It's like This, Cat Book

Emily Neville's 1964, Newbery prize-winning novel has the flavour of an indie movie, one that leans towards mumblecore, slice-of-life realism presented in informal, conversational tones. It's narrated by Dave, a 14-year-old New York schoolboy. He lives in an apartment with his loud-mouthed lawyer father and timid mother, collects Harry Belafonte records, and has a close bond with local eccentric Kate who lives for her collection of stray cats. Dave brings one home and their relationship opens up new friendships and a first girlfriend Mary. Instead of a plot Neville takes her readers on a tour of 1960s' New York, its fish markets, Jewish and Italian neighbourhoods and beyond. She has an oddly unsentimental, direct approach to her material, including the death of a pet, unreliable fathers, and a character who joins the army rather than wait for the draft - what's unspoken, and makes Neville's choice particularly jarring, is the fact that their likely destination would've been Vietnam. A curiosity as a children's book but it has a certain, offbeat charm and it's fascinating for its representation of a culture and a lost New York. The text's supported by a number of striking, black-and-white illustrations by Czech illustrator Emil Weiss, who took up residence in the U.S. after his time as a refugee from WW2 Europe.