Three boys come of age on a three week ocean voyage in Michael Ondaatje’s novel THE CAT’S TABLE.
The days leading up to Christmas were spent thinking of
fat turkeys roasting golden brown,
tissue paper and string,
food gifts of salted caramels and spicy nuts
a Christmas tree filling our home with pine perfume.
But my nights, my nights were spent on a luxury ocean liner.
Michael Ondaatje took me deep into the hidden recesses of a ship bound for England. He whispered secrets. Stories of hidden pleasures, dark thoughts. Encounters with mysterious passengers. The coming of age of three boys.
I huddled close to the fire. The dark December rains pelting the windows. I was far away sailing into exotic ports. A tropical sun beating down. I was at THE CAT’S TABLE.
