The Cat's Table
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"In the early 1950s, an eleven-year-old boy in Colombo boards a ship bound for England. At mealtimes he is seated at the 'cat's table'--as far from the Captain's Table as can be--with a ragtag group of 'insignificant' adults and two other boys, Cassius and Ramadhin. As the ship makes its way across
… More »"In the early 1950s, an eleven-year-old boy in Colombo boards a ship bound for England. At mealtimes he is seated at the 'cat's table'--as far from the Captain's Table as can be--with a ragtag group of 'insignificant' adults and two other boys, Cassius and Ramadhin. As the ship makes its way across the Indian Ocean, through the Suez Canal, into the Mediterranean, the boys tumble from one adventure to another, bursting all over the place like freed mercury. But there are other diversions as well: one man talks with them about jazz and women, another opens the door to the world of literature. The narrator's elusive, beautiful cousin Emily becomes his confidante, allowing him to see himself 'with a distant eye' for the first time, and to feel the first stirring of desire. Another Cat's Table denizen, the shadowy Miss Lasqueti, is perhaps more than what she seems. And very late every night, the boys spy on a shackled prisoner, his crime and his fate a galvanizing mystery that will haunt them forever. As the narrative moves between the decks and holds of the ship and the boy's adult years, it tells a spellbinding story--by turns poignant and electrifying--about the magical, often forbidden, discoveries of childhood and a lifelong journey that begins unexpectedly with a spectacular sea voyage."--Publisher.
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In any case, it seemed to us that nearly all at our table, from the silent tailor, Mr. Gunesekera, who owned a shop in Kandy, to the entertaining Mr. Mazappa, to Miss Lasqueti, might have an interesting reason for their jouney, even if it was unspoken or, so far, undiscovered. In spite of this, our table's status on the Oronsay continued to be minimal, while those at the Captain's Table were constantly toasting one another's significance. That was a small lesson I learned on the journey. What is interesting and important happens mostly in secret, in places where there is no power. Nothing much of lasting value ever happens at the head table, held together by a familiar rhetoric. Those who already have power continue to glide along the familiar rut they have made for themselves.
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Add a CommentI thought this book was excellent. Well written, kept my interest, good flow and language.
Didn't hold my interest very well. Although I enjoy this author, I'm still not sure who did it! Hope they make a movie out of it.
I read this book with much anticipation, having never ready any Michael Ondaatje. I really enjoyed it. The author conveys the sea journey of a young boy so well as he recreates the impressions of three friends travelling to England to join their families. One tends to forget how memories stay with children and how their lives are often affected by them. I enjoyed reading about all the characters--really a magical journey
I really expected more out of this, but it seems that my expectations were probably a little higher, especially since my last read of his was The English Patient about 15 years ago and even then I wasn't impressed with the book because I was so lost as to what was going on that I didn't really enjoy the way that I probably should have and intended and now that I understand how he wrote the book, I probably would enjoy it more now, but this review isn't about The English Patient. The one thing about the book that I did like is the language that Ondaatje uses in the book; while reading the book on the bus home, I got lost in the world of the ship as it traveled from Sri Lanka to England and sometimes I would forget about the whizzing scenery outside my window that I think I almost forgot my bus stop on my way to work one day! I would even sort of skip over the scenes and get lost to the point that I would wonder what had just happened and not really caring I would move on with the book. I felt that book allowed me to be encased in a world that I can only imagine and that no longer exists, especially since most people take planes when one goes from one place to the next and ship travel is only used for leisure rather than for a permanent move. One thing I didn't like about the book was the flash forwards that occurred in the book and found them to be a bit bothersome and that they chopped up the story a little more than I wanted. Sure it may the story a little more interesting, but I felt that it detracted from the main story to the point that I became a bit annoyed with the flash-forwards, even though there were a couple that served the main story well and acted as a diversion and added to it. And personally, despite what he says at the end of the book, I think there are some autobiographical elements that he has included in the book.
A very good read.
Well written but just didn't hold my attention.
Loved the book – such lyrical, thoughtful writing and interesting characters. Enjoyed the style of having short vignettes about times on the ocean liner which built up the story slowly - laughed out loud at some of the boys’ escapades & transfixed by the dramatic events onboard. Even the sadder & darker elements were presented in a quiet, non-judgmental way that keep me pondering about elements of it even after finishing the novel [such as what it must have been like for a child to not see a parent for 4-5 years and to travel on their own such along distance virtually unaccompanied - amazing]. Would make a great movie.
A wonderful whimsical tale. I also agree that it would make a great movie. I to am not a big fan of Ondaatje but I loved this book
a 265-page fiction filled with many characters and plots. It would make a good movie, like English Patient
I was apprehensive about this novel as I generally don't like historical fiction, but I was very much impressed by The Cat's Table. The people that Mynah meets during his voyage are unique, exciting, and entertaining. As the stories unfold, you can't help but feel like a curious (perhaps frightened) eleven year old. I quite enjoyed reading this book.