In, THE GHOST CAT, author Alex Howard takes the reader on a century-long ride from the eyes of a cat who gets 9 lives.
One fine morning in 1902, 15-year-old Grimalkin, ignoring his breakfast call by Eilidh, his favorite human, rests his aching bones by the fireside. This is how the house cat of 717 Marchmont Crescent Edinburgh passes away in his sleep.
Upon waking, the cat finds himself face to face with whoever is the head of their afterlife. The head cat soon realises that Grimalkin is there by mistake and is offered two choices. He can either accept his time is over or return as a ghost cat and live the lives he's never lived, with conditions of course. Grimalkin chooses to return especially to keep up with his favorite person Eilidh (Aye-Lee).
As the story progresses we get an introduction to every life Grimalkin gets after he made his choice. With every life leap, Grimalkin wakes up in the same house at 717 Marchmont. He meets the current residents and what the world's up to.
Every time Grimalkin wakes up in new life, year amongst new residents we get to know how he feels. It's a running commentary of everything Grim sees and compares with his time on earth. As a Victorian cat, it's almost funny to see the world change through his eyes.
We get the setting of the start of each of his life, like 1909, 1935, 1942 and so forth. We do not witness the whole or major events in each of these lives. So it felt like something was missing, of course, it would have been a very long book if that happened. However, I still felt something was missing and I would've liked more on it.
It gives us a glimpse of things a cat might observe from their vantage point. The events and observations from a cat's POV were of varied flavor. It was amusing, hilarious, sad, playful, indifferent, even thoughtful and poignant at times.
I found it heartwarming and adorable how Grimalkin in every life looks out for Eilidh. Their love for each other is sweet and unmissable.
And one fine day in 2022, while introducing us to his newest housemates, Grimalkin takes his final ghostly breath. As a reader, while I enjoyed parts of the ghost cat's journey there is a lot left wanting.
It is all good to see the world changing and the house getting new residents over the hundred-plus years. I felt there was so much space and scope to make this more interesting. The cat should've gotten a much better stage and character and shenanigans.
By the end, I felt there was something missing in the story and the cat, to say the least, was a mild cute fellow.
So if you are in the mood to read about a cute cat's life and his observations on Earth over a century, pick up a copy.
A charming novel for fans of Before the Coffee Gets Cold and How to Stop Time, following a cat through his nine lives in Edinburgh, moving through the ever-changing city and meeting its inhabitants over centuries
Early morning, 1902. At 7/7 Marchmont Crescent, Eilidh the charlady tips coal into a fire grate and sets it alight. Overhearing, Grimalkin the cat ambles over to curl up against the welcome heat and lick his favorite human’s hand. But this is to be his last day on earth…before he becomes the Ghost Cat.
Follow Grimalkin as he witnesses the changes of the next 120 years, prowling unseen among the inhabitants of an Edinburgh tenement while unearthing some startling revelations about the mystery of existence, the unstoppable march of time and the true meaning of feline companionship.
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