This column will occasionally feature books from #readpawty where anipals chat about books we read, about what else but other anipals?! Once a month one to three books are chosen to read. We get together the first Tuesday of every month to chat and #readpawty. Any anipal can recommend books. I update #readpawty news and maintain reading lists on my blog. Even if you can’t attend, please feel free to read our “books of the month.”
One of the selections for May #readpawty is The Cat Who Walks Through Walls by Robert A. Heinlein.
The male character is Richard Ames who witnesses an assassination. He weds the companionable Gwen Novack. They try to escape legal entanglement by traveling to the Moon and on to Tertius. The story is as much a romance as science fiction. Gwen is an amazing female character with many hidden talents. Conversations between Gwen and Richard were witty, snappy and fun to follow.
Of all the books we have read, this one generated the most discussion, both good and negative. I am not a science-fiction aficionado, so I don’t know if it was representative of Heinlein’s works, but I cannot recommend the book. Richard, who narrates the story, is officious and likes to hear himself talk. It also bothers me that Heinlein brought in the thought experiment of Schrodinger’s cat at the end of the book and didn’t give the experiment adequate treatment. To give due, Heinlein’s development of Gwen’s character was outstanding.
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I appreciate your being honest and saying you didn’t like it. Sometimes, no matter how good a book is (or bad) a pal just can’t like it.
I like SciFi and Mum and I enjoy animal stories but I have never read any Heinlen.
I’m not into SiiFi either, so you already know I didn’t care for the book. But, there were a lot of anipals that “just loved” it and enjoy his writiing. Good, fair review Maggie.
Heinlein’s later works like this are an acquired and weird taste. So the Typist says anyway. I just read it with her and have to agree with you. She liked it. She has acquired and weird tastes, I guess. She does say she preferred The Moon is a Harsh Mistress, though.
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