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Jump to navigationJump to searchA Cat Called Dog by Jem Vanston (view source)
Revision as of 09:25, 4 October 2020
, 09:25, 4 October 2020no edit summary
|pages=240
|publisher=Matador
|date=July 2013
|isbn=1780885598
}}
''Cats are not dogs. And dogs are not cats. Even two-legs know that. But Dog was a cat, because that was his name: he was a cat - a cat called Dog - and he was happy with that too.''
Confused? Don't be. Dog may be happy but he is the confused one, not you. He is a cat. He is ''a cat''. But he's called Dog because he behaves like one. He pokes his tongue out like a puppy. When he gets excited, he wags his tail like a puppy. And, horror of horrors, he even yaps and barks like a puppy. This kitten-cat is only one summer old, so perhaps it's not too late. Perhaps, if he were to find a tutor, he could learn to be a ''proper'' cat. A cat who understands the feline holy trinity of eating, sleeping and washing. A cat who understands his importance to two-legs. A cat who can proudly take his place among the others of the best species in the world.
If I were pushed to criticise, I might say that ''A Cat Called Dog'' occasionally lapses into some awkward dialogue. But dialogue is notoriously difficult even when you're writing it for humans. And it's really only occasionally. So we'll move swiftly on from the nitpick.
This is a lovely, sweet, heartwarming book. It will make you happy to read it, regardless of whether you're a cat person or a dog person, or even neither. And in these financially-straitened times, what more could you want? I'd like to read about any further adventures Dog and friends may have - and I'm sure they'll have many. Fingers crossed Jem Vanston will get his writing wheels rolling. We also have a review of [[Santa Goes on Strike by Jem Vanston]].
You might also enjoy [[Fup by Jim Dodge]] or perhaps, and don't be put off by the title! - [[Hate That Cat by Sharon Creech]]. Children will enjoy [[Cat on the Hill by Michael Foreman]].
{{amazontext|amazon=1780885598}}
