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Blue Cats and Chartreuse Kittens: How Synesthetes Color Their Worlds
Blue Cats and Chartreuse Kittens is a unique look at the quirky neurological phenomenon known as synesthesia. Sometimes described as a blending of perceptions, synesthesia occurs when one of the five senses is stimulated, yet two respond. This collision of sights, smells, sounds and tastes make for an odd, yet extremely colorful way of thinking!
Patricia Duffy draws from her own struggles and breakthroughs with synesthesia to help the reader better understand the condition. Along the way she introduces us to among other things, the different variations of synesthesia, brilliant synesthetes from the past, the likelihood of inheriting synesthesia, and the ongoing research devoted to it and its frequent connections to the creative process. In addition, the book describes some of the major theories as to why synesthesia occurs and offers accessible explanations. This is a must read for artists, writers, creative thinkers, as well as science and health buffs, or anyone generally intrigued by perception.
An illuminating exploration into the mind of synesthete, Blue Cats and Chartreuse Kittens offers a rare glimpse at the thought process that mystifies so many.
Patricia Duffy draws from her own struggles and breakthroughs with synesthesia to help the reader better understand the condition. Along the way she introduces us to among other things, the different variations of synesthesia, brilliant synesthetes from the past, the likelihood of inheriting synesthesia, and the ongoing research devoted to it and its frequent connections to the creative process. In addition, the book describes some of the major theories as to why synesthesia occurs and offers accessible explanations. This is a must read for artists, writers, creative thinkers, as well as science and health buffs, or anyone generally intrigued by perception.
An illuminating exploration into the mind of synesthete, Blue Cats and Chartreuse Kittens offers a rare glimpse at the thought process that mystifies so many.
184 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2001
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
November 6, 2024
This is an illuminating look at the phenomenon of synesthesia, or the rare ability to perceive one sensory input as another (like seeing colors when hearing or seeing letters, for example).
It's now believed to be genetic but throughout history it's been widely misunderstood, or, in some cases, looked upon with skepticism. The author herself is a synesthete and has been the subject of countless research studies. In this book, she describes what's currently known about the condition and what it's like to have it.
It's now believed to be genetic but throughout history it's been widely misunderstood, or, in some cases, looked upon with skepticism. The author herself is a synesthete and has been the subject of countless research studies. In this book, she describes what's currently known about the condition and what it's like to have it.
January 13, 2008
This is a wonderful, fascinating read! Ms. Duffy has managed to take a scientific topic, dealing with neuroscience, and make it accessible (and interesting!) to non-scientific readers. When I discuss this book with friends or students (I'm a professor), suddenly people discover synesthesia within themselves or within friends/acquaintances. This is sure to become a classic in brain research...for those who are initially afraid of such a high-falutin' subject matter.
March 3, 2018
As a person with synesthesia, I enjoyed this book very much. Pat Duffy’s synesthesia is very similar to my own, especially with reference to the days of the week and their colors, and how she “sees” time. The phenomenon may still be difficult for other people to understand, even after reading this. Synesthesia is hard to explain, but this book is a good place to start.
February 22, 2021
This book caught my eye because it reminded me of my roommate in college. When we were having dinner together and talking over our plans to room together the next semester, somehow we got on the subject of the color of the alphabet. While I didn't associate colors with letters at all, my friend went through the entire alphabet and told me the color of every letter. Years later, I ran across the word "synesthete" and thought "that's Betty!".
It's been on my to-read list for a while, and I'm glad it finally floated to the top. The fact that the author is a synesthete herself gave the book a personal feel and made it more interesting. Her interviews with other synesthetes and comparisons of the different ways they see the world were fascinating. Assigning colors to letters and numbers is just one form of synesthesia--photographer Marcia Smilack hears sounds when she's taking photographs and uses them to know when to click the shutter. Some synesthetes associate certain tastes with shapes.
While overall the book was extremely interesting, and I will be able to continue my reading easily since she listed so many sources, sometimes the detail was more extensive than I thought was necessary. Sometimes she went on a little too long about the same thing, like comparing several different synesthetes' perception of the color of a particular letter of the alphabet, or expounding on the shapes and colors of every month of the year as she perceives it. I started getting antsy in those parts.
This is a nice starting point for people who are interested in synesthesia, and the last chapter and bibliography provide a wealth of information for those interested in further reading.
It's been on my to-read list for a while, and I'm glad it finally floated to the top. The fact that the author is a synesthete herself gave the book a personal feel and made it more interesting. Her interviews with other synesthetes and comparisons of the different ways they see the world were fascinating. Assigning colors to letters and numbers is just one form of synesthesia--photographer Marcia Smilack hears sounds when she's taking photographs and uses them to know when to click the shutter. Some synesthetes associate certain tastes with shapes.
While overall the book was extremely interesting, and I will be able to continue my reading easily since she listed so many sources, sometimes the detail was more extensive than I thought was necessary. Sometimes she went on a little too long about the same thing, like comparing several different synesthetes' perception of the color of a particular letter of the alphabet, or expounding on the shapes and colors of every month of the year as she perceives it. I started getting antsy in those parts.
This is a nice starting point for people who are interested in synesthesia, and the last chapter and bibliography provide a wealth of information for those interested in further reading.
November 14, 2007
This book was interesting, but I thought it dwelled too much on case studies, and individual experiences with synesthesia, rather than an exploration of how synesthetes interact with their criss-crossed senses. Still, it's a good resource (and the alphabet examples were great).
December 17, 2019
As a synesthete who associates colors with letters and numbers it is fascinating to me to learn more about the neuroscience behind why synesthesia happens. I've always wondered what letters in different alphabets would look like to me, if I were to learn Russian or Mandarin, so I appreciate that Blue Cats covered that a little bit. What was most interesting to me wasn't the examples of what specific synesthetes' letters and numbers look like (the long descriptions honestly got tedious and I mostly skimmed those parts), but the discussion on personal coding and how it is beneficial to everyone to "take the time to explore the many diverse ways we code information to remember and to develop our knowledge". The author goes into specifics on how to learn that about ourselves, and also discusses the seven types of intelligence and the importance of learning which ones we have besides the logical-mathematical intelligence that society is biased toward.
This book offers an interesting discussion about human perception and provides a wealth of resources for synesthetes to research and connect with each other. My main complaints are that the author repeats herself a lot, and tends to do a lot of speculating rather than sticking to the scientific facts and the experiences of synthetes. Overall this book is an excellent resource and I wish I'd had it in college when I was doing my own research on the subject.
This book offers an interesting discussion about human perception and provides a wealth of resources for synesthetes to research and connect with each other. My main complaints are that the author repeats herself a lot, and tends to do a lot of speculating rather than sticking to the scientific facts and the experiences of synthetes. Overall this book is an excellent resource and I wish I'd had it in college when I was doing my own research on the subject.
August 29, 2014
Here is a discussion of synesthesia that insightfully compares and contrasts the perspective/world view of ones with and without the condition – and even those within it. Some passages that put it better than I ever could:
“While I’ve often felt the need to apologize and make jokes about “seeing” colored words – just to prove I’m not crazy – Carol is never self-effacing about her synesthesia but rather sees it as a great enhancement… ‘The point of synesthesia is not, “Oh, you have this weird thing.” The point is you have this extra consciousness and you use it.’…One thing Carol and I can agree on is that to be a synesthete is to know the absence of validation. Unfortunately, synesthetes become very accustomed to traveling through life with their perceptions uncorroborated by the world at large…At some point we learn that most people do not see what we see and that our perceptions are considered, at best, ‘imaginative,’ at worst, ‘loony’ or even suspect. Much of the world does not see what we see and is not convinced that we see it ourselves.” (I recall a small internal struggle to this effect in my youth, many years before I realized that my perspective was unique and had a name, after informing my dad that the word Nebraska was green, and I was puzzled by his response that it should be red – “Go Big Red.”)
From chapter 5, (“Everything fights for its survival – Even a perception”): “While a part of me wanted to explain that synesthetes could not have a shared color code because each perceived the letter colors differently, another more shy and embarrassed part of me wanted simply to escape and change the subject. Unless people are open to hearing about synesthesia, I feel reluctant to discuss it. Embarrassment creeps over me as I describe my ‘strange’ perceptions to people who are wondering if I’m a lunatic or a liar.”
From chapter 9, (“The varieties of intelligence and personal coding styles”): “People with synesthesia become particularly aware of their way of coding only when they realize most people are not coding in the same way…It is only the surprised reaction of others that makes synesthetes begin to reflect on their own way of coding. They attend to it when they realize it is different.” While I can recall thinking about colored letters and words as a child, and even remember learning what synesthesia was in high school, I never realized that my own experiences and “coding process” qualified as synesthesia until my mid-20s. All of a sudden, I was grateful for an explanation for why I seemed to see the world differently than my peers.
“While I’ve often felt the need to apologize and make jokes about “seeing” colored words – just to prove I’m not crazy – Carol is never self-effacing about her synesthesia but rather sees it as a great enhancement… ‘The point of synesthesia is not, “Oh, you have this weird thing.” The point is you have this extra consciousness and you use it.’…One thing Carol and I can agree on is that to be a synesthete is to know the absence of validation. Unfortunately, synesthetes become very accustomed to traveling through life with their perceptions uncorroborated by the world at large…At some point we learn that most people do not see what we see and that our perceptions are considered, at best, ‘imaginative,’ at worst, ‘loony’ or even suspect. Much of the world does not see what we see and is not convinced that we see it ourselves.” (I recall a small internal struggle to this effect in my youth, many years before I realized that my perspective was unique and had a name, after informing my dad that the word Nebraska was green, and I was puzzled by his response that it should be red – “Go Big Red.”)
From chapter 5, (“Everything fights for its survival – Even a perception”): “While a part of me wanted to explain that synesthetes could not have a shared color code because each perceived the letter colors differently, another more shy and embarrassed part of me wanted simply to escape and change the subject. Unless people are open to hearing about synesthesia, I feel reluctant to discuss it. Embarrassment creeps over me as I describe my ‘strange’ perceptions to people who are wondering if I’m a lunatic or a liar.”
From chapter 9, (“The varieties of intelligence and personal coding styles”): “People with synesthesia become particularly aware of their way of coding only when they realize most people are not coding in the same way…It is only the surprised reaction of others that makes synesthetes begin to reflect on their own way of coding. They attend to it when they realize it is different.” While I can recall thinking about colored letters and words as a child, and even remember learning what synesthesia was in high school, I never realized that my own experiences and “coding process” qualified as synesthesia until my mid-20s. All of a sudden, I was grateful for an explanation for why I seemed to see the world differently than my peers.
July 31, 2007
Being that few books are written by synesthetes on synesthesia, it is a valuable book. The part I didn't necessarily appreciate was that the author used primarily visual senses as examples - e.g. the letter "A" always being blue, etc. This perception still is only working with one sense - sight.
My impression of true synesthesia is that 2 senses are crossed, such as sight and smell, or sound and touch. Examples of these would be a person smells a sight, or hears a texture. Personally, I experience the former of these two examples. My first clear understanding that it was something unusual and real was when I was twelve years old and riding in a car with all its windows closed. I viewed a passing car, which had its windows closed, and while watching the passengers I perceived a very distinct strong smell, which passed away as the car passed out of my site, and was obviously tied directly to the site and not to my surrounds. When in public, the same thing will happen, but it's harder to say whether that smell is not actually in the air, but it typically has nothing to do with what I am looking at. The fact that the smell is discerned while looking at a particular object/person, then goes away as quickly as soon as I stop looking at the site is a good sign that I'm having a synesthetic experiencing.
My impression of true synesthesia is that 2 senses are crossed, such as sight and smell, or sound and touch. Examples of these would be a person smells a sight, or hears a texture. Personally, I experience the former of these two examples. My first clear understanding that it was something unusual and real was when I was twelve years old and riding in a car with all its windows closed. I viewed a passing car, which had its windows closed, and while watching the passengers I perceived a very distinct strong smell, which passed away as the car passed out of my site, and was obviously tied directly to the site and not to my surrounds. When in public, the same thing will happen, but it's harder to say whether that smell is not actually in the air, but it typically has nothing to do with what I am looking at. The fact that the smell is discerned while looking at a particular object/person, then goes away as quickly as soon as I stop looking at the site is a good sign that I'm having a synesthetic experiencing.
June 20, 2016
I picked up this book when I found out my daughter seeing colors associated with numbers and letters is actually a real thing! With a real name! I had just thought it was a special quirk of hers, until I thought to Google it. Then I learned it's called synesthesia. It's so fascinating to read about other peoples' experiences. My daughter doesn't think it's weird or anything, but if she ever does start to feel self-conscious about it, I can let her know the many resources out there. As well as the many famous people who are also synesthetes. Including many artists. Maybe it's why my daughter has a natural knack for art.
Anyway, I loved the first chapter, in which the author explained her own personal experiences with synesthesia, as well as some basic info about synesthesia. After that, there wasn't really so much more I wanted to know. I think I was only really looking for some validation that my daughter is not alone in this and that it's actually very cool. It seemed hard for the author to fill a whole book about it....although maybe the problem was really me not needing to know quite so much about it. But, it's definitely a good starting point for people interested in learning about synesthesia.
Anyway, I loved the first chapter, in which the author explained her own personal experiences with synesthesia, as well as some basic info about synesthesia. After that, there wasn't really so much more I wanted to know. I think I was only really looking for some validation that my daughter is not alone in this and that it's actually very cool. It seemed hard for the author to fill a whole book about it....although maybe the problem was really me not needing to know quite so much about it. But, it's definitely a good starting point for people interested in learning about synesthesia.
June 13, 2013
Synesthesia is perceiving a sense impression when another sense is stimulated. The commonest one is perceiving letters as having colors; the test for this is to have the person write down his color and then later ask him to do it again, because ordinary people can't do it over the course of weeks, but a synesthete's last for years.
It may be that babies can't sort out sense impressions, and synesthetes just don't develop the same sorting mechanisms as the rest of us. It does tend to weaken or even vanish as the synesthete grows up. Not always, and then, since it doesn't interfere with living, it's not a disease.
The author is a synesthete herself and discusses her and many others' experience. Observing that for her "O" is white, and that's just as much a part of it as its roundness; Z has bubbles in it. She also has another trait of seeing time as physical and having color.
And the uses that composers and authors and artists have made of their synesthesia. Including one where a musician, a non-synesthete, could identify the compositions from paintings of musical compositions.
Much interesting stuff.
It may be that babies can't sort out sense impressions, and synesthetes just don't develop the same sorting mechanisms as the rest of us. It does tend to weaken or even vanish as the synesthete grows up. Not always, and then, since it doesn't interfere with living, it's not a disease.
The author is a synesthete herself and discusses her and many others' experience. Observing that for her "O" is white, and that's just as much a part of it as its roundness; Z has bubbles in it. She also has another trait of seeing time as physical and having color.
And the uses that composers and authors and artists have made of their synesthesia. Including one where a musician, a non-synesthete, could identify the compositions from paintings of musical compositions.
Much interesting stuff.
November 13, 2017
A fascinating exploration of the concept of synesthesia and the world of synesthetes, this book is both accessible and theoretical, personal and scientific. Duffy opens each chapter with a personal story that provides an introduction into the concept developed in the chapter, easing the reader from concrete illustration to the abstract of advanced topics. Synesthesia opens the door to contemplation of the source of creativity, the use of metaphor, and how the human brain regulates perception. A great, stimulating read.
August 7, 2014
I initially read this book because my friend/roommate has synesthesia, and I wanted to understand it better; the book is very interesting, well-researched, and readable, and thought-provoking as well, as Duffy asks readers questions about how they perceive their world, code the information, and what they will do with their abilities, regardless of whether they have synesthesia or not.
October 12, 2011
When this book came out, Synesthesia was a scarcely known condition among the general public. Duffy explores something so fascinating here that it wasn't long before the Blue Cats would be out of the bag.
April 17, 2024
My mother has synesthesia, so I appreciated and enjoyed this book. I found the story of Patricia Duffy's depressed father taking the time to make crayons in new colors for her, and took notes on her drawings, trying to understand how she saw the world differently, to be very touching.
July 13, 2021
The booked weaved together magnificent character development, intrigue, and lots of drama to tell a good story.
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April 27, 202523: Blue Cats and Chartreuse Kittens: How Synesthetes Color Their Worlds by Patricia Lynne Duffy
This book came to me by way of a wonderful new friend I have made through my tutoring work at the dyslexia clinic. After she subbed for me the first time we were discussing my students, and she was conveying as best she could summaries of her interactions with each of my students. It occurred to me then to mention that one of them she was processing has synesthesia. Bells and whistles went off in all sorts of connective ways, as it not only explained much of what she'd experienced while tutoring but also connected to her own child, also a synesthete.
So, she recommended and even shared her copy of this enlightening book with me, and oh, am I ever pleased to have read it. It explains so much and in such valid, personal ways, Patricia Lynne Duffy being a synesthete, herself, and sharing not only her own experiences but so many interesting things she has learned along the way.
What a highly recommended book for anyone who knows a synesthete and/or just wishes to understand it all better.
This book came to me by way of a wonderful new friend I have made through my tutoring work at the dyslexia clinic. After she subbed for me the first time we were discussing my students, and she was conveying as best she could summaries of her interactions with each of my students. It occurred to me then to mention that one of them she was processing has synesthesia. Bells and whistles went off in all sorts of connective ways, as it not only explained much of what she'd experienced while tutoring but also connected to her own child, also a synesthete.
So, she recommended and even shared her copy of this enlightening book with me, and oh, am I ever pleased to have read it. It explains so much and in such valid, personal ways, Patricia Lynne Duffy being a synesthete, herself, and sharing not only her own experiences but so many interesting things she has learned along the way.
What a highly recommended book for anyone who knows a synesthete and/or just wishes to understand it all better.
January 30, 2020
Small but chock-full of interesting new perceptions and ideas. I also learned that most people don't dream in color, which I still find a bit baffling. A nice diversion into other ways of thinking that might make you more aware of your own mental coding of information.
"I've often wondered what would happen if, in the interest of public service, advertising companies lent out their best copywriters for a year or so to team up with teachers in designing educational materials." -- page 102
"I've often wondered what would happen if, in the interest of public service, advertising companies lent out their best copywriters for a year or so to team up with teachers in designing educational materials." -- page 102
July 28, 2021
I want to thank the author for sending me a copy for my library on my request.
Duffy has synesthesia, which is a generic condition where tow sensory modalities are activated at the same time. The author see the alphabet and numbers in colors. Fascinating and illuminating.
(Catching up on reviews for books read before blogging/Goodreads days, made from notes made at the time the book was read. Written on 7/27/21.)
Duffy has synesthesia, which is a generic condition where tow sensory modalities are activated at the same time. The author see the alphabet and numbers in colors. Fascinating and illuminating.
(Catching up on reviews for books read before blogging/Goodreads days, made from notes made at the time the book was read. Written on 7/27/21.)
May 5, 2018
Although this book made me feel less crazy and had me crying at multiple points, the writing can get a little repetitive, especially when synesthetic examples are provided repeatedly. I wish it had included more forms of synesthesia than the most common, but the intentions of the book were clear in the sphere of the general public.
March 2, 2024
The book has interesting bits, lots of lists of colored letters and numbers, and some dated scientific/research passages. Mostly I couldn’t focus on the voice of the narrator (Audible), whom I thought had been AI generated until the epilogue, when she reveals that she met the author at a conference on synesthesia.
January 4, 2021
fascinating!
December 18, 2019
I wonder if Duffy has read "Born on a Blue Day" by Daniel Tammet. He's the 'autistic savant' who, among other talents, see numbers as shapes, colors and textures. And, conversely, I wonder if he has read this book.
Think of the printed page of a book. Usually black letters on white. How does the page look to a synesthete, one who sees letters in color? Pictures often show each letter a separate color. But Duffy sees the word as taking on the color of the first letter; so are the letters colored or does the word have a colored 'cloud' around it? (There's apparently a website that shows images as viewed by a synesthete.)
There are more examples of mental images than I needed. E.g., Synesthetes each have a unique color that corresponds with a particular letter. We don't need a slew examples of specific people and the colors they see. However, this would probably be interesting to someone who is a synesthete.
Now I'm wondering if any of my acquaintances are synesthetes. Based on the frequency of this trait, I would expect a couple of them to be.
Last thought: The explanation of the inheritance of this trait is awkward.
Think of the printed page of a book. Usually black letters on white. How does the page look to a synesthete, one who sees letters in color? Pictures often show each letter a separate color. But Duffy sees the word as taking on the color of the first letter; so are the letters colored or does the word have a colored 'cloud' around it? (There's apparently a website that shows images as viewed by a synesthete.)
There are more examples of mental images than I needed. E.g., Synesthetes each have a unique color that corresponds with a particular letter. We don't need a slew examples of specific people and the colors they see. However, this would probably be interesting to someone who is a synesthete.
Now I'm wondering if any of my acquaintances are synesthetes. Based on the frequency of this trait, I would expect a couple of them to be.
Last thought: The explanation of the inheritance of this trait is awkward.
October 7, 2009
I am not a synesthete myself, but I find the subject fascinating. I have a coworker and a student who are synesthetes. Given that I teach fencing, which appeals to creative, intuitive types, I suspect I have a few more synesthetes amngst my students.
I enjoyed the book—especially the sections relating to the neurology of synesthesia and how people "use" their synethesia. I felt that the author's extended description of how she perceves time was repetitive, though.
I feel like I have a somewhat better understanding of synesthesia now. And the segments regarding how humans code their perceptions will have me musing for awhile.
I enjoyed the book—especially the sections relating to the neurology of synesthesia and how people "use" their synethesia. I felt that the author's extended description of how she perceves time was repetitive, though.
I feel like I have a somewhat better understanding of synesthesia now. And the segments regarding how humans code their perceptions will have me musing for awhile.
August 29, 2009
I was involved in a scientific study on synethetes in college and the professor gave me this after I was done participating. It's really neat to read if you are synesthetic and never realized it. I didn't finish the book, but what I read was interesting.
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October 23, 2013I like this book because I am intrigued by the subject. In general, I think the workings of the human mind are fascinating. This book seems to be more a brief summary or jumping off point than an actual exploration, so I will probably look up some of her sources to read more in depth.
November 14, 2015
An annoying book, but with some good information for us synesthetes. It’s an account of the author’s color-letter and color-number synesthesia, interspersed with scientific discoveries about the condition.
July 22, 2008
I am not alone! It's so good to see anecdotal and scientific validation of something I've experienced my whole life.
May 24, 2015
Facinating
October 3, 2010
Interesting topic, but the writing bothered me.
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