My Beloved Monster

Masha, the Half-Wild Rescue Cat Who Rescued Me

By: Caleb Carr

Narrated by: James Lurie

Length: 13 hrs and 47 mins

Publisher's summary

The #1 bestselling author of The Alienist tells the extraordinary story of Masha, a half-wild rescue cat who fought off a bear, tackled Caleb like a linebacker—and bonded with him as tightly as any cat and human possibly can.

Caleb Carr has had special relationships with cats since he was a young boy in a turbulent household, famously peopled by the founding members of the Beat Generation, where his steadiest companions were the adopted cats that lived with him both in the city and the country. As an adult, he has had many close feline companions, with relationships that have outlasted most of his human ones. But only after building a three-story home in rural, upstate New York did he enter into the most extraordinary of all of his cat pairings: Masha, a Siberian Forest cat who had been abandoned as a kitten, and was languishing in a shelter when Caleb met her. She had hissed and fought off all previous carers and potential adopters, but somehow, she chose Caleb as her savior.

For the seventeen years that followed, Caleb and Masha were inseparable. Masha ruled the house and the extensive, dangerous surrounding fields and forests. When she was hurt, only Caleb could help her. When he suffered long-standing physical ailments, Masha knew what to do. Caleb’s life-long study of the literature of cat behavior, and his years of experience with previous cats, helped him decode much of Masha’s inner life. But their bond went far beyond academic studies and experience. The story of Caleb and Masha is an inspiring and life-affirming relationship for readers of all backgrounds and interests—a love story like no other.

©2024 Caleb Carr (P)2024 Mulholland Books

wow

Gosh I didn't know how much I would like this book but boy did I absolutely love it! I cried at the end. definitely give this book a try

Stunningly Beautiful Memoir

A fascinating and beautifully written memoir of a renowned writer framed around his lifelong relationships with cats, along with the biographical explanations of how and why feline companionship became such a central feature of his emotional life. Destined, I believe, to become a literary classic.

The best of the best.

This book is the tale of an true storyteller and his amazing cat. I couldn't stop reading.

traumatic pasts

hard to hear of losses and traumas which had occurred to author and his various cats

The story of a loving relationship between two species

Anyone who has ever truly known the love, joy and loss of an animal will identify with the author’s story of his intertwined life with his cat, Masha. It is the story of a true loving connection between friends of different species that can only be counted as a blessing… even with the understanding of the heartbreaking “good-bye” that is inevitable.

Magical

A lovely story of a bond between two creatures. Tender and sad and ultimately uplifting.

Beautiful Story!

Love this book! such a beautiful story of the bond between cat and owner. I picked this up because of my love of cats, but I think it would really resonate for anyone!

Excellent

I love the bond between Carr and Masha. I was engaged from start to finish. Carr puts into words what is often difficult to explain to those who have never experienced the love of a cat. I feel we are kindred spirits in our love for these magnificent animals.