Poe's Cat

by Walker. Brenda

Thea and Finn are cousins who share a passionate history. Their thoughts are haunted by thoughts of Edgar Allan Poe, who married his cousin when she was only 13, persuading her mother that he could not live without her. But it was Virgina who died, of tuberculosis one winter, comforted by her cat.

Genres: Fiction, Historical, Australia

247 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1999

Reviews

[Rosemary Atwell · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is certainly the most inaccessible work of Brenda Walker’s that I’ve read - possibly because the only Edgar Allan Poe text that I’m familiar with is ‘Annabelle Lee.’

Meditative, whimsical, wonderfully researched and written, it’s a fine introduction to the American Gothic of Poe’s imagination and the threaded sensibilities of Walker herself.

[Laura Morrigan · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful and haunting book. Cousins Thea and Finn are staying at their grandfather's house in the mountains. When they were children, this was the site of their teenage romance, and Thea finds herself reminiscing on their forbidden passion.

Thea begins rewriting Poe's stories from a feminist perspective, told by an illusive Virginia Poe to her cat, as she lies dying. The stories are vivid and frightening, and open up a whole different world within Poe's stories.

The entire book is filled with passion, and lush description. This is the kind of book you fall into and get lost in, if you love literature as I do. I sometimes think it has the feeling of a fever dream, the descriptions tangible, the senses sharp and pungent. Both beauty, and despair, as in Poe's tales. The mysterious senselessness of human life is woven into it, the strange juxtaposition of the cousin's forbidden teenage romance, with the illicit one of Finn's father and Thea's mother, who ran away together soon after. We are left with a sense of melancholy, but also, somehow, a sense of hope, and lightness. Where there are words, there is always life.

[Lisa · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was beautifully written but it wasn't for me. I was unable to engage with any of the characters (which is an important element for me in enjoying a book). I also found it a little too melancholy - but with "Poe" in the title, I guess I should have expected that. It was quite disjointed, and I don't necessarily need a linear narrative to enjoy a book, but I did find it jumped around a bit much for me. However, again, it was a beautifully written novel, so my rating is subjective.

[Julia · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is gorgeously written and utterly dreamlike. It is literature, not a 'novel' as such. If you must have a strong linear plot and something based on the hero's journey, as a lot of novels and all Hollywood movies do, this book is not for you.

Another reviewer wrote that it was 'disjointed', which was unwelcome for that particular reviewer. Yet another reviewer, who seemingly love the book as much as I did, likened it to a 'fever dream'.

If you love melancholy, Poe, exquisite descriptions and good Australian literature, give this a go.

I'm off to add everything Brenda Walker has written to my reading list!

[Betty · Rating 4 out of 5]

A dreamy and poetic novel, constructed of a series of stories bound together by Poe's work and life. The stories range across Poe's life and marriage to his 13 year old cousin, retellings of some of Poe's stories, and a modern day narrator researching Poe.

[Carolyn · Rating 2 out of 5]

Another 'not finished' - there are so many books I am keen to read but I won't persist if I am not engaged by the characters, the story or the language. This had promise and some of the writing was crisply observant but I found it too disjointed as the focus shifted between Thea's interest in Poe (and marginally in his cat), her memories and her relationship with her cousin Finn.

I try to follow Australian women writers and I loved Walker's novel The Wing of Night which I read when it came out about 10 years ago. Perhaps I was just not in the mood for this one.

[Jennifer · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book just jumped around too much. I didn't see a plot or development in any of the unconnected stories. I was not the audience for this book.

[Lois · Rating 3 out of 5]

Unsure what I think of it, but I know I enjoyed it at least a bit more than the current concensus. I think it's because I find the writing just elegant enough to allow the meandering pace.

[Jamie · Rating 2 out of 5]

One of the strangest books I've read in a long time! Not sure I really understood it!

[Ina]

oh my gawd. it sucks. took me forever to finish reading!

[Jo Rye · Rating 2 out of 5]

Very disappointing. Almost nothing about EA Poe or cats. Other subject matter was very tedious.