FICTION

The Cat

by Edeet Ravel
Pintail: Penguin Group (USA). 2013. 240p. ISBN 9780143186458. pap. $16; ebk. ISBN 9780143186595. F
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Ravel (The Saver) returns with the story of Elise, who is born with a purplish birthmark covering one side of her face. She feels unloved and is largely friendless for most of her early life until a brief affair with a fellow art student produces a son who accepts her unequivocally and whom she loves with abandon. Apart from his school friends and their adored cat, Pursie, mother and son live in contented isolation until one day a sleepy driver runs off the road near their home, killing the 11-year-old boy. With so few friends and family, the only thing keeping Elise tethered to the world is caring for and feeding Pursie. In grief's grip she begins searching for a few old friends and lovers whom she might persuade to take over caring for Pursie, allowing her to depart the world without guilt.
VERDICT Elise is a hard character for the reader to connect to. A ray of hope finally appears when Elise's tentative contact with the outside world begins to thaw her cold, cold heart. This is a slighter work from Ravel, a borderline purchase. [See Prepub Alert, 10/15/12.]
Reviewed by Barbara Love, Kingston Frontenac P.L., Ontario , Apr 01, 2013
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