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The Good Luck Cat: How a Cat Saved a Family, and a Family Saved a Cat
Lissa Warren’s father needed a retirement companion while his wife and daughter were at work. Enter Ting, a seven-pound Korat who changed his life, and the life of the family. All kittens are mischievous, but Ting “the cat grenade” was real trouble. She was also smart, endearing, and the soul of the Warren family. In late 2008, Lissa’s father died of a heart attack. The images from that night still haunt her—especially the EKG readout ending in one long, devastating em dash. Less than a year later, Lissa and her mother stared at another EKG readout, this time for Ting. A living feline extension of the man they missed so much—the man they had tried, but failed, to save—she was diagnosed with a potentially fatal heart condition. The only option was to have a human pacemaker implanted in the cat—a procedure even the best animal hospital in Boston hadn’t performed in a decade. Determined not to lose another family member, they embarked on a medical odyssey on behalf of the gray cat who had been her father’s shadow—a journey that would prepare one of them for her own serious diagnosis. A gorgeously written memoir about grief, hope, and how pets both complicate and enrich our lives, The Good Luck Cat is a testament to the power of the human—and the feline—spirit.
256 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2014
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522 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
June 22, 2018
This was... pretty good!
I honestly wasn't expecting much, most memoirs about animals are a bit on the predictable side. This one though, was a bit of a change of pace.
Its not so much about Ting, but about a family dynamic and a love of cats. It was incredibly sad at times, especially when the author recounts the traumatic death of her father, and her own diagnosis of MS.
There were quite a few genuine, laugh out loud moments. I had a good long giggle about Tings hi jinks and shenanigans, and drew a few parallels with my own cats (mine are batshit crazy - Ting is an angel compared to mine!).
It was engaging and thoughtful, and I particularly enjoyed the chapter on cats in art and poetry, and the "catty quotes" at the beginning of each chapter.
All in all, it was a nice read, and a pleasant way to pass an afternoon.
3 Stars
I honestly wasn't expecting much, most memoirs about animals are a bit on the predictable side. This one though, was a bit of a change of pace.
Its not so much about Ting, but about a family dynamic and a love of cats. It was incredibly sad at times, especially when the author recounts the traumatic death of her father, and her own diagnosis of MS.
There were quite a few genuine, laugh out loud moments. I had a good long giggle about Tings hi jinks and shenanigans, and drew a few parallels with my own cats (mine are batshit crazy - Ting is an angel compared to mine!).
It was engaging and thoughtful, and I particularly enjoyed the chapter on cats in art and poetry, and the "catty quotes" at the beginning of each chapter.
All in all, it was a nice read, and a pleasant way to pass an afternoon.
3 Stars
December 3, 2014
Put this one on your "must-read" list ...
Although I breed and show pedigreed cats (Russian Blues), I seldom read memoirs involving animals. They tend to be poorly written and rather predictable. And most authors of such memoirs take a decidedly politically correct stance: rescue, don't buy a pedigreed cat. Yes, there are many delightful random-bred cats and kittens in need of a home. But there are some solid reasons to seek out a pedigreed cat as well.
But when I saw the photo of the blue cat on the cover, I knew that I had to at least read the blurb. And when I discovered that this memoir centered on a pedigreed cat (a Korat, a rather uncommon breed), I knew that I would check this book out.
I was not disappointed. I finished Ms. Warren's book a few days ago, and find myself still thinking of it.
Ms. Warren is a very capable, often self-deprecating, writer. Her love for cats comes through quite strongly, but so does her humanity and compassion for people.
Initially, Ms. Warren writes about her family's decision to acquire a Korat as a remedy to her father's post-retirement boredom. While she did not consider a random-bred rescue, she persuasively presents her reasons for wanting certain specific attributes in a feline (i.e., small size, specific type of temperament). After doing her research, Ms. Warren chooses the Korat, then finds a breeder. (I was more than a little disappointed that the breeder from whom Ms. Warren acquired her kitten did not spay Ting before placement, nor did she require spaying her contract, although Ms. Warren states that there was "a careful vetting process." Rather, the breeder had Ms. Warren promise "not to breed her with anything other than another Korat of traceable ancestry." This isn't the way reputable breeders place pet kittens. However, this is a quibble with Ting's breeders, not with Ms. Warren and certainly not with her book.)
Ms. Warren deftly weaves the story of her parents' courtship and marriage into her memoir. As an only child, Ms. Warren is close to her parents, and she chooses to move in with them as an adult ("out of choice, not necessity - I actually liked my parents"). Her parents love cats, too, and there is a poignant section on a stray that the Warrens came to unofficially adopt during Ms. Warren's childhood.
Ms. Warren's father had health problems, and died of a heart attack when Ting was an adult cat - a loss that was deeply grieved by Ms. Warren and her mother. Ms. Warren's descriptions of her grief and depression following her father's death are heartfelt and very moving, and form perhaps the major part of this memoir.
Then Ting falls ill; her diagnosis is AV block, and her treatment is a pacemaker. Despite the steep cost (approximately $10,000), Ms. Warren and her mother choose this option, and Ting recovers. At the time of this book's publication, Ting is 19 years old and still enjoying life.
Ms. Warren also writes of her own illness; she was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis not long after Ting's surgery. She is accepting of her illness and remains optimistic throughout. If anything, she is exceedingly compassionate and kind-hearted; during a wait of two hours in an ER, Ms. Warren "reasoned that there were people much sicker than [she was] in the ER that night." Having lived with a chronic illness (and multiple surgeries) since childhood, I can attest that my thoughts were not always so generous and accepting.
After reading my library's copy, I bought a copy for my Kindle, for I know that I will be rereading this book. I hope that Ms. Warren will be writing more in the future.
Although I breed and show pedigreed cats (Russian Blues), I seldom read memoirs involving animals. They tend to be poorly written and rather predictable. And most authors of such memoirs take a decidedly politically correct stance: rescue, don't buy a pedigreed cat. Yes, there are many delightful random-bred cats and kittens in need of a home. But there are some solid reasons to seek out a pedigreed cat as well.
But when I saw the photo of the blue cat on the cover, I knew that I had to at least read the blurb. And when I discovered that this memoir centered on a pedigreed cat (a Korat, a rather uncommon breed), I knew that I would check this book out.
I was not disappointed. I finished Ms. Warren's book a few days ago, and find myself still thinking of it.
Ms. Warren is a very capable, often self-deprecating, writer. Her love for cats comes through quite strongly, but so does her humanity and compassion for people.
Initially, Ms. Warren writes about her family's decision to acquire a Korat as a remedy to her father's post-retirement boredom. While she did not consider a random-bred rescue, she persuasively presents her reasons for wanting certain specific attributes in a feline (i.e., small size, specific type of temperament). After doing her research, Ms. Warren chooses the Korat, then finds a breeder. (I was more than a little disappointed that the breeder from whom Ms. Warren acquired her kitten did not spay Ting before placement, nor did she require spaying her contract, although Ms. Warren states that there was "a careful vetting process." Rather, the breeder had Ms. Warren promise "not to breed her with anything other than another Korat of traceable ancestry." This isn't the way reputable breeders place pet kittens. However, this is a quibble with Ting's breeders, not with Ms. Warren and certainly not with her book.)
Ms. Warren deftly weaves the story of her parents' courtship and marriage into her memoir. As an only child, Ms. Warren is close to her parents, and she chooses to move in with them as an adult ("out of choice, not necessity - I actually liked my parents"). Her parents love cats, too, and there is a poignant section on a stray that the Warrens came to unofficially adopt during Ms. Warren's childhood.
Ms. Warren's father had health problems, and died of a heart attack when Ting was an adult cat - a loss that was deeply grieved by Ms. Warren and her mother. Ms. Warren's descriptions of her grief and depression following her father's death are heartfelt and very moving, and form perhaps the major part of this memoir.
Then Ting falls ill; her diagnosis is AV block, and her treatment is a pacemaker. Despite the steep cost (approximately $10,000), Ms. Warren and her mother choose this option, and Ting recovers. At the time of this book's publication, Ting is 19 years old and still enjoying life.
Ms. Warren also writes of her own illness; she was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis not long after Ting's surgery. She is accepting of her illness and remains optimistic throughout. If anything, she is exceedingly compassionate and kind-hearted; during a wait of two hours in an ER, Ms. Warren "reasoned that there were people much sicker than [she was] in the ER that night." Having lived with a chronic illness (and multiple surgeries) since childhood, I can attest that my thoughts were not always so generous and accepting.
After reading my library's copy, I bought a copy for my Kindle, for I know that I will be rereading this book. I hope that Ms. Warren will be writing more in the future.
November 25, 2014
I’m the unlikeliest person to love this book. I don’t favor memoirs, finding most either overly sentimental or simply not credible. And while I have made a career out of studying animals, I was brought up with a matter-of-fact take on pets. My parents viewed them as they did children: under constant threat of being spoiled and best shut outside for the day.
So imagine my surprise when I cracked this book open and found a story that had me laughing, crying and, most of all, wishing I’d been born a Warren. A published poet, Lissa Warren’s prose is smooth and assured, and holds up well under the emotional weight of the difficult passages. The tone never veers toward the maudlin, as it so easily might have. Instead, Warren lets the story speak for itself, in the best way possible.
In a sense, the title couldn’t be more misleading. The story is not about a cat, and it’s not about luck. It’s about a man, a woman and their daughter, and the extraordinary depth of their love for each other. Of course the cat is welcomed into this remarkable triad—lucky cat!—as are we, through this touching book.
For the cat lover in your life, or for anyone who would enjoy a beautiful reminder of what families are for.
So imagine my surprise when I cracked this book open and found a story that had me laughing, crying and, most of all, wishing I’d been born a Warren. A published poet, Lissa Warren’s prose is smooth and assured, and holds up well under the emotional weight of the difficult passages. The tone never veers toward the maudlin, as it so easily might have. Instead, Warren lets the story speak for itself, in the best way possible.
In a sense, the title couldn’t be more misleading. The story is not about a cat, and it’s not about luck. It’s about a man, a woman and their daughter, and the extraordinary depth of their love for each other. Of course the cat is welcomed into this remarkable triad—lucky cat!—as are we, through this touching book.
For the cat lover in your life, or for anyone who would enjoy a beautiful reminder of what families are for.
November 9, 2014
Lissa Warren's "The Good Luck Cat: How a Cat Saved a Family, and a Family Saved a Cat" is a wonderful look into the lives of a close-knit family and their relationship with Ting, a Korat cat. "Dogs are nice," Warren writes, "but their love is given freely. With cats you have to earn it, and I'm a girl who loves a challenge." Filled with vibrant prose, "The Good Luck Cat" is an exceptional memoir about the power of love, loss, and family.
Throughout all of Warren's struggles, including the loss of her father, her diagnosis with MS, and the tremendous ordeal of having Ting fitted with a human pacemaker, her love of Ting and her family remain constant. While reading "The Good Luck Cat" with my own black cat, Roxie, beside me, I was reminded of the incredible bond between a cat and its owner and how sustaining that is to us in our daily loves.
Throughout all of Warren's struggles, including the loss of her father, her diagnosis with MS, and the tremendous ordeal of having Ting fitted with a human pacemaker, her love of Ting and her family remain constant. While reading "The Good Luck Cat" with my own black cat, Roxie, beside me, I was reminded of the incredible bond between a cat and its owner and how sustaining that is to us in our daily loves.
February 9, 2015
I was looking for a book about cute cat stories. Instead, this book depressed me. The author kept going off on tangents about the history of cats in poetry and art, etc. Then she talked about her previous cats that died, her various relatives who died, and she went into extreme detail.
This is not a book about cute cat stories. This was a did-not-finish book. It depressed me.
This is not a book about cute cat stories. This was a did-not-finish book. It depressed me.
October 27, 2015
The Good Luck Cat (2014) by Lissa Warren spellbinds the reader into cheering for a loving family to overcome life-threatening health issues and champion a beloved Korat known as Ting-Pei, who turned 20 years old on October 27, 2015.
Dedicating the book to her parents and to her favorite cat, Lissa exudes the essence of an ailurophile as she describes feline ancestry—explained by the Father of History—tinged by a bit of foreshadowing:
“According to the Greek historian Herodotus, whenever there was a fire, Egyptian men from all over the city would gather to guard it so that cats couldn’t run into the flames. Our own devotion paled in comparison.
“Herodotus also wrote about how, in Egypt, cats were honored in death just as they were in life—how, when a cat died, its family would go into mourning. They’d even shave their eyebrows as a public sign of their loss, just as they’d do when they lost a human family member” (p 29-30).
The insightful and sagacious Lissa continues as she elaborates more on intriguing facts about cats when her parents visited China years ago:
“They shared what the shop clerk had told them: that dogs have long been the pets of hunters, and cats, the pets of farmers. For that reason, China, an agrarian nation, strongly favored the cat. Recently, eight five-thousand-year-old cat bones were found in the Chinese farming village of Quanhucun. Testing showed that one of them was from and elderly cat who probably couldn’t have survived in the wild. It suggests a certain level of domestication—that the farmers must have protected the cat—and it was quite surprising to archaeologists, because cats were thought to have been domesticated a mere four thousand years ago, and in a completely different country” (p 85).
With the historical foundation laid, Lissa’s compassion to Ting is surpassed only by her compassion for her father as she opens her heart and soul to describe a childhood event which stuns the reader into tears and silent agony:
“The Wolverines were down by three and trying to get within field-goal range when my father dragged himself onto the couch. The rest of what happened comes to me in snatches—fragments due to the passage of time, or the fear I felt, or the episodic nature of childhood memory. What I recall is that his white Hanes V-neck was soaked with sweat, which was also pouring off his forehead. Me running to the kitchen to get him paper towel. Him telling me to dial Mom at work, then telling me to hang up on her and dial 911. Him saying I should unlock the front door and put Cinnamon in the bedroom. Him waving to me as the ambulance pulled away” (p 32).
But this profound memoir holds much more than history and woe, and the reader will often find herself laughing at the marvels and unexpected fun balled up in the gorgeous Korat:
“And then, on Christmas Eve, a miracle occurred: Ting-Pei Warren, the Judeo-Christian Buddhist cat, high on catnip and tuna water, silently scaled the six-foot spruce while her family sat by the fire, making short work of a pecan-encrusted cheese log. The three of us turned just in time to see her, a silver star atop the highest bough. And just in time to see her lose her balance and take the entire tree down with her” (p 50).
Lissa dives further in to the wonderful world of all-things-cats and becomes a Joan of Arc, per se, defending the unsavory reputation cats have gained over the centuries:
“The French novelist Colette once said, ‘There are no ordinary cats.’ And while clearly we think Ting is one of a kind, you’d be hard-pressed to find a cat we don’t like. That’s why it baffles me that, somehow, cats have gotten pegged as harbingers of bad luck…
“Some of the digs are fairly gentle, as in L.M. Montgomery’s novel Anne of the Island: ‘I love them, they are so nice and selfish. Dogs are too good and unselfish. They make me feel uncomfortable. But cats are gloriously human.’
“And in Christopher Hitchens’s The Portable Atheist: ‘Owners of dogs will have noticed that, if you provide them with food and water and shelter and affection, they will think you are god. Whereas owners of cats are compelled to realize that, if you provide them with food and water and shelter and affection, they draw the conclusion that they are gods” (p 58).
And if the reader loves all-quotes-cats, each chapter begins with quotes and poem excerpts from T.S. Eliot, Mugsy Peabody, H.P Lovecraft, Haruki Murakami, Lewis Carroll, Oscar Wilde, William S. Burroughs, Isobelle Carmody, and dozens more, including the poetess Lissa Warren as well in her opening poem “The Waltz on the Red-Brick Patio” originally published in Oxford Magazine.
What the reader will find more interesting than the quotes are the snippets of sweet memories between a father and his only daughter, his beloved neshama, and these snapshots seem wonderfully infinite in its scope and sublimity. After her father’s back surgery, Lissa tells of a daughter’s true love for her father and the painful moments he first returned home:
“I eased Dad out of the front seat, held him by the elbow while he walked upstairs to the bedroom, and helped him lower himself into his rocker. I tucked our fluffiest pillow behind his back and handed him the remote control and a giant bow of vanilla-bean ice cream with chocolate sauce that Mom had scooped for him (he’d earned it), and left him to watch the Yankees game in comfort for the first time in over a year” (p 105).
But it’s Lissa’s unwavering honesty to dig beyond the borders of flesh and time and space which lock people away from one another, and as she reaches out to the reader with her uncensored thoughts and fears, the world grows a little bit smaller and bigger all at the same moment. There’s hope here, and in that hope there is truth; as she writes, Lissa’s father has once again returned to the hospital for more tests:
“But in the hospital that night, for the first time in my life, I wished I had a brother or sister—someone to stay with Mom and Dad while I went to fetch a nurse, or even a cup of tea…
“It hit me that night that someday both Mom and Dad would be gone and that, when they were, I wouldn’t have a family. That no one would remember ‘raccoon theater’—how we used to scatter marshmallows on the back lawn of our house in Ohio so that, after dark, we could turn off the inside lights, turn on the outside ones, and settle near the window to watch the raccoons enjoy their treat. That no one would remember how, at 11:11 every night, whichever one of us noticed it first would cry out ‘Happy our time!’ simply because my father had designated it as such. That no one would remember the trip to Greers Ferry Lake where Dad dislocated his shoulder trying to get onto a raft, but where we found great barbecue afterward—pulled pork sandwiches with that vinegary sauce they have in Arkansas that Dad said was worth a little pain. That no one would remember the night I brought Ting home, and how I slept on the floor of my parents’ room to help her transition from me to them. That no one would remember any of it. No one, that is, except me” (p 111).
As over 60,000 inquiring minds, plus tens of thousands more, read of Lissa’s memories let us remember her special moments, her happy times, and her love for her father, mother and her adorable Ting-Pei. We should all be so lucky to have lived so well and with so much love.
If there is a Heaven—and I have it on good advice that Paradise awaits the ones who remain true to the Spirit and Love—it would look and feel a great deal like this:
“The two of them, Dad and Ting, would walk over the little stone bridge, past the pair of Adirondack chairs by the pond, past the weeping willow where the kingfishers liked to chase each other, and then back across the creek to the house” (p 27).
The Good Luck Cat enchants, captivates, and takes the breath away (but in a good omen-kind-of way). A strong recommend for those who love cats, for those who love history and literature about cats, and for those who love a powerful story told well.
Keep reading and smiling…
Dedicating the book to her parents and to her favorite cat, Lissa exudes the essence of an ailurophile as she describes feline ancestry—explained by the Father of History—tinged by a bit of foreshadowing:
“According to the Greek historian Herodotus, whenever there was a fire, Egyptian men from all over the city would gather to guard it so that cats couldn’t run into the flames. Our own devotion paled in comparison.
“Herodotus also wrote about how, in Egypt, cats were honored in death just as they were in life—how, when a cat died, its family would go into mourning. They’d even shave their eyebrows as a public sign of their loss, just as they’d do when they lost a human family member” (p 29-30).
The insightful and sagacious Lissa continues as she elaborates more on intriguing facts about cats when her parents visited China years ago:
“They shared what the shop clerk had told them: that dogs have long been the pets of hunters, and cats, the pets of farmers. For that reason, China, an agrarian nation, strongly favored the cat. Recently, eight five-thousand-year-old cat bones were found in the Chinese farming village of Quanhucun. Testing showed that one of them was from and elderly cat who probably couldn’t have survived in the wild. It suggests a certain level of domestication—that the farmers must have protected the cat—and it was quite surprising to archaeologists, because cats were thought to have been domesticated a mere four thousand years ago, and in a completely different country” (p 85).
With the historical foundation laid, Lissa’s compassion to Ting is surpassed only by her compassion for her father as she opens her heart and soul to describe a childhood event which stuns the reader into tears and silent agony:
“The Wolverines were down by three and trying to get within field-goal range when my father dragged himself onto the couch. The rest of what happened comes to me in snatches—fragments due to the passage of time, or the fear I felt, or the episodic nature of childhood memory. What I recall is that his white Hanes V-neck was soaked with sweat, which was also pouring off his forehead. Me running to the kitchen to get him paper towel. Him telling me to dial Mom at work, then telling me to hang up on her and dial 911. Him saying I should unlock the front door and put Cinnamon in the bedroom. Him waving to me as the ambulance pulled away” (p 32).
But this profound memoir holds much more than history and woe, and the reader will often find herself laughing at the marvels and unexpected fun balled up in the gorgeous Korat:
“And then, on Christmas Eve, a miracle occurred: Ting-Pei Warren, the Judeo-Christian Buddhist cat, high on catnip and tuna water, silently scaled the six-foot spruce while her family sat by the fire, making short work of a pecan-encrusted cheese log. The three of us turned just in time to see her, a silver star atop the highest bough. And just in time to see her lose her balance and take the entire tree down with her” (p 50).
Lissa dives further in to the wonderful world of all-things-cats and becomes a Joan of Arc, per se, defending the unsavory reputation cats have gained over the centuries:
“The French novelist Colette once said, ‘There are no ordinary cats.’ And while clearly we think Ting is one of a kind, you’d be hard-pressed to find a cat we don’t like. That’s why it baffles me that, somehow, cats have gotten pegged as harbingers of bad luck…
“Some of the digs are fairly gentle, as in L.M. Montgomery’s novel Anne of the Island: ‘I love them, they are so nice and selfish. Dogs are too good and unselfish. They make me feel uncomfortable. But cats are gloriously human.’
“And in Christopher Hitchens’s The Portable Atheist: ‘Owners of dogs will have noticed that, if you provide them with food and water and shelter and affection, they will think you are god. Whereas owners of cats are compelled to realize that, if you provide them with food and water and shelter and affection, they draw the conclusion that they are gods” (p 58).
And if the reader loves all-quotes-cats, each chapter begins with quotes and poem excerpts from T.S. Eliot, Mugsy Peabody, H.P Lovecraft, Haruki Murakami, Lewis Carroll, Oscar Wilde, William S. Burroughs, Isobelle Carmody, and dozens more, including the poetess Lissa Warren as well in her opening poem “The Waltz on the Red-Brick Patio” originally published in Oxford Magazine.
What the reader will find more interesting than the quotes are the snippets of sweet memories between a father and his only daughter, his beloved neshama, and these snapshots seem wonderfully infinite in its scope and sublimity. After her father’s back surgery, Lissa tells of a daughter’s true love for her father and the painful moments he first returned home:
“I eased Dad out of the front seat, held him by the elbow while he walked upstairs to the bedroom, and helped him lower himself into his rocker. I tucked our fluffiest pillow behind his back and handed him the remote control and a giant bow of vanilla-bean ice cream with chocolate sauce that Mom had scooped for him (he’d earned it), and left him to watch the Yankees game in comfort for the first time in over a year” (p 105).
But it’s Lissa’s unwavering honesty to dig beyond the borders of flesh and time and space which lock people away from one another, and as she reaches out to the reader with her uncensored thoughts and fears, the world grows a little bit smaller and bigger all at the same moment. There’s hope here, and in that hope there is truth; as she writes, Lissa’s father has once again returned to the hospital for more tests:
“But in the hospital that night, for the first time in my life, I wished I had a brother or sister—someone to stay with Mom and Dad while I went to fetch a nurse, or even a cup of tea…
“It hit me that night that someday both Mom and Dad would be gone and that, when they were, I wouldn’t have a family. That no one would remember ‘raccoon theater’—how we used to scatter marshmallows on the back lawn of our house in Ohio so that, after dark, we could turn off the inside lights, turn on the outside ones, and settle near the window to watch the raccoons enjoy their treat. That no one would remember how, at 11:11 every night, whichever one of us noticed it first would cry out ‘Happy our time!’ simply because my father had designated it as such. That no one would remember the trip to Greers Ferry Lake where Dad dislocated his shoulder trying to get onto a raft, but where we found great barbecue afterward—pulled pork sandwiches with that vinegary sauce they have in Arkansas that Dad said was worth a little pain. That no one would remember the night I brought Ting home, and how I slept on the floor of my parents’ room to help her transition from me to them. That no one would remember any of it. No one, that is, except me” (p 111).
As over 60,000 inquiring minds, plus tens of thousands more, read of Lissa’s memories let us remember her special moments, her happy times, and her love for her father, mother and her adorable Ting-Pei. We should all be so lucky to have lived so well and with so much love.
If there is a Heaven—and I have it on good advice that Paradise awaits the ones who remain true to the Spirit and Love—it would look and feel a great deal like this:
“The two of them, Dad and Ting, would walk over the little stone bridge, past the pair of Adirondack chairs by the pond, past the weeping willow where the kingfishers liked to chase each other, and then back across the creek to the house” (p 27).
The Good Luck Cat enchants, captivates, and takes the breath away (but in a good omen-kind-of way). A strong recommend for those who love cats, for those who love history and literature about cats, and for those who love a powerful story told well.
Keep reading and smiling…
October 9, 2014
The Good Luck Cat is an amazing story that made me laugh, cry and truly inspired me. Lissa Warren is a brilliant writer and makes you feel like you are a part of her family. Ting is a charming, playful and lovable cat who has found a permanent place in the hearts of the Warren family as well as my own. I especially enjoyed reading about Lissa's memories of her family which Ting somehow managed to make even more memorable. She is indeed quite a character!
Lissa also includes some very interesting history about cats as well as some fabulous quotes that truly capture the essence of each chapter. As an animal lover, I found this book to demonstrate what compassion means on every level. It was a joy to read The Good Luck Cat and it is a great book to share with other animal lovers of all ages. I sincerely hope someone turns this book into a movie! -
Lissa also includes some very interesting history about cats as well as some fabulous quotes that truly capture the essence of each chapter. As an animal lover, I found this book to demonstrate what compassion means on every level. It was a joy to read The Good Luck Cat and it is a great book to share with other animal lovers of all ages. I sincerely hope someone turns this book into a movie! -
November 2, 2015
The author's family adopted a cat when her father was forced to retire due to his heart condition. Ting and the father become inseparable companions and Ting brings much joy to their lives. The author is devastated when her father dies suddenly and even Ting mourns. When Ting has health issues, they will not give up without a fight, no matter the cost. This book was okay but I have no idea why this book is titled "The Good Luck Cat."
October 20, 2015
Really 2 1/2 stars...certainly the author loves her cat and her family, but it was written in such a simplistic manner that I didn't enjoy it. I would have finished it in a few days, but started another book midway through!
October 22, 2015
I think I'm the lone person to not enjoy this book. I liked all the people and even the cat. But I just couldn't understand what made the cat so special. By the end I was happy that the author was doing well but also happy to be done with her.
August 28, 2015
I loved the author's references to cats in literature and the quotes she included at the beginning of each chapter, but I wish she'd made us fall in love with Ting.
May 24, 2017
The cat pictured on the cover piqued my interest. I correctly identified the breed of that cat --a Korat. A few pages into the book, the author mentioned that her previous cat was a Sable Burmese, which is exactly what I have -- a seventeen year old Sable Burmese. Even though I never owned a Korat, I am somewhat familiar with that breed.
More than anything, I wanted to learn about the Korat's behavior and compare those behaviors to that of my cat. Technically, the Korat breed and the Burmese breed are not related, however they do come from two neighboring countries in Asia (Burma and Thailand), so comparisons are made. The author's extensive descriptions of her cat's demeanor, behavior (particularly in unfamiliar surrounds), general daily habits, and health concerns and issues provided me with all the information I needed
The title of this book tells us that this story is not only about a cat, but rather, it is a comprehensive memoir of a family's life that was highly focused on and affected by their Korat. It is a story of a family (including the cat) that had its ups and downs regarding health issues (including the cat.) I don't think one has to be a cat lover to enjoy this book, but I am a cat lover and can definitely say I very much enjoyed this read -- it is a four-star for me, perhaps not for others.
More than anything, I wanted to learn about the Korat's behavior and compare those behaviors to that of my cat. Technically, the Korat breed and the Burmese breed are not related, however they do come from two neighboring countries in Asia (Burma and Thailand), so comparisons are made. The author's extensive descriptions of her cat's demeanor, behavior (particularly in unfamiliar surrounds), general daily habits, and health concerns and issues provided me with all the information I needed
The title of this book tells us that this story is not only about a cat, but rather, it is a comprehensive memoir of a family's life that was highly focused on and affected by their Korat. It is a story of a family (including the cat) that had its ups and downs regarding health issues (including the cat.) I don't think one has to be a cat lover to enjoy this book, but I am a cat lover and can definitely say I very much enjoyed this read -- it is a four-star for me, perhaps not for others.
September 21, 2017
The title says it all, an adopted cat named Ting-Wei becomes part of a small family and sees them through good times and bad. We are treated to the typical antics of a beloved pet/companion along with references to cats in history, literature, and art. The author sees Ting though a feline health crisis only to confront her own. Here is where the book loses focus. Lissa Warren did a great job explaining the trials of her MS but we completely lost the story of Ting only to return to the cat for a quick wrap up and lengthy epilogue that should have been part of the original text. I loved Ms. Warren's literary style and her enthusiasm for her nuclear family is evident in each and every sentence. A good choice for cat lovers and those faced with the tough issues of MS.
January 8, 2020
This is a wonderful book. I feel grateful to the author for sharing this story with me. It’s got a cat in it, but it is not a cat book. I am going to send a copy to my sister. You should read it, too.
March 2, 2015
I received this book as part of a Goodreads “First Reads” contest giveaway and I have agreed to provide an honest review.
I was a mere 60 pages in to this book when I experienced the sudden loss of one of my own beloved kitties, so I had to briefly shelve it until I could muster the mental strength to continue. I try to maintain somewhat of a ‘bad-ass’ persona in my regular life (in my head I’m a slightly shorter version of Angelina Jolie’s character in “Wanted”), but when it comes to animals I’m just a pathetic, blubbering little girl.
In a nutshell, this book is an outstanding, rousing memoir about a family’s love and Lissa Warren is a top-notch writer. The devotion and compassion that Lissa and her family have for their beautiful gray Korat cat, Ting-Pei, is palpable. This is such a heart-warming story - incredibly funny at times and profoundly sad at others. Not only is this cat one of the luckiest creatures on the planet for having such a doting family, but Ting also provides her family with much needed love and emotional support (whether or not she ever actually realizes it) that undoubtedly helps them get through some terribly trying times.
“The Good Luck Cat” is a must-read for any animal lovers or for anyone wanting to lose themselves in an inspirational, beautifully-written story about the unconditional love this family has for its furry and non-furry members alike.
I was a mere 60 pages in to this book when I experienced the sudden loss of one of my own beloved kitties, so I had to briefly shelve it until I could muster the mental strength to continue. I try to maintain somewhat of a ‘bad-ass’ persona in my regular life (in my head I’m a slightly shorter version of Angelina Jolie’s character in “Wanted”), but when it comes to animals I’m just a pathetic, blubbering little girl.
In a nutshell, this book is an outstanding, rousing memoir about a family’s love and Lissa Warren is a top-notch writer. The devotion and compassion that Lissa and her family have for their beautiful gray Korat cat, Ting-Pei, is palpable. This is such a heart-warming story - incredibly funny at times and profoundly sad at others. Not only is this cat one of the luckiest creatures on the planet for having such a doting family, but Ting also provides her family with much needed love and emotional support (whether or not she ever actually realizes it) that undoubtedly helps them get through some terribly trying times.
“The Good Luck Cat” is a must-read for any animal lovers or for anyone wanting to lose themselves in an inspirational, beautifully-written story about the unconditional love this family has for its furry and non-furry members alike.
April 17, 2016
$1.99
This story is really about a family, but isn't it a cat that makes a family or is it a cat that makes a house at home?
When Jerry Warren (the author's father) retires, Lissa wants to get him a companion cat and acquires a purebred Korat ($800!) named Ting. The family, mom, dad, and daughter, are close and Ting fits right in with them.
Unfortunately this happy family was not to last because after having Ting a few years, Mr. Warren dies of a heart attack. Not too long after that, Ting develops heart trouble that needs some serious medical attention.
Barely coping after her father's death, she and her mom are forced to take action they wish they had done for him and do it for Ting.
These women don't give up on anything or anyone means anything to them, and while some of the medical and poetry stuff made the book drag a little bit, I found myself smiling and nodding in agreement not only many of Ting's adventures, but with some of the things the author goes through herself.
This story is really about a family, but isn't it a cat that makes a family or is it a cat that makes a house at home?
When Jerry Warren (the author's father) retires, Lissa wants to get him a companion cat and acquires a purebred Korat ($800!) named Ting. The family, mom, dad, and daughter, are close and Ting fits right in with them.
Unfortunately this happy family was not to last because after having Ting a few years, Mr. Warren dies of a heart attack. Not too long after that, Ting develops heart trouble that needs some serious medical attention.
Barely coping after her father's death, she and her mom are forced to take action they wish they had done for him and do it for Ting.
These women don't give up on anything or anyone means anything to them, and while some of the medical and poetry stuff made the book drag a little bit, I found myself smiling and nodding in agreement not only many of Ting's adventures, but with some of the things the author goes through herself.
August 16, 2016
Lissa Warren’s father needed a retirement companion. Enter Ting, a seven-pound Korat who changed his life, and the life of the family. Ting “the cat grenade” was real trouble and smart. When Lissa’s father died of a heart attack, they were devastated as was Ting. Less than a year later, Lissa and her mother are trying to save Ting's life. The only option was to have a human pacemaker implanted in the cat, a procedure even the best animal hospital in Boston hadn’t performed in a decade. Thus they began a medical odyssey on behalf of the little gray cat who had been her father’s shadow, a journey that would prepare one of them for her own serious diagnosis. A wonderful book that brings teapots your eyes and joy to your heart.
January 23, 2015
The Good Luck Cat, is a wonderful tribute to the love between felines and their pet parents. Ting fit in with the Warren. family pretty quickly. Always fascinated with her surroundings she took down decorative china miniatures off the living room mantel, smashing most of them. Ting's most endearing quality was her love of her family, especially Lissa's Dad. When he became ill, Ting was his loving constant companion. After Mr. Warren's death Ting had her own health issues. Lissa and her Mom worked hard to save Ting, as she had saved them after their first cat Cinnamon died. I would recommend this heartwarming book to anyone, but especially cat lovers!
February 7, 2017
This book was frustrating. The author would go off on long tangents. The story wasn't a story just the author spewing thought vomit on a page. Painful.
December 7, 2014
I really loved THE GOOD LUCK CAT and teared up over and over at the love within it¹s pages. I wanted to hug Lissa all the way through to the acknowledgments. In a world filled with cynics
I read with full relief the words of someone so unashamedly in love with
their family and part of that family including a cat. I saw myself Lissa's
behavior, the little tender things we do for our beloved. Laying with them
when they are ill, feeding them from our hands again and again and again.
I feel fed by the Warren's story,
I read with full relief the words of someone so unashamedly in love with
their family and part of that family including a cat. I saw myself Lissa's
behavior, the little tender things we do for our beloved. Laying with them
when they are ill, feeding them from our hands again and again and again.
I feel fed by the Warren's story,
June 24, 2016
Scattered thoughts mostly not about a cat
I read this because I thought it would be similar to a book I read about homer, a blind cat, but this was more about the author being diagnosed with ms and her father passing.
It wasn't an enjoyable read and I wouldn't recommend it to any of my fellow cat lovers.
I read this because I thought it would be similar to a book I read about homer, a blind cat, but this was more about the author being diagnosed with ms and her father passing.
It wasn't an enjoyable read and I wouldn't recommend it to any of my fellow cat lovers.
November 23, 2014
A lovely true story about a cat named Ting, and her human family. The love we have for cats and that cats have for us is an amazing thing. The author's love for her family and her cat make this a very quick and moving read. Loved all the pictures of Ting throughout.
May 7, 2015
I read this book in one sitting, simply because I could not put it down. It's a heartwarming story - I laughed, I cried (multiple times), and cried again. Lissa's story and outlook on life is inspiring. A wonderful read.
May 11, 2015
Love. Cats. Books
Every cat should be so lucky to have a family like the Warrens. Through illness and death, one constant is their beloved Ting-Pei. Remarkable family. Remarkable cat. An engaging read.
Every cat should be so lucky to have a family like the Warrens. Through illness and death, one constant is their beloved Ting-Pei. Remarkable family. Remarkable cat. An engaging read.
June 8, 2015
Good luck cat is a great story
This a story of how much people and their pets love one another and how far they will go to take care of one another. There are great pictures and lots of quotes.
This a story of how much people and their pets love one another and how far they will go to take care of one another. There are great pictures and lots of quotes.
December 16, 2014
A sweet book for all cat lovers.
Read
October 29, 2015Very good.
December 31, 2015
Awesome story
I absolutely loved this book. Great story, you laugh, cry and live even for a short while with Ting. You will no regret reading this book. It will warm your heart.
I absolutely loved this book. Great story, you laugh, cry and live even for a short while with Ting. You will no regret reading this book. It will warm your heart.
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