With already 46 reviews. What else can I add, but that i really enjoyed the book. ( )

A good story about a remarkable cat - not syrupy sweet - but, just a good lesson in how attitude IS everything. We all need a "Homer" in our life --- and, the best part about this story was that Homer did NOT die. Yes, I shed a few tears throughout the story, but not tears of sadness! ( )

LOVED it!! If you're a cat lover you will love this book & you will fall in love with Homer! ( )

I don't know what the hell the two reviewers below are talking about. 'Disturbing disregard for Judeo-Christian morality????' Puh-leeze. What does she do, rob little old ladies and commit murders??? Out of pure human kindness she ADOPTED AN EYELESS KITTEN who was going to be put to sleep in a shelter! She spent YEARS doing charity work! Read the author bio: how many homeless people does someone have to help and how many orphanages does somebody have to volunteer at and how many literacy programs for disadvantaged children does a person have to start before they're no longer showing a "disturbing disregard for Judeo-Christian morality"??? What do you want from her, blood? I'm betting she donates that too!!!

Cooper demonstrates throughout the book, and not just in her relationship with Homer, empathy, compassion, charity, altruism, love, kindness, and a real commitment to doing right by and caring for others even if they're 'special' or different in ways that cause some people to shun them. It is literally and completely beyond me to figure out what on earth this person is talking about. Unless he means that Cooper lived with her husband before they got married? Grow up, and since I have to assume you're not Jewish (Cooper is and so am I) don't presume to lump Jewish views on pre-marital sex in with your 'Christian' ones. I'm married to a rabbi. We had sex before we got married. Lots of it. Get over yourself.

As far as bermudaonion's review goes, I'm not sure why he/she chose to give an 'average' rating to a book he/she seems to consider above average in every way with the exception of one or two chapters. Personally I found Cooper's description of her husband and their relationship, and the process of his adjusting to life with her three cats (he wasn't a 'cat person' at first) to be among the most engaging parts of the book. And I think that part is absolutely essential for showing how Homer helped Cooper 'grow up' over the course of their life together and how the lessons she learned from Homer helped her make the most important decision of her life--and also how caring for Homer helped her become the kind of person who would love and be loved by the man she married. Without that there's no point to the book, it's just a series of entertaining/moving anecdotes about a cat. With that it's a STORY that MATTERS and has something to say about all of us, and about what's really important in life, even if we've never lived with a 'special needs' pet like Homer.

Well I guess you can tell by now that I loved this book! I think it was incredibly well written (Cooper's gift for langauge would make her worth reading even if she was describing the ingredients of a bottle of ketchup), and the story is one that I think will have a real impact on how people think about life and love. Reading about Cooper's commitment to helping others, cats and humans, inspired me to want to do more for others in my own life, to seek out those who are neglected or cast aside just because they're different. When a book is entertaining, thought-provoking, and makes you want to change your life, THAT'S a good book! And if a book that makes you want to be a better person shows a 'disturbing lack of Judeo-Christian' values then I don't know what Judeo-Christian values are, and I don't want to. ( )

When a two-week old kitten was found and brought into Patricia Khuly’s veterinary office, she refused to euthanize him, in spite of the fact that she had to remove his eyes because of a severe eye infection. The kitten bounced back well from the surgery and seemed to have a sweet spirit. Dr. Khuly had worked with blind cats before and knew this one could live a full life, since it had never seen and wouldn’t know what it was missing out on. She couldn’t find anyone to take this kitten and, out of desperation, called Gwen Cooper.

Gwen agreed to take a look at the kitten, but made no promises, since she already owned two cats. Upon seeing the kitten, Gwen was smitten and agreed to take him, thus changing her life forever. She named the tiny little kitten Homer after the Greek poet. I admire Gwen and her willingness to adopt a cat no one else wanted. Homer is a sweet, adventurous cat who loves everyone and sometimes frightens Gwen with his fearlessness.

Homer’s Odyssey by Gwen Cooper is the story of Gwen’s life with Homer and her other two cats. As an animal lover, I fell in love with Homer and his sweet, adventurous spirit. He amazed me with his ability to adapt and his love of life.

This book started out with a bang for me, but dragged a little bit by the end. I realize that it was important to know about Gwen’s life in order to understand some of what was going on in the life of her cats, but I felt like the end of the book focused on Gwen and her relationship too much. Without Homer, her life wasn’t all that different from anyone else’s, so the end of the book didn’t pull me in the way the beginning did. I still enjoyed the book and would recommend it to animal lovers. ( )

This is an account of how the author acquired a kitten whose eyes had to be removed and how she devoted herself to her cats and they to her. It is a book with some mushiness, but also drama and pathos: the cat defeats a burglar, and comes through 9/11 a few blocks from the Twin Towers. While the author's disregard for Judeo- Christian morality disturbs, otherwise the book is noteworthy and at times most poignant. ( )

Homer’s Odyssey by Gwen Cooper is a memoir of how the things that we might never choose on our own can be exactly what we need. It is about recognizing value in someone or something and building your life around it. It is about how, by looking at life and love through the eyes of another, we take on the traits we admire in that person. In Gwen Cooper’s case, that person was a blind wonder cat, through whom she learned courage, how to love, and perseverance.

One thing I really like about this book is the format. It’s set up as a journey from who and where Gwen was when she got the call from the vet about the eyeless kitten whom nobody wanted and would likely be put down if she, his last chance, didn’t adopt him, continues through jobs and moves and romances, and ends with what she has learned and insights she has gained through knowing and loving and living with Homer. But, each chapter is also a tale in and of itself, making it a book that can be devoured straight through (honestly, it’s very hard to put down) or you can nibble on it and ponder each lesson. Also, each chapter begins with a picture, usually of Homer, but occasionally of Scarlett or Vashti, Homer’s big sisters, and a quote from the other Homer, the Greek storyteller.

Another thing that I enjoyed with this book is Gwen’s sense of humor. There are so many laugh-out-loud moments, like bringing her date in and the two of them being greeted by a cat who not only discovered the tampons, but how to unwrap them, proudly carrying them in his mouth to show to his mommy. Also, there is a quality to her writing that made me feel like we’ve been friends for years.

Like life, though, the book isn’t all sunshine and roses. There are real dangers and some terrifying moments, like waking up to find a burglar in her apartment. As well as the heart wrenching days after September 11th, when Gwen tried desperately to get back to her cats who were trapped in their apartment, just blocks from where the two towers had stood.

I found Homer’s Odyssey by Gwen Cooper to be moving and inspirational, at times hilarious and touching, and am thankful that there was a vet who refused to accept that an eyeless kitten was better off being put down, that Gwen Cooper was in the vet’s contacts list and opened her heart to him, and that she has shared Homer and his wisdom with all of us.

click for full review: http://thekoolaidmom.wordpress.com/20... ( )

Simply great. First animal tail where we are not mourning for the pet. Cooper touches other lif/e themes presenting her own experience. I have a girlfriend who experienced 9/11 and I could finally understand her talking about smell... Thanks ( )

Cooper has perfectly captured life with felines. Each cat in her household, not just the eponymous Homer, has a distinct personality. I was easily able to recognize and fall in love with all of her charges. Homer, of course, is the star. Homer is a "Wonder Cat," not because he's blind, but because of what he does in spite of his blindness. His zest for life in all its challenges (and the fact that he doesn't notice that it ought to be doubly challenging for him) teaches Cooper to have a new appreciation for her own life and challenges. ( )

Homer's Odyssey by Gwen Cooper is subtitled "A Fearless Feline Tale, or How I Learned About Love and Life with a Blind Wonder Cat," but it may as well be subtitled "THE stocking stuffer for the animal lover on your Christmas list." I was delighted to receive an advance copy, and I was not disappointed. With a foreword by the veterinarian who rescued Homer, this gentle, inspiring story tells how Gwen's life became entwined with that of a very special cat. Homer was brought to Dr. Khuly to be euthanized because a severe infection would require removal of both his eyes. Instead, Dr. Khuly performed the surgery, then searched high and low for someone willing to take on a blind cat. Gwen Cooper, a twentysomething staying with a friend (having recently lost the boyfriend who had supplemented her nonprofit salary), was reluctant to take on a third cat, but something about Homer spoke to her, and she brought the little guy home. This memoir documents the twelve years following Cooper's adoption of Homer, and it tells her life story partly through the lessons she learned from her brave, extraordinary, loving cat, as she tries to become the person she wants to be in career and relationships.

I happen to be a cat person, and one of my cats was born blind, so I enjoyed this story on a unique level, but I was also predisposed to judge it with a critical eye because I'm not much of a memoir fan. Homer's story is riveting, however, and Cooper tells it well. Her own story is no less interesting; for example, she moves back in with her parents to save on rent while she starts on the bottom rung of a new career - a brave act in its own way. She considers Homer to have inspired her to be brave and open to the world around her. Her account of 9/11 and its aftermath (she lived and worked very close to the World Trade Center) is particularly impressive. I could have done with a bit less gushing about her boyfriend, but I suppose that's to be expected, and it was relatively painless to skim past. Homer is the star in this book, overcoming his disability with aplomb to become a loving companion whose leaps of faith amaze everyone around him.

If you know a cat person, or an animal lover, you can stop looking now: Homer's Odyssey is undoubtedly the perfect holiday gift.

Source disclosure: I received an advance copy courtesy of Random House. ( )

I'm not half way through this book and am actually really enjoying it. What a fantastic story so far. I cant wait to get back to it.

I would recommend this book on what I have read so far. I'm not usually a pet memoir kind of person, but this book really makes you see and feel the characters. ( )

I really enjoyed this book. In my opinion Homer''s story is an extraordinary story. With all the terrible events in this world it is nice to read a heart-warming story like this one. :) ( )

What a terrific book! I agree with so many of the other reviewers, regarding the myriad emotional responses which this book elicits from its reader. Truly, I am in awe of lil' Homer and his joie de vivre. I laughed and I cried, and I learned a bit about uncovering some of my own inner strengths and abilities while reading about how Homer triumphed over many obstacles. However, the one surprise was Gwen's passages describing her life on September 11, 2001 and the week that followed. For me, hers was a most accurate account of the terror combined with disbelief that so many of us lived through. Her writing brought my emotional memory right back to the senselessness of that place and time. Without question Gwen Cooper is a fine storyteller, as well as a remarkable woman, and I am so happy to have gotten to know her through this book. ( )

I listened to the audiobook version of Homer's Odyssey, and I laughed, cried, and laughed again. I have always had at least one cat in my life since I got out of college and started living on my own, but Homer's Odyssey has made even me see all cats in a new light. Cats live in the here and now. Cats are honest and never lie to you. I laughed at Gwen's description of Scarlet: "Scarlet isn't afraid of people. Scarlet doesn't *like* people." I've always suspected that my female cats preferred the attention of men, and now I know, having met Vashti. And Homer. What can I say about Homer that hasn't already been said? Homer is a miracle. He has something to teach all of us about life, love, living in the moment, taking blind leaps of faith, and never, ever letting anyone tell us what our limitations are. ( )

I really enjoyed reading this book. Gwen is a very likable (and normal) person who at a time a crisis adopts a special needs blind cat. Instead of dragging her down, he inspires her to make choices that improves her life. Its a complete contrast to many other cat books that I've read, and leaves a reader feeling like the world is a good and wonderful place. ( )

A heartwarming tale about an idealistic young woman, her three cats, and life's harsh but rewarding realities. You'll laugh, you'll cry, and you'll learn a thing or two about living. ( )

I was not sure this was a book I would enjoy. I love cats and this cat sounded amazing but I still wasn't sold. Homer's story drew me in at once. How would poor Homer survive as a blind cat? A curious cat needs to see, right? Wrong! Homer has no problem getting into michief like other cats. Homer's antics really make this book worth reading. He is quite the character and is truly fearless. I can see why Gwen was so taken with him from the start. What Homer lacks in being able to see he makes up for with spunk. Together Gwen and Homer make a terrific team. Gwen is Homer's eyes but Homer teaches Gwen a thing about love and trust. It's a nice light read for cat lovers. It is an enjoyable book. ( )

I've got a bit of a soft spot for pet memoirs, as long as they're not too heavy on the schmoop. I've read and enjoyed the ubiquitous Marley & Me, the sweet Dewey, and the more cerebral The Dogs of Bedlam Farm. So when Homer's Odyssey appeared in the LibraryThing Early Reviewers program in June, I added it to my request list. For days afterward, I wondered if I'd made a mistake. The only problem with pet memoirs is that there's usually a heartbreaking if predictable ending. I tend to do most of my reading at work on my lunch breaks, and so a sob-inducing ending is something to be avoided. When I was selected to receive an advance-review copy of Homer's Odyssey, I was quite pleased, but set it aside to read in the evenings at home. But then I read the prologue, which talks about Homer in the present-tense, and it gave me hope that the book was work-safe.

When she met Homer, Gwen Cooper was living with a friend, trying to figure out where her life was headed after a breakup with the man she'd assumed to be "the one." Already a cat person, she was sharing her life with one-person-cat Scarlett (so named because when she was found, she was so dehydrated that she was prone to fainting spells. And if that's not the greatest cat-naming story ever, I don't know what is.) and sweet beauty Vashti. Even as she drove to the vet to meet Homer -- in desperate need of a home after losing his eyes to a life-threatening infection at two weeks of age -- Gwen was aware of the reasons she shouldn't adopt another cat, but as soon as she met him, her fate was fixed. Touched by Homer's resilience, heart, and literal blind trust, Gwen agreed at once to take him home.

The story moves smoothly through the months and years of Gwen's life with her now three cats, chronicling her realization that a nonprofit salary will not be enough to make her self-sufficient, her difficult decision to swallow her pride and move back in with her parents while she re-aligns her career path (perfectly described as a "break-glass-in-case-of-emergency scenario"), and her eventual move to New York City. Even though the story is largely about Homer, the blind cat who never spends a day of his life believing that he is disabled, the story is also about the people whose lives are touched by Homer. Everyone he meets (with the exception of one horrible first-date) is not only won over, but instantly converted to dyed-in-the-wool Homer fandom. And the story is ultimately about Gwen. Without getting too schmaltzy, she relates the ways in which Homer teaches her about, well, life and love.

Cooper is a great writer, blending insight with humor to create a book that is a fast read but not fluff, touching but not cheesy, and ultimately extremely satisfying. And best of all -- spoiler -- no pets die at the end of the book! There is a close call near the end that made me worry, but all three cats are alive and well at the close of the story. There were several sweet moments that made me a little sniffly, and the scenes of Gwen fleeing Manhattan on foot in the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks and then spending several days trying to get back to her cats, trapped in her apartment only a few blocks from Ground Zero, had me fighting tears. The difficult moments are never played as cheap tear-jerkers, though, which I greatly appreciated.

I loved Homer's Odyssey, and definitely recommend it!

Oh how I loved this book! I laughed and cried and read with amazement. Completely changes my thoughts on being "handicapped". The section about 9/11 I just happened to be reading on 9/11/09 and was overwhelmed once again by the devastation. Well written, very engaging, and must read for anyone who is intrigued by cats. ( )

Although I am not a "cat lover" I thoroughly enjoyed this surprisingly poignant memoir. "Homer's Odyssey" tells the true story of how one small, black and blind kitten named Homer changed the life of a young single woman. This book is filled with many laughs, tears and shockingly vivid moments (like the chapters 'A Hole in the Sky' and 'September 12, 2001') Homer soars into even the hardest of hearts and truly teaches us that you should never judge a book by it's cover. ( )

If you are a cat lover, which I am, there is no possible way you will not enjoy this book. And frankly, I think any lover of animals will find enjoyment in this book. Homer’s Odyssey tells the true story (I, like many others, were surprised that this was a work of nonfiction) of a blind kitty named Homer who not only overcame his disability, but soared. Quite literally soared, frequently jumping 5 feet in the air to catch a fly mid flight because his hearing was just THAT good. Ms. Cooper is Homer’s mom and she is quite an adept story teller. I really got to know Homer and felt that he was a part of my life. I read most of the novel with my cats flanking me on either side and feeling like Homer was just out of sight, but in the room. Ms. Cooper writes with humor, I especially enjoyed the ‘kitty speak’ throughout the story, so I found myself laughing out loud quite often. The chapters dedicated to September 11th, and her struggle to get back to her kitties (Homer has two sisters) when her lower Manhattan neighborhood was barricaded, had me in tears. Gwen Cooper tells the reader again and again how much she has learned from Homer. And I want to thank her because I learned a few lessons myself. ( )

The cat that would come to be called Homer had a terrible start in life. The two week old kitten was found on the streets, hungry and sick, taken to a vet with such a severe eye infection that the vet had to remove both his eyes to save the cat's life. Then she had to find the now blind kitten a home, which did not prove easy. Her last hope was Ms. Cooper, a patient who already owned 2 cats. Against her better judgment, Ms. Cooper agreed to meet the tiny kitten and the rest was, as they say, kismet.
"You think, when you adopt a pet, that he will become a supporting character in the story of your life. But I was beginning to think I was now a character in this kitten's story." Indeed, and it is a good story.

It may seem a bit silly to say, but Ms. Cooper was to find that she could learn a great deal from the example of how Homer, as she named him after the blind storyteller with an epic journey ahead, faced life.
"The other thing I realized was that, while he seemed loving, he was not scared or desperate to be loved, the way you would expect a kitten-or even a person- who'd experienced nothing but pain, hunger, and fear to be. Nor was he hostile and defensive, a kitten who'd let a hard life stomp all the love right out of him. He was merely curious and affectionate."
And able to win over, with his bravely and sweetness and inquisitiveness many a cold hearted disbeliever who doubted that a blind cat could survive yet alone thrive.

Of course, it is also the story of Gwen Cooper, and with Homer and his feline "sisters" Vashti and Scarlett tagging along, it is a good story. We follow her from Miami, changing jobs, changing careers, moving in with her parents, moving to New York City, looking for love. And she shares with us, in what I think are the best chapters, the details of her experiences living and working just blocks from the World Trade Center during 9-11. A very moving section of the book

Ms. Cooper is a very good writer, and again, while it may sounds a wee bit silly, her ability to 'voice' what her cats are thinking is always entertaining, as is that Greek chorus that lives in her head. While the book is filled with a number of very well portrayed 'characters' including her friends and parents and the man who becomes her husband, not to mention those two other felines housemates, without question the star of the story is Homer and his many exploits.
" "Eres mucho gato, Homer" I whispered. "Thou art plenty of cat.""
as Gwen tells him after he saves her life. Yes, saves her life, and I do not mean in some figurative way. I mean he really saves her life. Wait, maybe that was my favorite chapter....
As this book proves wrong my prejudice about memoirs...even memoirs with cats. This book, the delightful Homer's Odyssey, deserves you to read it.

http://caitesdayatthebeach.blogspot.c... ( )

Gwen Cooper did such an excellent job describing Homer’s adventures that she had me laughing and crying all thru the book. At some points I was on the edge of my seat so much I could not put the book down which resulted in a couple late nights just to see what was going to happen next. Any cat lover will enjoy this book immensely and even if you are not a cat lover you would probably enjoy Homer’s antics as well. The burglar story was just amazing as well as the 911 story. The best part is I do not like sad endings and Gwen made sure that the end of the story was a happy one. That a blind cat has so much life and love to give should put us all to shame. ( )

As a cat lover, I found this to be a wonderful story detailing life and love with Homer. The author included the right mix of her own life story alongside Homer combined with the joys and angst of living with a blind cat and his two "sisters". The most gripping section was the anxiety and fear of the 9/11 aftermath and her struggles to get to her kids. Overall, I loved this book and I thought the author did a marvelous job telling Homer's story. ( )

Homer’s Odyssey tells how a tiny, blind, Homeric kitten and his twentysomething human companion both pull themselves from difficult beginnings to gain confidence and independence.

It’s a sweet and engaging memoir, although the voice sometimes edges toward controlling -- demanding that we love and admire Homer, rather than letting us do so ... which I did anyway :) A resident of lower Manhattan, the author's experiences on 9/11 and the early days afterward are gripping. And her dialogue is particularly well written, her "animal dialogue" even better -- making me eager to read more from her, especially fiction. ( )