Jennie
By Paul Gallico
4/5
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About this ebook
“If in doubt, wash!”
What is it like to be a cat? Find out in this classic animal story from the renowned writer Paul Gallico.
Peter Brown longs for a pet cat. One day, he is following a stray cat through the streets when he is knocked down and seriously hurt. On waking, he is astonished to find that he has turned into a cat… The world is a dangerous place for him, but luckily he is rescued and befriended by Jennie, a kindly stray tabby who has been abandoned by her owners. Adventures wait around every corner for the two new friends, as Jennie teaches Peter all about life as a cat.
Humorous and touching, and packed with acutely observed feline behaviour, this is a beloved classic that’s essential for any cat-lover.
Paul Gallico
Paul William Gallico (July 26, 1897 – July 15, 1976) was a successful American novelist, short story and sports writer. Many of his works were adapted for motion pictures. He is perhaps best remembered for his short story, The Snow Goose and for the novel The Poseidon Adventure, which was made into a very famous film adaptation in 1972.
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Reviews for Jennie
130 ratings6 reviews
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Cute cat story. Little Peter gets hit by a car and wakes up having turned into a cat. He meets Jennie who shows him how to be a cat on the London streets (when in doubt, wash). They go to Glasgow on a ship together. Eventually it turns out that like The Wizard of Oz, it was all a dream while he was unconscious. It was a great story.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Started reading this book, which I'd liked as a child, to my daughter Rumer during pregnancy (after Watership Down). After a long hiatus, read the last few chapters to her in person during the last few hours of her life (aged three months). A fittingly heart-rending story, really sad; somewhat racist in places.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5A cursory look at my review page will confirm that I love cats so it is not surprising that I finally managed to read this book. However, not being a cat, I feel unqualified to give it the praise it deserves, so I urge you to go read Pekoe the Cat's fine review. I endorse everything she says. My only negative comment about this wonderful book is that I was not all that happy about the ending.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5I am speaking as a cat here, about this book, the Abandoned. It is a story that it at one and the same time a beautiful dream, and a horrible nightmare. A boy, one of the nicer sort, who loves cats but is not allowed to have one, runs across the street to pet a cat. He is so excited he has missed seeing the truck which runs him down. He is dreadfully hurt, but awakes in a bed, and then realizes he is all right, but has turned into a cat. Soon, his dear Nanny finds him, and not recognizing him, tosses him outside into the cruel city of London. Have you ever wished that someone could live a little of your life, so that they could understand your trials and point of view? I have to say that this is a feeling that we cats have regularly, especially in regard to those whom I will refer to, henceforth, as the Dominant Species. Because not only do they seem to have no idea of how hard it can be for a cat in this harsh world, but they seem to regard all acts of courage or nobility as belonging to their species alone. Peter, the boy, finds out all about what it is like to live as a cat without a family to take care of him. It is so frightening, all the noise, all the creatures and things running about above you - trying to stay out of the way of wheels and feet and other dangerous things. Almost at once, he is beaten by a hard hearted cat. But he makes his way to Jennie, the heroine of the book, who generously licks his wounds, shares her food and instructs him in the ways of cats. Sometime later, Peter, learns of Jennie’s secret sorrow. And he learns so well from her that there comes a point where he is able to help her as she has helped him. He has always been a courageous little chap, but he also becomes more thoughtful and giving. I don’t want to give away all of their adventures, but they have a lot of them. [SPOILER]All this is wonderful, but then comes the really scary part towards the end, when Peter becomes a boy again. I guess I knew it had to happen. It is the way these stories go. Someone kisses the frog and he turns back into a prince. The beast turns back into another prince. The 12 wild swans turn back into boys. You know the pattern. But this is different, you know, to turn that way, from cat to human, such a downfall. Oh, ok, perhaps it was okay for him. He started out that way. He missed his parents, and, maybe he would be able to remember something of how noble he had been and to keep a little of Jennie in his heart. But then, I just couldn’t get it out of my head. What if it happened to me? I can feel you shudder. Think of it, school, and then the job. Years and years of the job. It scares me now every time I go to sleep. Nonetheless, it’s a very good book. Humans especially should read it. Cats too, just not before bed.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5I read this story when i was fairly young. And it broke my heart! Very beautifully written! A splendid story of adventure, love and cats!
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5A charming story of friendship and love told through the eyes of a young boy who finds himself living as a cat. It is at once observational about the habits of cats and also the way people interact and learn about themselves and each other. Jennie still has the power to make me cry.