This sweet little book, Home With Henry A Memoir, by Anne Kaier with lovely black and white illustrations by Carol Chu is a beautifully written true story. The book is a journal covering eleven months beginning in March 1997. It begins with Anne stopping traffic to rescue a small ginger cat from the middle of a busy road at rush hour. With each entry we learn more about this feral cat, his human, Anne, and female feline housemate, Lucille, a 12-year-old calico.
The journal follows Anne, a single woman in mid-life who has just purchased her first home, as she slowly gains the trust of this very frightened feral cat, she names Henry. We meet Anne’s colleagues, neighbors and family, especially her nephew Tommy, all while learning more about her as a single and sensitive career woman, first-time homeowner and inexperienced “tamer” of a wild cat.
So many things Anne writes in her journal about her relationships with Lucille and Henry resonate with me. On Monday, August 11, (five months after rescuing Henry) she writes: “Certainly these cats amuse me. Even their territorial negotiations—if I can call them that—intrigue me. And I love the very dailyness of having them around.”
She adds, “I love all the to-ing and fro-ing—the small commotions in the house, the sense of living my life alongside two other lives, with creatures who have their own ideas about things.”
As the caregiver of eight cats, I feel this same way every day.
And I can relate to what Anne was feeling (after she and Henry had bonded) when she wrote in December about Lucille, “Perhaps…I can figure out how to woo her again. Because I have lost her—almost. She’s about to sue Henry for alienation of my affections.”
She concludes this journal entry by writing, “Looking back, it seems wooing Henry was much easier than this new project of reclaiming Miss Lucille. She used to chat with me every day. I feel so lonesome without her.”
I have experienced this each time we have added a cat to our family.
The lessons Anne learns about herself through her interactions with her cats are life changing.
I don’t want to say much more, as I highly recommend that everyone who has ever shared their life with one or more cats read Home with Henry. Not only is it a beautifully and well-written book but also a tribute to both Henry and Lucille.
Anne Kaier holds a Ph.D. from Harvard University. Today she teaches creative writing and literature at Arcadia University and Rosemont College. She lives in Center City, Philadelphia. You can learn more about Anne on her website at: www.annekaier.com.
Home With Henry A Memoir can be purchased from Amazon.com for $13.50.
NOTE: Our post is the final stop on an on-line book tour. To read any of the previous reviews, you can visit the following sites:
- http://redwhiteandgrew.com/
- https://storycirclenetwork.wordpress.com
- http://judyalter.com/
- http://www.MochasMysteriesMeows.com
- http://www.bloodredpencil.com
- www.marianallen.com
- http://joyceboatright.blogspot.com/
- http://maryannwrites.com/
- http://womensmemoirs.com/
Disclaimer: I received a free copy of Home with Henry A Memoir in exchange for this review. I was asked, but not required, to link to Amazon.com and list the other stops on the tour. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.
TW doesn’t read books but this one sounds like a must-read. Thanks for the review.
Great book review. Henry looks adorable and sounds like he was a very lucky chap to get rescued by Anne.
That sounds like a wonderfur book!
Nice review, I love cat books.
So glad you like cat books. There are some great ones around.
What a great review! Thanks
Kisses
Nellie
So glad you enjoyed the review.
Anne
What a pawsum soundin’ book. Gweat weview. Have a gweat day.
Luv ya’
Dezi and Lexi
Ok, pawsum is a great word!
Anne
OMC Mom is in BIG TROUBLE again…..she forgot to send love and kisses to Mau from Allie.
The Florida Furkids
Great review…this sounds like a pawsome book!
The Florida Furkids
Another pawsome reader!
That sounds like a good book. The mom will put it on her list.
It sounds like a lovely book. Henry looks like he is thinking, “Do you really need me in this photo?”
Oops. Sent the reply to kiwiskan.
That’s exactly what Henry was thinking.
The look on Henry’s face in that photo is priceless! Sounds like a good read.
Sounds intriguing
Exactly. He shimmied out of my hands the next minute and went about his business.
All best,
Anne
Glad you are intrigued!
Anne
I can certainly understand what she is going through.
Gotta love the cat on your shoulders!
Anne
What a sweet book!
Hope you enjoy it!
Henry is cute, another hunky orinj dood.
Oh yes! Very hunky, for a shy guy…
That does sound really good and we love that look on Henry’s face too.
Henry was squirming to get out of my hands while the photographer tried to take a picture. Oh yes, I think he was thinking :”get me outta here!”
Sounds like a sweet book! I love the picture.
Bo is one handsome guy!
I love the look on Henry’s face on that photo!! It says so much about him, doesn’t it?
Yep. The cool quiet type, our Henry. Not a big guy for the limelight.
This sounds like a great book. I also know what is like have to reclaim the affection of a cat when you add a new kitty to the family.
So glad to know that you too had to reclaim affections from a cat when a new kitty comes. Henry himself had to get used to Coco a big, opinionated calico when she came to live with us.
Oh, I am very intrigued by this review! I haven’t had the chance to sit down and read anything lately, but I would love to read this book! Wonderful review!!!
The Painter Pack
Hope you get a chance to enjoy it. It’s a fast read.
All best,
Anne
Oh, this is right down my alley! I definitely will be getting this book! Thanks! ❤
Hope you enjoy it! Let me know what you think.
Anne
That sounds like a fabulous book. I wonder if it will also be offered by Kindle or Nook? We could use it for our Book Club as we are all cat people. xo
We are working on getting it up on Nook and Kindle. Thanks for the interest–which I will definitely pass on to my overworked publisher.
Sounds like a sweet book…..we love the photo of Miss Anne and the adorable Henry. What a wonderful “love story” this must be.
Hugs, Sammy
Hope you enjoy it. Do get in touch.
Anne
So glad you liked the photo!
M says that sounds like a book she would like to read. She will
Ick up a copy of lt.
Do tell me what M thinks if she sniffs arount the book!
LOL.
I told Jack about this book. He says it sounds like a book for him! (Jack reviews books over at my feline’s blog, Library of Cats!!) Love, LadyBird
Hope Jack likes it!
We bet that is a good read.
Luv Hannah and Lucy xx xx
Hannah and Lucy are beautiful!
This sounds like a really awesome book!
Hope you enjoy it!
all the best,
Anne