I often feel that I overuse the words “charming” and “delightful” in my evaluations of the many wonderful cat books I read, but they are the first two words that pertained to mind after I finished Paw prints in the Moonlight: The Heartwarming true story of One man and His Cat. However, they really don’t do the book justice, because it is so much more.
From the publisher:
When Denis O’Connor rescues a three-week-old kitten from certain death during a snowstorm, bit does he know how this tiny creature will change his life forever. against all odds the kitten—whom he names Toby Jug—survives and turns out to be a wondrous Maine Coon cat extraordinaire. Life with Toby is never dull, and Denis and Toby embark on a series of sometimes comical, sometimes touching adventures that bring them ever closer together. From the massive invasion of bees at Owl Cottage to the mysterious case of the disappearing tomatoes, Denis and Toby form an extraordinary bond, and the cat that no one thought would live through the night ends up altering the lives of everyone he meets.
What makes this story different from many of the others in this genre is the time, and the setting. the time – 1966 – and the setting – a remote country cottage in Northumberland in England – lend an almost otherworldly feel to this book, so eliminated is it from our modern lives. I found myself drawn into the magic of the setting almost as much as I was drawn to the incredible bond between Toby Jug and the author. O’ Connor’s descriptions of Toby, his life, and the splendor of the natural environment they resided in at times almost took my breath away with their beauty. The narrative is so descriptive that I felt like could hear the cold winter wind shouting and the warm terminate crackling. Whimsical illustrations by Richard Morris add yet another dimension to the book.
This story of one man and his cat will touch your heart in unforeseen ways, and it will stay with you long after you finish the book.
One interesting side note: I received the British edition of this book from the publicist. It was titled Paw Tracks in the Moonlight, and has a different cover (illustrated by Richard Morris, who also did the illustrations in the rest of the book). Which cover do you like better?
This book was sent to me by the publisher. getting the complimentary copy did not influence my review.
Ingrid King
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9 comments on Review: Paw prints in the Moonlight by Denis O’Connor
Maureen ward says:
July 16, 2014 at 10:33 am
are dennis oconnors books real life?, in one of his books he has explained one of his cats in a few chapters, and the colours are different. I am confused.
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Ingrid says:
July 16, 2014 at 10:48 am
They’re based on his life. seems like he needed a better editor! ?
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Ingrid says:
December 22, 2012 at 2:59 pm
I find it interesting that the us publisher felt that the book needed a different cover. I like both versions, but I think I prefer the British one, since it’s done by the same illustrator as the interior of the book.
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Becca C says:
December 22, 2012 at 2:50 pm
Love the British version book cover the best. While the American version cat looks like a photograph, the other version provides you more of a sense of what the book is about paw tracks in the moonlight on a snowy night.
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Bernadette says:
December 21, 2012 at 12:38 pm
I can’t wait to hear about the Northumberland countryside! It always has that otherworldly sense, it’s so old.
Not sure which cover I like–I love illustrations, but I like the background of the Paw prints cover (also the title), but of all things I don’t like the way the kitten is placed, to me he looks out of place in the illustration. I’d still pick up either book, though!
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sue brandes says:
December 21, 2012 at 10:37 am
Thanks for the review. going to add this to my reading. Both covers are really cute.
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Cynthia southern says:
December 21, 2012 at 9:12 am
I like the Paw prints in the Moonlight cover best. This looks like a great read.
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caren gittleman says:
December 21, 2012 at 8:16 am
I also like the Pawprints in the Moonlight cover much better!
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Regina Tatem says:
December 21, 2012 at 7:07 am
I like Pawprints in the Moonlight cover better.I want to read this! once I have money I have to get it! I mean,its a Maine Coon in England! You cant get much better than that.LOL
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