The most beautiful story (The Mousehole Cat - Antonia Barber)

Member Name: dmandrew

Product:	The Mousehole Cat - Antonia Barber
Date:	19/05/09 (35 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: It can move you to tears

Disadvantages: None at all

This is a beautiful and captivating book. Just the mention of it makes me feel quiet inside and humble. Humble at the thought of such a wonderful story and the skilful and imaginative illustrations, and at the thought of such courage in the face of terrifying adversity.

It is the story, based on legend, and probaly versed in some truth, of a brave voyage made from the tiny Cornish village of Mousehole by one man and his cat to combat the storm that has kept all the boats in the harbour, and kept food from coming to the tables of the villagers.

When the village is in danger of starvation, Tom Bowker resolves that he must go out to sea to try to catch enough fish for everyone to live on. We meet Tom, who appears to be either a widower or just unmarried, and his faithful and affectionate cat, Mowzer. You can tell what she must be good at!

Out of the safety of harbour, Tom, Mowzer and their little fishing boat go out to meet the storm, personified as the Storm Cat. Mowzer feels a tug of sympathy to the Storm Cat and tries to calm him with her own singing. This moves the Storm Cat enough to calm th ferocity of the the wind and waves enough for Tom to catch a tremendous haul of fish.

They return to the harbour, where all of the lights of the people of Mousehole are on, every pair of eyes watchng for his return, hopng and praying that he is not lost. As he round the final turn, an extra wave helps him, propelled by the Storm Cat, who has come kitten like for a while, soothed by the singing of Mowzer.

Tom's catch is landed, and there is feasting and celebration far into the night, particularly featuring Starry-Gazy pie, where the heads of pilchrds peep thorugh mashed potato.

The words of the story are beautifully told by Antonia Barner. The book is a lovely one to read to yourself - at any age - or to read out loud.

However, this book ix extra special because of the incomparable illustrations by Nicola Bayley. These are simply exquisite, and for me they capture perfectly every essence of the wtory and of its words.

Channel 4 made an animated film of the book, using Nicola Bayley's illustrations and taking an age of time and care. This is faithful to the book and its spirit and complements it perfectly.

The book cost around £10, but probably a lot less on Amazon, and the DVD of the Channel 4 production about the same amount.

The book has won a sizeable number of thoroughly deserved awards. If you have children, buy it now. If you don't have children, buy it now. It is impossible to read it without being moved, and it is even moving just to think about the book and write about it. I do not know anything quite like it.

Summary: The Mousehole Cat - a truly wonderful book in every way