Playing around with SuBo's Cat
I've spoken to Ana Catris on Twitter a number of times over the past few months and during the winter when I was performing book signing events I often saw her book, SuBo's Cat, promimently placed on shelves near the tills. I've been meaning to buy it but it wasn't until last week at the Cardiff Comic Expo that we met and I did so. She also interviewed me that day, and you can read about that here.
What is SuBo's Cat about? My British followers will be aware of the phenomenon known as Susan Boyle, a woman who rose to fame with her heart-warming rendition of "I dreamed a dream" on ITV's show, Britain's Got Talent, in 2008. Since then she's released two albums – but I'm not here to review her! SuBo's Cat is an attempt at a celebrity tie in – a humorous chance to profit from a reimagining of a known, if improbable, rise to fame looked at from the point of view of Susan Boyle's fictional cat, Pebbles. The book's release was carefully timed to hit the Christmas 2010 market just as Boyle's second album came out which made it highly visible over the festive season.
Told through pictures and with very few written words, the book charts first how Pebbles came to be SuBo's cat and explores Pebbles' disappointment at becoming the pet of someone who has previously been described as having the "voice of an angel" but without the looks to match. You see, Pebbles dreamed of being owned by someone rich, famous and beautiful, and in the book Susan Boyle is none of these things – to begin with. Pebbles takes an instant dislike to her owner, and works to hurt and ridicule her wherever possible… until the idea emerges that maybe Pebbles can profit from Boyle's voice… then it's straight to 'Britain's Got No Talent'. Most of the major twists to Boyle's career have been covered, including her stint in the Priory. Unable to survive without her, Pebbles is forced to rescue Boyle, and nurses her back to health with the intention of using her to make yet more money – a fickle cat indeed.
Fame comes, and unfortunately it goes to Pebbles' head; as the cat that got the cream, Pebbles gets everything - until, through Ms Catris' illustrations, we are left with a cat out of control, drunk with power and craving more until eventually poor Pebbles goes off the rails. That's when the roles reverse. Boyle 'rescues' Pebbles against her will and the book comes to its conclusion with Pebbles even more frustrated than before - until she has a new bright idea…
There is some comparison to be drawn between SuBo's Cat and the second book by Simon Tofield about Simon's Cat, released around the same time - both are picture books about felines who frustrate their humans, but while Simon's cat acts with innocence there is a delicious malevolence to Pebbles, who takes pleasure in seeing Boyle suffer. With this added depth of character, as well as a more focused visual layout, SuBo's Cat comes across as a more broad story despite its short length. This added recurring narrative acts to seperate the two titles and ensures that SuBo's Cat expands upon Pebbles' character with each page whereas Simon's Cat looks only to explore the way his cat reacts in any given circumstance.
If you'd like a sneak peak at Ana's behind the scenes comments about the book, including some art that didn't make it in, I'd recommend you check out the SuBo's Cat tumblr page. You can also find Ana on Twitter as @acatris. Until then, like all the books I've reviewed, you can purchase SuBo's Cat in any good bookstore, or through Amazon with this link.
