Homer's Odyssey: A Fearless Feline Tale, or How I Learned about Love and Life with a Blind Wonder Cat

I listened to the audiobook version of Homer's Odyssey, and I laughed, cried, and laughed again. I have always had at least one cat in my life since I got out of college and started living on my own, but Homer's Odyssey has made even me see all cats in a new light. Cats live in the here and now. Cats are honest and never lie to you. I laughed at Gwen's description of Scarlet: "Scarlet isn't afraid of people. Scarlet doesn't *like* people." I've always suspected that my female cats preferred the attention of men, and now I know, having met Vashti. And Homer. What can I say about Homer that hasn't already been said? Homer is a miracle. He has something to teach all of us about life, love, living in the moment, taking blind leaps of faith, show more and never, ever letting anyone tell us what our limitations are. show less

I really can't believe I read a cat book. But it was our monthly book club selection. I like animals, but I'm more a dog person than a car person. The only cat I ever liked was a little black creature named Lightning. And even though he wasn't blind, he's who I pictured while reading this book.

Honestly, I wasn't expecting to like it. But I did. I more than liked it. This book is funny. And
The stories are so relatable to any pet owner, but I imagine even more so for cat owners.

On more than one occasion I'd stop, go back & re-read a section out loud that was too good not to share! And at one point I sat on my toilet crying. Because, hey, just cuz I had to pee didn't mean I was putting the book down! Gwen does a great job at making Homer show more come to life for the reader. Her stories & the great detail are beautiful!

This book was the first time I've heard anyone describe first hand what it was like to be so close to Ground Zero after 9/11. I was freaking out with her. Frantic. Angry at the officials.

This book is a gift. So thank you, Gwen Cooper for writing it. show less

A friend and fellow cat lover gave me this book for Christmas last year, and I admit I put off reading it because I feared cuteness overload. But after two less than satisfying reads, I was in the mood for something very different. This fit the bill, and I was surprised how much I enjoyed it.

Gwen Cooper was a young aspiring author when she adopted Homer, a kitten who lost both his eyes because of a severe infection. She was experienced with rescue cats, but not with a special needs cat like Homer. But Homer quickly demonstrated he didn't need sight to live a full life. He got along well with Gwen's two other cats, and easily found his way around her apartment, relying on hearing and smell to find things. He was playful and affectionate show more in a way uncommon to cats, and endeared himself to all who met him.

What Gwen didn't realize, as she cared for Homer's basic needs, was how much he was supporting her journey into adulthood. As she struggled to find consistent employment, Homer was there for her. He defended her against danger (really! I'm still not sure how they made it through that situation safely). When Gwen decided to pull up stakes and move from Miami to New York City (no small feat with three cats in tow), Homer helped Gwen to see that sometimes you just have to take a leap of faith, and not let others limit your potential. The one area where he wasn't much help was in her relationships with men, most of whom seemed put off by a woman who had three (count 'em!) cats. But eventually, that all works out, too.

As I said, this book could have suffered from cuteness, but it didn't. It also could have suffered from pretentiousness, but it didn't, mostly. Her writing is good, if a bit repetitive. There was one point where it seemed Gwen was going to pull out all the melodramatic stops and I thought, "oh, don't go there!" But this turned out to be one of the best-written sections of the book, where Gwen faced a stressful, life-changing situation beyond anything I can imagine. For a while there, I couldn't put it down.

And the best part: it all ends well. The book ends in 2010, when Homer is twelve years old and still living a full life. And he's still alive today. So you can keep the tissues on the shelf and just enjoy reading about the life of a pretty remarkable cat. show less

Anyone who's read [Dewey] will love this tribute to a little kitten who, at a couple of weeks, lost his eyes due to an infection and was given up by his owners because they didn't want a blind cat.

Gwen Cooper, hardly making ends meet herself, owner of 2 cats, and living with a friend, takes this little bundle of black fur and in the process, embarks on a journey where not only is she providing the shelter, love and care to this blind kitten but learns about courage, perseverance, trust and the joy of life. His antics will make you laugh, his love of life inspirational ... yes, he's a cat, but still, his ability to eke out every bit of adventure and thrill in life should inspire one to look beyond what we don't have and what we do. That show more a cat can scare away a burglar is impressive but that the cat who scared away the burglar was blind is just plain amazing.

Wonderfully written, there is no way anyone could not fall in love with Homer, the wonder cat. I only wish the pictures had been in color instead of black and white. show less

My friend insisted I borrow Homer's Odyssey. I've had it for quite some time because I felt like it was too soon to read after my cat died. If you've read enough pet stories you know how they always end, right?! I'm so pleased that I did finally take her advice and read it because it's a real feel-good story.

Gwen rescues Homer as a kitten from a vet who's removed his eyes after the people who originally owned him were going to put him to sleep because he had an eye disease. It is amazing to read how easily he navigates through life and incredible to read all of the super-cool things he can do in spite of/because of his blindness.

There's also a chapter about September 11th. Gwen was living a few blocks from the World Trade Center when it show more happened. Reading about how she couldn't get back to her cats after the crisis is gut-wrenching.

If you like animal stories check it out! show less

Homer’s Odyssey tells how a tiny, blind, Homeric kitten and his twentysomething human companion both pull themselves from difficult beginnings to gain confidence and independence.

It’s a sweet and engaging memoir, although the voice sometimes edges toward controlling -- demanding that we love and admire Homer, rather than letting us do so ... which I did anyway :) A resident of lower Manhattan, the author's experiences on 9/11 and the early days afterward are gripping. And her dialogue is particularly well written, her "animal dialogue" even better -- making me eager to read more from her, especially fiction.

I don't even know where to begin with this one. This is a book that I won through Goodreads' First Reads program, and might be one of the best books I've ever come across. No, scratch that. It IS one of the best books I've ever come across. I laughed, I cried, I gripped the couch cushions in terror, I raged at the unfairness of people. In short, I ran the gamut of every emotion known to man while reading this book.

Homer is adopted as a blind kitten and quickly makes his new mom realize that she can't define him by his disability. You know there's a parallel right there, don't you? One of the quotations that hit me the hardest was when she said, "No one can tell you what your potential is." For Homer, his potential is endless. He doesn't show more know what it's like to see, so he can't assume that he's different. He attacks life with gusto, attempting the 6-foot leap from scratching post to closet shelf multiple times before he makes it. Nothing deters this little guy, and he's sure not going to let the blackness stop him.

Homer is the kind of cat who makes cat-lovers out of cat-haters. There's so much affection and love poured into his tiny body that the only way he can exist, it seems, is by sharing it with everyone and anyone. The one exception is the burglar who breaks into their apartment. Imagine a blind cat launching himself at a very large man like a mad banshee, and chasing said large man out and down the hall. Homer is bravery personified. (well, personified if he was a person. Maybe catified?)

The thing is, there are life lessons to be learned in this book. As the 'parent' of a disabled cat myself, I can see myself in Ms. Cooper. I never want anything to hurt my Pippin, yet I can't let myself hold her back. She was hit by a car several months ago, and hasn't ever recovered full mobility in her legs. She limps dreadfully, and people often look at us askance when they see her walking. I've even had people stop me and ask me if I know that my cat is injured. One kind little man offered to build us a scooter. So I understand some of what Ms. Cooper experiences with Homer and people's natural curiosity. I also understand what it means to let the disabled pet live their full potential without interference from Mom. It sometimes kills me to allow Pippin to go her merry way, but I know it would kill her to be confined. She's so naturally curious, and she's found all sorts of ways to accommodate her disability. I tell you what, when she runs, you can't tell there's anything wrong with her!

Homer is the same way, and I think that the similarities between him and my Pip made me get a lot more out of this than I might have otherwise. It makes me realize that I need to give people the same benefit of the doubt and allow them to live up to their potential. It makes me realize that unconditional love is the only way to go. It makes me realize that loving and being loved in return is a beautiful thing. It makes me so grateful for my beautiful Pippin and how much she loves her mommy. All in all, I think the biggest lesson that I'm taking away from this is that everyone, no matter who they are, has something wonderful to offer.

Please, read this book. Read this book and accept the challenge to be a little better. show less