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Lara: kat op avontuur
Lara is een ondeugende en gevoelige kat. Ze is dol op het gezin waar ze woont, maar sinds de komst van de nieuwe hond is alles veranderd. Haar baasjes lijken alleen nog maar aandacht te hebben voor Gobi. Hij mag dan misschien een lange tocht door de Gobiwoestijn hebben overleefd, maar toch…
Lara droomt van de dag dat ze vrij is om op avontuur te gaan en nieuwe vrienden te maken – wat Gobi kan, kan zij ook! Wanneer de kans zich aandient, grijpt ze die met vier pootjes aan. Haar wereldreis gaat van Edinburgh naar Frankrijk en van Beijing naar Australië, maar al snel beseft ze dat ze haar ware thuis mist… zelfs dat mormel!
Lara droomt van de dag dat ze vrij is om op avontuur te gaan en nieuwe vrienden te maken – wat Gobi kan, kan zij ook! Wanneer de kans zich aandient, grijpt ze die met vier pootjes aan. Haar wereldreis gaat van Edinburgh naar Frankrijk en van Beijing naar Australië, maar al snel beseft ze dat ze haar ware thuis mist… zelfs dat mormel!
272 pages, Paperback
Published February 25, 2020
21 people are currently reading
255 people want to read
About the author
Dion Leonard
18 books99 followersDion Leonard is a 41 year old Australian who lives in Edinburgh, Scotland with his wife Lucja. Dion has not only completed but competed in some of the world’s toughest ultra marathons across the planet’s most inhospitable landscapes. This includes running across the brutal Moroccan Sahara desert twice in the 250km Marathon Des Sables and also twice across South Africa's Kalahari Desert, also 250km. Dion's latest 250km race across the Gobi Desert in China turned out to be a completely different race where he fell in love with a stray dog (later named Gobi) that followed him during the week and who would change both of their lives forever.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 55 reviews
July 12, 2020
3,75 sterren - Nederlandse paperback 🐈🐈
Heerlijk verhaal over een kat die ook op avontuur wil. Ze is het meer dat zat dat haar “zusje” Gobi de hond, in het middelpunt van de belangstelling staat. Dat is haar plek! Aan het begin van elk hoofdstuk staat een silhouet van een kat en bij de gedeeltes waar Gobi spreekt, ja, inderdaad de wereldberoemde hond, staat een silhouet van een hond. Het boek begint meteen humorvol, het zijn echt gedachtes die je van een kat verwacht. De auteurs hebben zich dan ook heel erg goed weten in te leven in Lara, Gobi en andere dieren die erin voorkomen. Ook in de mensen die een rol spelen in dit boek komen redelijk uit de verf. Maar je merkt wel dat Lara de kat de hoofdpersoon is. Echt een boek dat je kan lezen als je niet zo lekker in je vel zit of simpelweg zin hebt in een feelgood verhaal waarbij het eind zich laat raden, waar je niet teveel bij na hoeft te denken. In dit genre zeker een aanrader. 🌹🌹🌹
Heerlijk verhaal over een kat die ook op avontuur wil. Ze is het meer dat zat dat haar “zusje” Gobi de hond, in het middelpunt van de belangstelling staat. Dat is haar plek! Aan het begin van elk hoofdstuk staat een silhouet van een kat en bij de gedeeltes waar Gobi spreekt, ja, inderdaad de wereldberoemde hond, staat een silhouet van een hond. Het boek begint meteen humorvol, het zijn echt gedachtes die je van een kat verwacht. De auteurs hebben zich dan ook heel erg goed weten in te leven in Lara, Gobi en andere dieren die erin voorkomen. Ook in de mensen die een rol spelen in dit boek komen redelijk uit de verf. Maar je merkt wel dat Lara de kat de hoofdpersoon is. Echt een boek dat je kan lezen als je niet zo lekker in je vel zit of simpelweg zin hebt in een feelgood verhaal waarbij het eind zich laat raden, waar je niet teveel bij na hoeft te denken. In dit genre zeker een aanrader. 🌹🌹🌹
March 26, 2020
Zoals altijd trekken kattenboeken gelijk mijn aandacht. Dus toen we de kans kregen om ‘Lara, kat op avontuur’ te recenseren voor Uitgeverij HarperCollins zei ik natuurlijk geen nee. Blijkbaar heeft de schrijver Dion Leonard al een bestseller op zijn naam staan met ‘Mijn reis met Gobi’ (staat op de achterzijde van dit boek vermeld), maar waar ik alleen nog niet eerder van gehoord had. Toch schepte deze precieuze vernoeming ietwat hoge verwachtingen ten opzichte van dit boek. Want bestsellerauteur wordt je niet zomaar toch?
Enige tijd geleden hebben ik de twee boeken van Melissa Daley over ‘Molly en het kattencafé’ gelezen. En ik kan gelijk bekennen dat ik die twee een stuk beter vond. Dat verschil zit vooral in de schrijfstijl. De eerste helft van ‘Lara, kat op avontuur’ vind ik te simplistisch en haast kinderachtig geschreven. Het verhaal pakte mij totaal niet. De tweede helft wordt het wel iets beter. Het verhaal krijgt dan in ieder geval meer vaart en bevat leuke, grappige gebeurtenissen waardoor het voor mij wat prettiger ging lezen en boeiender werd.
“Ik streek langs zijn benen om hem aan mijn bestaan te herinneren.”
Tijdens de reis die Lara maakt ontmoet ze karakters die allemaal zeker wel leuk zijn neergezet en vanuit het perspectief van hoe de kat hen ziet krijgen zij ook wel enige diepgang. Maar alles blijft voor mijn gevoel een beetje in tekenfilm sferen hangen en bevat weinig realisme. Nu hoeft dat zeker ook niet altijd en moet ik wellicht de woorden op de achterkant gewoon niet zo serieus nemen. “Een warm verhaal over hoop, vriendschap en vertrouwen” kan natuurlijk ook op iedere Disney film slaan en die vind ik over het algemeen ook fantastisch.
“Maar soms moet je een tandje bij zetten om grip op de zaak te houden.”
Ondanks mijn kritiekpunten heb ik dan toch ook wel weer genoten van een schattig kattenverhaal. Het hoofdpersonage is tenslotte een ragdoll kat, waarvan ik hoop zo’n soort kat ooit zelf nog eens te kunnen knuffelen. Want dat ze ultiem schattig zijn staat buiten kijf.
Dit is gewoon een leuke “light read” voor tussendoor. Waar je niet over na hoeft te denken tijdens het lezen en wat zeker geen volle concentratie vereist.
Lieve leesgroet, Elsa.
Enige tijd geleden hebben ik de twee boeken van Melissa Daley over ‘Molly en het kattencafé’ gelezen. En ik kan gelijk bekennen dat ik die twee een stuk beter vond. Dat verschil zit vooral in de schrijfstijl. De eerste helft van ‘Lara, kat op avontuur’ vind ik te simplistisch en haast kinderachtig geschreven. Het verhaal pakte mij totaal niet. De tweede helft wordt het wel iets beter. Het verhaal krijgt dan in ieder geval meer vaart en bevat leuke, grappige gebeurtenissen waardoor het voor mij wat prettiger ging lezen en boeiender werd.
“Ik streek langs zijn benen om hem aan mijn bestaan te herinneren.”
Tijdens de reis die Lara maakt ontmoet ze karakters die allemaal zeker wel leuk zijn neergezet en vanuit het perspectief van hoe de kat hen ziet krijgen zij ook wel enige diepgang. Maar alles blijft voor mijn gevoel een beetje in tekenfilm sferen hangen en bevat weinig realisme. Nu hoeft dat zeker ook niet altijd en moet ik wellicht de woorden op de achterkant gewoon niet zo serieus nemen. “Een warm verhaal over hoop, vriendschap en vertrouwen” kan natuurlijk ook op iedere Disney film slaan en die vind ik over het algemeen ook fantastisch.
“Maar soms moet je een tandje bij zetten om grip op de zaak te houden.”
Ondanks mijn kritiekpunten heb ik dan toch ook wel weer genoten van een schattig kattenverhaal. Het hoofdpersonage is tenslotte een ragdoll kat, waarvan ik hoop zo’n soort kat ooit zelf nog eens te kunnen knuffelen. Want dat ze ultiem schattig zijn staat buiten kijf.
Dit is gewoon een leuke “light read” voor tussendoor. Waar je niet over na hoeft te denken tijdens het lezen en wat zeker geen volle concentratie vereist.
Lieve leesgroet, Elsa.
July 9, 2022
This is the Dutch translation of
.
This was a cute and heartwarming story of a cat who got bored of her life behind the windows at home watching birds. Her sidekick, the little dog Gobi, had made enormous adventures with Dion and Lucja, so Lara got jealous. She wanted her own adventure and took off. Her adventure took her to Australia. At first, in the story, she's a self centered, self pitying cat, but as the longer her adventure goes, the more lives she changes and more important, the mor she changes herself and realises that family is all that is important.
I liked the point of view from the perspective of Lara. She's an enjoyable, sarcastic, but lovely cat. Also the impur from Gobi, who wanted her 'sister' back, is a great surplus.
.This was a cute and heartwarming story of a cat who got bored of her life behind the windows at home watching birds. Her sidekick, the little dog Gobi, had made enormous adventures with Dion and Lucja, so Lara got jealous. She wanted her own adventure and took off. Her adventure took her to Australia. At first, in the story, she's a self centered, self pitying cat, but as the longer her adventure goes, the more lives she changes and more important, the mor she changes herself and realises that family is all that is important.
I liked the point of view from the perspective of Lara. She's an enjoyable, sarcastic, but lovely cat. Also the impur from Gobi, who wanted her 'sister' back, is a great surplus.
September 14, 2021
Of course, the cover of this novel got my attention, the bright blue door and such a pretty cat. I was looking for a novel that would be a cheerful, entertaining escape read and I found it in this one. I have read the non-fiction story about the wonderful little dog Gobi, so I was pleasantly surprised to find that this story involves her ‘fur sister Lara’ as well as featuring her.
May 18, 2019
Time taken to read - 2 days
Pages - 288
Publisher - HarperElement
Source - Review copy
Blurb from Goodreads
Lara the Runaway Cat tells the story of Gobi, the loveable pup who followed Dion Leonard across a gruelling 155-mile trek across the Gobi Desert, and her mischievous cat sister, Lara, who runs away from her family, seeking a courageous adventure and different life.
Lara doesn’t realise how good she has it in her home in Edinburgh with her owners, Dion and Lucja, and of course her sister, Gobi. If she’s being honest, she’s jealous of Gobi’s fame and the international attention she has received ever since Dion found her. Okay, Gobi may have survived an ultra-marathon across the Gobi Desert, but it’s not as if Lara doesn’t earn her fresh prawns! She dreams about the day when she can go outdoors and see the world, discover new friends and be free to make her own name.
But Lara’s wishful thinking gets the better of her as she takes a leap into the unknown and is forced to decide between her loyalties to her family and need to experience an adventure to rival Gobi’s. Join Lara in her eventful travels from Edinburgh to France, Beijing to Australia, where she is faced with challenges that will change her life forever.
Following on from the astounding real-life story of Dion Leonard, this fictionalised tale is a must-read for animal lovers everywhere.
My Review
Gobi is the famous dog who has her whole book and came home to Lara's family, Lara is a cat by the way and not happy. All she hears is Gobi's adventures, her family goes off touring and travelling well now it is Lara's turn.
Told from Lara's perspective and voice with the odd chapter by Gobi we get an insight into the life of a cat with a famous dog sibling. She decides she is going for her own adventure and takes the reader with her.
Doing good deeds, helping others along the way, learning to be self sufficient instead of the pampered puss she has always been we follow her journey and adventures. We see a huge change in Lara and the insight into what we want isn't always what we really want but we don't always realise until we find our own path. Yes it is a story told by a cat but a lot of the lessons/relationships and love within the pages are applicable to humans, 3.5/5 for me this time. I haven't read Gobi's story but after the references in this book I think I may check it out. If you like stories told by and from animal points of view you will enjoy this.
Pages - 288
Publisher - HarperElement
Source - Review copy
Blurb from Goodreads
Lara the Runaway Cat tells the story of Gobi, the loveable pup who followed Dion Leonard across a gruelling 155-mile trek across the Gobi Desert, and her mischievous cat sister, Lara, who runs away from her family, seeking a courageous adventure and different life.
Lara doesn’t realise how good she has it in her home in Edinburgh with her owners, Dion and Lucja, and of course her sister, Gobi. If she’s being honest, she’s jealous of Gobi’s fame and the international attention she has received ever since Dion found her. Okay, Gobi may have survived an ultra-marathon across the Gobi Desert, but it’s not as if Lara doesn’t earn her fresh prawns! She dreams about the day when she can go outdoors and see the world, discover new friends and be free to make her own name.
But Lara’s wishful thinking gets the better of her as she takes a leap into the unknown and is forced to decide between her loyalties to her family and need to experience an adventure to rival Gobi’s. Join Lara in her eventful travels from Edinburgh to France, Beijing to Australia, where she is faced with challenges that will change her life forever.
Following on from the astounding real-life story of Dion Leonard, this fictionalised tale is a must-read for animal lovers everywhere.
My Review
Gobi is the famous dog who has her whole book and came home to Lara's family, Lara is a cat by the way and not happy. All she hears is Gobi's adventures, her family goes off touring and travelling well now it is Lara's turn.
Told from Lara's perspective and voice with the odd chapter by Gobi we get an insight into the life of a cat with a famous dog sibling. She decides she is going for her own adventure and takes the reader with her.
Doing good deeds, helping others along the way, learning to be self sufficient instead of the pampered puss she has always been we follow her journey and adventures. We see a huge change in Lara and the insight into what we want isn't always what we really want but we don't always realise until we find our own path. Yes it is a story told by a cat but a lot of the lessons/relationships and love within the pages are applicable to humans, 3.5/5 for me this time. I haven't read Gobi's story but after the references in this book I think I may check it out. If you like stories told by and from animal points of view you will enjoy this.
February 12, 2019
A must for anyone needing hope, even if you’re not a cat lover.
You might think from the title that this is a children’s book. It is an excellent choice for sharing with the children in your life. But it’s not really about a cat, even though it’s written in first-person from the cat’s point of view. It’s really about the human condition: loneliness, love, and taking risks to develop close relationships. Of course, Lara the cat has her own emotions to deal with. Her main motivation is jealousy which takes her far away from her home. But her ‘adventure,’ as she calls it, eventually leads her to the desire to repair her own familial relationships. It does start off being difficult to accept that the cat is ‘writing’ the book, but it is a work of fiction: I checked. But just forget that, and read. This book is full of expectation, and is so engaging you’ll be loathe to put it down. Dion Leonard has created a wonderful cast of characters, human and animal alike. I found the story sad throughout, but also exciting, inspiring, and totally joyous. The cat might be going on an adventure in this book, but you’ll go on your own journey when reading it.
You might think from the title that this is a children’s book. It is an excellent choice for sharing with the children in your life. But it’s not really about a cat, even though it’s written in first-person from the cat’s point of view. It’s really about the human condition: loneliness, love, and taking risks to develop close relationships. Of course, Lara the cat has her own emotions to deal with. Her main motivation is jealousy which takes her far away from her home. But her ‘adventure,’ as she calls it, eventually leads her to the desire to repair her own familial relationships. It does start off being difficult to accept that the cat is ‘writing’ the book, but it is a work of fiction: I checked. But just forget that, and read. This book is full of expectation, and is so engaging you’ll be loathe to put it down. Dion Leonard has created a wonderful cast of characters, human and animal alike. I found the story sad throughout, but also exciting, inspiring, and totally joyous. The cat might be going on an adventure in this book, but you’ll go on your own journey when reading it.
July 3, 2019
Very cute book! It was an enjoyable easy read for someone who typically likes bigger books. I would definitely recommend this to someone who wants a feel-good story.
I also really enjoyed Lara's attitude (she felt like how a cat might if they could talk!) and all the little life lessons with the people she met and the things she did.
I also really enjoyed Lara's attitude (she felt like how a cat might if they could talk!) and all the little life lessons with the people she met and the things she did.
June 27, 2022
Lovely easy reading for any cat lover! It's the perfect book for an entertaining reading while commuting to work.
Now I need to read the first one about Gobi the dog.
Now I need to read the first one about Gobi the dog.
May 25, 2022
4 sterren - de cover alleen is de sterren al waard zullen we maar zeggen.
Meteen vanaf het begin werd ik meegezogen in het verhaal van Lara de kat. En wat een heerlijke katachtige humor in dit verhaal. Voor mij een must read voor diegene die een kat(ten) hebben of van ze houden.
Meteen vanaf het begin werd ik meegezogen in het verhaal van Lara de kat. En wat een heerlijke katachtige humor in dit verhaal. Voor mij een must read voor diegene die een kat(ten) hebben of van ze houden.
July 23, 2022
Het duurde effe voor ik goed en wel in het verhaal zat. Het is geen hoogstandje maar wel heerlijk als je effe wat luchtiger boek wil lezen.
Het verhaal gaat over Lara. Je leest het ook alsof je in het Hooft van Lara zit maar soms lees je het vanuit het perspectief van Gobi het hondenbroertje van Lara.
Gobi gaat vaak met zijn baasje op reis. Dit keer gaan ze met de hele familie. Maar het verhaal neemt een andere wending als Lara andere plannen heeft dan haar baasjes.
Lara ontmoet bijzondere mensen maar vergis je niet Lara is ook een hele bijzondere kat. Na dit boek gelezen te hebben ben ik wel benieuwd wat onze kat denkt.
Het verhaal gaat over Lara. Je leest het ook alsof je in het Hooft van Lara zit maar soms lees je het vanuit het perspectief van Gobi het hondenbroertje van Lara.
Gobi gaat vaak met zijn baasje op reis. Dit keer gaan ze met de hele familie. Maar het verhaal neemt een andere wending als Lara andere plannen heeft dan haar baasjes.
Lara ontmoet bijzondere mensen maar vergis je niet Lara is ook een hele bijzondere kat. Na dit boek gelezen te hebben ben ik wel benieuwd wat onze kat denkt.
November 28, 2022
Storia tenera, proprio belli i libri di questo autore!!!
December 26, 2020
Not bad
April 1, 2019
Lara is a cat who has grown up with a loving family in their home in Edinburgh. When Gobi, a mature border terrier is introduced into the family dynamic, he becomes a media favourite and has more than his fair share of fame and fortune. Despite the fact that the two animals get on remarkably well, Lara can’t help but feel that her position as “top dog” has been usurped and she is determined to prove a point and go on adventures of her own. This is a fictional story told from the point of view of Lara, in which she relates her “traveller’s tales”.
I’m afraid I’m going to start with the things I wasn’t so keen on as this book really wasn’t my cup of tea. It was all very twee and rather too simplistic, more of a children’s book than an adult work of fiction. I also found Lara intensely irritating at times – both superior and sanctimonious. I managed to completely miss out on the internet sensation that was Gobi the real-life Border Terrier who joined Dion Leonard on part of his Gobi Desert ultra marathon in China in 2016. Had I been aware of this background story, the book may have had more impact as I would have had a vested interest in it. Sadly that wasn’t the case.
On the plus side, it was quite creative and infused with a lot of imagination. Lara also met some interesting characters on her journey and these were well developed, plausible and often likeable.
I imagine this book may appeal to a younger, less sophisticated reader but I personally would not recommend it for adult consumption.
I’m afraid I’m going to start with the things I wasn’t so keen on as this book really wasn’t my cup of tea. It was all very twee and rather too simplistic, more of a children’s book than an adult work of fiction. I also found Lara intensely irritating at times – both superior and sanctimonious. I managed to completely miss out on the internet sensation that was Gobi the real-life Border Terrier who joined Dion Leonard on part of his Gobi Desert ultra marathon in China in 2016. Had I been aware of this background story, the book may have had more impact as I would have had a vested interest in it. Sadly that wasn’t the case.
On the plus side, it was quite creative and infused with a lot of imagination. Lara also met some interesting characters on her journey and these were well developed, plausible and often likeable.
I imagine this book may appeal to a younger, less sophisticated reader but I personally would not recommend it for adult consumption.
February 19, 2019
After Dion brings home Gobi ("Finding Gobi", the little dog with a big heart who adopted Dion whilst running a 155 mile desert race, and who subsequently disappeared in China), Lara the Ragdoll Cat is suddenly not the only pet, she's the older sister! Responsible for teaching Gobi the ways of the family, she is content with her window and garden adventures until she realizes that GOBI is the one who always travels and has adventures. "What about ME?" she wonders. She decides to make her own adventures, and along the way she realizes many things about life, her family, and even her pesky younger sister. This book is a delightful read for any size reader, including little read-to-mes, as the story is rich at all levels. Cat lovers, dog lovers, siblings, and parents will all find little gems of wisdom and insight to which they can relate. "Lara the Runaway Cat" is not technically a sequel, and thus can be enjoyed all on its own, but go read "Finding Gobi", anyway (PSA: there are three levels of "Finding Gobi": a picture book, a juvenile book, and an adult book). You'll be glad you picked up these stories!
May 29, 2024
'Inmiddels wist ik dat mijn avonturen niet gingen over hoeveel plekken ik had bezocht, over dingen die ik had gezien; ze gingen over de mensen die ik had ontmoet en de levens die ik had veranderd.'
Dit was echt geweldig. Hoewel het realistisch aspect ver te zoeken is, was dit echt een super lief verhaal. Het enige waar ik me aan ergerde was het feit dat Jennifer letterlijk een kat heeft gekidnapped die niet van haar is, hiervan op de hoogte was, en alsnog de chip heeft gepersonaliseerd. Maakt ze zich geen zorgen om haar eigen kat, en waar die is? En is dit eigenlijk niet gewoon diefstal??
Het onrealistische gaf ergens ook wel een kik en ik stoorde me er niet bepaald aan. Ik had eerlijk gezegd telkens het gevoel alsof ik naar een pixar film aan het kijken was. Wat een vibe.
Lara is echt om op te vreten, een schatje gewoon! 🥹
Ik hoop dat ze elke dag verwend wordt met extra garnalen. It's what she deserves. Mijn sassy queen 💓💅
Dit was echt geweldig. Hoewel het realistisch aspect ver te zoeken is, was dit echt een super lief verhaal. Het enige waar ik me aan ergerde was het feit dat Jennifer letterlijk een kat heeft gekidnapped die niet van haar is, hiervan op de hoogte was, en alsnog de chip heeft gepersonaliseerd. Maakt ze zich geen zorgen om haar eigen kat, en waar die is? En is dit eigenlijk niet gewoon diefstal??
Het onrealistische gaf ergens ook wel een kik en ik stoorde me er niet bepaald aan. Ik had eerlijk gezegd telkens het gevoel alsof ik naar een pixar film aan het kijken was. Wat een vibe.
Lara is echt om op te vreten, een schatje gewoon! 🥹
Ik hoop dat ze elke dag verwend wordt met extra garnalen. It's what she deserves. Mijn sassy queen 💓💅
July 31, 2019
I read "Finding Gobi" to five classes of third graders this year and when I told them that there was a new book imagining Gobi's cat sister's adventures, they begged me to read it over the summer and share it come fall. So I requested "Lara the Runaway Cat" for my birthday and just finished it. I most certainly will be offering it as a read aloud choice this year. Lara's adventures, and more importantly, her social emotional musings as she wanders in and out of people's lives, makes for great reading and rich conversation. It is important to read one of the versions of "Finding Gobi" first, (there are both adult and kid versions) because Gobi's point of view occasionally crops up, which is a rich addition for fans but might be confusing for folks who do not know the exquisite, true life tale of "Finding Gobi."
June 27, 2020
As a fellow runner, I followed Dion and Gobi’s journey from the beginning. I fretted when Gobi became lost in China after the race, and I felt so much happiness and relief for Dion and Gobi once they were reunited.
I loved Finding Gobi. So of course, I couldn’t wait to read about Lara, Gobi’s beautiful, blue-eyed sister.
Lara the Runaway Cat is great, a must read. Lara tells her story of her life being flipped upside down the day Gobi entered the picture. She goes from being the only pet, the head of the Leonard household, to living in her adventurous sister’s shadow. After Lara plans a great escape and her own adventure, she learns valuable life lessons along the way. Home is where the Heart is, and maybe Gobi isn’t so bad after all.
Thank you for another amazing book, Dion. You and Lucja are wonderful. Thank you for sharing your journey.
I loved Finding Gobi. So of course, I couldn’t wait to read about Lara, Gobi’s beautiful, blue-eyed sister.
Lara the Runaway Cat is great, a must read. Lara tells her story of her life being flipped upside down the day Gobi entered the picture. She goes from being the only pet, the head of the Leonard household, to living in her adventurous sister’s shadow. After Lara plans a great escape and her own adventure, she learns valuable life lessons along the way. Home is where the Heart is, and maybe Gobi isn’t so bad after all.
Thank you for another amazing book, Dion. You and Lucja are wonderful. Thank you for sharing your journey.
October 4, 2024
This is a fictionalized story about a cat who is jealous of her sister, a dog called Gobi who did have an amazing adventure in China with his owner and the author of this book.
Lara, however, lived in Edinborough and saw the world through their window. She wanted to be the family's centre of attention too. Gobi had been on Television, she'd had interviews with his master Dion. She'd been all over the world with him too. Lara on the other hand had been home.
When they finally decided to go on a holiday together, they never expected to meet Jennifer and her Rag Doll cat who was almost Lara's double. This led the two cats to hatch a plan so that Lara could escape, and her look-alike disappear into the crowds. That's when Lara's adventure began. She was on her way to Australia with a very stressed Jennifer. Would Lara ever see her family again?
Lara, however, lived in Edinborough and saw the world through their window. She wanted to be the family's centre of attention too. Gobi had been on Television, she'd had interviews with his master Dion. She'd been all over the world with him too. Lara on the other hand had been home.
When they finally decided to go on a holiday together, they never expected to meet Jennifer and her Rag Doll cat who was almost Lara's double. This led the two cats to hatch a plan so that Lara could escape, and her look-alike disappear into the crowds. That's when Lara's adventure began. She was on her way to Australia with a very stressed Jennifer. Would Lara ever see her family again?
November 24, 2019
This was a very sweet read which gave so much personality to a very gorgeous cat. It makes me feel like my own cat must think and feel the way Lara does. It was what you'd expect from a book like this. Obviously to give the book depth Lara had to think and feel as a human character would but also have her own quirks as she was a cat after all.
I loved the adventure and it made me feel so calm with the idea of traveling and adventuring, something out of my own comfort zone.
Though the ending did feel rushed, it still wound down the story and felt right.
I love cats and the thought of them taking the world on brings me so much joy, and this book brought me joy in that very manner.
I loved the adventure and it made me feel so calm with the idea of traveling and adventuring, something out of my own comfort zone.
Though the ending did feel rushed, it still wound down the story and felt right.
I love cats and the thought of them taking the world on brings me so much joy, and this book brought me joy in that very manner.
February 27, 2019
I fell deeply in love with Dion and Gobi after reading Finding Gobi. I had to read this book too. It didn't disappoint. The story is so sweet. Once she runs and finds the young girl my heart was captured. Just as in Finding Gobi, the humans story's were profound and touching. Of course I LOVED all the parts written from Gobi's point of view. I laughed out loud a bunch.
I hope we get another book from this cat which tells us how she came to the Leonards AND talks about Lucja!!! I am dying to know more about Lara's backstory as well as about Dion's supportive successful spouse!
I hope we get another book from this cat which tells us how she came to the Leonards AND talks about Lucja!!! I am dying to know more about Lara's backstory as well as about Dion's supportive successful spouse!
February 11, 2019
This tale of a home bound cat keen for adventure is such an uplifting story about bravery and change. Spoken through the voice of Lara, you really do begin to see the world through the cat's eyes. Lara is clearly quite envious of Gobi which spurs her on to make her own adventures, but it is so heartfelt to see how actually Lara begins to realise how much she misses her family.
It's really interesting to see how Lara observes and communicates with humans in the story compared to how her character is portrayed when interacting with other animals. She is a very likable character - and as I said, I'm not usually a cat person! I loved reading the dialogue, however at times in the book the writing swayed more towards descriptive and observant which took the focus away from Lara and made me forget I was reading from a cat's perspective.
Being able to also get to know Gobi in some chapters was very heartwarming and the emotion he shows for Lara really is as if they were brother and sister. Having a physical change in the format and language used really got you to swap to thinking as Gobi which helped to feel much more connected to the characters.
The chapters were short, fast paced, and reminded you throughout to see the world through Lara's eyes as a cat, which at times was still of high intellect and detail. This kept me interested throughout.
As I was reading this I could certainly picture it being made into a family film (I was getting Stuart Little type vibes from it). The adventure and chase of trying to reunite Lara was fast-paced, but yet the values of family and belonging were extremely sincere.
I enjoyed reading this book, although would not usually have chosen it myself. Reading from the point of an animal was something different and kept me interested, but not enough to blow me away so I gave it a four star review on Goodreads.
Reading this book has made me want to read the author's other book 'Finding Gobi' which has had great reviews, and is currently being made into a film by Twentieth Century Fox.
It's really interesting to see how Lara observes and communicates with humans in the story compared to how her character is portrayed when interacting with other animals. She is a very likable character - and as I said, I'm not usually a cat person! I loved reading the dialogue, however at times in the book the writing swayed more towards descriptive and observant which took the focus away from Lara and made me forget I was reading from a cat's perspective.
Being able to also get to know Gobi in some chapters was very heartwarming and the emotion he shows for Lara really is as if they were brother and sister. Having a physical change in the format and language used really got you to swap to thinking as Gobi which helped to feel much more connected to the characters.
The chapters were short, fast paced, and reminded you throughout to see the world through Lara's eyes as a cat, which at times was still of high intellect and detail. This kept me interested throughout.
As I was reading this I could certainly picture it being made into a family film (I was getting Stuart Little type vibes from it). The adventure and chase of trying to reunite Lara was fast-paced, but yet the values of family and belonging were extremely sincere.
I enjoyed reading this book, although would not usually have chosen it myself. Reading from the point of an animal was something different and kept me interested, but not enough to blow me away so I gave it a four star review on Goodreads.
Reading this book has made me want to read the author's other book 'Finding Gobi' which has had great reviews, and is currently being made into a film by Twentieth Century Fox.
February 7, 2019
This is the story about Lara the ragdoll cat and her adventures when her owners decide to take her and her brother Gobi ( he has his own story) away. It is how she decides she needs a bit more of adventure and ends up making a truly remarkable trip and meets some interesting people that she helps to change their lives for the better. It is written by the cat’s perspective so it was completely different to my normal reads but having a cat I was intrigued to read it.
February 14, 2019
I truly enjoyed this book! It is such a happy, relaxing read with the many twists
and turns and lots of lessons to be learned about life, love, family, and compassion.
Although this is fiction (I had to keep reminding myself Lara's little journey alone wasn't
real) little Gobi is also in the book making her feelings known about losing her sister, Lara the Runaway cat.
This is the writer, Dion Leonard, ultra-marathon runner's second book. His first book is about "Finding Gobi" (name of the book) as she rescues or "finds" him while he is very focused on winning a race in the Gobi Desert. Lara the Runaway Cat is a good clean story for all ages. It can be read alone or with Finding Gobi afterward. I treasure both of these books!
and turns and lots of lessons to be learned about life, love, family, and compassion.
Although this is fiction (I had to keep reminding myself Lara's little journey alone wasn't
real) little Gobi is also in the book making her feelings known about losing her sister, Lara the Runaway cat.
This is the writer, Dion Leonard, ultra-marathon runner's second book. His first book is about "Finding Gobi" (name of the book) as she rescues or "finds" him while he is very focused on winning a race in the Gobi Desert. Lara the Runaway Cat is a good clean story for all ages. It can be read alone or with Finding Gobi afterward. I treasure both of these books!
April 4, 2020
A very easy read, written in the first person by a cat. Light work, especially suitable for during a pandemic, when anything heavier might be too exhausting. A great work of fiction, interwoven and layered on top of the previous non-fictional work by the same author about his other precious pet Gobi.
November 26, 2024
What a strange book lol. Very happy-feel-good, just a bit odd. After Finding Gobi, I guess I expected this to be another true story - so it was super unexpected for it to be from the perspective of the animals. I also spent most of the book trying to decide if this was based off of true events or totally fictional (I can’t find a real answer to that online). Overall just not a book I could really get into, but it had a cute message.
March 11, 2019
What a lovely story! Told mainly from Lara the cat’s viewpoint with added thoughts from Gobi the dog it touches upon family, love and the importance of home. Highly recommended, not just for cat lovers. Its universal themes speak to all lovers of a good read.
September 25, 2019
Took this book on holiday for a lightweight read, which it was and felt it was more suitable for the younger reader. I still enjoyed it and felt it had a message in that helping others gives more satisfaction to oneself rather than thinking about your own needs all the time.
April 27, 2020
A very cute, light read, story of a household cat that is jealous of the new puppy brought into the household speaking of all the adventures she's had, and then decides to go on an adventure for herself and proof to her dog sister and parents that she's just as much an adventurer than they are!
July 2, 2020
Really clever and charming book! A great message of bravery, love, and the importance of adventure and security all rolled together. I love that Lara the Cat tells the story. I would definitely recommend it!
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