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I love cats.
If my partner and I didn’t both suffer from terrible cat allergies, you’d best believe that we would be living in an apartment filled with cats.
Life can be cruel, but thankfully I can partially fill the cat-shaped void in my life with the help of cat-themed books, like today’s Poetry Friday title, Boris.
Boris is a collection of free-verse musings on life, love, friendship, loss, and yes, cats, brought to us by Newberry medalist Cynthia Rylant. Rylant first meets Boris, a big grey cat with a strong personality, at an animal shelter, and adopts him and his bonded sister. None of their lives will ever be the same.
This is a deeply personal collection of reflections and realisations, with tone of the poems ranging from light and cheerful, to quiet and introspective, to sometimes downright fiery. Take this excerpt from a poem, for example, which was inspired by a neighbour who complained that Boris had wandered into her house and scratched her couch:
Screw you.
I know your kind
I’m keeping my cat,
so just plug up your hole.
And while you’re at it,
cover that
stupid pet flap.
So there!
This is an expressive collection of poems written in simple, real language, and fans of Rylant’s picture books might be fascinated by this glimpse into another aspect of the author’s life. Anyone who has loved and/or been loved by a cat will be able to relate to the wonder, exasperation, and love with which Ryland describes Boris, the very special cat who made his way into her life, and left them both the better for it.
I’ve always enjoyed Rylant’s work, but didn’t know about this book. Will have to look for it now. Thanks for featuring it!
I was only familiar with Rylant’s picture books before stumbling on this book at a second-hand book store, so it was quite a surprise to me, too!
This is new to me, Jane. I love Rylant’s work, so varied, good stories. Thanks!
We used to have this in my library, but the powers that be want to reduce our collection by 20-30%, so, Boris was “deaccessioned.” I hate that part of the job. It breaks my heart, but I can’t bring any more books into my house. (A few I manage to spirit off to other libraries, though.)
Ah yes, I know how hard that can be! Our shelves are always overflowing so there’s always pressure to reduce our collections – thankfully we have really fantastic book sales to get our books into new homes!
I, too, hadn’t seen this book before, but will definitely check it out! I love the “cat”titude in the poem you shared. Thanks for featuring it today, Jane. =)
So much cattitude! 😉
Thanks for the heads up, Jane! I have just person to give this book to… besides me, that is. 😉
Wonderful! 🙂
Boris sounds like just the kind of book I like to read underneath the Christmas lights of my tree. Thanks for the tip!
Yes! I don’t have a cat to snuggle up with these days, but I can at least snuggle up with a cat-themed book! 🙂
Love the attitude! LOL So catty.
Yes! So true! Definitely catty. 🙂
I love Cynthia Rylant. Mr. Putter and Tabby is my all time favorite early-reader series. Her humor and cleverness — her ability to create characters in a few strokes. I can’t wait to read this collection.
P.S. I am visiting family for Thanksgiving. Sharing the space with FIVE cats this week!
Mr. Putter and Tabby just makes me so warm and happy and cuddly, I just love them so very much. Mr. Putter makes me think of my dad – he’s such a cat man. 🙂