CAT MAGIC by Jonathan Barry with Whitley Strieber (1986)

"It was not Bonnie who returned to that lovely body on the lab table. No, it was Mother Star of the Sea, of course. And she had not come back for fun."

Cat Magic has always been a book I revisit every few years. Being a black cat fan, it was the cover that drew me in when I came across this book in my teens. (Later on, I lost my original that was a paperback. An amazing boyfriend found me not only a Hardcover of the book, but one that was signed by the author.) An older book, which I liked, written and takes place in the mid to late 80's. I had no idea how much the book, being a supernatural fiction before its time, would be so thought provoking.

Cat Magic touches base on science, religion, witches, and the afterlife...in a nut shell. We follow 3 to 4 major characters, all representing those points and how it all comes to head; along with a mystical cat, Tom, looming around in the background.

You meet a struggling scientist trying to make a name for himself by bringing someone back to life; a project that is also loosely tied with the local head witch who is trying to keep her covenant safe and growing, and to find her predecessor, who will have to pass many tests to claim her birthright.  Throw in the mix a zealous preacher with a dark past who feels his purpose is to burn the sinners out of town, and a nun from the afterlife...well, you have a lot to cover going into the 440 page book.

I think the book does a beautiful job of acknowledging all differences with respect.  Knowing that co-author, Jonathan Barry, is a witch in real life (or at least when he was writing this) its a great insight to his psyche, on how he wants witches to be seen; peaceful and going back to Mother Nature, and how he hopes other religions can respect it. It also shows how some use religion as a reason to hate and provoke unnecessary violence. Even science plays a positive and negative role.

Although the book takes place in the 80's, it still maintains a timeless vibe, since its more about the different faces of humanity. How some live by what science says,  or some only what God says, and others, what Mother Nature says. Yet, with Cat Magic, its real magic is a book that ties it all together. And makes you question your own beliefs and how far would you go...

I think this would be a great addition to a Book Club. Will open up a lot in discussions which is always a great thing. I do forewarn there is some slight animal cruelty references, that I personally just skip over.

"I can't explain magic any more than a Japanese monk can explain Zen. Every human being is a hologram of the whole species. Each contains all. That's the basis of magic. And earth is not an inert ball of rock. It is aware, it thinks, it knows we're here. That's magic, too." - Amanda Walker