Hi everyone,
Today we are looking at the book Able Seacat Simon by Lynne Barrett-Lee. This book will be out tomorrow so if you want to get your hands on it order it quickly. 😀
Inspired by real events, this is the story of ‘Able Seacat’ Simon’s adventures and heroics in dangerous wartime seas.
When an orphaned kitten is discovered in the Hong Kong docks in 1948 by a British soldier, he has no idea of the journey he’s about to go on. Smuggled onto the HMS Amethyst, and named ‘Simon’ by his new friends, the little cat quickly acclimatises to his new waterborne home, establishing himself as the chief rat-catcher in residence while also winning the hearts of the entire crew.
Then the Amethyst is ordered to sail up the Yangtze to guard the British Embassy, and tragedy strikes as the ship comes under fire from Communist guns. Many of the crew are killed and Simon is among those who are seriously wounded. The ship is held hostage for months, with the crew and Simon working together to keep morale up and devise a means of escape.
Soon, news of Simon’s heroism spreads and he becomes famous world-wide – but it is still a long journey back to England for both the crew and the plucky little cat known as Able Seacat Simon…
? ? ? ? ? ? ?
Able Seacat Simon is the only cat to be among 65 animals to be awarded the
PDSA Dickin Medal, the animal charity’s equivalent of the Victoria Cross. The power of animals to support and sustain morale in times of conflict can never be underestimated.
? ? ? ? ? ? ?
Our thoughts?:
We absolutely loved the book! The author did a brilliant job at combining true events with fiction to create a unqiue story!
The story is narrated by the cat so for those of you that love books from a cat point of view this is a MUST have! There are not many authors that can do this in a way that it comes across as really being the cat talking but Lynne is one of these!
If you would like to get the book yourself it is available from:
Amazon UK by clicking here.
Amazon US by clicking here or through Barnes & Nobles here.
Amazon DE by clicking here.
More about the author:
Lynne Barrett-Lee is an award-winning novelist and internationally acclaimed ghostwriter, with several Sunday Times bestselling titles to her name. Her work includes The Baby Laundry for Unmarried Mothers, Giant George; life with the world’s biggest dog, and the global sensation The Girl With No Name, which has been translated into 23 languages. Lynne also writes a weekly column for the Western Mail Weekend magazine, and teaches creative writing in her spare time.
P.S. Don’t forget to sign up for our new Newsletter here.
Thanks,
Marc
I have a version of this story on my kindle. Not read it yet.
It’s well worth the read 🙂
Thank you for the heads-up for what looks like the perfect down-time (or anytime)read!
Lynne Barrett-Lee’s book is not yet released, but there is another Seacat Simon book already out, by Jackie Donovan, and its Kindle price is much lower than Lynne’s book, but I haven’t read it so can’t say how good it is. Here’s the link:
http://www.amazon.com/Simon-Ships-brave-became-worldwide-ebook/dp/B00OWKJWKS/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1452712508&sr=1-2&keywords=Able+Seacat+Simon
yeah, this makes me really upset, tbh. I self published book gets usurped by a ‘proper’ one. that’s shockingly bad form. I urge you to support the um, undercat Simon book rather than this blatantly stolen one….Not fair…
Hi Michaela,
I’ve tried finding the title you’ve mentioned and that you claim was stolen from “you”?
If you can shed light on this I’d be happy to look at your book.
It may after all only be co-incidence that both you and this author chose the same cat to write about.
Marc
We’ve read that one too 🙂 I might be able to find the post in the KW archive 😉
Looks fantastic!
It is 🙂
Thank you for the suggestion, Marc…. I love stories which combine real facts and some fiction! :-)claudine
So do I 🙂 they are the best!
I’m going to check it out. Thank you!
Thanks ^^
Pingback: From the home front, with Effie, a sinus infection, and falling rain | Eel Creek Chronicles
Thank you ^^
Reblogged this on ravenhawks' magazine and commented:
sound very interesting
Thanks ^^
Thanks for this! I will definitely be getting this! Sounds like a fun book! I never even heard of him. Can’t wait to read it!
🙂 glad you enjoyed our news. ^^
This book sounds amazing!
Glad you liked it 🙂