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He was survived by his wife Dorothy (1911-1989) and a son, Maynard.
In the years since his death MacDonald has been praised by authors as diverse as Stephen King, Spider Robinson, Jimmy Buffett, Kingsley Amis and Kurt Vonnegut, Jr.. Thirty-three years after his passing the Travis McGee novels are still in print.
Following complications of an earlier heart bypass operation, MacDonald slipped into a coma on December 10 and died at age 70, on December 28, 1986, in St. Mary's Hospital in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He was survived by his wife Dorothy (1911-1989) and a son, Maynard.
In the years since his death MacDonald has been praised by authors as diverse as Stephen King, Spider Robinson, Jimmy Buffett, Kingsley Amis and Kurt Vonnegut, Jr.. Thirty-three years after his passing the Travis McGee novels are still in print.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
July 18, 2018
Short and sweet book that counters the putty tat cat-owning aesthetic (and its modern analogue the lolcat) with a thesis that a loved and secure cat will reveal a great depth of uniqueness, intelligence, and personality. MacDonald is a great observer of feline behavior. The book gets bonus points for its autobiographical bits, which deliver some interesting insights into the 1960s snowbird take on the American dream.
March 29, 2017
The John D MacDonald household had 2 cats Roger and Geoffrey, who were half brothers. page 82. Moving the cats from New York to Florida by rail was a horrible experience for the cats. (Before Jet-a-Pet). After one summer move from Utica to hot Clearwater Florida, Geoffrey wasn't doing very well. He ate less and less, became unresponsive, lost weight and at times there was a milky film over his eyes.
The vet diagnosed Geoffrey as depressed. When cats become depressed they show what is called the third eye, a milky membrane that comes up from the lower lid. He simply did not care for Florida. The vet recommendation "Give him a great deal of attention, coddling, affection. Try to keep him entertained. The Vet told them that cats in this condition will actually sometimes become weaker and more withdrawn and eventually die.
Geoffrey endured the attentions for a time, gradually became more responsive, and started to bring in birds and lizards.
MacDonald recommends cats as conducive to creative writing.
The vet diagnosed Geoffrey as depressed. When cats become depressed they show what is called the third eye, a milky membrane that comes up from the lower lid. He simply did not care for Florida. The vet recommendation "Give him a great deal of attention, coddling, affection. Try to keep him entertained. The Vet told them that cats in this condition will actually sometimes become weaker and more withdrawn and eventually die.
Geoffrey endured the attentions for a time, gradually became more responsive, and started to bring in birds and lizards.
MacDonald recommends cats as conducive to creative writing.
January 30, 2008
Yes, I am reading a rambling memoir about some guy's cats. My favorite part is the story about the time his cat ate a whole rabbit and bloated up like a balloon and slept for a week!
Someday I'll write a book like this.
Someday I'll write a book like this.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 28, 2019
I didn’t finish this book. I follow John MacDonald because I like his way of writing his mystery “who done it’s”. This book didn’t follow. If you like Cats (sorry I don’t) this book is for you.
June 28, 2023
I don't think I have read another JDM book that is non-fiction. This is the fiftieth book published by JDM and pays homage to the cats, dogs and other assorted pets around the family's places of residence. Pretty entertaining.
August 28, 2018
I gave myself two months to read this slim book, averaging a chapter or so a week, just because I wanted to live in MacDonald's world of lovingly observed cat behavior. A fine port, savored.
April 19, 2021
A hidden gem for both animal lovers and fans of the great John D MacD.
October 17, 2023
Non-fiction for pet-lovers only. There's a half-dozen interesting observations but it's padded out to book-length.
May 4, 2024
Only for a JDM completest. Moments captured over 15 years of living with 2 cats, strays and for the last 10 pages his sons goose Knees.
June 19, 2013
I wish I could find another copy of this book. It was loaned to my husband and me by a friend in Montréal.
MacDonald is best known for writing the Travis McGee detective novels, sort of a "working class Sam Spade" was my impression. I was never interested in them. However, this funny and loving tribute to his pets was a cat-lover's delight, up there with Paul Gallico's The Abandoned.
If you see a copy, grab it!
MacDonald is best known for writing the Travis McGee detective novels, sort of a "working class Sam Spade" was my impression. I was never interested in them. However, this funny and loving tribute to his pets was a cat-lover's delight, up there with Paul Gallico's The Abandoned.
If you see a copy, grab it!
January 5, 2012
I would have liked this one so much more without the two stories of cat torture (one he was a passive witness to and one he, somewhat inadvertently, did himself). I do remember liking it aside from that, but will probably never reread it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 9, 2014
a well known writer writes about his pets especially his cats. pleasurable read
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews