I love animals - the simple joy they have in just "being" around us is something wonderful to come home to after a hard day of dealing with people, who, by a complex and cruel misfortune, are not always quite so simple. I adopted my first cat my sophomore year in college. I lived alone (and preferred it that way), but wanted to enjoy the company of something more affectionate than a goldfish, so along came Lucky. A few years later, I adopted Kitty because I started working full-time and wanted my adult cat to have company. I suppose by most conventional wisdom, I would be a 'cat lady'. I fought this label for years, but have since learned to embrace it. Living alone downtown in a metro, being gone for 9 hours a day - doesn't seem fair to have a dog. That said, I never counted myself as someone who would read 'cat books'. When I saw this pop up on my recommendations (what are you trying to say, Amazon?), I picked it up for my Paperwhite and can honestly say I finished in two days. It was that good. It's hard not to love stories like these, but few of us could actually say we would be willing to take the extra time needed to care for a pet with a disability, and this was the case for Homer, who was nearly put to sleep before ever having a chance at life because he had to lose his eyes in order to live and no one wanted him- there's unfair irony buried in there. Along came Gwen, who with two cats of her own, took on the burden, but quickly found herself amazed by Homer's abilities despite his lack of vision. Some of her stories were slightly far-fetched and there was frequent personification of Homer which I found a bit distracting, but Cooper has a real knack for writing, and it was very clear that Homer was a special cat - and they both needed each other. Some have knocked Cooper for writing too much about herself and not Homer, but I found this one of the better parts of the book. We don't often think we learn things from our pet, but Cooper's adventures with Homer clearly taught her a lot about her life, her values, and her priorities. She had many poignant, memorable quotes throughout this book (which I'll let you discover for yourself), and it was an extremely heart-warming account, filled with several anxiety-laden moments. I seriously couldn't put it down. Since reading this, I've done some research on Homer. Cooper has raised attention to the plight of thousands of disabled animals around the country, and donated even more to these charities, often inspiring others to make room in their life for an animal that has an infinite amount of love to give, but was never given a chance because at the end of the day, looks matter. At the risk of sounding like a cat lady, I became extremely attached to Cooper and her three cats in this book, which made the sequel a lot harder to read (for obvious reasons). The frequent photos of Homer and Cooper's other two cats heading each chapter were an excellent addition. Overpersonification or not, Cooper's way with words and telling both an internal and external story about a little cat that defied everyone's expectations, as well as her own story, makes this an absolute must-read for anyone who loves animals. I'd encourage dog-lovers out there to give this book a chance, as well. It is absolutely no wonder this book ended up on the New York Times Best Seller list. It is engaging, warm, frightening, heart-felt, and well-written to the point that I couldn't put it down. Thank you Gwen, for not only sharing Homer with the rest of the world, but for taking a chance on him when no one else would. He was truly a remarkable cat. "...we love them [animal stories] because they're the closest thing we have to material evidence of an objective moral order...they seem to prove that the things that matter to and move us the most--things like love, courage, loyalty, altruism--aren't just ideas we made up from nothing. To see them demonstrated in other animals proves they're real things, that they exist in the world independently of what humans invent and tell each other in the form of myth or fable."

I first found this book by accident in a hotel book exchange in Mexico when I had forgotten to pack my Kindle charger cable. Usually the book choices are pretty slim and I seldom find anything I really want to read. I am a cat lover and first fell in love with Homer's picture on the cover before I even realized what the story was about. From the first pages written by the doctor who saved Homer and found him a home, to the very last words, I was hooked. I fell so hard for the courage and spirit of this little cat and so admired the woman who took him to her heart and wouldn't let him go. This is definitely not a sad and sappy story about an animal overcoming a handicap, but instead a glorious story of an animal who doesn't even recognize a handicap. An incredible cat who seemingly has no limitations and has a heart much larger than he is. He is smart, funny, brave, loyal and loving and so what's NOT to love. The writer, Homer's mom, did a beautiful job of telling Homer's story with wit and warmth. She also revealed how much she learned and how much her life changed by knowing him. For anyone who loves a hero story, a love story, a cat story or a triumph story, read this book. You too will fall in love! After finding this treasure, I have since bought many copies as gifts for my friends and they all love it too. Judyth Raven

The book is well written, and fascinating to read. It is not so much about a cat, as it is about a young woman's development. Highly recommended!

"Homer's Odyssey" is a heartwarming book about the bond between a woman trying to find her place in the world and her unique blind cat. Ask anyone with a cat if their cat is unique, and you will doubtlessly be in for long tales of their feline's most unusual quirks. I personally find those individual idiosyncrasies one of the pleasures of having cats, but Gwen Cooper's cat is unique even among unique cats. More importantly, Cooper is great at explaining why Homer is so special. Homer started out as an abandoned kitten with two eyes so infected they had to be removed. He never knew what it was to see, so he never realized he was different from other cats. Cooper effectively tells his tale, and intertwines it skillfully with her own autobiography along the way. Without question the most difficult part of the book deals with Homer (and Cooper's other two cats) being separated from her in the New York apartment they shared after the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. Any pet owner (or anyone with a heart for that matter) would realize the trauma the animals were enduring as they were slowly dying of starvation and dehydration, and the simultaneous agony going on inside their human companions trying to get them out of the nightmare. Cooper doesn't pretend that her personal drama on 9/11 and the following days are the biggest tragedy of the disaster of course, but she does paint a vivid picture of someone who loves her animals and will try to help them at all costs. I can certainly sympathize with her. The book is occasionally a tad saccharine, but is worthwhile for anyone who loves animals (especially cats, but any animal lover will appreciate it.) Homer is an amazing cat, and has had an amazing life. In the end I thought Cooper's new husband said it best at their wedding reception when he revealed that "I only wish that I could see what that cat hears." Nobody could have said it better.

I love this author! I've read several of Gwen Cooper's books, they are delightful and you won't be disappointed! Heart warming story about a blind cat that stole her heart. Easy reading and keeps you interested. I can hardly put the book down.