My Beloved Monster

Masha, the Half-Wild Rescue Cat Who Rescued Me

By: Caleb Carr

Narrated by: James Lurie

Length: 13 hrs and 47 mins

Publisher's summary

The #1 bestselling author of The Alienist tells the extraordinary story of Masha, a half-wild rescue cat who fought off a bear, tackled Caleb like a linebacker—and bonded with him as tightly as any cat and human possibly can.

Caleb Carr has had special relationships with cats since he was a young boy in a turbulent household, famously peopled by the founding members of the Beat Generation, where his steadiest companions were the adopted cats that lived with him both in the city and the country. As an adult, he has had many close feline companions, with relationships that have outlasted most of his human ones. But only after building a three-story home in rural, upstate New York did he enter into the most extraordinary of all of his cat pairings: Masha, a Siberian Forest cat who had been abandoned as a kitten, and was languishing in a shelter when Caleb met her. She had hissed and fought off all previous carers and potential adopters, but somehow, she chose Caleb as her savior.

For the seventeen years that followed, Caleb and Masha were inseparable. Masha ruled the house and the extensive, dangerous surrounding fields and forests. When she was hurt, only Caleb could help her. When he suffered long-standing physical ailments, Masha knew what to do. Caleb’s life-long study of the literature of cat behavior, and his years of experience with previous cats, helped him decode much of Masha’s inner life. But their bond went far beyond academic studies and experience. The story of Caleb and Masha is an inspiring and life-affirming relationship for readers of all backgrounds and interests—a love story like no other.

©2024 Caleb Carr (P)2024 Mulholland Books

The story of a loving relationship between two species

Anyone who has ever truly known the love, joy and loss of an animal will identify with the author’s story of his intertwined life with his cat, Masha. It is the story of a true loving connection between friends of different species that can only be counted as a blessing… even with the understanding of the heartbreaking “good-bye” that is inevitable.

Beautiful and Unforgettable

I loved this book! I’m a long-time fan of Caleb Carr’s novels - I think Carr has a remarkable ability to develop memorable characters without sacrificing plot. His books are dark, captivating, and generally stay with me long after I rip through the final pages. But I wasn’t sure this book would engage me like his novels. I’m not what I would consider an “animal lover,” so I hesitated.

OK, I admit I was wrong! This is an astonishing memoir. It focuses on Carr’s relationship with a beloved cat, Masha, and yes, I learned a lot of interesting things about cats and other animals because Carr always exhaustively researches his books. But to me the book soars because Carr uses his relationship with Masha to write some hard truths about life: understanding who you are, how your past has shaped and limited you, fighting against that but ultimately accepting those limitations, what it means to be fully present for someone else, overcoming challenges because you have no choice, love, connection, disappointment, loss. So many sentences were memorable for me that I wished I hadn’t listened to an audiobook version of the memoir. After finishing, I’ve spent much time thinking about it, but I still don’t understand how Carr pulled this off. He is an amazing writer who has written a beautiful and unforgettable book.

The best of the best.

This book is the tale of an true storyteller and his amazing cat. I couldn't stop reading.

Beautiful and heartbreaking

As a lifetime lover and mom of cats, I was anxious to listen to this book after seeing a positive review in People. The story was so sweet. The story of a man and his cat, their ups and downs together. The pains they both went through and a story of friendship and loyalty. It reminded me of my own history with cats, particularly the loss of a couple who I was especially bonded with. I cried as I listened to the last chapter as anyone who has ever loved a pet will. It was well read and a truly touching story of unconditional love.

traumatic pasts

hard to hear of losses and traumas which had occurred to author and his various cats

Amazingly Beautiful

The story is so relatable for anyone who has loved and lost. Carr offers a tribute to Masha and to all of the animals that have been loved—and not loved as they should be. They are indeed sentient and with emotion—capable of judging us and loving and caring for us if we let them.

I am crying right now

What a beautiful story, told with such tenderness and love. I couldn't stop listening, I am such an avid Audible listener that when one book is done I immediately jump into another but not this time. I must take time to mourn Masha’s passing. Thank you, Caleb, for writing such a wonderful story.

my beloved monster

just really loved ithe adventures and loving mature. I'm a Dog person. so thoughtfull and discriptive..

Incredibly moving book

This book had me in tears. A powerful portrait of a unique and strong bond between a man and his cat, whose natures and lives mirror each other uncannily. The book is a majestic tribute to the mighty Masha and the evolution of her bond with the author is moving and eventually shattering. I highly recommend this book.

Stunningly Beautiful Memoir

A fascinating and beautifully written memoir of a renowned writer framed around his lifelong relationships with cats, along with the biographical explanations of how and why feline companionship became such a central feature of his emotional life. Destined, I believe, to become a literary classic.