Matthew Flinder's Cat

By: Bryce Courtenay

Narrated by: Humphrey Bower

Length: 16 hrs and 49 mins

Publisher's summary

The story of a drunk, a boy, and a cat. 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 window sill rests a bronze statue of Matthew Flinders' cat, Trim. Ryan is a 10-year-old, a near-street kid heading for the usual trouble. The two form an unlikely bond. Through telling Ryan the story of Flinders' circumnavigation of Australia as seen through Trim's eyes, Billy is drawn deeply into Ryan's life and into the Sydney underworld.

©2013 Christine Courtenay (P)2014 Publishing Pty. Ltd

Unusual

A novel about an alcoholic and a boy is one I would usually pass without a second glance. Fortunately, I was already a Bryce Courtenay fan. This touching novel is not to be missed. Humphrey Bower does his usual outstand job presenting each character in his/own voice. Five stars!

A whole new perspective

What a moving read. Humphrey Bower is a brilliant narrator who plays each voice and accent superbly but what an amazing writer Bryce Courtenay is. How many of us have looked at drunks, addicts and derelicts and wondered how they could ever get there? Mr Courtenay will help you understand the incredibly tough existence that a drunk, a drug addict, a derelict or child prostitute lives through and will bring you to tears on a regular basis.

This is a book that I would absolutely recommend to anyone.

Still another 5 stars for a Courtnay book

I can't seem to tear myself aways from Courtnay. Even so, I didn't think I'd be keen on the subject matter but it was a great story, even the bits about the cat. Bower is the best reader ever!

Strong Story of Child Pornograpy & Alcholism!

What did you like about this audiobook?

Not for the faint of heart! Bryce was able to weave together 2 of societies ills, the child pornography trade and alcoholism into a story that made me wince and cry and smile.

How has the book increased your interest in the subject matter?

This story really helped me understand the program that AA offers and how it helps those that are addicted.

What did you find wrong about the narrator's performance?

Humphrey Bower is my favorite narrator. His voice and characterizations are spot on! No one else can evoke such laughter and tears from me.

Do you have any additional comments?

A tough subject to read about, as was his book, Jessica, but well worth your time.

Wonderful story!

This is my 6th book by this author and I will listen to more. Humphrey is an excellent voice telling the story
Bryce consistently educates and entertains to the highest standard .

Great character study.

Any additional comments?

Bryce Courtenay is one of my new favorite writers. This is the fifth of his books I have read and thoroughly enjoyed. It provides an in-depth look at the life of Billie, an educated man turned homeless alcoholic. Instead of trying to avoid this character as I would on the street, I was drawn into his life and felt myself wanting to spend more time with him, to understand his addiction and wish him into recovery. His relationship with the young boy, Ryan, is at first a little hard to believe, but as the reader learns more about Billie's past, it becomes more understandable. The third main character in the book is Trim, Matthew's Flinder's cat (an historical figure), and Courtenay takes us on many adventures with Trim, as Billie shares these stories with Ryan. I found myself very interested in Trim's adventures in the beginning, but found them to be rather tedious as the story of Billie and Ryan grew and I was more interested in continuing with their story and not being interrupted with tales of Trim. Humphrey Bower is one of my all-time favorite narrators. I sometimes think he could read a shopping list and make it come alive!

Brcye Courtenay is always a good read

What made the experience of listening to Matthew Flinder's Cat the most enjoyable?

I love the way he describes real life people, with their foibles and idiosyncricies into the stories.

Redemption in the Form of a Cat

There's no writer quite like Bryce Courtenay . . . his stories of Australia are all so different, so crazy different, I can't even begin to tell you . . . and this one, about a drunk, a boy and a cat . . . First off, I don't even like cats . . . so you know, for me to choose and listen to this one, means that I gotta trust in the writing of Bryce Courtenay . . . My dad, whom I loved with all my heart was an alcoholic . . . and not unlike Billy, my dad was kind . . . and he was broken . . . and he couldn't stand to see anybody mistreated . . . I definitely went on a "journey" with this book . . . a sad, beautiful, longing journey, into my own past and into the tale of a much loved cat named Trim, who did much to heal Billy and a little boy . . . you will NOT regret listening to this book . . .

Not Courtenay's best

Would you consider the audio edition of Matthew Flinder's Cat to be better than the print version?

Don't know. Never read the print version.

How would you have changed the story to make it more enjoyable?

Reduced the amounts of time spent on the story of Matthew Flanders and Trim.

What does Humphrey Bower bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Humphrey Bower brings every book he narrates to life. I've listened to him lots and have never been disappointed.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

A story af alcoholism and child sexual exploitation in Aussyland.

Any additional comments?

The story tells the tale of a very special friendship between an alcoholic and a child. I really think it was more about what BC wanted to say about alcoholism/addiction, it's recovery process, and make some points about child sexual exploitation. I really feel like he used this story to get his views across, while not wrong in any way, but took away from the story really just being about the characters. I connected with Billie, but would have more if he hadn't been so into project Mina bird!

Another Great Read from Bryce

I am going to be so sad when I've read the last Bryce Courtenay book. All of his stories, as this one is, are so inspirational and thought provoking and oh, so interesting.

This story centers around a derelict who befriends a young boy, who makes a profound difference in the older man's life and vice versa. Humphrey Bower is superb, as usual, and I always forget that it is him narrating and not the "real" character, which is the mark of a great narrator!

I am not personally an addict(well, food/sugar I am guilty of!) but there were moments in the book where I was quite moved and realized things in my own life that were relative to the story. Now that's a bonus; a great read with a little therapy mixed in!

The only reason I gave the story 4 stars is that the ending left me wanting a bit more; it seemed to come to a bit of a halt for me. But that may just be that I can't get enough of Bryce Courtenay's and Humphrey Bower's story telling.