The Cat's Table

By: Michael Ondaatje

Narrated by: Michael Ondaatje

Length: 7 hrs

Publisher's summary

In the early 1950s, an 11-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.

©2011 Michael Ondaatje (P)2011 Random House Audio

Brilliantly read and conceived.

This is a poetic performance that deserves the slow, measured delivery that Michael Ondaatje gives the written material. The story evolves in a mesmerizing, understated evolution. I've listened to it twice and will look forward to hearing it again.

Over the Bounding Main...

Those familiar with Ondaatje's impressive work know that he is a masterful writer that has penned several novels (The English Patient) and numerous volumes of poetry. . .With his ever cogent insights into the human soul, Ondaatje has created a boatload of fascinating characters on board the Oronsay in The Cat's Table, the voyage recollected through the eyes of 11 yr. old Michael--and therein lies the problem. While the antics of the herd of youngsters are told with adventurous relish, the cast of richly hued characters and seamy events are only revealed in bits and pieces, limited to the perspective and abilities of a very young and naive Michael. The premise works sometimes...but more often the pensive Michael waxes discordantly over the years, jumps around the decades with his personal analysis, while a monstrously nostalgic wave seems to swallow the colorful characters that so piqued our interest. The words are those of a poet, they are lush; it is beautifully written, but the story itself is at its strongest when it takes a deep breath from Michael's ponderous preoccupations and descends beneath the polished decks--down into the dark steamy engine rooms, the Duke and his questionable avocation involving lithe young boys, the bridge-playing seductresses, the self-acclaimed world champion deck hands and lotharios, the deadly vegatation growing in the deep hull...those are the too sparsely developed elements that keep the pace going more so than the analytical musings of our budding boy poet. Pleasant enough, elegiac read that will be most appreciated by those that have a love affair with words.

Beautiful language, lovely story

In general, authors should resist reading their own work. A top-notch narrator would have enhanced the novel, especially since the story jumped around a lot between past and present, and a professional could have helped the listener make those leaps with him.

One reviewer compared this novel to leafing through a scrapbook. I think that's apt; it's an experience where each new remembered picture or bit of memorabilia prompted an anecdote, a memory, a small revelation about being 11 once and being 11 no longer.

As always with the poet Ondaatje, the language is beautiful, the descriptions breathtaking, the rhythm of each sentence perfectly set against the plot. I would certainly recommend it.

Good book spoiled by poor performance

Would you be willing to try another one of Michael Ondaatje???s performances?

Audible books performed by the author are often quite good. Barbara Kingsolver, for example, does an excellent job. In this case, however, the performance distracted from the novel making it difficult to follow. This one would be better to read in print.

A Masterpiece

I'm not even finished and this is already one of my favorite books I've ever "read." Ondaatje's writing is captivating. I find myself listening over and over to some passages because of their pure beauty. Certainly the voyage from Ceylon to England is a natural metaphor for the journeys we take in life and this book does speak to that universal experience, Cats Table is so much more. It is a memoir, a love story, even poetry in its way. The author's narration lends greater depth and feeling, because we hear it as he sounds it out in his head as he is writing. His unique accent is sometimes hard to understand, and for me that makes it even better, because I have to pay close attention. Ondaatje's works are a gift to the English speaking world, to be savored, cherished, and celebrated.

loved it!

The characters in this story drew me in and kept me enthralled. What a wild ride!

Beautiful story, well read by the author.

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

I would like to read the "hard copy", having listened to the Audible.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Miss Lasqueti. She is a single woman with a mysterious past and a kind present. The detail of the vest with the pigeons creates a wonderful instant visual.

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

For one, I know how to pronounce all the exotic names of the characters that I might not be able to on the page.

If you could rename The Cat's Table, what would you call it?

Not sure I could improve on the title.

Much More Interesting Than I expected

I did not expect this book to have the depth it had. I've been in a dry spell lately with many books being just boring. This book regenerated my enthusiasm for audio books---with 1500 titles in my library, it's getting harder to find really great books. I'd put this book on my top 100 list. Here's the odd part.

The publisher's description doesn't do the book justice. But, after listening to it, I'm not sure I could say anything different.

This review will be lost in the hundreds of reviews for The Cat's Table. But if you come across this, take my recommendation and go for it.

Boys at sea

What was the most interesting aspect of this story? The least interesting?

Ondaatje writes of a trip across the Indian Ocean and on to London when he was about 12. Now and then he follows a character to the current day. The boys did a lot of mischief, even helping a professional thief on ship, and met some interesting people. It is a memoir--far more interesting than anything in my life--but I did miss a plot.

Good story, awful narration

Would you try another book from Michael Ondaatje and/or Michael Ondaatje?

I really love travel books, but Michael Ondaatje has SUCH A DRY VOICE, I couldn't focus on it! I listen to audiobooks in the car and his drone was putting me to sleep! It should be an exciting book but (sorry, Michael) his voice is just not a good fit.

What didn’t you like about Michael Ondaatje’s performance?

Dry, monotone, lackluster, blends words together. Unable to reduce the bass from his voice enough.

Any additional comments?

Just read the book. Let your inner voice bring it to life.