SOLVED. YA - cat named Islington [s]

[N.S.]

All I remember is there was a (possibly spooky) mansion pictured on the cover, a cat named Islington featured prominently in the story(at least that's how I recall it), and I loved it.

[Josie]

Not Poison by Chris Wooding, is it?

[N.S.]

No. That didn't sound familiar but I clicked on it anyway and nope, I've never read that.

[Dini]

Neil Gaiman's Coraline? It's a YA book, has the character of a cat, and the version I read had a somewhat spooky mansion on the cover. The cat in this story has no name, though. Weirdly enough, the name Islington is used for a character in Gaiman's other novel, Neverwhere.

Here's the Coraline link: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10...

[N.S.]

No, thanks, but I just found a used copy of that and am planning to read it before seeing the film.

[Erica]

Don't read it late at night.

[N.S.]

Thanks >:) Actually, I have to read it FAST. I saw a commercial last night that said this weekend is the last opportunity to see it in 3-D, and since I read a review which said "Finally! A good reason for 3-D technology!", I'd like to see it that way.

[Carmen]

Nin,
I saw Coraline in 3D last week-end and I loved it.

I read the book months ago and was really spooky.
The movie is beautiful and less spooky.

[Dini]

The book is short and you can read it fairly quickly. Have fun with the movie!

[April Ann]

When did you read it? Can you remember anything about the plot? Was it mystery? Fantasy? Adventure? etc.

[April Ann]

Cat's Eye Corner by Terry Griggs, published in 2000. Summary: When Oliver visits his grandfather in his mansion of changing rooms and secret doors, he begins a scavenger hunt that introduces him to wild charaters, poetic cats, and word altering fairies.

[N.S.]

Wow, thanks everyone. This would have been in the late 70s or early 80s. I don't remember the plot, just the cat's name, but it was definitely not fantasy. Probably more adventure than mystery.

[April Ann]

Carbonel and Calidor by Barbara Sleight. Published, 1978. Nothing about the name Islington, but the cover has a spooky house on it.

[N.S.]

That cover is really close to what I remember, but the name means nothing to me, so I don't think that's it. Thanks, though.

[Marilyn]

I haven't actually read it, but Google makes me think it might be Blackbriar by William Sleator. (Goodreads doesn't have the cover, but this Amazon page does.

Could that be it?

[N.S.]

Marilyn wrote: "I haven't actually read it, but Google makes me think it might be Blackbriar by William Sleator. (Goodreads doesn't have the cover, but this Amazon page does.

Could that be it?"


Hey...now that sounds familiar. Wow, thanks! I'm going to have to check that out immediately.

[N.S.]

Yes, yes, yes, that's it! Thank you! Oh my gosh, now I have to get it and re-read it.

Pretty funny that all the reviews say things like "I read this 20+ years ago when I was in elementary school...don't remember the plot at all just the atmosphere and that I loved every minute of reading it." My experience exactly.

[Marilyn]

Huzzah! Glad to hear it was the right one. I think now I'll have to read it too... :)