Hey! It’s a review of the book from all the way in Scotland! Finally a review of one of the foreign editions written in a language I can understand. 
(It’s particularly vexing to me, by the way, that with all the foreign sales we’ve made, there still isn’t a Spanish edition of Homer’s Odyssey–because that would be the one foreign-language edition I’d have a shot at being able to read. Sigh.)
Anyway, it’s pretty thrilling to read a review of the book from overseas! Here it is:
I like this review because it really gets at the narrative strengths of the story, its literary qualities, and its elements of personal as well as feline memoir. I’ve read a fair amount of non-fiction where I feel, this would have made a good feature length piece in something like Vanity Fair. But your book has a logical story arc, and works in episodes of a variety of sorts (I have to say, though I’m sure it was horrifying at the time, I still smile at the thought of the Pussy Galore Tour). The physical detail also differentiates it, and makes it relatable to a variety of experiences. I remember once climbing four storeys of an almost pitch-dark stairwell during a power cut (a bus hit a power pole) on the first day of classes, because my first-day handouts were in my office (dim light emerged from the landings, there were no nearby windows, and someone taped green glow sticks to the walls: ironically this was September 5, 2001). So I *really* felt for you lugging all that baggage up many more storeys when you finally got back to your apartment building after 9/11, but love is the biggest and best motivator we have. It is stronger than fear. Thanks for posting this; it reminded me of all the things I love about Homer’s Odyssey.
I think I like your comment even better than the review!
Thanks, Gisele!
I also enjoyed this review and also reminded me of all
the things I loved about the book. I tell everyone about
it. I ordered the paperback version too and
I am looking forward to reading it again. I just loved it
so much.
Karen
I agree with Gisele! What a wonderful mix of personal and feline triumphs.
I was driving in my car on a commute and literally died laughing in one minute and then heaved crying over your beautifully detailed 9/11 chapter. What a wonderful gift that is!
I bet it’s the most wonderful and yet strange feeling to know that an ocean away, somebody who never felt 9/11 is really impacted by it now. I know it’s a small part of your memoir, but it’s such a powerful piece of it.
And I think Homer’s Odyssey is a VERY creative title …=)
I agree with Gisele. It reminded me of the reasons I liked the book and the emotional connection, not in a soppy poor-cat way tugging at our heartstrings but rather the human to animal connection and how it can affect both lives. I’ve mentioned it before, but as a New Yorker, I could really feel your 9/11 experiences and can imagine the panic you felt both as a resident and a pet owner. It was really a nice review. Seriously, no Spanish? No Super-Gato version??
I also agree with Gisele!
And the review was excellent! It brought back the reasons why I read the book in the first place.
And I am also surprised that there is no Spanish version, either! What’s up with that?
I can’t wait for the paperback version, too!
By the way – my husband comes home from the hospital this afternoon. I thank Gwen for keeping my family in her thoughts and prayers and I thank Karen as well.
Here’s hoping Vashti has a good day today – as well as for the rest of her family!
Terrific review for a terrific book!
No doubt about it Gwen…you and Homer are loved the world over! Congrats on a great review. Hope Vashti is still on the mend.
Peace
That is a review that would definitely make people run out and buy the book. Gwen, you must be very pleased but how could anyone write anything but positive about Homer’s Odyssey ( which I think is an extremely clever title ).
I know I am going to read it again for the pure enjoyment but also because I pretty much scanned the 9/11 chapter. Sorry but I was too anxious to find out how Homer, Scarlett and Vashti made out alone. I could actually feel your stress.
A very well deserved “Congratulations”
The title and the cover photo were a big part of why I bought the book. I have a black cat, I love black cats. I’ve read and taught Homer’s epic poem. And it’s such a great story of adventure and homecoming that it allows for the book to be structured as Homer’s adventures correspond to challenges Odysseus faces in the poem. But of course Homer the Ancient-Greek poet was blind, and I just thought naming a blind kitten whose start in life was an adventure in itself after the blind poet of this great classic story was pure genius! And when I flipped it open, I fell on what is still my favourite detail: Homer putting his unimaginably tiny paws between the cables of Gwen’s sweater and the mutual imprinting. I kept flipping, and something wonderful turned up every time: mucho gato, Daredevil, the Pussy Galore tour, 9/11 and that heartbreaking moment of the silence followed by the thousand sirens. I read for a living, so I am picky about what I read in my small amount of leisure-reading time, and I’ve read through this book more than once! I really look forward to the paperback release and really hope it generates a lot more interest here in Canada!
Just wanted all of you to know that my husband Joe is out of the hospital and is now at home. He’s going to be taking it easy and he can resume normal things on Monday.
I subscribe to the Icanhazcheeseburger site and I get daily emails from them. When I got today’s email I was stunned by this. It’s a video of a news report on a two-legged kitten. The video has to be seen to be believed on this amazing kitten named Grace:
http://icanhascheezburger.com/2010/07/28/funny-pictures-two-legged-kitteh/
I just wanted to share this with all of you.
Here’s hoping that Gwen, Laurence, Homer, Scarlett and especially Vashti is doing well today. We in the Clark family send them our regards!
The cover on Homer’s Odyssey caught my eye, and I knew right off I just had to read Gwen’s book. Reading this book was one of the best things I’ve done for myself this year. (Now if I could only get the courage to get my hair cut. For some reason I’ve always had a phobia about getting my hair cut.)
Everyone has made such purrfect comments, I can’t add anything.
Just wanted to say hi and meows to the kids, hope your little girl
is doing better.
Mrs. Clark, thanks for sharing that video. Amazing kitty and message to not give up on animals!
We’ve had a black kitty show up at our barn. Having just moved in March, we knew it was only a matter of time before they saw the neon “sucker” sign above our doorstep. Someone probably put it out, which angers me greatly. We’ve already had a dog dropped off.
Melanie,
You are so welcome for the link. I hope that Gwen and everyone else here enjoyed it.
I saw the pic of Homer on the paperback version of Homer’s Odyssey and, in the style of the site that I subscribe to I would caption it this way:
Perserverance, determination, cuteness and charm – I has it!
I hope that everyone here, including the Lerner bunch, has a good weekend!
Sending everyone our regards in my family! It’s good to have my husband back where he belongs!