Cat Getting Out of a Bag: And Other Observations

by Jeffrey Brown

Celebrated comic artist and graphic novelist Jeffrey Brown's collection of all-new drawings sweetly illustrates the joys of living with a cat. Featured in McSweeney's and on NPR's This American Life, and praised by comic luminaries Chris Ware and Daniel Clowes, Brown's work has always paid tribute to felines as they curl up on couches and purr on the peripheries of his autobiographical stories. Cat Getting Out of a Bag follows...

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0811858227
• ISBN13: 9780811858229
• Release Date: March 2007
• Publisher: Chronicle Books
• Length: 108 Pages
• Weight: 0.66 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 6.7" x 6.9"

Customer Reviews

Not what I thought it would be at all.

I thought this would be a funny well thought out comic sort of book. No, what this is, turns out to be nothing more than doodles that were not very well thought out, and made into a book. The nice binding fools the buyer into thinking there must be quality work inside, but regretfully, that is not the case. I regret buying it for my daughter for Christmas as a fun book. If an adult, and a 9-year-old look at the same book and have a confused look on their face, then it was a waste of money. I got this only because I assumed it would be a silly book for a kid to laugh at, and it failed miserably. As a cat lover, even I wouldn't recommend it to anyone.

This is a subtle book that cat owners should love

For those who don't own or love cats, looking at these short cartoons or what I'd call "vignettes" about moments in a cat's life may seem puzzling. You may even wonder what is happening. If you want to get a sample of the types of illustrations and scenarios, just use the "Search Inside the Book" option or the "Surprise me" option and you'll see some examples. They give a clear idea of the mood and focus of this book, which often highlights the small moments in a cat's life - as well as the owner's life. I particularly liked this book because the author didn't seem to be trying to make his cats overtly cute or lovable or quirky to appeal to readers but simply captured their elusive but very real essence, letting the interpretations up to the reader. There isn't a single page that screams "Here is the MESSAGE!" On some pages a cat might appear to be doing very little but one look at the face of the cat and...well, I GOT it. The point of a particular piece might be that expression or the owner's bafflement at his cat's actions or simply the way he laughs when his cat licks his face. If you are drawn by the ineffable quality of cats, get this. You'll feel a sense of recognition. Some of us can't get enough of all things cat-related. This book is for us.

SO FREAKIN' CUTE!!

I've had 4 cats and every one of them has done the things Jeffrey Brown illustrates in this book. I kept wanting to turn to a family member and say, "Oh LOOK, [insert cat's name] does this, ya know!!!" The pictures are so cute and perfectly illustrate the every day quirks our cats possess that remind us why we love 'em to death.

I miss Jambo!

After fourteen and a half years, our foul-tempered, gorgeous little murderer of a cat returned to his home planet to report his findings on the Big Monkeys and their ways. I thought I was enjoying life without a litterbox. I was wrong. This book made my husband, who had begun to attribute the disappearance of his seasonal allergies to the disappearance of Jambo, remark, "We need a cat." With a minimum of fuss, Jeffrey Brown captures every oft-overlooked nuance of sharing one's home with a member of the feline majority. I don't think this book would have made half the impact had Misty been a dog.

A Book Like a Cat: Inexplicably Charming

It's a little hard to explain why I like this book, but it's engaging in a way that any close observer of cats will appreciate. If you aren't a dyed in the wool cat lover, you will probably be mystified by this book. But if you enjoy the company of cats, you'll find this cartoon collection to be something special. The cartoons trace the daily activities of an Everycat named Misty, who does all the things cats usually do--climb into grocery bags, lick themsleves at awkward times in awkward places, knock things off of desks, hiss at vacuum cleaners, run around the house for no particular reason. There's no punchline as such to any of the cartoons, other than a purr and a warm sense of familiarity. It's a testimony to the artist's skill as an observer that he has done such an engaging job of capturing the essence of what makes cats so pleasing to those who love them.

All absolutely true!

What a delightful book. I saw this sitting on the bookshelf recently and decided to flick through it. The little vignettes are absolutely hysterical in that they are so genuine and well observed. Anyone who loves cats will get a lot out of this book. Be aware that there are no jokes in this cartoon book. Anyone looking for cat-related gags will be disappointed. The Humor rather comes from the cartoonist having captured exactly all the little quirks and manerisms that cats have. Take a look at the back cover of the book (the skit with the cat on the desk). If that makes you smile then you will enjoy the rest of the book. If not then you probably just won't get it. My fiancee and I are both cat people. We own four of them. Or perhaps I should say four cats own us! I recently bought this book for her and we love it!