Books: The Rabbi's Cat

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The Rabbi's Cat
By Joann Sfar
2005





Available now from Islington Libraries
You can reserve this item for free here:
http://www.library.islington.gov.uk/TalisPrism/

From the acclaimed French writer, artist (and film director) Joann Sfar: a delightful comic about love, cats and rabbis that's as sweet and delicious as a cool glass of orange juice on a hot day. Set in Algeria in the 1930s and told from the point of view of a sardonic cat this is a book infused with feline mischief and warm-hearted Jewish humour: from it's affectionate poking of religious customs and traditions to it's understanding of the inner workings of a jealous heart this is a wonderfully meandering and open minded comic that will win you over with it's combination of old-fashioned charm and sly little insights. Drawn and worded with a scratchy, scraggly style that's as comforting as a cup of hot chicken soup (I should admit I first found off-putting - but was then won over - so stick with it) and characters who refuse to stay in one place: this is a great comic full of wise old rabbi sayings: "western thought works by thesis, antithesis, synthesis, while Judaism goes thesis, antithesis, antithesis, antithesis." Or in other words: it's the cat's whiskers.

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Further reading: Habibi, Persepolis, Kiki De Montparnasse, Blankets, Gemma Bovery, Chicken with Plums, A Taste of Chlorine. 

All comments welcome.