Jennie (Collins Modern Classics)

I first read this book 50 years ago (yes, 50) when I was very young. My elder sister kindly loaned it to me, and I can't adequately describe what a deep impression it made on my young mind. I recall I wanted to find Jennie, take her home and look after her.Well, the book soon went out of print, I couldn't find a copy anywhere, and the years rolled by. But I never forgot it, and then it turned up on Amazon (of course, where else) in e-book format. I'd forgotten much of it, and misremembered much of the rest, but it didn't matter. What a pleasure it was to read it again after all these years.If you're a cat fancier you'll certainly enjoy reading this. If you're not, well, you may find you never see cats in quite the same way again. Paul Gallico anthropomorphises them of course, but there's much in Peter and Jennie that you'll find in real cats.Highly recommended.(Deep in my imagination, Jennie is still out there somewhere.........)

I was sent scurrying to a re-read of this following a chance post by a fellow blogger about fictional books with a cat-focus. Particularly as another post by a different blogger, about a book by Beverley Nichols had sent me to my bookshelves in remembrance of a book from childhood by Nichols, about his cats.  Beverley Nichols' Cats' A. B. C. I first read Paul Gallico’s delightful (and sobbingly heart-aching) book about a little boy who finds himself changed into a cat, when I was probably at target age 8-11, I think. And I have occasionally read it again, and it’s similarly cats-eye view orientated successor, Thomasina.Although the protagonist is a little boy, this is by no means childishly written, nor does it just offer whimsicality about cats. I’m afraid, despite of course knowing the story well, that I sobbed in all the places I had ever sobbed before – perhaps partly because of memories of the first sobbing, aged somewhere around 9 or 10, but also, because some quite deep themes are being explored – particularly loss, friendship, betrayal of trust, death.“Hers was the call of the loneliness of the rejected, the outcast of the granite heart of the unheeding city”Peter Brown is a lonely rather privileged little boy – he has a Nanny and two successful, socialite parents who are too busy to give him much love and affection. Above everything, he wants a cat, but as Nanny doesn’t like them and his parents are too occupied with their own concerns to risk upsetting Nanny, Peter’s dearest wish is denied. Seeing a little kitten across a busy main road, Peter follows his tender instincts and runs, without doing his Green Cross, across the road. And is knocked down. Unexpectedly he finds he has become a white cat (I know, I know, but stick with it, this is far from merely twee fantasy)Gallico, a life long animal, and particularly cat-animal lover, absolutely takes the reader inside cat-dom. Peter retains human consciousness, and has no idea how to circumnavigate his new world. Starving, chased away, stepped on by unaware people because he lacks the cat sense to get out of the way, Peter is almost killed by a ferocious territorial feral top cat. Fortunately, he gets rescued by the eponymous Jennie, a sweet-faced, sweet-natured, intelligent and rather plain fellow stray cat. Jennie is a cat who now hates people, following her abandonment by the loving family who were everything to her. She begins to teach the little boy trapped inside a cat’s body how to be a cat. And the reader too! Peter must learn the intricacies of being able to wash himself, the difference between the game of catching your breakfast mouse and killing a deadly rat, cat courtesy, the rules of cat conflict, how to open dustbins – and much more.Although Peter comes to think as cat, he also retains his little boy ability to understand human language, and, rather importantly, to read. He has many exciting adventures with Jennie – including travelling, as the two stowaway and work passage on a Glasgow steamer. They have several instances of narrow escapes from various dangers which might befall a cat, and, as in all good books, grow, develop and change through their relationship with each other and external events.Peter and Jennie learn from each other and teach each other how to be more – soulful, whatever the shape of the body that encloses them.Gallico leavens sadness with much fun and good humour, and all his characters, feline and human are quirky, recognisable and sharply delineatedThis is a gorgeous book for a tender-hearted child, and a tender-hearted adult too. And with even more appeal if some of your tenderness is cat shapedHappily now re-issued as a Modern Classic, it was originally published in 1950

My mother bought my first copy of Jennie for me and, I find that even 60 years since I opened that first copy, Paul Gallico's magical story exerts the same hold over me. Mr Gallico loved cats as I do and his love shines through every word of this truly fantastic story. He knew how and why cats behave in certain ways and he used this knowledge when he described Jennie's lessons, teaching Peter, the 8 year old boy who had woken up as a cat, not just to behave like a cat, but to become one. I, as an 8 year old girl recovering from appendicitis, desperately wanted to emulate Peter's experience, sadly that has never happened to me, but my love of cats remains. I have never given my heart and home to animals to the extent that he did... a great dane and 23 cats at one go seems a tad excessive, but I have always shared my life with rescue animals of varying species and there has always been at least one cat.

Like "The Silent Miaow" by the same Author, this book contains both commonplaces (for instance, it is clear from the very beginning how the story will end) and beautiful nontrivial creative pages. Fortunately, the latter are predominant, and reading is overall very pleasant. Apparently the Author knows very well cats, and the character of Jennie is convincingly depicted. It is impossible not to love her.

When i first read this book, I cried my heart out at the ending. I read this book again some 30 years later and still cried even though I knew how it ends!This book sums up friendship, anger, happiness and sorrow that is found in true love. A must read even if you aren't a cat person. I thoroughly recommend it, you won't be disappointed! Just have a hanky ready!!

Present for my cat mad granddaughter. Classic book purrfect!!!

This is a Wonderful book. Paul Gallico has written a gem of a book about a cat that has adventures and heartbreaks. Once you start it's a rollercoaster until the end. It's funny and sad And will touch your heart. Great book that will keep you entertained & engrossed.

I recently purchased a second-hand edition of 'Jennie' by Paul Gallico for a cat-loving friend of mine who had not come across the book before. I first read it many years ago when I was in my teens and couldn't resist re-reading it before passing it on. It is just as fresh now as when I first read it, and in spite of the passing years, still tugs at the heart-strings. The story of a small boy who changes into a cat and is befriended by a stray and taught how to fend for himself in his new life is bewitching, and although primarily a children's book, is recommended for any cat-lover. Paul Gallico, remembered mainly for 'The Snow Goose', is a skilled observer of feline behaviour, and I had a lot of pleasure in re-visiting this reminder of my teenage years.

Arrivato giorni prima della conferma. La qualità del libro ed autore è ottimo. Un classico affascinante, si legge come un giallo e un profondo romanzo, consigliato per tutte le età e specialmente per quelli che vogliono capire meglio come “pensano”ed agiscano gatti, e per tutti tifosi di una letteratura di alta qualità.10 stelle (per il libro e aper il servizio Amazon)

Un inglés precioso. Y una novela encantadora. Tengo gatos. Paul Gallico tuvo 22. Y se nota.

I sort of discovered this book and decided to buy it. What a wonderful discovery!! Tells the story of what it is like to be a street cat, realistically, from a street cat’s point if view. Also a beautiful story of friendship. The book arrived quickly and in perfect condition.If you love cats and want to understand their psyche more, read this gem of a story, you’ll be forever grateful you did. Pass this book on too!

I loved this book from my childhood. I was thrilled to be able to purchase it for my niece. Written so long ago, the style is probably a little dated, but this wonderful imagining of the life of a cat in a big city, and the impact of the relationships of pets, is heartwarming. It is a book that can be read by children (good readers), read to children (chapters before bed?) or by adults who love to use their imaginations.

Excellent! This is a great story for children and adults alike, especially if they love cats and want to understand them.