Lilian Jackson Braun (1913–2011)
Author of The Cat Who Could Read Backwards
About the Author
Lilian Jackson Braun was born on June 20, 1913. After starting out as a copywriter for Detroit department stores, she worked for The Detroit Free Press for nearly 30 years. In the 1960s, her cat died in a fall from a 10th-floor window in Detroit. Neighbors later told her that someone pushed the show more cat. To work through her feelings, she wrote a short story based on the incident. The result was her first three novels, The Cat Who Could Read Backwards, The Cat Who Ate Danish Modern, and The Cat Who Turned On and Off. After an 18-year break, she published The Cat Who Saw Red. During her lifetime, she wrote 29 titles in The Cat Who... series. She died on June 4, 2011 of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease at the age of 97. (Bowker Author Biography) show less
Series
Works by Lilian Jackson Braun
The Cat Who… Could Read Backwards, Ate Danish Modern, Turned On and Off (1991) 363 copies, 2 reviews
The Cat Who Could Read Backwards / The Cat Who Saw Red / The Fluppie Phenomenon / SuSu and the 8:30 Ghost (2001) 7 copies
Lilian Jackson Braun 2-in-1 Edition, Volume 1: The Cat Who Blew the Whistle and The Cat Who Came to Breakfast (2018) 5 copies
The Cat Who... Books 5-6 5 copies
The Cat Who ... (2, 5, 8, 16, 17) 4 copies
Kot który wyczuł pismo nosem tom 23 4 copies
The Cat Who Series Complete Set 3 copies
Lilian Jackson Braun 2-in-1 Edition, Volume 2: The Cat Who Said Cheese and The Cat Who Tailed a Thief (2018) 3 copies
The Cat Who Knew Shakespeare | The Cat Who Talked to Ghosts | East Side Story | Tragedy on New Year's Eve (2004) 2 copies
The Cat Who ... (7, 21) 2 copies
The Cat Who ... (9, 20, 24) 2 copies
The Cat Who Wasn't There 2 copies
The Sin of Madame Phloi 1 copy
HIl Igatto che dava i numeri 1 copy
3 In 1 1 copy
Kot który wąchał klej tom 8 1 copy
Kot który czytał wspak tom 1 1 copy
Kot który jadał wełnę tom 2 1 copy
Kot który lubił sery tom 18 1 copy
The Cat Who ... (13-16) 1 copy
The Cat Who [3 Stories] 1 copy
Lilian Jackson Braun 2-in-1 Edition, Volume 3: The Cat Who Knew a Cardinal and The Cat Who Moved a Mountain (2018) 1 copy
The Tail of the Tipoff 1 copy
The Jaguar Hunter 1 copy
The Cat Who ... (2, 7, 18) 1 copy
The Cat Who ... (2, 10, 20) 1 copy
The Cat Who ... (11-15) 1 copy
The Cat Who Knew Too Much 1 copy
The Cat Who Blew the Whistle 1 copy
The Cat Who ... (16-20) 1 copy
The Cat Who Went Bananas (The Cat Who… Mysteries, Book 27): A quirky feline mystery for cat lovers everywhere (The Cat Who...) (2013) 1 copy
Three Complete Novels 1 copy
Associated Works
A Taste of Murder: Diabolically Delicious Recipes from Contemporary Mystery Writers (1999) — Contributor — 48 copies, 1 review
Reader's Digest Select Editions 1999 v02 #242: The Simple Truth / Rainbow Six / Cloud Nine / The Cat Who Saw Stars (1999) — Contributor; Author — 47 copies
Reader's Digest Condensed Books 1996 v04: Notorious / Snow Wolf / The Cat Who Said Cheese / Mirage (1996) — Author — 36 copies
Reader's Digest Condensed Books 1993 v06: The Cat Who Went Into the Closet / Homeland / Tell Me No Secrets (1993) — Author — 20 copies
Livros Condensados: O Encantador de Cavalos | Justiça Local | Um Lugar Chamado Liberdade | O Gato que Gostava de Armários (1996) 4 copies
Libros Selectos ( El Pasado Secreto De Suzanne Reardon, Atrapados En El Hielo, Un Hogar Para Kathy, El Gato Que Atrapò Al Ladròn) (2001) — Contributor — 4 copies
RDCBLP v094 The Perfect Storm: A True Story of Men Against the Sea | The Cat Who Tailed a Thief (1998) — Author — 3 copies
Reader's Digest Mystery & Intrigue Vol 1: Make No Bones / Just Cause / The Cat Who Moved a Mountain / Hope Against Hope (1992) — Contributor — 2 copies
The Evil That Men Do | The Cat Who Could Read Backwards | No Peace for the Wicked (1966) — Contributor — 2 copies
Libros Condensados Jaque Perpetuo Loup Durand HOrowitz y la Señora Washington Henry Denker PLaga Misteriosa Ken McClure El gato en el closet de los recuerdos Lilian Jackson Braun — Contributor — 2 copies, 1 review
Furious Old Women | A Stranger and Afraid | The Dark One | Tipsy and the Board of Health (2002) — Contributor — 1 copy
Tagged
Common Knowledge
- Birthdate
- 1913-06-20
- Date of death
- 2011-06-04
- Gender
- female
- Occupations
- copywriter
editor - Organizations
- Detroit Free Press
- Agent
- Natalee Rosenstein, editor
- Short biography
- She is something of a technophobe and still uses a typewriter.
The history of Lilian Jackson Braun is perhaps as exciting and mysterious as her novels. Between 1966 and 1968, she published three novels to critical acclaim; The Cat Who Could Read Backwards, The Cat Who Ate Danish Modern and The Cat Who Turned On and Off. In 1966, The New York Times labeled Braun, "the new detective of the year." Then, for reasons unknown, the rising mystery author disappeared from the publishing scene.
It wasn't until 1986 that the Berkley Publishing Group reintroduced Braun to the public with the publication of an original paperback, The Cat Who Saw Red. Within two years, Berkley released four new novels in paperback and reprinted the three mysteries from the sixties.
Braun was the "Good Living" editor of The Detroit Free Press for 29 years. She is retired from journalism and is currently writing mysteries full-time. She lives with two Siamese cats and her husband, Earl Bettinger, in North Carolina. - Cause of death
- lung infection
- Nationality
- USA
- Birthplace
- Willimansette, Chicopee Falls, Hampden County, Massachusetts, USA
- Places of residence
- Michigan, USA
Tryon, North Carolina, USA - Place of death
- Landrum, South Carolina, USA
- Map Location
- Massachusetts, USA
Members
Discussions
The Cat Who... in Cozy Mysteries (September 2012)
Reviews
I admit that I have read every single one of Lilian Jackson Braun's "Cat Who" books. I used to relish every single one, but I agree with the other reviewers: Lately the books have been getting lamer and lamer.
I, too, think the books are now being ghost-written by someone else. I think the ghost-writing began about five or six books ago. It's not just that the mystery, never central, is now utterly an afterthought in these books. Nor is it that the resolution relies not on acute detective show more work on the part of Qwilleran or KoKo, but on deus ex machina. (Qwill and KoKo used to really sniff around, so to speak.) Nor is it that the style is much coyer than what Ms. Jackson Braun used to use. (I've had it with the endless references to the salt-and-pepper mustache already! It's getting to be a parody of itself!) No, the clincher is the many errors and inconsistencies in The Cat Who Talked Turkey.
Someone has already pointed out that the Siamese take a car trip in perfect harmony in The Cat Who Talked Turkey. We all remember that Yum-Yum howls whenever she's in the car. And what happened to taking KoKo out on the leash? And the last time we were privy to the love life of Gary Pratt, owner of the Black Bear Café, he was mourning a dead girlfriend. When did he pick up the wife who plays such a big role in this book?
The ghost writer not only hasn't read all the "Cat Who" books, s/he hasn't even done much research. In the book, Qwilleran wonders how KoKo could know something if he can't read. But the very first book posits that KoKo can read backwards. Remember the title of the very first book in this series? The ghost writer clearly doesn't!
Also, Eddington Smith's great-grandfather or grandfather is described as a pirate. But, in the original story, wasn't he a highwayman, instead?
The change in tone comes in the very first sentence when there's a quote from the "Qwill Pen": "A town without a bookstore is like a chicken with one leg." Now, the "Qwill Pen," while not exactly Art Buchwald, has never been this ridiculous.
I've been a faithful reader until now, but this book is the last straw. I suspect that there's not one ghost writer, but more than one, and that's why the books aren't just inconsistent with the real "Cat Who" books, but they don't really match each other, either. I hate to say it, but I'm finished with this series. show less
I, too, think the books are now being ghost-written by someone else. I think the ghost-writing began about five or six books ago. It's not just that the mystery, never central, is now utterly an afterthought in these books. Nor is it that the resolution relies not on acute detective show more work on the part of Qwilleran or KoKo, but on deus ex machina. (Qwill and KoKo used to really sniff around, so to speak.) Nor is it that the style is much coyer than what Ms. Jackson Braun used to use. (I've had it with the endless references to the salt-and-pepper mustache already! It's getting to be a parody of itself!) No, the clincher is the many errors and inconsistencies in The Cat Who Talked Turkey.
Someone has already pointed out that the Siamese take a car trip in perfect harmony in The Cat Who Talked Turkey. We all remember that Yum-Yum howls whenever she's in the car. And what happened to taking KoKo out on the leash? And the last time we were privy to the love life of Gary Pratt, owner of the Black Bear Café, he was mourning a dead girlfriend. When did he pick up the wife who plays such a big role in this book?
The ghost writer not only hasn't read all the "Cat Who" books, s/he hasn't even done much research. In the book, Qwilleran wonders how KoKo could know something if he can't read. But the very first book posits that KoKo can read backwards. Remember the title of the very first book in this series? The ghost writer clearly doesn't!
Also, Eddington Smith's great-grandfather or grandfather is described as a pirate. But, in the original story, wasn't he a highwayman, instead?
The change in tone comes in the very first sentence when there's a quote from the "Qwill Pen": "A town without a bookstore is like a chicken with one leg." Now, the "Qwill Pen," while not exactly Art Buchwald, has never been this ridiculous.
I've been a faithful reader until now, but this book is the last straw. I suspect that there's not one ghost writer, but more than one, and that's why the books aren't just inconsistent with the real "Cat Who" books, but they don't really match each other, either. I hate to say it, but I'm finished with this series. show less
[The Cat Who Knew Shakespeare (A Jim Qwilleran Feline Whodunnit)] [Author: Braun, Lilian Jackson] [October, 1997] by Lilian Jackson Braun
Now that I'm really invested in the series, and recognize the characters weaving in and out of the different novels, I have a real affection for Qwill, the cats and his entourage. This was a slower story, more geared around the curious comings and goings of the various characters, with a catastrophic ending (which I found thoroughly unnecessary!).
I really do enjoy the world that Braun has created in all its coziness and curiosities.
I really do enjoy the world that Braun has created in all its coziness and curiosities.
When I picked up the book to read, I thought I was about to delight in reading the adventures of one of my favorite characters, newspaper reporter Jim Qwilleran with Siamese cats Koko and Yum Yum. As I read on the cover, "A fabulous collection of feline fiction!" I realized that this was a short story collection of 14 tales. Putting initial disappointment aside, I can't say that they were fabulous but I enjoyed the tales of the various felines. I enjoy reading short stories in magazines but show more for some unknown reason I'd rather not read them immediately following one another as presented in a short story collection. Perhaps silly but true. Some of the tales were footnoted as "first published in Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine.
Now it's time to find "The Cat Who Sniffed Glue" on my "to read pile" as I'd prefer my visit with Jim, Koko, and Yum Yum not be further delayed. ;) show less
Now it's time to find "The Cat Who Sniffed Glue" on my "to read pile" as I'd prefer my visit with Jim, Koko, and Yum Yum not be further delayed. ;) show less
Only Steven Spielberg as creator of ET could find me charmed by a story about an Extra-Terrestrial and Lilian Jackson Braun as creator of "The Cat Who... Series" could find me enchanted by a story with the possibilities of UFO sightings in Mooseville. I simply love this series from the author's continued dedication of each novel to "The husband who..." to reading the next adventure of James (Qwill to his friends) Qwilleran, to the sleuthing feline assistance by clue master Koko and the show more lovely and playful Yum Yum, to all of the other secondary characters that make this series so captivating to read.
I can best describe reading a novel in this series to my pleasure at eating chocolate. I savor each piece but am always ready for another. For the series, I can hardly believe I've read over 1/2 the series already and I've enjoyed each and every one. Thankfully, there are a few more treats and I know each one will be entertaining. show less
I can best describe reading a novel in this series to my pleasure at eating chocolate. I savor each piece but am always ready for another. For the series, I can hardly believe I've read over 1/2 the series already and I've enjoyed each and every one. Thankfully, there are a few more treats and I know each one will be entertaining. show less
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Statistics
- Works
- 147
- Also by
- 33
- Members
- 51,354
- Popularity
- #296
- Rating
- 3.5
- Reviews
- 630
- ISBNs
- 1,039
- Languages
- 10
- Favorited
- 70
