Woe: A Housecat's Story of Despair by Lucy Knisley

A collection of comics about a cat who's getting older and must share her woe with everyone in the house.

Knisley begins this comics collection with an introduction from Linney the cat, who lets us know that the book will be about her. Linney is smug, lording over the book and delighting us with her mischievous expression. Then Knisley takes back the reins, telling us how illustrating cats has escaped many of the ancient artists, and that her preferred method is to illustrate their personalities rather than their likeness. Thus Linney's incredible and endearing shape.

Linney spends her time yowling at her family. Knisley's dynamic illustrations and evocative lettering show us all of Linney's various moods — despair, wicked glee, soft contentment. The overall mood of Woe is humorous, despite the title.

Screaming for attention, Linney demands pets and then stalks off (my cat relates). She develops a sneer when her lip gets caught on her tooth. Linney glares at a well-meaning German Shepard, screeching at him for getting near her water dish. "You... you are encroaching upon my hydration space," she says. "Desist at once!"

Throughout the book, we see snippets of Knisley's concern for Linney's increasing age. Knisley lets cartoon-Linney comfort both her and the reader. However, as we get closer to the end of the book, we can't help but notice more panels about health issues. Linney gets IV bags, slows down, loses weight... Knisley confesses to the reader that these comics started because she wanted to record Linney before she left forever. As the reader, we are nearing the end of the book, and we already know how it ends. I'll admit the dread I felt when I glanced up at my own cat.

Only a couple pages from the end, Knisley gives us a few spreads where the only illustrations in color are of Linney herself. We see Knisley take Linney to the vet, sobbing while Linney looks on. "Such dramatics," she says. "Do calm yourself, hysteric!"

Finally, Linney receives her final goodbyes and gives them in return. Her tone is affectionate and calm, if still smug. Then her eyes take up the only panel on the page. Flip to the next, and we see one eye grow bigger and bigger, until the next page is all black. "More splendid than ever," it says.

A couple more pages show us how beloved Linney was, and how she was adopted. Knisley thanks us for reading about her pet. Linney ends with, "and obviously, you're welcome."

And I will admit that I had to hold my own cat close, which of course, he hated.

Book Info

• Title: Woe: A Housecat's Story of Despair

• Publisher: Random House Graphic

• ISBN: 9780593177631

• Author: Lucy Knisley

• Illustrator: Lucy Knisley

• Pub date: July 2024

• Source: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/634343/woe-a-housecats-story-of-despair-by-lucy-knisley/