Catlit
this is a personal collection of books (and stories in general) with cats in them. some of them i own, some i want to own, some i've read, and some i want to read. this is not meant to be a comprehensive list of all books involving cats. the ones collected here are in some way significant or interesting to me.
i plan to add more notes and books over time...
Master and Margarita 1967
classic soviet novel. the devil has come to Moscow and with him is an entourage that includes the foolish Behemoth, a cat who speaks and walks upright. he's a rascal. obnoxious, lovable, and pitiable.
Engine Summer 1979
“A secret is not a thing you're not supposed to tell; it is a thing that can't be told.”
ethereal book. one of my favorites of all time... set in a post-post-apocalyptic earth. includes a community of people called Dr. Boots List, who live with large cats and have modeled their society around the cats' demeanors and ways of being. they practice forgetting.
Trim 1973
biography of Trim, a cat who was born aboard and lived on a ship. written by the ship's captain, Matthew Flinders, who loved Trim.
a statue dedicated to Trim is located in Sydney, Australia.
The statue is accompanied by a plaque that reads:
“To the memory of Trim, the best and most illustrious of his race, the most affectionate of friends, faithful of servants, and best of creatures. He made the tour of the globe, and a voyage to Australia, which he circumnavigated, and was ever the delight and pleasure of his fellow voyagers.”
Feline Philosophy 2020
a bit too stuffy for a book about the philosophy of cats. lacks the sudden playfulness and wild energy. there are some worthwhile illuminations, however, and the book has a nice cover illustration.
Catwings 1988
illustrated by S.D. Schindler
i have yet to read these books and i look forward to them as i look forward to every sentence that Ursula has written.
my best friend Ged shares a name with a well-known wizard from Earthsea, another world of Le Guin's.
The Cat Office 1997
Once and Forever:
The Tales of Kenji Miyazawa
1994
collection of short stories. includes the story Wildcat and the Acorns.
the collection also contains the story Night on the Galactic Railroad, which was adapted into an animated film in 1965 by Gisaburō Sugii. the film depicts the characters as anthropomorphic cats.
an animated biopic about Kenji Miyazawa was also produced in 1996, titled Spring and Chaos and directed by Shōji Kawamori. the people are depicted as cats in this film as well.
Tarakabako wrote a nice post about Miyazawa in anime and manga here.
The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle 1994
the novel begins with the search for the cat Noboru Wataya.
The Man with the Compound Eyes 2011
translated by Darryl Sterk
currently reading and excited to find that a small kitten named Ohiyo plays a significant role in the story...
I Became a Cat 2021
handmade, risograph book about when Huiyu became a cat. a cherished book of mine.
