27:
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was largely positive, writing, "Michael
Ondaatje’s impressive new novel, containing dreams and fantasy between a ship’s flanks. It is, in the most etymological way, a wonderful novel: one full of wonders." Adam Mars-Jones was less impressed, writing in his review in
256:. For meals on board Michael is seated at the "cat's table" (the one furthest from the Captain's table) with other boys Ramadhin and Cassius and other misfit characters. The book follows the adventures of Michael and these boys while they are aboard the
377:, "Perhaps The Cat's Table aspires to a … doubleness of texture and meaning, the yarn of adventure story backed with the deeper colours of adult experience, but on the level of craftsmanship it doesn't measure up." Jess Row, writing for
304:"Aunt" Flavia Prins: a distant friend of Michael's family who is his ostensible shipboard guardian. She is in First Class and takes the responsibility to oversee Michael very lightly.
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is a work of fiction, stated, "So convincing is
Ondaatje’s evocation of his narrator’s experience that the reader could easily mistake it for the author’s own". Philip Hensher for
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as being unlike
Ondaatje's earlier works, as it allows the reader to experience what's going on in the characters' heads, not strictly focusing on the setting of the world.
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story about an 11-year-old boy's journey on a large ship's three-week voyage. Ondaatje himself went on such a voyage in his childhood, from Sri Lanka to
England.
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445:"The Cat's Table by Michael Ondaatje: review. Philip Hensher admires The Cat's Table by Michael Ondaatje, a visionary retelling of an ocean voyage"
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Sir Hector de Silva: a wealthy man suffering from a likely fatal illness, traveling to
England for treatment with his family and several doctors.
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Sunil (stage name The
Hyderabad Mind) a member of the Jankla Troupe of shipboard circus performers.
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The central character and narrator named
Michael, an unaccompanied 11-year-old boy, boards an
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Miss
Perinetta Lasqueti: a wan-looking spinster in her 30s with several unforeseen qualities.
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Mr. Hastie: Michael's roommate, keeper of the ship's dog kennel and an ardent bridge player.
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Miss Emily de Saram: a distant cousin of
Michael and his long-time confidante, 17 years old.
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Max
Mazappa (stage name Sunny Meadows): pianist with the ship's orchestra in his 30s.
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Mr. Invernio: Mr. Hastie's assistant kennel keeper and fellow bridge player.
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Larry Daniels: a botanist conveying a "garden" of live plants to England.
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Mr. Perera: an undercover Ceylonese police officer overseeing Niemeyer.
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Niemeyer: a prisoner in chains being conveyed to England for trial.
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first published in 2011. It was a shortlisted nominee for the 2011
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Massoumeh ("Massi"): Ramadhin's sister, later Michael's wife.
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Mr. Fonseka: a schoolteacher who introduces Michael to books.
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Mr. Giggs: an English officer escorting Niemeyer to trial.
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360:, while noting Ondaatje's appended disclaimer that
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Asuntha: a frail, nearly deaf young Sinhalese girl.
272:Michael ("Mynah"): the protagonist, 11 years old.
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334:The Baron C.: a thief who enlists Michael's aid.
471:"The Cat's Table by Michael Ondaatje – review"
278:Cassius: a rowdy daredevil boy, 12 years old.
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293:Mr. Gunesekera: a tailor, an apparent mute.
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419:"Michael Ondaatje's Passage From Ceylon"
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469:Mars-Jones, Adam (25 September 2011).
417:Schillinger, Liesl (14 October 2011).
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443:Hensher, Phillip (5 September 2011).
423:The New York Times Sunday Book Review
287:Mr. Nevil: a retired ship dismantler.
275:Ramadhin: a quiet boy, 11 years old.
404:"Michael Ondaatje: The divided man"
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402:McCrum, Robert (27 August 2011).
16:2011 novel by Michael Ondaatje
550:McClelland & Stewart books
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535:Canadian bildungsromans
297:Elsewhere on the ship:
213:Scotiabank Giller Prize
93:30 August 2011 (Canada)
354:Liesl Schillinger for
520:2011 Canadian novels
160:PR9199.3.O5 C38 2011
95:4 October 2011 (USA)
540:Novels set on ships
530:Jonathan Cape books
449:The Daily Telegraph
207:by Canadian author
91:25 August 2011 (UK)
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357:The New York Times
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379:New York Magazine
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76:Random House
480:11 December
454:11 December
428:11 December
232:ocean liner
514:Categories
389:References
264:Characters
250:Suez Canal
170:Divisadero
500:NYMag.com
350:Reception
127:audiobook
119:paperback
115:hardcover
64:Publisher
252:and the
248:via the
226:Synopsis
186:Warlight
44:Language
258:Oronsay
246:England
242:Colombo
237:Oronsay
113:Print (
48:English
234:, the
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189:(2018)
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173:(2007)
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34:Author
240:, in
205:novel
203:is a
133:Pages
123:ebook
80:Knopf
54:Genre
482:2011
456:2011
430:2011
142:ISBN
136:304
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Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
