Time Cat

I loved the idea of this story; time-traveling with a talking cat. It has so much potential. It was a bit like the Sherman and Mr Peabody cartoons in that it was a fun jaunt through history but it had no particular narrative thread. It would have been great if there had been something that tied all the stories together so that it was more of a quest rather than a random sight-seeing tour.

I read two books from my childhood (see also [b:The Mouse and the Motorcycle 232109 The Mouse and the Motorcycle (Ralph S. Mouse, #1) Beverly Cleary https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1348990967l/232109.SX50.jpg 2029611]). The mouse has held up better–Time Cat drags a little.

Time Cat is a time travel adventure, where a cat, Gareth, takes his boy, Jason, to nine lives.
Lloyd Alexander says he got the idea because his cat pops in and out of his workroom without him noticing. I like the idea of cats being able to teleport themselves through time and space :-D

I love Prydain chronicles, so my hubby bought me a pile of Lloyd Alexander's books. I didn't like Vesper Holly adventures, and this one was a bit of a bore, but I like the Town Cats. I have yet to read the Westmark series my darling husband also bought me. :-)

I like Jason and Gareth, but... I think the book was too short with too many stories to give the characters any room to develop. I also think the suggestion of that Jason would meet all the people he met in the past one day in this life was a bit... unnecessary. When the adventure was over, it was over and he didn't meet any of the people. I was kind of expecting him to at least meet the princess. But - oh well. Also, St.Patrick was irritating. I'm Pagan, and I do not consider monolithic societies where the old is driven out and replaced totally with the new a good thing. Especially not when this "new" is Christianity, the "old" is paganism, the country is Ireland where Christianity has caused a lot of suffering and very little good - but, that's me. To me St.Patrick is a symbol of Christian intolerance and violence.

I don't really know anything about writing, editing, language and such things. All I can say if I like something or not, if there was something I loved or something that irritated me. I think this book has a great premise, it was easy to read and follow, and I am glad I read it. The things that irritated me were small details, and not something I will rant about weeks afterwards. :-D

I enjoyed the book but am dismayed that some of the cover art on certain newer versions seems quite dark. Nothing akin to the simple tales of adventure I loved as a boy.