Bono: The Amazing Story of a Rescue Cat Who Inspired a Community

by Helen Brown

From New York Times bestselling author Helen Brown comes a funny and moving account of her life-changing month as a foster mother--to a homeless cat named Bono.

When Helen Brown arrived in New York for a much-anticipated visit, a fellow animal lover talked her into fostering a shelter cat. Helen visualized a sweet-natured cuddler who blinked and dozed a lot. What she got at Manhattan's Bideawee shelter was a wide-eyed and unpredictable Persian with a punked-out haircut and a feisty attitude.

Bono had become homeless during Hurricane Sandy, had survived a serious infection, and needed daily medications. As a "special needs" cat, he was an unlikely candidate for adoption. But as affection between them grew, Helen resolved to see that Bono found his forever home. She didn't know that he would change her life in ways she never dreamed possible and teach her lessons she would cherish ever after. Just as this sweet, beleaguered, and hopeful guy deserved a fresh start, Helen too was ready for new beginnings. And so began a heartwarming, uplifting, lasting kind of love . . .

Praise for the works of Helen Brown

"A buoyant tale, heartfelt and open." -Booklist

"An absolute must." --Cat World

"Brown gives inspiration with her witty, adventurous story." --RT Book Reviews

"Brown writes eloquently about women, daughters, and felines." --Kirkus Reviews

Genres: Nonfiction, Animals, Cats, Memoir, Biography, New York, Travel

288 pages, Paperback

Published May 29, 2018

About the author

Helen Brown was born and brought up in New Zealand, where she became an award winning columnist, TV presenter, and scriptwriter. She now lives in Melbourne, Australia, with husband Philip and their high maintenance cat, Jonah.

She loves writing about cats and the impact they have on people's lives. Her memoir CLEO (2009) became a New York Times bestseller, translated into more than 17 languages. A major movie is in development.

The sequel, AFTER CLEO CAME JONAH (2012) (otherwise known as JONAH or CATS AND DAUGHTERS), was published in many languages and embraced by readers and critics alike.

Other titles include TUMBLEDOWN MANOR (2014), BONO (2018) and the children's story CLEO AND ROB (2019).

Her next book, MICKEY, will be released in North America and Australasia in February 2022.

When she isn’t writing, Helen enjoys knitting badly, laughing with grandchildren and swimming near the family beach shack on Phillip Island.

Find Helen on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/Helen.Brown....

Reviews

[Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Helen Brown is a wife, mother, journalist, blogger, author, and cat lover. Over the years Helen has written several books about her adopted felines - Cleo and Jonah - who helped her family heal after the tragic death of a child and Helen's bout with breast cancer. This book is about yet another kitty, Bono, whose resilience and joie de vivre helped Helen navigate her 'two-thirds life crisis.'



In 2015 Helen was restless and bored in her Australian home, feeling like her relationship with her husband Philip was going stale. Helen writes "We’d been married 22 years, the kids had all left home and....I felt this terrible need to go away and find out who I really was."

Helen opted to go to New York, thinking, "What better place to be alone than in a city full of millions and millions of people?" In addition, New York was the home of Helen's editor, Michaela Hamilton. Michaela - a fellow cat enthusiast - was thrilled about Helen's visit and suggested the author foster a 'cat-in-need' during her visit. Helen (very reluctantly) agreed.

The author acquired a one-month Airbnb rental for a tiny studio apartment near the United Nations, and headed for the Big Apple with her daughter Lydia - who agreed to go along for a couple of weeks. The two women spent a few days sight-seeing; partying with Michaela; shopping at high-end department stores; and purchasing cat supplies before they met their foster cat, Bono, at Manhattan's Bideawee Shelter. Because Bono's fur had been severely matted he was shaved, and looked like a tiny black lion....complete with a mane and a pom-pom on the end of his tail.



Bono's solicitous caregiver at Bideawee, Jon Delillo, explained that the cat - who had been orphaned by Hurricane Sandy - had kidney disease and required extensive care and costly medication. Thus the little guy had almost no chance of finding a forever home. After Jon chatted with Helen and Lydia about Bono's 'vacation', he showed them how to administer the cat's pills, placed him in a carrier, and - grinning broadly- stated, "This is the best thing that's ever happened to Bono."😁

Helen didn't agree. Soon after Bono entered the studio apartment he climbed up the dirty chimney, got stuck, and knocked down years of accumulated grime. Afterwards, Bono hid under the bed, refused to take his medicine, ate sporadically, and wouldn't poop. In spite of it all, Lydia fell in love with Bono, while Helen (not so secretly) couldn't wait to take the cat back to Bideawee.

Lydia wouldn't have it though, and - before returning to Australia - made her mother promise to keep Bono for her entire stay in New York. This turned out to be a blessing in disguise.

Helen's feelings for Bono changed when he showed himself to be a wonderful companion who was happy just to be alive. After Bono adjusted to his new circumstances, he greeted every day with happy exuberance and - like many pets - knew when Helen needed comfort - like after the horrific bombings at the Boston Marathon. Bono liked to play with a sock; arch his back leg in a graceful arabesque; have his forehead and neck stroked; sleep on Helen's pillow; wake Helen by patting her eyes; purr contentedly; and so on.




As Bono recovered his zest for life, so did Helen - partly from Bono's companionship, and partly from the fun she was having in New York: hobnobbing with interesting people; eating breakfast in the neighborhood diner; observing street vendors selling knock-offs; dining in fine restaurants; visiting fabulous museums; going dancing; shopping in elegant stores; strolling through diverse neighborhoods; befriending fellow cat lovers; and so on. I love New York too, so I completely understand this.

Helen's husband Philip was an absolute prince through all this. He completely supported Helen's 'sabbatical'; skyped with her regularly; always said 'I love you'; and took good care of their cat Jonah while Helen was away.

Bono's situation was still precarious, however, and - at Michaela's suggestion - Helen started a blog about the feline, to try to find him a permanent home. The blog attracted thousands of responses from people all over the world, with personal anecdotes about their cats.....and words of praise for Helen and Bono.

Did Bono find a forever family? Yes! But you'll have to read the book to find out how.

In the end, Bono helped Helen overcome her restlessness; grow closer to her daughter Lydia; gain a new appreciation for her husband; enhance her enjoyment of her children and grandchildren; agree to Philip's dream of buying a holiday cottage and a boat; and more. Quite a cat! And very beautiful when Helen visited him on a subsequent visit to New York, after his hair had grown back.



I enjoyed the book, but was sometimes put off by (what seemed like) Helen's self-centered behavior. More than once Helen spoke about staying in New York permanently, while the rest of her family remained in either Australia or New Zealand. Then I thought, maybe Helen's 'two-thirds life crisis' was connected to the tragedies in her life, including the life-endangering breast cancer. Anyway, who am I to judge? Given the option of fleeing to Hawaii (or Australia), maybe I'd do it. 😎 👙 💙 So, what Helen does is her own business (IMO).

All in all this is a good book about an endearing cat and the people who love him. Recommended to cat lovers everywhere.

I understand that part of the earnings from this book go to Bideawee Animal Shelter and Hospital.

Thanks to Netgalley, the author (Helen Brown), and the publisher (Citadel) for a copy of the book.

You can follow my reviews at https://reviewsbybarbsaffer.blogspot....

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

The front cover is the first thing that made me want to read this book. A fluffy, obviously cattitude-filled, black cat is featured behind the title. Bono. A cat named Bono? Extremely awesome. Then I read that the book is based on a true experience the author had with a foster cat in New York City. Ok. Sucked in. Immediate must read.

I'm a sucker for foster cats. I've been a foster for orphaned kittens in North Carolina for several years now. Babies that nobody wants...abandoned....orphans....dropped at the animal shelter...sometimes just thrown out with the garbage or on the side of the road. They come to my house. I bottle feed them, keep them warm, clean them, and pet them for hours, telling them what good cats they are going to be and how a family somewhere needs them. Sometimes, unfortunately, I pet them and love them as they take their last breaths and bury them with much respect and sadness. Those who survive and thrive are adopted to great furever homes, often in other states. Goodbye sweet babies -- go make a family very, very happy. Live a good and beautiful life.

I had to read this book about Bono. :)

The basics: The author was having a bit of a midlife crisis and decided it was a good time to travel to New York City from Australia to promote her latest book. Her publisher told her that it would be perfect if she would foster a homeless cat from a local shelter while in NYC. She agreed, figuring she either wouldn't be able to find an apartment that would allow a cat or she would get a fat, middle aged cat that just wanted to sleep all day. Wrong. AirBnb had a studio that would allow a cat....and she was matched with Bono. Bono suffered from kidney failure and was basically unadoptable. His medical needs were expensive and nobody wanted to adopt him. The author basically was giving Bono a vacation from the shelter for awhile. Little did either realize that the cat needed Helen Brown. And Helen Brown needed the little cat. Their relationship started out shaky with much hissing, hiding under beds, and cat temper fits....but with a little bit of patience from both, the outcome is quite heartwarming.

I loved this story. I'm definitely going to be reading more by this author. The story of how she bonded with Bono is heart-warming and real. Cats can be great therapy at low spots in our lives. She rescued Bono, and in return he rescued her. Beautiful! :)

There is always time for kindness. I find that I receive much more from the tiny little kittens I foster than I give to them. There is just something joyful in saving a tiny life and sending it out into the world to bring happiness to someone I will never even meet. I get messages, emails and photos from those who adopt the babies I raise. It's totally worth the feedings every two hours, the frantic trips to the vet in an emergency and all the time, effort and mess.

As I warm the formula to go and feed the latest little one (her name is Annie after Little Orphan Annie...the only one in her litter to survive after her mother was run over and killed), I'm thinking kind thoughts about Helen Brown and Bono. It's amazing how much animals bring to our lives in exchange for just a little love and affection.

Lovely book! I highly recommend it!

**I voluntarily read an advance readers copy of this book from Kensington via NetGalley. All opinions expressed are entirely my own. Adopt -- don't shop! Donate to your local humane society.**

[Greta Samuelson · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lovely (and true) story about the power of a cat.
Bono is a cat that was found after Hurricane Sandy and no one has claimed him. Helen is an author from Australia and is making a trip to NYC for a few weeks, she takes Bono in at her Airbnb to foster while she is there.

Their relationship doesn’t start out easy but they grow to love each other. Helen learns many life lessons from Bono and he will touch your heart many times as you read about their time together.

A portion of the earnings from this book are donated to the Bideawee animal shelter and hospital (where Bono came from). www.bideawee.org

[Kirsti · Rating 4 out of 5]

I actually saw this for sale today and wanted it, and then remembered I'd downloaded it from Netgalley. It was worth buying! I enjoyed Helen's writing many years ago with Cleo, although it was one of those books that made me ugly cry. This time around it was a different kind of emotional journey, but it was one worth taking anyway. Helen is brutally honest about some things we might not want to admit in relationships, and I can see that might be confronting for some people. It was a crazy ride, but a story worth reading.

Definitely an interesting story, and a rather quick read. Four stars.

[Susan Johnston · Rating 4 out of 5]

Princess Fuzzypants here: Even though it means my Momma is a cat slut every Caturday morning, I support rescue shelters and the good work they do. Some cats are easily placed. They are young and healthy and present no immediate challenges. It takes special humans to accept a cat who has “issues” and a poor kitty like Bono had more than his share. It looked like his short life was going to be in an institution instead of by his own hearth with a human to cater to his every need.
That was until the author, who in the midst of a late life crisis, moved to New York to find herself. She not only found herself but she found, reluctantly, Bono and they rescued each other, as is so often the case. Helen’s time in NYC was limited. Bono’s life expectancy was limited too. Yet in the time they shared, they both grew and blossomed so when Helen had to depart back to Australia, she left Bono in a pair of loving paws, the lady who would be his forever mom, however long that might be.
It is a lovely story about reclaiming life and passion and living each day to the hilt. It was a moving story both the human and feline one. I wish there had been more about Bono although no one could tell his early story, other than the fact that he lost his home and family in Hurricane Sandy. Perhaps the most meaningful part of the book was when the author and her daughter and then Bono sought to find common ground. With each step forward, more of the barriers we all put up to protect ourselves came down.
This is as much a love story to NYC as it is to Bono but both make the reader want to embrace them.
I give the book four purrs and two paws up.

[Rissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bono
Its about a cat that changed the lives of those it touched, plus her life which was quite dull with him.

I like that he was a monster and running scared around her house then he slowly began to trust and open up and not destroy her home.

[Christie B · Rating 3 out of 5]

Gave up

This book is not about a cat. Five or six chapters in still no cat. Just the drama of an author who it is all about, instead of the cat. Probably good, urinated a book with the cat being the focus, not me, me, me and my jetsetter, metropolitan life where I find myself and oh, yeah, there is this cat....

[Lelia Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

Look at that cover—is that not just about the cutest cat you ever saw? Of course, that’s what I say about pretty much any cat I see, especially rescues, but there’s something about Bono that really catches the eye, right?

Helen Brown has written about cats before or, rather, cats and her own life, telling tales about how these little beasties have influenced her and made her life so much more complete. This time, Helen was talked into fostering a cat for just one month while visiting New York City but Bono turned out to be not at all like the sweet, docile sweetie she envisioned; instead, Bono was an opinionated, demanding guy with special needs, badly in need of a forever home.

Needless to say, Bono and Helen develop a fierce fondness for each other and their story is one of love and the search for Bono’s forever home. I cried and I smiled and fell in love with this beautiful Persian as I’m sure you will.

[Smitchy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Helen Brown is having a bit of a two-thirds-life crisis as she puts it. Stuck in a rut at home she jumps at the chance to spend a month in New York City to promote her book "Cats & Daughters". While Helen is looking forward to a carefree holiday (or maybe a more permanent change) her publishers and her daughter Lydia have other plans - they want her to foster a hard to home rescue cat. It only makes sense after all; her book is all about her love of cats and how they change your life for the better - what better way to promote it and maybe get another cat rescued as well?!

Helen isn't so keen on the idea - and then she is introduced to Bono. Bono is a little black cat of uncertain age who was probably rendered homeless by Hurricane Sandy. He's a speed demon, a bit unfriendly and currently has a "lion" style haircut. He also has advance liver disease and is expected to only live another two years. Overall not a likely candidate for adoption.
But over the month little Bono works his way into Helen's heart until giving him up is the last thing she wants to do.

This is a story about a life crisis, living in New York City, realising where you belong and, above all, loving cats.

[Rosie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have mixed thoughts on this book. I love a good story about cats, as I am madly obsessed with the furry felines, but I still want the story to hook me. The content of the book and the pacing didn't grab me as much as I thought it would.

The first half of story consists of listening to the rambles of a woman in a mid-life crisis. This bored me half to death - I'm only twenty-six so I can't relate. The pacing felt incredibly slow and I times I would myself so bored I would have to put the book down. I'm not that cold-hearted, her story of fighting breast cancer did touch me

However, once we finally arrived at the point where we met Bono my opinions began to shift slightly. I started to see how this poor little cat was helping this older woman and feel at home in New York City.

I can understand, through personal experience, that cat companionship is able to heal wounds through their presence. It was truly something special to see this with Helen and Bono.

As much as I did enjoy (eventually) the book and was happy how Bono helped the author, I just couldn't connect to the story.

[Anna · Rating 3 out of 5]

I listened to the audio version of this whilst on a long car journey. I had previously read 'Cleo' and did not at the time of borrowing this did not realise the author was the same. It was enjoyable certainly. My main interest was the cat, however, at least half or perhaps more was taken up with the author herself and her relationships with her daughters and their travel experiences. At the conclusion the author returns to her own home and the cat is adopted out to another family. It would appear this was indeed a wonderful family and everyone was happy however I just don't like and am unable to come to terms with the separation.

[Sue Em · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bono came into Helen Brown's life while she was on a sabbatical in NYC from her native Australia. A special needs kitty abandoned after hurricane Sandy, Bono, was not immediately happy a out being fostered. But gradually, both Bono and the author came together and offered each other much needed support. Sweet story although I fo in nd the author a little self centered or off putting at times. Still if you enjoy a good animal story, you will enjoy reading this book.

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Sheila · Rating 4 out of 5]

Author Helen Brown fled to New York in the midst of a “two-thirds life crisis” leaving husband, family and home back in Australia. Part of the deal included writing a blog on the cat she was fostering following his escape from Hurricane Sandy. His name was Bono and he didn’t fit her preconceived notion, mostly hiding under the bed. But both Bono and Helen grew a lot and ended up enriching their lives as a result of their time together.

[Jeimy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yes to this story of a cat who deserved a second chance and the woman who was reluctant to offer it. This book is much more than just a story about a woman and a foster cat, though. I wish I could write about it without giving away some of the more important discoveries in the book, but since I can't, you are going to have to read it yourself.

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

With a bad bout of flu confining me to bed, this was the perfect read when my cough was keeping me and my own cat awake all night (she fled to sleep on the couch to escape my annoying her). Helen Brown is the author of Cleo, her book about another little cat that came into her life and helped her through the grief of losing her young son, and through many changes in her life.

In this book, she decides to make a bit of a new change decades on, by escaping life in Melbourne and spending a month in New York. Her editor suggests while she is there that she foster a shelter cat and then write about that experience. Joined initially by her daughter, they take on the worldwind that is Bono, a highly strung black cat that spends most of his time under the bed at the studio flat they have rented.

What is unexpected for Helen, and maybe for the reader is the deep connection that she finds with this little cat, and anyone that enjoys time with their own cats and dogs should enjoy this light read.

[Jennifer Snyder · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved it as much as Cleo! This book gave a powerful testimony of cat fostering which further proves that any help toward the good of animals is better than none at all. I loved that Helen infused her love of New York City into this book. I've never been there and have been afraid to venture into such a grandiose city, but Helen's account of her adventure made the idea much more plausible. Helen truly captures atmospheres and characters and delivers an incredible story of gaining trust, bonding, and taking in the magic and wonder of a mega city.

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fascinating how I could read it at a leisurely pace, yet remember what was going on & pick up right where I left off even after several days of not having the time or energy to read. Also fascinating how while I was reading it, it flowed along easily, yet I was still able to linger over it, reading the entire thing at a leisurely pace.

I enjoyed her descriptions of her experiences in NYC, even though I'm very much not a city person. I so enjoyed the connection she finally formed with Bono, but do wish it had lasted longer.

I also love that no animals die in this book.

[Nancy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read it because the picture reminded me of a beloved cat I once had. The story was very special & extremely well written. This cat lived like all should live! Enjoying life & not worrying about illness, which he had! He had survived Sandy a Hurricane we had that left many people & pets needing homes. He is reluctantly fostered by the author. Helen Brown. She very gradually learns to love him & finds him an excellent home. She has a gift of writing so we she her change of heart & her love of this kitten & her own life & family!

[Sophie Marshall · Rating 2 out of 5]

The title of this book is rather misleading, it is much more about the author's mid life crisis than about Bono. He does feature of course but not enough to be considered the main character of the book, and when he is talked about the author heavily anthropomorphises him. I know it's based on a true story so I can't mark it down for that but I found aspects of the story very bizarre and over exaggerated. Some of the things said/way the author phrased things didn't sit right with me and at times came across as quite immature.
I was all up for reading Bono's story but I don't think it was executed very well and focused more on the author than the cat it was supposed to be about.

[Emma · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this heart warming and easy read and I’ll be looking for a copy of Cleo so that I can read more of Helen’s work

[Kim Stone · Rating 4 out of 5]

I listened to this as a audio book. New to me author. This book is for a cat lover. Helen has an amazing way of telling about past events. The narrator does a great job.

[Carolyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was about the writer and a black cat called Bono.
Fostering Bono for a month and writing a blog to find his ‘forever’ home helped in the clarification of her own life.
This book was well written and very entertaining in parts, also heartfelt descriptions of love and loss.
The bond that was formed between Helen and Bono was a joy to read about.
This story has a happy ending and a must read for all cat lovers.

[Deb W · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is my first reading of this author, and I wasn't particularly enamored with her style in the beginning, but it grew on me. I think she tries a bit too hard at fun, but we all do at different stages in our lives. The Bono story took a long time coming, and I admit I thought the author's approach to fostering a cat was deceptive. After all, the title says it's about Bono, the cat, not about the emotional crisis of an aging woman who survived breast cancer, nor the charming aspects of life in NYC.

But, eventually she did get to the topic, and it was charming, and in the end I was sorry it was over.

[Lee D. Penn · Rating 2 out of 5]

WHOA! Don't let 'em fool ya! This is NOT about rescue cat BONO!

NO! This book is about the author and her adult daughter "doing" New York. Ms. Brown claims to not "do" anywhere, but I'm here to tell ya, that's what they're "doing". BONO appears in a short scene in the first half as though he were an extra or a bit player. Daughter leaves New York and FINALLY BONO comes into his own in the second half, but still we have a very self-obsessed author. I had intended to read "Cleo" because I LOVE black cats (I have five), but I've had enough of Helen Brown.

[Viva · Rating 1 out of 5]

Humor is hard to do and this author doesn't have it. Instead, we have very verbose attempts which take a long time to say a little. It just went on and on without saying a lot. It was like listening to my Mom's monologues, except worse. Vacuous, verbose. Very difficult to get through, I did not enjoy it. I wish I liked this book more as I love cats and humor.

I got this book as a free review copy.

[JoDesa · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book was more about the author wanting to fulfill her dream of living in New York and whining about her "dull" life with her husband in Australia. The parts about poor Bono was about him being terrified and hiding most of the time. To be a cat fanatic and have written multiple books about cats..... she portrays herself pretty ignorant on the subject. This is more a biography of the author, so if you wanted warm fuzzies about the cute rescue kitty on the front.... you will be disappointed.

[Cristie Underwood · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am an animal lover and will seek out any books about them. This book about the author's month as a foster mom to a cat was sweet at times, humorous at others, and brutally honest for the whole book. I really enjoyed it and hope to read more from this author in the future.

[Anna · Rating 1 out of 5]

«Non ero nemmeno sicura che fosse davvero un gatto domestico. Sembrava più un leone in miniatura. Escludendo il testone, le zampe e il pennacchio sulla punta di una coda ridicolmente lunga, era completamente pelato. . . . Osservando Bono che attraversava a balzi il pavimento, non riuscivo a decidere se fosse orrendo o incredibilmente bello.» (62)

Partiamo con un'affermazione doverosa: questo romanzo non parla di un gatto. Questo romanzo parla della crisi di mezza età dell'autrice, della quale questa povera creatura è stata appena appena una tangente, un ornamento talmente superficiale che più di una volta mi sono chiesta se non fosse invece un'invenzione letteraria per rendere più interessante una narrazione sostanzialmente banale e prevedibile (sarà forse per il fatto che Bono, ad eccezione della posizione privilegiata nel titolo, appare forse solo in 60 delle oltre 250 pagine di questo libro?). Per questo motivo, se la vostra intenzione è leggere un libro con la storia di un gatto, evitate questo qui.

Preferirei chiudere il mio commento qui, senza dilungarmi troppo sull'insensatezza della narrazione (piena dei luoghi comuni più snervanti degli adulti buongiornissimo-kaffeee*, ripetizioni non solo degli stessi concetti ma di intere frasi, con sovrabbondanza di similitudini mediocri**), sul carattere irritante della protagonista (una donna di quasi sessant'anni, con l'età mentale di una bambina di cinque, ma gli ormoni infiammati di una sedicenne che, più che colpita da una crisi di mezz'età, mi pare proprio che abbia la sindrome da Peter Pan, ma allo stesso tempo giudicante delle nuove generazioni con la stessa spocchia degli ottantenni), sui tristi e demoralizzanti tentativi di descrivere Manhattan con la stessa passionalità e lo stesso coinvolgimento di una pagina Wikipedia. Non è il paesino di campagna, è la città che non dorme mai: sforzati.

In conclusione, un libro scritto male (tradotto forse peggio) con un titolo fuorviante. Non lo consiglierei a nessuno.


*«Risalii zoppicando la collina, consolandomi con il pensiero che, per le donne di oggi, un'overdose di energia maschile probabilmente fosse un bene. Sono segretamente scioccata dal fatto che il femminismo non abbia preso piede come ci aspettavamo quando bruciavamo i reggiseni in piazza. Se le ragazze di oggi pensano che inviare i belfie – i selfie del proprio lato B – ai loro fidanzati sia un segno di emancipazione, temo per loro e per le loro figlie.» (158) A parte che sì, la libertà sessuale è un segno di emancipazione, ci sono modi e modi per sostenere le lotte femministe quindi presumo che all'autrice (sempre segretamente, eh) non importi un fico secco.

**La mia preferita rimarrà sempre il romantico tramonto tra i grattacieli di Manhattan "rosa come la lunchbox di una bambina". Insomma, poesia.

[Diane Stultz · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really wish that there was a 3.5 rating!! The cover of this book is the best!!! A picture of Bono, a part Persian/part Maine Coon fluffy black rescue cat. He reminded me of my little cat, Zoe (God rest her soul). So, I was immediately sucked in! This is a story of the author's experience with a rescue cat. Of course the question always is "Who rescued who?"

After her recovery from breast cancer, the author, Helen Brown, was restless. Her daughters were grown and she and her husband had fallen into a very comfortable routine existence. One morning, she woke up and decided that she would spend extended time in New York City to promote a book and just "live a little" to get over her ennui. Since she was a cat lover, and wrote books about cats, Helen's publisher talked her into fostering a rescue cat during her indefinite stay. She hesitantly agreed and began searching for a rental that would allow pets. She was somewhat hopeful that she would not find one...however, her tenacious daughter was able to find her one. So off to NYC (from Australia) she went.

Helen's daughter, Lydia, went with her for a few weeks to see and explore the big city. Once there, they made arrangements to meet the foster cat. Bono was not at all what they expected! He was a wiry, rambunctious cat that everyone loved!! His fur was shaved in a lion cut because he was all matted when he was found. They also learned tht Bono had chronic kidney disease and would need much medical care and did not have a great prognosis. It was a sad situation, but the hope was that Helen, though a blog would stir up interest and find Bono a permanant home. Helen and Lydia became closer as they worked together to acclimate Bono to his new environment.

Slowly, Helen began to love Bono even though he hid under the bed for the first few weeks, but suddenly he warmed up to her. In summary, Helen learned valuable life lessons from Bono. He lived each day and did not fret about his future and grim prognosis. He did not seem to care! This was exactly the lesson Helen learned. Although she was not terminally ill, she stopped living each day and appreciating the life she had. NYC was not the answer.

She continued to write her blog about Bono in hopes of getting him a permanent home. The response was overwhelming! Cat lovers all over the world followed Bono's story and fell in love with him too! So, no spoilers here...you will have to read the book to find out what happens with Helen and the sweet rescue cat! A fun quick read!
Also, what a great name for a cat!!!

[Robin Loves Reading · Rating 5 out of 5]

New York Times bestselling author Helen Brown writes a touching, often humorous, tale of a time in her life when she is quite unsettled. Although happily married, she has recently dealt with a bout with breast cancer, despite having a good prognosis. Sadly, she doesn't feel as if her everyday life offers much excitement. Having recently published a book, she goes to New York in order to publicize the book. It is during this trip that Helen agrees to the daunting task to foster a homeless cat. Not only is Bono homeless, he is seriously ill.

Helen will be visiting from Australia, and to her delight, her eldest daughter Lydia agrees to accompany her for part of that time. Helen has her doubts early on about taking on a cat, but Lydia is very excited about it, much to Helen's surprise. Once Helen has warmed up to the idea, she is quite touched at everyone's response to it. This turns into a self-healing time for both Helen and Lydia, even if the healing that she will undoubtedly receive from Bono doesn't happen for quite some time.

I have to be honest and say that I've not read a biographical memoir before, but I am very pleased that the publisher forwarded this book to me. My emotions went from laughing, to bawling, whether from genuine sadness or complete joy. I absolutely fell in love with Bono. Oh, there was one particular moment when his sensitivity as a cat shone through. As a woman owned by several cats, this is an emotion that I am quite familiar with. I loved that Bono's story was shared to the world. It will be in my heart for all time. I also enjoyed the personal growth that Helen achieved in this story.

Most honorable mentions go to Helen's own cat, Jonah, and her past beloved feline, Cleo. I also do not feel that my review would be complete without also mentioning two very special people that brought Bono into Helen's life, Michaela Hamilton and Vida Engstrand, both of Kensington Books, for without whom she never would have never met Bono. A truly inspirational tale for for anyone who has a love for these furry, four-legged creatures. I have already placed Ms. Brown's backlist into my Amazon cart.

Many thanks to Helen Brown and Kensington Books for this ARC to review in exchange for my honest opinion.