Matthew Flinders' Cat

by Bryce Courtenay

Book Overview

Billy O'Shannessy, once a prominent barrister, is now on the street where he sleeps on a bench outside the State Library. Above him on the windowsill rests a bronze statue of Matthew Flinders' cat,... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0143000985
• ISBN13: 9780143000983
• Release Date: January 2004
• Publisher: Penguin Books (NZ) Ltd
• Length: 500 Pages
• Weight: 0.75 lbs.

Customer Reviews

The roles of Trim the cat

This is a difficult novel to define. The three main characters are the street dwelling alcoholic, Billy O'Shannessy, Ryan Sanfrancesco the 11 year old streetwise boy whose future is at risk, and Trim (Matthew Flinders's cat). Trim was, apparently, the first cat to circumnavigate Australia (1801 to 1803) when he accompanied Matthew Flinders. Potentially, there are at least three stories in this book. The one I focussed on, and enjoyed the most, was the role of Trim, as developed in Billy's imagination and then researched, in saving Billy and Ryan. The stories of Billy and Ryan did not engage me as much as Trim, yet I enjoyed the way Mr Courtenay wove the separate stories together. There are no real heroes in this story, and yet there is hope. And a kind of irony in that Trim the cat, who was part of the voyages that helped define Australia still has a contemporary role. Recommended. An interesting, if quirky, novel. Jennifer Cameron-Smith

What's In This Guy's Briefcase? Let's Rob Him And Find Out!

Reading this book requires an immense "Suspension Of Disbelief" on the part of the reader which I could not quite accomplish. In this book the reader is intoduced to Billy, an ex lawyer turned Homeless Street Alcoholic. Billy sleeps on a park bench with a briefcase handcuffed to his arm!!!One gets the impression that Billy and his briefcase would be separated from each other in about 5 minutes on the mean Homeless Streets of Sydney, Australia and he would be lucky to keep his hand in the process. Instead of being totally absorbed in his quest to find the next available drink ( just like any typical street drunk would do) Billy meets a young boy by the name of Ryan who he takes a liking to. Billy entertains Ryan with fanciful invented tales just like any good lawyer .Ryan has troubles of his own and Billy goes to great lengths to help him. Any resemblance to any real street drunk in this book is purely coincidental. I give this book 5 stars because Mr. Courtenay has written a few good books although this is not one of them.

A must read.

What a beautifully written and compelling book. Reading this was a genuine 'I can't put it down' experience. Courtney tells the tale of an ex-lawyer turned to alcoholism after a family tragedy, living on the streets of Sydney, Australia. His struggle with his demons, and with his compassionate soul is portrayed in an immensively readable and, for me, emotional manner. Several times while reading this book I grabbed members of my poor family and forced them to share the latest 'moment' with me......highly recommended.