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158th out of 299 books
—
210 voters
Fifth Life of the Cat Woman
The Catwoman is on her fifth life. She has survived witch hunts, ignorance, and poverty. And now, she seeks refuge amidst the company of fifty cats on her own private oasis, a mirage. But when a stranger named Angelo enters her isolated world, Kat is forced to face her fear. Sweetly and subtly, he courts and coaxes her back into the real world, convincing her to become a t...more
Paperback, 272 pages
Published
November 5th 2002
by Berkley Trade
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This one was sitting on the bottom of the huge tower of books that continually falls on this poor dog's head when he's sleeping. Someday I'll get them all read but for now he must suffer if he insists on sleeping next to the precarious tower.
It seems to be about a woman who has multiple lives, very much like a cat, who has retreated to a place of her own creation and resides peacefully with 50 cats.
Later: This one is indeed about a woman who has nine lives, just like a kitty, and they've all a...more
It seems to be about a woman who has multiple lives, very much like a cat, who has retreated to a place of her own creation and resides peacefully with 50 cats.
Later: This one is indeed about a woman who has nine lives, just like a kitty, and they've all a...more
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I read the first few pages of this book several years ago, and they have haunted me ever since. The book is no longer published, so I had to go to a used bookseller to get a copy. I'm still mulling over and digesting this book. I did enjoy it even though I cried through a lot of it.
The back cover blurb is intriguing "An allegory of prejudice, intolerance, second chances, and the feline obsession with tuna".
I will try to write more about this when my thoughts are more organized. But I did like i...more
The back cover blurb is intriguing "An allegory of prejudice, intolerance, second chances, and the feline obsession with tuna".
I will try to write more about this when my thoughts are more organized. But I did like i...more
This novel is about a woman who lives alone, inside a mirage, in the mountains of present-day New Mexico.
Kat O’Malley is not your average recluse. Several hundred years ago, O’Malley, then named Josefina, and her brother, Julio, received a gift, or curse, from their mother just before she was killed for being a witch. They were given nine lives, and made part cat. Kat is now on her fifth life. Her other lives did not end well. She was drowned for being a witch, stoned to death for being "too wel...more
Kat O’Malley is not your average recluse. Several hundred years ago, O’Malley, then named Josefina, and her brother, Julio, received a gift, or curse, from their mother just before she was killed for being a witch. They were given nine lives, and made part cat. Kat is now on her fifth life. Her other lives did not end well. She was drowned for being a witch, stoned to death for being "too wel...more
Updated Review:
I picked this book up at my local library and re-read it this week. It's a somewhat different experience reading this novel as an adult, but in the same vein the truth of the story did not change.
Kat O'Malley, aka the CatWoman, has lived four lives and is now on her fifth. She remembers all those previous lives, and they have not been very pretty. She has died as a witch, been stoned, and died in childbirth. Because of the horror of the past, she has sequestered herself on a magic...more
I picked this book up at my local library and re-read it this week. It's a somewhat different experience reading this novel as an adult, but in the same vein the truth of the story did not change.
Kat O'Malley, aka the CatWoman, has lived four lives and is now on her fifth. She remembers all those previous lives, and they have not been very pretty. She has died as a witch, been stoned, and died in childbirth. Because of the horror of the past, she has sequestered herself on a magic...more
...to describe how this book made me feel. It is poignant, it is bittersweet, it is joyful, and it is more. The descriptions in this book were exquisite, the characters were well-drawn, the lessons were apropos to any society at any time but even more so to today's American society -- and the book was filled with cats, which is always a plus in my eyes. If you've ever felt like an outsider, I think you will appreciate this book, and I hope you will love it as much as I did. And if you've never f...more
For the first fifty pages, my dominant thought was "Oh, please." While that never entirely went away, what with the cheesy romance, and the Mr. Holland's Opus shtick, I'm glad I stuck it out. This is a beautifully written book, and though platitude-heavy and somewhat formulaic in parts, a genuinely moving tale that had me luxuriating in a sweet, wistful sadness when I put it down. Now where's the whisky?
This is really not the type of book I normally read. I would never have picked it up off the shelf in a store and thought "oh, that sounds good, I think I'll get it." Despite that, maybe even because of it, I give it five stars! It made me laugh, it made me cry, it made me think...that, to me, is what makes a great book. What I learned from it...you really CAN'T judge a book by it's cover.
Recommended by my sister.
I liked it but didn't love it overall. The best parts were the cats (of course), the first instance of teaching alternative history (loved that), and the overall quality of the writing (good!). I think I was a bit annoyed or put off by what felt like a cheesy romance (dare I say it, chick-lit flavoring)…
I do think being a cat could be lovely.
I liked it but didn't love it overall. The best parts were the cats (of course), the first instance of teaching alternative history (loved that), and the overall quality of the writing (good!). I think I was a bit annoyed or put off by what felt like a cheesy romance (dare I say it, chick-lit flavoring)…
I do think being a cat could be lovely.
The main human characters were sometimes irritating (a la J.K. Rowling) in their refusal to acknowledge or discuss obvious truths. However, the main character's evolution was satisfying. The cat characters were delightfully amusing. The book is worth reading for that reason alone.
Great book! Quick read and very enjoyable. I loved diving into this book so much that I don't think I stepped out again until I was done one weekend.
Jun 01, 2009
Midge
added it
I don't know why I liked this book so much. It's meloncoly, and not that much happens. But I find I can read it over and over, its like a comforting blanket.
weird but good.
Part woman, part cat, Kat has nine lives, given to her by her original mother. She lives on an oasis, alone apart from a large collection of cats. This story follows her reintroduction to society by a man who was her brother in a former life. She becomes a teacher in a town dominated by New Age philosophy. The teaching scenario is very idealized, and the romance is a little heavy-handed, but otherwise an unusual and entertaining story.
Mar 16, 2008
Jana
rated it
5 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
anyone in search of a good story
Recommended to Jana by:
found in library booksale room
such an ingenious plot base. had so much fun reading this book that my heart hurt a little when it was over. i had to stare into nostalgic space for awhile after finishing. then some more staring while eating chips and salsa which proceeded to burn my tongue. after recovering tho i want to recommend it to anyone who needs a GOOD STORY.
Magical!
A wonderful book, part magic realism, part something else. A fantasy book for those that don't like fantasy but do like cats and gardening. If you had nine lives, and had died young and horribly in the first 4, what would you do for the 5th? Hide? Would you be done with humanity?
Sep 27, 2007
Cheryl
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
anyone
Shelves:
fiction
A fairy tale/love story/social commentary about two people brought back together after four lifetimes. I loved Kat's past lives and all that she strove to imbue in her students. This is so quirky it works
This was one of the best books I have read in a while. It is very interesting and just a fun read.....I would definitely recommend this!
A beautiful and lyrical story that stayed with me long after the last page was turned.
Katie I think you might like this book, not sure why.
4.4.08 rec'd by jozelle, loved it
Jun 12, 2013
Allison Craig
marked it as to-read
May 18, 2013
Jessie Tapley
marked it as to-read
Apr 05, 2013
Sandra
added it
Apr 03, 2013
Mara
marked it as to-read
Mar 07, 2013
Zoe
marked it as to-read
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