Best known for the wild, phantasmagoric satire of works like Naked Lunch, William S. Burroughs reveals another, gentler side in The Cat I...
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Apr 29, 2008
Raegan
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A collection of anecdotes and observations about his various cats. It was quite interesting to see such a soft and tender loving side to William Burroughs. One can't help but feel more warm & fuzzy towards the man as a result. I am very tickled by the idea of ol' Burroughs puttering around his house in Lawrence fussing over his various felines.... its Sweet!
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Jun 01, 2008
Davi
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A book about cats. Almost journal entry-like. Burroughs ponders, analyzes and praises the feline species.
"I am not a dog hater. I do hate what man has made of his best friend. The snarl of a panther is certainly more dangerous than the snarl of a dog, but it isn't ugly. A cat's rage is beautiful, burning with a pure cat flame, all its hair standing up and crackling blue sparks, eyes blazing and sputtering. But a dog's snarl is ugly, a redneck lynch-mob Paki-basher snarl ... sna More...
"I am not a dog hater. I do hate what man has made of his best friend. The snarl of a panther is certainly more dangerous than the snarl of a dog, but it isn't ugly. A cat's rage is beautiful, burning with a pure cat flame, all its hair standing up and crackling blue sparks, eyes blazing and sputtering. But a dog's snarl is ugly, a redneck lynch-mob Paki-basher snarl ... sna More...
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Aug 24, 2011
Fellini
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Очень неоднородный сборник короткой прозы. Повесть "Здесь Ах Пуч" - типичный берроузовский наркоманско-гомосексуальный поток сознания, который у меня сложно усваивается - прочла по диагонали, не желая вникать. "Кот внутри", названный рецензентом "кошачьей шарадой" - маленькие заметки о кошках в жизни автора и вообще, очень понравились. "Кошка не предлагает услуги. Она предлагает себя. Конечно, она хочет заботы и крыши над головой. Любовь не получишь даром. Как
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May 30, 2011
shanties
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I once owned the Italian edition of this book, then gave it as a present to a friend of mine. Borrowed this copy from the department of anglo-american studies.
Burroughs was a lifelong lover of cats, and I guess it was only natural that this fact should produce one such output.
The book is a collection (collation, I would say) of short pieces, although at times the events go on from page to page like singled paragraphs of a longer narrative. Some of the pieces have a date & seem to More...
Burroughs was a lifelong lover of cats, and I guess it was only natural that this fact should produce one such output.
The book is a collection (collation, I would say) of short pieces, although at times the events go on from page to page like singled paragraphs of a longer narrative. Some of the pieces have a date & seem to More...
Jul 24, 2010
S.
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I was downtown today and decided to stop in the bookshop with a good English section and comfy chairs. I looked for the shortest book I could find, determined to sit down and read. I found this, 93 pages, none of them full, and read it in an hour or so. It was serendipity, being not too heavy but also not too banal, a very managable lozenge of a book.
In it Burroughs muses affectionately on his cats, and on cats in general as companions, 'familiars,' and life's company. He is a confirmed C More...
In it Burroughs muses affectionately on his cats, and on cats in general as companions, 'familiars,' and life's company. He is a confirmed C More...
Jul 04, 2011
Charlie
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This book is nothing like anything I've previously read by Burroughs. Though there are parts that definitely show his sense of humor and style of writing. Basically its a celebration of cats and only something I can see as being enjoyed by someone who also loves cats. Although I haven't had a cat in many years this book really spoke to me and I enjoyed it and read it on a long lonely bus ride and it made my day happier.
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Oct 10, 2010
Noriyuko 'Pat'
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I never thought I'd use the word 'charming' in relationship to Burroughs, but this is a charming book! Quotidian descriptions of his cats' habits, exchanges with other cat-owners ('they sure are company'), and comparisons with dogs (cats win) live alongside classic Burroughs takes on the spirit world, the overwhelming nausea elicited by the vast majority of hateful human beings inhabiting America, and so on. Really great moments of self-reflexivity, as in one section where Burroughs, looking bac
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Dec 19, 2010
ChunniSeth
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What a lovely little book. A synthesis of a cat lover's sentimentality, with some sparkling of Zen and Old Bull Lee's wild deep prophetic rants. For me, Burroughs is this Shamanic figure, with a strangeness about his writing which creates a very primal connection, as if one is caught in a telepathic ayahusca ritual with him. This book, however, was a surprise introduction to his caring and soft side. Intended as a collection of anecdotes and musings about his various cats, it is also a semi-auto
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Sep 28, 2010
Dan
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A book of dreams and other small events, most of which have to do with cats. Here, our reporter comments on himself as a “guardian” of cats, with emphasis on his contact and interactions with three subjects in particular, Ruski, Calico Jane and Fletch. In these notes, he describes the characters of the members of this clowder, their relations with one another, and their relations with him. In addition to acting as their food giver, protector and scratch toy, Burroughs is also a student of cat
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Aug 15, 2009
David
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burroughs and elliot are both highly esteemed authors who, both late in life, published books consisting entirely of paeans to their feliine housepets.
from a publishing point of view, this can only be understood in terms of the ability of the names of highly esteemed authors to generate sales.
from an observational point of view, this can be understood as an indication of the probable senility of the authors in question.
from a publishing point of view, this can only be understood in terms of the ability of the names of highly esteemed authors to generate sales.
from an observational point of view, this can be understood as an indication of the probable senility of the authors in question.
Nov 11, 2010
Yamrat
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I like cats. I like reading about people liking cats, it warms me in some old place that will probably be the reason I die alone one day. I don't think I should have made this the first William Burroughs book I read though, his others aren't quite as heartwarming...
Mar 08, 2009
I really have to find this book!!
Kalo perlu aku akan meminta seseorang mengingatkanku setiap sebelum tidur... seperti raja Persia yang minta diingetin terus tentang athena sebelum makan malam... hehe...
The cat inside... the cat inside...
Kalo perlu aku akan meminta seseorang mengingatkanku setiap sebelum tidur... seperti raja Persia yang minta diingetin terus tentang athena sebelum makan malam... hehe...
The cat inside... the cat inside...
Oct 27, 2009
Athen
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The Cat Inside is one of my favorite books, and my favorite by Burroughs, because it explores the author's struggle to become more humanly connected (via his relationship with cats), while also honoring the unique alienation of each being from the other that was his constant muse. It's a beautiful book reflective of the thoughts of an older man who had, toward the end of life, turned to face himself. Tough, brilliant, unusual and sometimes ugly, as all of Burroughs' writing was.
Mar 26, 2010
Shaun
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This is more clear than some of the Burroughs books that I've read. I am also a late in life cat lover. These were great descriptions of cats, personalities, and an insight into Burroughs. Great quick read.
Dec 02, 2009
Julie
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The Cat Inside has both wit and truth. Burroughs will have you laughing at his analogies of cats, humans, and dogs. The truths learned from this are sad, but well deserved to be heard. Must read for cat lovers.
Dec 21, 2011
Alison
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No way this would have been published by anyone else - you have to be famous first as it's not a great batch of writing. But it does have a few flashes of brilliance. Man those drugs must have been good.
Jan 04, 2011
Stephanie
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Just finished The Cat Inside by William S Burroughs. It was a short read but a great one, especially if you know cats. "We are the cats inside. We are the cats who cannot walk alone, and for us there is only one place."
Sep 09, 2011
I'm currently re-reading this wonderful collection of prose, stories and comments from Uncle Bill about his feline friends.
A great book to dip into now and again.
A great book to dip into now and again.
Nov 11, 2010
Troublewithwolves
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Maybe not the greatest book ever, but is totally about how much Burroughs digs kitties. That alone makes it worth reading.
May 23, 2011
Michelle
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Delightful! Burroughs takes the reader through the mind of his cats and does so with both humor and a deep understanding of the feline mentality.
Jan 08, 2009
Gloria Suzie
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This is the best thing Burroughs had written. Everything else was just a prelude to this very short book.
Aug 29, 2009
Heather
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i've grown strangely preoccupied with the ideas i found in this little book. love when that happens.
Dec 09, 2011
Gloriagloom
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In fondo è un libro di ossessioni amorose in forma di gatto. Commovente e crudele.
Apr 11, 2011
Tori
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Interesting quick read if you like cats and William S. Burroughs which I do.
Mar 10, 2009
erica
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The cat (lady) stories I have from this crazy house are too good not to jot down.
