Plano Reads: Fearsome Fall Felines

October ushers in the ‘spooky season’ of Halloween, and cats are one of its most notable symbols. Here is a group of books featuring some fearsome felines — and some that aren’t quite so frightful!

Adult and Teen Fiction

The Black Cat by Robert Poe – Robert Poe retells Edgar Allan Poe’s famous short story The Black Cat, expanding upon the dark forces that drive people to evil deeds. “A vulnerable young woman claiming to be a witch arrives in Crowley Creek. Is she simply disturbed, or does she represent darker forces? John Charles Poe, town journalist and descendant of Edgar Allan, is haunted by the eerie resemblance of the events unfolding in Crowley Creek to his ancestor’s classic tale. Guided by a secret cache of papers left to him by Edgar Allan Poe, he sets out to discover what is behind the outbreak of evil in his town.” Print 

Cat’s Paw by Roger Scarlett – A classic “closed circle” mystery originally published in 1931 and featuring a colorful cast of characters, Cat’s Paw exemplifies the puzzling, complex, house-bound tales for which Roger Scarlett is remembered today. It is sure to delight any fan of pure, Golden Age detective stories. Print

Feral by Holly Schindler – After Claire Cain survives a brutal attack in Chicago, she and her father move to Peculiar, Missouri, where she discovers the body of a high-school girl and realizes that she cannot escape her past. Print

Pet Sematary by Stephen King – When the Creeds move into a beautiful old house in rural Maine, it all seems too good to be true: physician father, beautiful wife, charming little daughter, adorable infant son–and now an idyllic home. But the nearby woods hide a blood-chilling truth–more terrifying than death itself–and hideously more powerful.  Print |eBook |Audiobook 

Roger Caras’ Treasury of Great Cat Stories edited by Roger Caras – A collection of classic tales by Poe, Kipling, Twain, Wodehouse, and others, all reflecting the authors’ respect and admiration for the mysterious and regal members of the family felidae. Print 

The Travelling Cat Chronicles by Hiro Arikawa – With simple yet descriptive prose, this novel gives voice to Nana the cat and his owner, Satoru, as they take to the road on a journey with no other purpose than to visit three of Satoru’s longtime friends. Or so Nana is led to believe.  With his crooked tail—a sign of good fortune—and adventurous spirit, Nana is the perfect companion for the man who took him in as a stray. And as they travel in a silver van across Japan, with its ever-changing scenery and seasons, they will learn the true meaning of courage and gratitude, of loyalty and love. Print |eBook |Audiobook 

Adult and Teen Graphic Novels

Cat + Gamer by Wataru Nadatani – Twenty-nine year-old Riko is the hardest worker at her office job, where she blazes through her work so that she can get home and play video games. That is, until a stray kitten is found in the office parking lot. Even though she has no prior pet-care experience, Riko is up for this challenge and takes the kitten in as her new companion. Maybe her gaming experience will help her figure out how to “level up” her new pet. Cat + Gamer is a sweet slice-of-life manga for animal lovers, especially cat enthusiasts. Print 

Junji Ito’s Cat Diary: Yon & Mu by Junji Ito – Junji Ito is a well-known manga artist in the horror genre, but in this particular manga, he chronicles his lived experiences after his fiancée moves in with her weird cats. The episodes are comedic and charming, but Junji Ito retains his popular horror/grotesque art style in several panels. This dichotomy between his horror artwork and the silly stories add to the comedic effect as Ito must become accustomed to living with his new feline roommates. 

Man-Eaters by Chelsea Cain – In this graphic novel series, teen girls have the potential to transform into giant violent cats. Because of this phenomenon, teen girls are closely monitored. Maude herself is a twelve-year-old girl going through some interesting changes, and her father is an investigator who focuses on these violent cat attacks. But Maude has not been drinking the concoction that is supposed to keep the transformation at bay… 

Adult and Teen Nonfiction

Cats in Art by Desmond Morris – The cat–that most graceful, stubborn, and agile of animals–has been a favorite subject of artists the world over from prehistory to the modern day. In his latest eye-catching book, best-selling author Desmond Morris tells the compelling story of cats in art.  Print

Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats  by T. S. Eliot – An engaging collection of humorous poems. These verses, originally composed to amuse Eliot’s intimate friends, have proven irresistible to cat lovers, lovers of nonsense, and admirers of Eliot throughout the English-speaking world.  Print 

On Cats by Charles Bukowski – A surprisingly different work from the challenging poet Bukowski, On Cats examines the majestic and elemental nature of these inscrutable creatures he greatly admired — “sentient beings whose searing gaze makes them fighters, hunters, survivors, and powerful forces of nature.” Print