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THE CAT WHO WENT TO PARIS by Peter Gethers

THE CAT WHO WENT TO PARIS

by Peter Gethers

Pub Date: Sept. 1st, 1991
ISBN: 0-517-58534-0
Publisher: Crown

The humorous and touching memoirs of a man and his cat—a Scottish Fold named Norton who travels everywhere, especially deep into this reformed cat-hater's heart. When Gethers—publisher (Villard books), novelist (Getting Blue, 1987, etc.), and screen-writer—receives Norton as a present from a girlfriend, he's less than enthusiastic—but not for long. Though the girlfriend eventually goes by the wayside, Gethers and the cat fast become pals. Soon the highly personable puss is accompanying the not-quite-as-personable Gethers everywhere—to parties, Fire Island vacations, and business trips abroad (to work on screenplays with Roman Polanski)—and making friends with everyone from flight attendants to hotel managers. (Norton goes on beach walks with Gethers, romps around on Parisian rooftops, and generally leads as daring and worldly a life as is possible for a house pet.) Finally, after a series of failed human relationships, Gethers finds his true love, Janis, who takes years of convincing- -from human and feline (Norton is smitten with her, too)—that this is the real thing. After a happy/sad recounting of the death of Gethers's father, there's an upbeat ending: Gethers, Janis, and Norton settle into a cozy old house on Long Island. Aside from some repetition—Norton does many of the same endearing things wherever he goes—a charming and heartening account. (Line drawings.)