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Jennie Paul Gallico 9780140019421 Books

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Jennie Paul Gallico 9780140019421 Books

'Tell me a story', asked an 8 year-old boy the other day who was recuperating from a mild case of chicken pox. 'How about the story of a boy called Peter and a cat that he met?' I replied. From the young invalid: 'I really prefer dogs but is the story a true one?'. 'I believe it is, and it happened many years ago before you were born'. 'Alright', replied the ailing child, 'but I will let you know if I find it boring'. And so I began:

'Peter was your age and living in London with his parents and nanny after a big war; WWII actually, and most of the big cities in Europe were damaged after the fighting was over. He lived in a small house in a neighborhood with a park and every day he would go out with his nanny. His father was busy with his work in the army, and his mother whom he loved very much, was beautiful and used to go out to parties in lovely evening dresses so she didn't have much time for him. Peter had friends his age, but he spent a lot of time with his Scottish nanny who was strict and he was lonely. Oh, and he loved cats! He knew all the cats in the neighborhood and he wanted one of his own. Sometimes Peter would find a lost one and hide it in the house for a day or two, but his nanny always found it and threw it out in the street because she was allergic and didn't like them'.

'One day when Peter was out walking with his nanny, he saw a lovely striped tabby across the street sitting in the sun, and he ran into the road and had an accident. Peter couldn't remember what happened when he opened his eyes again, except that he had heard his nanny scream and now his shoulder hurt him very badly. And that was when he found out that he had turned into a cat. Well he didn't know if he was dreaming, where he was and he was frightened so he started to run and run through the streets of the city and it was all very scary. He could still read signs and he remembered his address, but he didn't know how to get help and the streets were full of people who kept walking, and one or two gave him a kick and his ears hurt because of all the busy traffic and city noise. But Peter had no place to take shelter or rest, so he kept on going and was terribly hungry and drenched in the rain until he finally collapsed in exhaustion after running into a big bully of a cat who told him to get lost.'

'The story might have ended there for Peter except that when he woke up, he found that he was alive and had been saved by a small feral plain cat with large luminous eyes that glowed in the dark. Her name was Jennie Baldrin and she taught Peter all about cats and how to become one.

Now Peter after listening carefully to Jennie's own life, understood how she felt and tries to restore her faith in human beings whom she distrusts. This is when the story really begins and the two of them set off together on a big adventure. They even go on a ship and earn their keep, and at times their adventures are a lot of fun and might make you laugh. It's all about a great friendship and how Peter swears to Jennie that nothing will ever separate them, or come between them. No matter whatever happens, they will always be together (here I took a pause). 'What's the matter? Your voice sounds a bit funny and your eyes are sad', interrogated my young listener who was now propped up against his pillow. 'It's nothing', I told him, 'just a bit of a cold and I will put on my sweater...'

Paul Gallico, the late author of "Jennie" was born in New York City, and has been somewhat forgotten today. Readers often think that he is British judging from his writing style. A sports editor, a columnist and an assistant managing editor for the New York Daily News, he settled down in Devon for a year in 1936 with a Great Dane and twenty-three assorted cats. Famous for his classic novel "The Snow Goose", a small story of Dunkirk (1941) which became a world-wide bestseller, Gallico's "Jennie" came out in 1950, and addresses the case of stray cats and their behavior in a fascinating way, with a multitude of tips for cat lovers and how to better understand them.

While written as a children's book and much enjoyed by youngsters at the time, it is also a story for grown-ups with a dark edge to it. Jennie's world, as seen through the eyes of young Peter, is real in the matters of love and courage, friendship, perseverance and endurance. The loss that leaves Jennie bereft at the end of this short novel, reminded me curiously of the realism of Theodore Dreiser's 'Jennie Gerdhardt' and is haunting, for Peter in Jennie's World and in his Dream, hears both her voice and his mother's calling him to come back.

This one for you, Jen, and your set of whiskers Miss Cleo, after we found each other again after forty-seven years this past winter when it was snowing in British Canada. 'Mice and Mumps', and many happy returns to you!


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Jennie Paul Gallico 9780140019421 Books Reviews

This is a truly wonderful story that I read several times in the past. I had lost my copy and wanted a replacement.

I ordered a used copy that came from World of Books. It was listed as being in good condition. Unfortunately, it was very old and discolored, and the print was so small I could barely read it. I was very disappointed and feel as if I wasted my money.

The book is definitely worth reading, though. Just try to get a decent copy.
This book earned a place on my top ten list immediately upon my reading it. I can't believe I did not know about this wonderful classic earlier! It made me laugh, cry -- and sit up all night, as I could not possibly put the thing down until I finished every last delicious line. Here I sit, at work the next day, staring at the cover, hoping I can steal a glance at that last chapter at lunchtime. This book is about life. And cats. And Paul Gallico. I always knew Gallico was a sports writer, and that he actually got into the ring with fighter Jack Dempsey -- a rather nervy move for a writer. In Jennie, Peter the cat fights a brawling tom named Dempsey. That's as much information as I'll give you. Read the book. You will forever be glad you did.
Wonderful book, he knows how cats think and act. Same book as the 'abandoned'.
For years I've occassionally remembered back to my youth in Canada and wondered about a book that I recall reading that seemed to transport me into another world. For the life of me, I couldn't remember the name of the book. I remembered though that it involved a young boy who seemingly transformed into a cat and then met another cat named Jennie and the adventures they had.

Despite some efforts on occassion at a local library to try and figure out the book and find it again, it wasn't until recently that I decided to use the power of the internet and was able to figure it out, and of course, it was this book, Jennie, by Paul Gallico.

Despite it not being an easy book to remember, it also was not an easy book to find and I wound up purchasing it used from an 3rd Party merchant for more than I'm accustomed to paying for a paperback book, but often the price compared to the recovery of a nostalgic read is of little account and so it has been in this case.

Reading through this book again with the benefit of an adult's eye and the added knowledge now of Paul Gallico's past love for cats and as a sports writer has served only to add some delightful accents to the book that have brought the experience of my youth back with all the clarity of a fine wine remembered and savored.

This is a book to collect and return to read to one's children. The simple learning of the habits and character of cats is remarkable but more than that the writing draws you in and brings both cats and a story masterfully told to life.

5 enthusiastic stars. I can't imagine anyone with a heart and imagination not loving this book or forgetting it.

This book was also published under the title, The Abandoned

Bart Breen
A gift for my Granddaughter as I loved the book so much when I was a child
I encountered this book long ago, when I was in high school. It belonged to a friend, and I'd keep borrowing it from her. It was hard to find (and still is!). This is a wonderful story of a boy who turns into a cat, and is taken under the "wing" of a cat named Jennie. Jennie teaches the boy how to be a cat - the chapters on this "training" are a delight, and show so much observation of feline behavior. ("When in doubt, wash!") This is one of Paul Gallico's best; if you haven't discovered it yet, and you love cats, you won't want to miss this.
Loved it as a kid, read it again as an adult, loved it even more! Written from the perspective of a cat...actually tale is told by a little boy who's been in a terrible accident and awoken as a cat. He needs to learn how to survive - find food and shelter, etc - AS a cat. Terribly touching! Bought this one as a gift.
'Tell me a story', asked an 8 year-old boy the other day who was recuperating from a mild case of chicken pox. 'How about the story of a boy called Peter and a cat that he met?' I replied. From the young invalid 'I really prefer dogs but is the story a true one?'. 'I believe it is, and it happened many years ago before you were born'. 'Alright', replied the ailing child, 'but I will let you know if I find it boring'. And so I began

'Peter was your age and living in London with his parents and nanny after a big war; WWII actually, and most of the big cities in Europe were damaged after the fighting was over. He lived in a small house in a neighborhood with a park and every day he would go out with his nanny. His father was busy with his work in the army, and his mother whom he loved very much, was beautiful and used to go out to parties in lovely evening dresses so she didn't have much time for him. Peter had friends his age, but he spent a lot of time with his Scottish nanny who was strict and he was lonely. Oh, and he loved cats! He knew all the cats in the neighborhood and he wanted one of his own. Sometimes Peter would find a lost one and hide it in the house for a day or two, but his nanny always found it and threw it out in the street because she was allergic and didn't like them'.

'One day when Peter was out walking with his nanny, he saw a lovely striped tabby across the street sitting in the sun, and he ran into the road and had an accident. Peter couldn't remember what happened when he opened his eyes again, except that he had heard his nanny scream and now his shoulder hurt him very badly. And that was when he found out that he had turned into a cat. Well he didn't know if he was dreaming, where he was and he was frightened so he started to run and run through the streets of the city and it was all very scary. He could still read signs and he remembered his address, but he didn't know how to get help and the streets were full of people who kept walking, and one or two gave him a kick and his ears hurt because of all the busy traffic and city noise. But Peter had no place to take shelter or rest, so he kept on going and was terribly hungry and drenched in the rain until he finally collapsed in exhaustion after running into a big bully of a cat who told him to get lost.'

'The story might have ended there for Peter except that when he woke up, he found that he was alive and had been saved by a small feral plain cat with large luminous eyes that glowed in the dark. Her name was Jennie Baldrin and she taught Peter all about cats and how to become one.

Now Peter after listening carefully to Jennie's own life, understood how she felt and tries to restore her faith in human beings whom she distrusts. This is when the story really begins and the two of them set off together on a big adventure. They even go on a ship and earn their keep, and at times their adventures are a lot of fun and might make you laugh. It's all about a great friendship and how Peter swears to Jennie that nothing will ever separate them, or come between them. No matter whatever happens, they will always be together (here I took a pause). 'What's the matter? Your voice sounds a bit funny and your eyes are sad', interrogated my young listener who was now propped up against his pillow. 'It's nothing', I told him, 'just a bit of a cold and I will put on my sweater...'

Paul Gallico, the late author of "Jennie" was born in New York City, and has been somewhat forgotten today. Readers often think that he is British judging from his writing style. A sports editor, a columnist and an assistant managing editor for the New York Daily News, he settled down in Devon for a year in 1936 with a Great Dane and twenty-three assorted cats. Famous for his classic novel "The Snow Goose", a small story of Dunkirk (1941) which became a world-wide bestseller, Gallico's "Jennie" came out in 1950, and addresses the case of stray cats and their behavior in a fascinating way, with a multitude of tips for cat lovers and how to better understand them.

While written as a children's book and much enjoyed by youngsters at the time, it is also a story for grown-ups with a dark edge to it. Jennie's world, as seen through the eyes of young Peter, is real in the matters of love and courage, friendship, perseverance and endurance. The loss that leaves Jennie bereft at the end of this short novel, reminded me curiously of the realism of Theodore Dreiser's 'Jennie Gerdhardt' and is haunting, for Peter in Jennie's World and in his Dream, hears both her voice and his mother's calling him to come back.

This one for you, Jen, and your set of whiskers Miss Cleo, after we found each other again after forty-seven years this past winter when it was snowing in British Canada. 'Mice and Mumps', and many happy returns to you!