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Strays: A Lost Cat, a Drifter, and Their Journey Across America
For fans of A Street Cat Named Bob and Dewey: The Small-Town Library Cat Who Touched the World, Strays is a compelling true story of a man who rescues a stray, injured cat and how they save each other.
Homeless, alcoholic, and depressed, Michael King lives in a UPS loading bay on the wrong side of the tracks in Portland, Oregon. One rainy night, he stumbles upon a hurt, starving, scruffy cat and takes her in. Nursing her back to health, he names her Tabor and she becomes a bit of a celebrity in southeast Portland. When winter comes, they travel from Oregon to the beaches of California to the high plains of Montana, surviving blizzards and bears, angry steers and rainstorms. Along the way, people are drawn to the spirited, beautiful cat and moved to help Michael, who cuts a striking figure with Tabor riding high on his backpack or walking on a leash. Tabor comforts Michael when he's down, giving Michael someone to love and care for, and inspiring him to get sober and to come to terms with his past family traumas and grief over the death of his life partner.
As they make their way across the West Coast, the pair become inseparable, healing the scars of each other's troubled pasts. But when Michael takes Tabor to a veterinarian in Montana, he discovers that Tabor has an identification chip and an owner in Portland who has never given up hope of finding his beloved cat, Michael makes the difficult choice to return to Portland and reunite Tabor with her owner. Now Michael must create a new purpose in his life after Tabor.
The authentic tale of an adventurous and charismatic cat and her compassionate human admirers, Strays proves the healing power of love and the profound bond between humans and animals.
Homeless, alcoholic, and depressed, Michael King lives in a UPS loading bay on the wrong side of the tracks in Portland, Oregon. One rainy night, he stumbles upon a hurt, starving, scruffy cat and takes her in. Nursing her back to health, he names her Tabor and she becomes a bit of a celebrity in southeast Portland. When winter comes, they travel from Oregon to the beaches of California to the high plains of Montana, surviving blizzards and bears, angry steers and rainstorms. Along the way, people are drawn to the spirited, beautiful cat and moved to help Michael, who cuts a striking figure with Tabor riding high on his backpack or walking on a leash. Tabor comforts Michael when he's down, giving Michael someone to love and care for, and inspiring him to get sober and to come to terms with his past family traumas and grief over the death of his life partner.
As they make their way across the West Coast, the pair become inseparable, healing the scars of each other's troubled pasts. But when Michael takes Tabor to a veterinarian in Montana, he discovers that Tabor has an identification chip and an owner in Portland who has never given up hope of finding his beloved cat, Michael makes the difficult choice to return to Portland and reunite Tabor with her owner. Now Michael must create a new purpose in his life after Tabor.
The authentic tale of an adventurous and charismatic cat and her compassionate human admirers, Strays proves the healing power of love and the profound bond between humans and animals.
333 pages, Hardcover
First published July 18, 2017
72 people are currently reading
1293 people want to read
About the author
Britt Collins
1 book33 followersBritish journalist writes for the Guardian, Sunday Times, The Independent, Condé Nast Traveller, Harper’s Bazaar and Billionaire.com. In between, I volunteer at wildlife sanctuaries around the world.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 214 reviews
August 7, 2017
Totally Enjoyed The Journey!
Ok, I admit it, I'm a sucker for animal stories....especially those about cats! But what actually drew me to STRAYS (besides being non-fiction) was finding out how in the world a cat travelled across the country sitting atop the shoulder and/or backpack of a distraught homeless man who likes his drink.
With strangers about....while panhandling....with cars and semi's zooming by, Tabor the cat bears it all...and speaking of bears...yep! there's a couple of close encounters, but no worries:
"The homeless had a code of ethics.....they always took care of their animals first."
I'm not saying there weren't a few scary moments here and there....like surviving a blizzard or the extreme heat; but animal lovers, do not shy away from this story because there are two fully grown men here that would lay down their lives for one remarkable and unforgettable feline companion who brings hope and healing to lost and lonely souls.
While I commend Ron for taking in STRAYS, feeding them, loving them, and caring for them medically, allowing them to roam free outdoors is cause for concern as he learned the hard way....twice.
PLEASE......."RESCUE AN ANIMAL....DON'T BUY."
Many thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
October 24, 2017
This novel reveals just how deeply animals touch our souls and relieve our pain. A pet's unconditional love is unmatched.
Animals know how to love us when we don't quite know how to love ourselves.
What a great book. Lots of emotion and adventure... and maybe a few tears.
Animals know how to love us when we don't quite know how to love ourselves.
What a great book. Lots of emotion and adventure... and maybe a few tears.
December 20, 2022
Bittersweet
This true story of a homeless man finding a cat was both sweet and sad. Michael lived on the streets of Portland Oregon, and he may still.1 day he found a cat that was hurt and scared so he Picked it up and cared for it. The cat then went everywhere with him, traveling around the US, and back to Portland Oregon.
Some chapters dealt with the cats true owner Who is broken up over losing his beloved cat. This was hard to deal with emotionally for me.
You will also get to see how the homeless handle their life situations , but it seems Michael actually enjoyed being homeless for several years. And may be enjoyed is the wrong word. But he certainly had many adventures even being chased by longhorn cows. And be in harass by police for sleeping in the wrong places, which caused him to sober up quite a bit in order to keep his newly found cat from being taken away from him. That was actually how the cat helped him, It seems like the cat enjoyed all of these new adventures.
This true story of a homeless man finding a cat was both sweet and sad. Michael lived on the streets of Portland Oregon, and he may still.1 day he found a cat that was hurt and scared so he Picked it up and cared for it. The cat then went everywhere with him, traveling around the US, and back to Portland Oregon.
Some chapters dealt with the cats true owner Who is broken up over losing his beloved cat. This was hard to deal with emotionally for me.
You will also get to see how the homeless handle their life situations , but it seems Michael actually enjoyed being homeless for several years. And may be enjoyed is the wrong word. But he certainly had many adventures even being chased by longhorn cows. And be in harass by police for sleeping in the wrong places, which caused him to sober up quite a bit in order to keep his newly found cat from being taken away from him. That was actually how the cat helped him, It seems like the cat enjoyed all of these new adventures.
February 21, 2017
I am not really a cat person, don't get me wrong, I like cats but I am not a pet owner, and I don't read about cats. So I was not sure that this book would hook me in. But once I had read the first page, I couldn't stop. I know it is a cliche, but I was grabbed! I read the entire book in one sitting and I cried at least three times. When I finished the book, I went right back to the beginning. I have come away with a new found respect and admiration for cats and cat lovers and for animals in general, and I now get just how much of love there can be and how heart breaking it must be to lose an animal. I recommend this for everyone who loves cats and those people who don't yet know that they love cats!
July 10, 2017
I love reading stories about animals so that's why this one caught my eye ... I couldn't resist the picture of the kitty on the cover!
Mata and Creto were kitty siblings living with their owner, Ron, in Portland. Mata disappeared one day and Ron and Creto were devastated when she didn't return. Creto became depressed and Ron never gave up hope that Mata would come back home.
Michael was homeless and an alcoholic and running from his past. When he found a hurt starving cat, he took care of her but hoped she would find her way home and posted finding her in various online sites. But she never left and no one claimed her so Michael kept taking care of her and named her Tabor. Michael's friends came to love her and she became part of their circle.
When winter came, it was time to head south to warmer temperatures so Michael and Tabor hitchhiked to California and then to Montana to visit with Michael's foster father, Walt. At Walt's suggestion, Michael took Tabor to see a vet to get checked out and it was there that they found she had a chip and an owner back in Portland. Michael was heartbroken but knew the right thing to do is to return the cat back to her rightful owner. They spent their last time together hitchhiking back to Portland.
Though this is a true story, I hadn't heard about it before I read the book. The author had read about it as it was happening and then contacted Michael, Ron and others to write the book and tell the story. I liked this book. Not only because it was about a kitty but it also gave me some insights into what it's like being homeless.
I found Michael and Tabor's story more interesting and compelling than Ron's. Michael had his demons and taking care of Tabor gave him someone/thing else to think about. Mata had gotten lost in the past so I didn't understand why Ron allowed her to roam freely around again. He should have never let her outside again without being on a leash or supervised (same goes for his other cats). While I applaud Ron for being caring and taking in homeless kitties, I think he needs to be more responsible and realistic about the ones he has. Despite being homeless, I think Michael took better care of her.
Blog review post: http://www.teenaintoronto.com/2017/07...
Mata and Creto were kitty siblings living with their owner, Ron, in Portland. Mata disappeared one day and Ron and Creto were devastated when she didn't return. Creto became depressed and Ron never gave up hope that Mata would come back home.
Michael was homeless and an alcoholic and running from his past. When he found a hurt starving cat, he took care of her but hoped she would find her way home and posted finding her in various online sites. But she never left and no one claimed her so Michael kept taking care of her and named her Tabor. Michael's friends came to love her and she became part of their circle.
When winter came, it was time to head south to warmer temperatures so Michael and Tabor hitchhiked to California and then to Montana to visit with Michael's foster father, Walt. At Walt's suggestion, Michael took Tabor to see a vet to get checked out and it was there that they found she had a chip and an owner back in Portland. Michael was heartbroken but knew the right thing to do is to return the cat back to her rightful owner. They spent their last time together hitchhiking back to Portland.
Though this is a true story, I hadn't heard about it before I read the book. The author had read about it as it was happening and then contacted Michael, Ron and others to write the book and tell the story. I liked this book. Not only because it was about a kitty but it also gave me some insights into what it's like being homeless.
I found Michael and Tabor's story more interesting and compelling than Ron's. Michael had his demons and taking care of Tabor gave him someone/thing else to think about. Mata had gotten lost in the past so I didn't understand why Ron allowed her to roam freely around again. He should have never let her outside again without being on a leash or supervised (same goes for his other cats). While I applaud Ron for being caring and taking in homeless kitties, I think he needs to be more responsible and realistic about the ones he has. Despite being homeless, I think Michael took better care of her.
Blog review post: http://www.teenaintoronto.com/2017/07...
July 13, 2017
"The Cat Was A Rainbow In A Dark World". This quote pretty much sums the book up. I loved it. I laughed and cried. No need to be a cat lover to love this story.
March 22, 2017
Strays is a gripping, gorgeously written page-turner filled with intriguing characters and one very cool cat. The story flips between the homeless man and Tabor the cat as they hitchhike across the Oregon, California, Idaho and Montana and her heartbroken owner back in Portland. It offers a vivid glimpse at the tough life of stray cats and homeless people living on their wits. Loved everything about this book, the people, places. At times, sad and funny, and it lingered in my mind long after I read it. Beautiful and Bittersweet.
March 2, 2017
What a fascinating real-life story of a two men and an inspirational cat. I don't want to give anything away, but if you love cats, you will adore this book.
July 12, 2017
Ďamn. I want to buy this book for my Biatches, Ed Lozano, and a few others. Once in a while there comes a book that moves you in a way you'd never expect. I have a newly gained understanding for homeless people after reading Strays. And I lost track of how many times I cried. Best book I have read all year, hands down.
February 27, 2017
This is a great read. I was enthralled from the first page as I followed the movement of this amazing cat. It's heart-wrenching at times, but you'll love the story, the people and cat, and the ending. I can't say enough good things about it.
February 21, 2017
Beautifully written and inspirational.
November 26, 2018
I knew as soon as I saw Strays that it was the kind of book I love, and I wasn't wrong. I just love animal stories that inspire love, and Tabor definitely had that quality. I guess I kind of expected more of a fairytale ending, but this is reality and we don't always get what we want. I enjoyed both stories; Ron with his loss and Michael with his new found joy. Mostly I enjoyed Tabor.
Anothe rlovely book for animal lovers, or fans of true stories/memoirs. Four stars.
Anothe rlovely book for animal lovers, or fans of true stories/memoirs. Four stars.
July 21, 2017
Princess Fuzzypants here:
Strays is an American version of a Cat Named Bob. Mata Hairi is a well loved cat but somehow ends up on the streets of Portland in the pouring rain. She stumbles across a homeless alcholic named Michael and he becomes her rescuer at the same time she rescues him. I wish I could say by the end MIchael's life had been made right like James Bowen but this story has a much more ambiguous ending. MIchael is still living on the streets and drinking. But the ten months the two spent together has changed him for the better. He has had to take care of someone to keep her safe on their sometimes harrowing road trip.
The two are such a team that when he visits his step-father and after taking the cat to the vet, learns she has a microchip and someone who has been missing her terribly back in Portland, he is crushed.
As a reader, one hopes that somehow the two "daddies" can find a way to share her. In fiction, it would have worked out. But this is real life and sometimes real life hurts. MIchael does the noble thing and returns her to Ron, her owner. Initially he spirals out of control after saying goodbye but starts to heal by helping streetkids. While he is still bereft at losing Tabor, as he calls Mata Hairi, their time together has a lasting.impact and a positive one at that.
Tabor/Mata Hairi and MIchael became celebrities when their story was told. That is how the author became involved. Their story is told with compassion and love- as is fitting a relationship that was filled with compassion and love.
I give this five purrs and two paws up.
Strays is an American version of a Cat Named Bob. Mata Hairi is a well loved cat but somehow ends up on the streets of Portland in the pouring rain. She stumbles across a homeless alcholic named Michael and he becomes her rescuer at the same time she rescues him. I wish I could say by the end MIchael's life had been made right like James Bowen but this story has a much more ambiguous ending. MIchael is still living on the streets and drinking. But the ten months the two spent together has changed him for the better. He has had to take care of someone to keep her safe on their sometimes harrowing road trip.
The two are such a team that when he visits his step-father and after taking the cat to the vet, learns she has a microchip and someone who has been missing her terribly back in Portland, he is crushed.
As a reader, one hopes that somehow the two "daddies" can find a way to share her. In fiction, it would have worked out. But this is real life and sometimes real life hurts. MIchael does the noble thing and returns her to Ron, her owner. Initially he spirals out of control after saying goodbye but starts to heal by helping streetkids. While he is still bereft at losing Tabor, as he calls Mata Hairi, their time together has a lasting.impact and a positive one at that.
Tabor/Mata Hairi and MIchael became celebrities when their story was told. That is how the author became involved. Their story is told with compassion and love- as is fitting a relationship that was filled with compassion and love.
I give this five purrs and two paws up.
June 13, 2017
So, I think it's probably evident at this point: I have mixed thoughts about this book.
On the one hand, who doesn't love an epic tale about a cat bringing multiple people, across thousands of miles? I sure do. Tabor's journey and willingness to persevere, is a wonderful reminder of how animals can help create extraordinary circumstances, which help people join together in even the toughest of times.
But on the other hand, I was left with the feeling of: "Ok. That was odd," throughout a lot of the book. It was bizarre reading about Tabor's first owner's depression, and his willingness to spend money and all of his time, fixated on finding his cat. While I know it was meant to show how Tabor's owner persevered through the darkest of times, Collins conveyed his genuine struggles in a way that made it difficult for me to sympathize or empathize with him. It just made me question his sanity.
Additionally, I actually spent a lot of time thinking, "Why can't they just get their lives together?" for both Tabor's first owner and for Michael. I realize it seems like a harsh criticism for real-life characters, but I do think that a lot of my issues are predicated on just how Collins introduced them and relayed their work. She made them seem like a perpetual victim of circumstance, verses people who are caught up in a very odd situation, but have powered their way through.
Ultimately, I liked the book, but likely wouldn't read it again or recommend.
On the one hand, who doesn't love an epic tale about a cat bringing multiple people, across thousands of miles? I sure do. Tabor's journey and willingness to persevere, is a wonderful reminder of how animals can help create extraordinary circumstances, which help people join together in even the toughest of times.
But on the other hand, I was left with the feeling of: "Ok. That was odd," throughout a lot of the book. It was bizarre reading about Tabor's first owner's depression, and his willingness to spend money and all of his time, fixated on finding his cat. While I know it was meant to show how Tabor's owner persevered through the darkest of times, Collins conveyed his genuine struggles in a way that made it difficult for me to sympathize or empathize with him. It just made me question his sanity.
Additionally, I actually spent a lot of time thinking, "Why can't they just get their lives together?" for both Tabor's first owner and for Michael. I realize it seems like a harsh criticism for real-life characters, but I do think that a lot of my issues are predicated on just how Collins introduced them and relayed their work. She made them seem like a perpetual victim of circumstance, verses people who are caught up in a very odd situation, but have powered their way through.
Ultimately, I liked the book, but likely wouldn't read it again or recommend.
July 27, 2017
Michael King finds a starving cat on the streets of Portland. Michael left his home years before, after the death of his partner, and had been on the streets ever since. He knew that his life was less than optimal for taking care of another living being, but he can't leave the small cat behind. He nurses the cat back to health, and they soon embark for a hitchhiking journey across the West Coast. Michael has someone to live for again, and his cat makes the world both beautiful and scarier.
In the meantime, Ron Buss is terrified that his racist, homophobic drug dealing neighbor has done something to his cat. He spends the next handful of months calling shelters, consulting with pet psychics, and spiraling deeper and deeper into depression.
In this feel-good book about tough subjects (homelessness, alcoholism, depression, mental illness), there can only be a bittersweet ending when one mischievous cat captures the hearts of two very different men. I kind of wished for that truly happy ending, but I was glad that this nonfiction book remained realistic. Cats are wonderful pets and a great comfort, but they aren't magical band-aids for the issues mentioned above.
*Many thanks to Atria Books and Netgalley for an arc*
In the meantime, Ron Buss is terrified that his racist, homophobic drug dealing neighbor has done something to his cat. He spends the next handful of months calling shelters, consulting with pet psychics, and spiraling deeper and deeper into depression.
In this feel-good book about tough subjects (homelessness, alcoholism, depression, mental illness), there can only be a bittersweet ending when one mischievous cat captures the hearts of two very different men. I kind of wished for that truly happy ending, but I was glad that this nonfiction book remained realistic. Cats are wonderful pets and a great comfort, but they aren't magical band-aids for the issues mentioned above.
*Many thanks to Atria Books and Netgalley for an arc*
May 3, 2021
Honestly, this was an impulse grab at the library...I am a sucker for animal stories and when I went to the synopsis to see what this one was about, I knew I had never read anything like it. Okay, there was the whole Bob thing but this one had a twist. A homeless man meets a cat one night and decides to let it stay with him for as long as it wants to...half hoping it would leave so he didn't have to care whether it left or not...but falling in love with the cat from the beginning. On the other side of the coin, this particular cat already has an owner and even a sibling who are desperate for Matta to come back home. Side story there is that the neighbor across the street is a horrible person who not only has hurt the cats physically but has put her in his trunk and driven away with her at least one time before. So these two strays go explore many parts of the country together, through cold and really hot times and eventually all good things much come to an end...I was kind of torn about the ending and wasn't really sure I liked it...but hey, it's a true story. What can you do?
December 27, 2017
This is a great book for cat lovers, and although there are definitely some heart-tugging moments, the cat DOES NOT DIE. The book also vividly details modern homelessness.
May 6, 2018
To say that this is the BEST feel good story I've read in recent memory is not an exaggeration. I went into this book knowing I'd like it - the tagline guarantees that: "A Lost Cat, A Homeless Man, & Their Journey Across America". Right off the bat, I knew it was going to be sweet and inspiring. But I was blown away by just how GOOD this book really was.
Mata is a cat who lives with her human, Ron, and her kitty brother, Creto. It's safe to say Ron is a wonderful cat owner. He adores his cats, dotes on them, and worries after them like they're truly his children. But Mata and Creto are both indoor/outdoor cats, and they've gone missing before. The mean, cat-hating man across the street has even been suspected of taking Mata in the past. So one day, when Mata goes missing, Ron becomes a nervous wreck. Little does he know she's about to stumble upon an amazing adventure.
She happens to meet Michael - a down-on-his-luck, alcoholic drifter, in a dark alley of Portland, Oregon. Michael doesn't want a cat, and certainly doesn't have the means to care for one. But when Mata seems insistent on staying near him, he can't resist the incredibly friendly feline. So, in the dead of winter, Michael takes Mata - whom he names Tabor - under his wing. What begins to blossom is the most heartwarming human-animal friendship I've ever read about.
Given that Michael is homeless and living in Portland during the winter, he knows he needs to take Tabor to a warmer place. They hitchhike, camp in the woods, and slowly travel their way down to California, then up to Montana to visit Michael's stepfather, Walter, months later. Through these adventures, Michael and Tabor become incredibly close - she sleeps in his sleeping bag with him, then wakes him up with licks to the eyelids. She walks on a leash and naps in his backpack. They become dependent on one another, and Michael begins to turn away from his dependence on alcohol - realizing more and more that he now has an animal who depends on HIM.
This was just so inspirational. I already love cats, but I was so inspired to read about this human/cat bond that was just so pure and transformative for them both. Michael was made better because of Tabor, and Tabor was made better because of Michael. Their explorations around America were exciting and eye-opening, and drew them closer and closer together. It was absolutely obvious by the end of the story that these two were meant to find each other.
This is a true story, inspired by real events that took place just a few years ago - but I still won't give the ending away. Suffice it to say, it pulls at the heartstrings. I was really FEELING for Michael and Tabor by the end, and when I closed the book, it was with so much love, gratitude, and appreciation for the goodness of humans (and the sweetness and love of cats).
I'm absolutely inspired by Michael, and I'm obsessed with Tabor. I couldn't BELIEVE how much this book drew me in and made me so excited to read each day. It was truly one that I didn't want to finish, and I probably read a little slower because of it. I could have lived among the pages of their unique adventures for much, much longer.
We need more books like these - or maybe a ton of them exist, and I just need to seek them out. In any case, I highly, highly, highly, highly, highly recommend this one.
Mata is a cat who lives with her human, Ron, and her kitty brother, Creto. It's safe to say Ron is a wonderful cat owner. He adores his cats, dotes on them, and worries after them like they're truly his children. But Mata and Creto are both indoor/outdoor cats, and they've gone missing before. The mean, cat-hating man across the street has even been suspected of taking Mata in the past. So one day, when Mata goes missing, Ron becomes a nervous wreck. Little does he know she's about to stumble upon an amazing adventure.
She happens to meet Michael - a down-on-his-luck, alcoholic drifter, in a dark alley of Portland, Oregon. Michael doesn't want a cat, and certainly doesn't have the means to care for one. But when Mata seems insistent on staying near him, he can't resist the incredibly friendly feline. So, in the dead of winter, Michael takes Mata - whom he names Tabor - under his wing. What begins to blossom is the most heartwarming human-animal friendship I've ever read about.
Given that Michael is homeless and living in Portland during the winter, he knows he needs to take Tabor to a warmer place. They hitchhike, camp in the woods, and slowly travel their way down to California, then up to Montana to visit Michael's stepfather, Walter, months later. Through these adventures, Michael and Tabor become incredibly close - she sleeps in his sleeping bag with him, then wakes him up with licks to the eyelids. She walks on a leash and naps in his backpack. They become dependent on one another, and Michael begins to turn away from his dependence on alcohol - realizing more and more that he now has an animal who depends on HIM.
This was just so inspirational. I already love cats, but I was so inspired to read about this human/cat bond that was just so pure and transformative for them both. Michael was made better because of Tabor, and Tabor was made better because of Michael. Their explorations around America were exciting and eye-opening, and drew them closer and closer together. It was absolutely obvious by the end of the story that these two were meant to find each other.
This is a true story, inspired by real events that took place just a few years ago - but I still won't give the ending away. Suffice it to say, it pulls at the heartstrings. I was really FEELING for Michael and Tabor by the end, and when I closed the book, it was with so much love, gratitude, and appreciation for the goodness of humans (and the sweetness and love of cats).
I'm absolutely inspired by Michael, and I'm obsessed with Tabor. I couldn't BELIEVE how much this book drew me in and made me so excited to read each day. It was truly one that I didn't want to finish, and I probably read a little slower because of it. I could have lived among the pages of their unique adventures for much, much longer.
We need more books like these - or maybe a ton of them exist, and I just need to seek them out. In any case, I highly, highly, highly, highly, highly recommend this one.
February 6, 2021
The last few books I’ve read dealt with war, murder, and genocide so I needed more of a “feel good” story. I found it with Strays, a story of a lost/ found cat and the two men who loved her. While the story is true, the book reads like a novel. The book tells the story from two perspectives, one of which is Michael’s who found the cat while living on the streets in Portland, Oregon and immediately falls in love with her. The other perspective belongs to Ron, the cat’s heartbroken owner who desperately searches for her. For ten months, Michael and Tabor as he names her are inseparable as he leaves Portland for California and then to Montana. Ron, on the other hand, struggles with Mata’s absence leading to a deep depression.
While the book is the feel-good story I wanted, it does deal with difficult subjects such as homelessness, alcoholism, and depression. Ron also has a homophobic neighbor who bullies him at times. But one of the prevailing themes emerging from this book is the strong bond between people and animals that anyone who has a pet can relate. Almost everyone you meet loves animals and it’s heartwarming to see how the Portland homeless community adopts Tabor as one of their own. I especially love The grizzled Walter, Michael’s adoptive father, who cares for animals as a way of healing from his experience in the Vietnam War, particularly his quote “in nourishing others we find ourselves”.
Overall, I enjoyed the book and it gave me a nice respite from the subjectsI’ve read in the past few months. The author does a great job of giving Tabor/Mata a personality that you can’t help but laugh at some of her antics.
While the book is the feel-good story I wanted, it does deal with difficult subjects such as homelessness, alcoholism, and depression. Ron also has a homophobic neighbor who bullies him at times. But one of the prevailing themes emerging from this book is the strong bond between people and animals that anyone who has a pet can relate. Almost everyone you meet loves animals and it’s heartwarming to see how the Portland homeless community adopts Tabor as one of their own. I especially love The grizzled Walter, Michael’s adoptive father, who cares for animals as a way of healing from his experience in the Vietnam War, particularly his quote “in nourishing others we find ourselves”.
Overall, I enjoyed the book and it gave me a nice respite from the subjectsI’ve read in the past few months. The author does a great job of giving Tabor/Mata a personality that you can’t help but laugh at some of her antics.
November 27, 2018
I love this book. It's a true story of a homeless man and a lost cat who find, and ultimately, save each other. It makes your heart purr. I especially like the way Michael interacts with Tabor. He treats her like his best friend and she reciprocates. Interspersed is the story of Tabor's original human who mourns her loss and can't give up hope that she is alive and will return.
August 3, 2017
A beautiful story about the bonds of friendship that can, and do, exist between cats and humans.
I also love the author's note at the end about the importance of adopting pets, and not buying from pet stores or from breeders, as it only leads to more homeless and mistreated animals.
I also love the author's note at the end about the importance of adopting pets, and not buying from pet stores or from breeders, as it only leads to more homeless and mistreated animals.
September 11, 2017
I love cats. I love stories about cats (and sometimes about their "humans"... As with this story)
November 16, 2017
Bij het zien van het mooie katje op de cover, waar je meteen verliefd op wordt, krijg je het gevoel dat dit wel eens een heel ontroerend boek kan zijn. Dat dit een katje is die wel in is voor een avontuur.
Meteen vanaf het eerste hoofdstuk zit je in het verhaal en wil je alleen maar verder lezen. Je maakt kennis met het katje waar je het meteen mee te doen hebt. Je wilt weten wat er met haar is gebeurd. Ook word je nieuwsgierig naar het verhaal van Michael, je vraagt je af wat de reden is dat hij zwerft, wat er in zijn leven is gebeurd. Al lezende kom je daar achter en krijg je meer begrip voor hem. Door middel van flash backs kom je meer te weten over Michael. Daarnaast kom je ook meer te weten over het leven van Ron. Je voelt het verdriet en de pijn van Ron, snapt zijn verdriet en leest wat voor moeite hij doet om Mata weer terug te vinden. Het verhaal laat zien wat een kat kan doen voor een mens, hoe verdrietig mensen kunnen zijn als ze hun lieveling moeten missen, als ze niet weten waar ze is, hoe andere kat(ten) kunnen regeageren als ze hun maatje missen, hoe anders mensen op zwervers met katten reageren dan als ze geen dier bij zich hebben, hoe een kat voor troost in iemands leven kan zorgen. Je leest niet alleen de verhalen van Michael en Ron, maar ook de verhalen van een aantal mensen die Michael en Tabor op hun reis tegenkomen.
De hoofdstukken hebben passende titels waardoor je een idee hebt waar het betreffende hoofdstuk over kan gaan.
Ondanks dat het een ontroerend boek is, een box met tissues mag je wel bij de hand houden, moet je soms ook wel lachen zoals bijvoorbeeld om het bezoekje van Ron aan een stel vrienden met kippen en om een avontuur van Michael en zijn vrienden op een stuk natuurgebied, waar coyotes en beren zijn, waar Tabor Michael en zijn vrienden een hele poos naar haar laten zoeken.
Voor kattenbaasjes zullen bepaalde streken en trekken van Tabor, Creto en Jimmie heel herkenbaar zijn omdat ze dat van hun eigen kat(ten) kennen.
In het laatste hoofdstuk lees je hoe het met Michael en zijn vrienden gaat, wat ze nu doen.
Kortom; als je van verhalen over katten houdt, dan is dit boek een echte aanrader, zeker omdat het een waargebeurd verhaal is.
Lees verder op https://surfingann.blogspot.nl/2017/1....
Meteen vanaf het eerste hoofdstuk zit je in het verhaal en wil je alleen maar verder lezen. Je maakt kennis met het katje waar je het meteen mee te doen hebt. Je wilt weten wat er met haar is gebeurd. Ook word je nieuwsgierig naar het verhaal van Michael, je vraagt je af wat de reden is dat hij zwerft, wat er in zijn leven is gebeurd. Al lezende kom je daar achter en krijg je meer begrip voor hem. Door middel van flash backs kom je meer te weten over Michael. Daarnaast kom je ook meer te weten over het leven van Ron. Je voelt het verdriet en de pijn van Ron, snapt zijn verdriet en leest wat voor moeite hij doet om Mata weer terug te vinden. Het verhaal laat zien wat een kat kan doen voor een mens, hoe verdrietig mensen kunnen zijn als ze hun lieveling moeten missen, als ze niet weten waar ze is, hoe andere kat(ten) kunnen regeageren als ze hun maatje missen, hoe anders mensen op zwervers met katten reageren dan als ze geen dier bij zich hebben, hoe een kat voor troost in iemands leven kan zorgen. Je leest niet alleen de verhalen van Michael en Ron, maar ook de verhalen van een aantal mensen die Michael en Tabor op hun reis tegenkomen.
De hoofdstukken hebben passende titels waardoor je een idee hebt waar het betreffende hoofdstuk over kan gaan.
Ondanks dat het een ontroerend boek is, een box met tissues mag je wel bij de hand houden, moet je soms ook wel lachen zoals bijvoorbeeld om het bezoekje van Ron aan een stel vrienden met kippen en om een avontuur van Michael en zijn vrienden op een stuk natuurgebied, waar coyotes en beren zijn, waar Tabor Michael en zijn vrienden een hele poos naar haar laten zoeken.
Voor kattenbaasjes zullen bepaalde streken en trekken van Tabor, Creto en Jimmie heel herkenbaar zijn omdat ze dat van hun eigen kat(ten) kennen.
In het laatste hoofdstuk lees je hoe het met Michael en zijn vrienden gaat, wat ze nu doen.
Kortom; als je van verhalen over katten houdt, dan is dit boek een echte aanrader, zeker omdat het een waargebeurd verhaal is.
Lees verder op https://surfingann.blogspot.nl/2017/1....
Read
June 25, 2018If you love cats or wildly unconventional cross country adventures, then you will love "Strays" by Britt Collins. "Strays" is the true story of a lost, hungry and injured cat that is rescued by Michael King, a homeless man living on the streets of east side Portland, OR. The two become fast friends as the cat becomes attached to Mark and in kind, the cat gives Michael newfound purpose. The two travel over 3,600 miles as far south as Ventura, CA and as far east as Helena, MT. On their adventures, the two endure fringe fame on the streets of Portland, winter blizzards, and sweltering summer heat while traveling east. The unlikely friendship grows as they share heart felt moments watching the sun set over the Pacific Ocean, camping trips through Yosemite and escaping an angry stampede of longhorns. The connection is tested after a visit to a veterinarian in Helena, MT who finds that the cat is chipped by its previous owner who never lost hope in finding his feline friend. Michael is left with the decision of keeping his new traveling companion or returning her to her previous owner. -Thomas B.
March 17, 2021
What I expected to be another cat book turned out to be so much more. The story is beautifully written about the extraordinary emotional attachments we form with the animals in our care and full of laughs, tears and remarkable detail. I almost felt like I was journeying with Michael and Tabor across the American West Coast. Loved this book and hope to read more by this author. The cat's whiskers.
August 10, 2017
I cannot relate to any of the characters apart from the cat.
December 1, 2017
I practically(almost) cried when I read the ending :,)
October 13, 2018
Beautifully written (and true) story. Honest, moving, but never maudlin or cloying.
August 9, 2023
“I’m homeless. Depression is a big thing out there. The cat was a rainbow in a dark world.” These are Michael’s words while talking about Tabor/Mata. The parts about him were beautiful, heartbreaking and touching.
I admit, the parts about Ron (the original human who had, lost and found Mata again) pissed me off. Keep your cats indoor! Or if you want to let your cats out and enjoy the grass, build a catio. I found him pretty inconsiderate.
I admit, the parts about Ron (the original human who had, lost and found Mata again) pissed me off. Keep your cats indoor! Or if you want to let your cats out and enjoy the grass, build a catio. I found him pretty inconsiderate.
June 7, 2021
This is such a sweet story. I highly recommend every cat lover reads this. The ending brought happy tears to my eyes. 💙
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