Cats I've Known: On Love, Loss, and Being Graciously Ignored

(Paperback)

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Description

A collection of deeply heartfelt, humorous, and insightful stories of cats written by a true wordsmith and raconteur.
From deep friendships to brief encounters, this is the story of the cats in Katie Haegele's life, or rather the story of her life in relation to the many cats she meets in Philadelphia's streets, alleys, houses, apartments, and bookstores. Through Haegele's sharp, wise, and at times hilarious gaze, we see cats for what they truly are: minor deities that mostly ignore the human foibles being played out around them. They accept our offerings with equanimity and occasionally bestow some nice thing on us.
, has a unique and compelling sensibility, and it's a treat to see the world through her eyes as she shows us all the meanness, weirdness, and vulnerability of humans, against an ever-shifting backdrop of the cats we often take for granted, and who ignore us all democratically in return.

Reviews

Haegele (White Elephants), whose broad writing experience includes memoirs, poetry, and contributions to various print and online publications, here discusses 44 cats in 42 vignettes. Readers are sure to find at least one cat among those featured whose story and antics appeal or brings back memories of their own feline encounters. The conversational narrative style fits well with the relaxed mood of the stories. Although, the cats are predominantly strays, there is nothing preachy or overly emotional about this telling. Given the popularity of cats, as well as interest in memoirs about animals, this book will satisfy pet lovers everywhere. Recommended for young adult as well as adult readers." --Edell Marie Schaefer, Library Journal

Author Bio

Katie Haegele is a writer, zine maker, and book critic who lives in Philadelphia. She is the author of the memoir White Elephants, and the essay collection Slip of the Tongue: Talking About Language. Her written works have been published in Utne, Bitch, Adbusters, The Comics Journal, Philadelphia Magazine, The Believer Logger, and elsewhere.