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Woe: A Housecat's Story of Despair
WOE! SCREAM! MEOW! ...PURR? Join the hilarious and of course dramatic world of Linney the House Cat, as her webcomic antics are gathered into graphic novel for the very first time! This collection is perfect for cat lovers and Linney fans alike.
What if our cats could talk? Would they ask endless questions about why we haven't given them wet food...again? Would they scream greetings at the first sign of life before the sun even rises? Linney certainly will.
Have you met Linney yet? If not, prepared to be blessed! Lucy Knisley's online Linney comics are collected for the very first time in this gifty hardcover featuring the internet sensation, Linney. With all-new comics, this collection shows us just how amazing, and what a true gift, all cats are.
What if our cats could talk? Would they ask endless questions about why we haven't given them wet food...again? Would they scream greetings at the first sign of life before the sun even rises? Linney certainly will.
Have you met Linney yet? If not, prepared to be blessed! Lucy Knisley's online Linney comics are collected for the very first time in this gifty hardcover featuring the internet sensation, Linney. With all-new comics, this collection shows us just how amazing, and what a true gift, all cats are.
208 pages, Library Binding
First published July 2, 2024
30 people are currently reading
1410 people want to read
About the author
Lucy Knisley
53 books2,202 followersBeginning with an love for Archie comics and Calvin and Hobbes, Lucy Knisley (pronounced "nigh-zlee") has always thought of cartooning as the only profession she is suited for. A New York City kid raised by a family of foodies, Lucy is a graduate of the School of the Art Institute of Chicago currently pursuing an MFA at the Center for Cartoon Studies. While completing her BFA at the School of the Art Institute, she was comics editor for the award-winning student publication F News Magazine.
Lucy currently resides in New York City where she makes comics. She likes books, sewing, bicycles, food you can eat with a spoon, manatees, nice pens, costumes, baking and Oscar Wilde. She occasionally has been known to wear amazing hats.
She can be reached via e-mail at [email protected].
(copied from http://www.lucyknisley.com/about on 12/31/08)
Lucy currently resides in New York City where she makes comics. She likes books, sewing, bicycles, food you can eat with a spoon, manatees, nice pens, costumes, baking and Oscar Wilde. She occasionally has been known to wear amazing hats.
She can be reached via e-mail at [email protected].
(copied from http://www.lucyknisley.com/about on 12/31/08)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 488 reviews
June 10, 2024
In a Nutshell: A purr-fect book for all cat lovers, though the ending is somewhat bittersweet. Much recommended!
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I grabbed this graphic comic book for the title (Love the use of “Woe!” as a substitute meow!), the cat on the cover (I adore dogs, but cats come a close second), and the author (loved her graphic memoir: Kid Gloves: Nine Months of Careful Chaos) In other words, I didn’t read the blurb and totally judged the potential of the book based on these superficial factors. And guess what?! This time, it worked!
I have not had the pleasure of reading Knisley’s online Linney comics as I am rarely aware of web-based comics. But apparently, this is a hardcover edition containing all Linney comics, collected in a single book for the very first time.
Linney was adopted by the family at an older age, so she came preloaded with catty attitude. She knows that her requirements are foremost, and the humans exist merely to service her demands. I love how Linney is given a somewhat royal tone, so every time a speech bubble comes in her first-person perspective, she sounds just as condescending and snooty as cats would if they could talk.
You don’t need to be an ailurophile to enjoy this book, though being one would certainly help you understand Linney’s behaviour even more. The author’s fondness for Linney is very clear, as is her understanding of the cat’s personality. Be it Linney’s thoughts or emotions or actions, the author seems to have captured everything with perfection.
The author's preschooler son also makes a regular appearance in the book, raising the cuteness factor exponentially. There is also a friendly dog whose enthusiasm for Linney is as hilarious as Linney’s repugnance for him.
Most of the story is cute and funny, but the ending is somewhat bittersweet. This doesn’t reduce the impact of the book as there is a foreshadowing of what’s to come in the introductory note as well as repeated references to Linney’s being an older cat. But it is still sad to read. I can’t imagine how the author dug up the mental fortitude to pen that section; it must have been so painful. I hope she found healing by sketching it.
As the above might lead to some tears while reading, I am glad the book doesn’t end at that point, but proceeds to a finish with a happier memory.
The illustrations are quite simple, but funny and totally apt for the book. As the author rightly says, cats have no predefined shape, so you don’t draw a cat, but you draw the personality of a cat. Goes without saying that the author has nailed Linney’s royal personality in every sketch.
The only thing I am not sure about is why this is labelled a teen book. While there is nothing age-inappropriate in the story, the content is universal and will appeal to every cat lover. At the same time, the ending might be a little upsetting to some sensitive kids. I would rather label this a generic/adult graphic novel than as a children’s or teen’s title.
A teeny complaint: I wish a photo of the actual Linney had been included at the end of the book.
This book was read jointly with the two not-so-little readers at home and the three of us loved it equally. We laughed heartily at Linney’s pompous dialogues and her antics, and had a sad smile on our faces at the end.
Definitely recommended to all cat parents, pet parents, and animal lovers and to those who enjoy funny animal books.
4.5 stars, gladly rounding up.
My thanks to Random House Graphic and NetGalley for the DRC of “Woe: A Housecat's Story of Despair”. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Connect with me through:
My Blog || The StoryGraph || Instagram || X/Twitter || Facebook ||
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I grabbed this graphic comic book for the title (Love the use of “Woe!” as a substitute meow!), the cat on the cover (I adore dogs, but cats come a close second), and the author (loved her graphic memoir: Kid Gloves: Nine Months of Careful Chaos) In other words, I didn’t read the blurb and totally judged the potential of the book based on these superficial factors. And guess what?! This time, it worked!
I have not had the pleasure of reading Knisley’s online Linney comics as I am rarely aware of web-based comics. But apparently, this is a hardcover edition containing all Linney comics, collected in a single book for the very first time.
Linney was adopted by the family at an older age, so she came preloaded with catty attitude. She knows that her requirements are foremost, and the humans exist merely to service her demands. I love how Linney is given a somewhat royal tone, so every time a speech bubble comes in her first-person perspective, she sounds just as condescending and snooty as cats would if they could talk.
You don’t need to be an ailurophile to enjoy this book, though being one would certainly help you understand Linney’s behaviour even more. The author’s fondness for Linney is very clear, as is her understanding of the cat’s personality. Be it Linney’s thoughts or emotions or actions, the author seems to have captured everything with perfection.
The author's preschooler son also makes a regular appearance in the book, raising the cuteness factor exponentially. There is also a friendly dog whose enthusiasm for Linney is as hilarious as Linney’s repugnance for him.
Most of the story is cute and funny, but the ending is somewhat bittersweet. This doesn’t reduce the impact of the book as there is a foreshadowing of what’s to come in the introductory note as well as repeated references to Linney’s being an older cat. But it is still sad to read. I can’t imagine how the author dug up the mental fortitude to pen that section; it must have been so painful. I hope she found healing by sketching it.
As the above might lead to some tears while reading, I am glad the book doesn’t end at that point, but proceeds to a finish with a happier memory.
The illustrations are quite simple, but funny and totally apt for the book. As the author rightly says, cats have no predefined shape, so you don’t draw a cat, but you draw the personality of a cat. Goes without saying that the author has nailed Linney’s royal personality in every sketch.
The only thing I am not sure about is why this is labelled a teen book. While there is nothing age-inappropriate in the story, the content is universal and will appeal to every cat lover. At the same time, the ending might be a little upsetting to some sensitive kids. I would rather label this a generic/adult graphic novel than as a children’s or teen’s title.
A teeny complaint: I wish a photo of the actual Linney had been included at the end of the book.
This book was read jointly with the two not-so-little readers at home and the three of us loved it equally. We laughed heartily at Linney’s pompous dialogues and her antics, and had a sad smile on our faces at the end.
Definitely recommended to all cat parents, pet parents, and animal lovers and to those who enjoy funny animal books.
4.5 stars, gladly rounding up.
My thanks to Random House Graphic and NetGalley for the DRC of “Woe: A Housecat's Story of Despair”. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Connect with me through:
My Blog || The StoryGraph || Instagram || X/Twitter || Facebook ||
July 9, 2024
4.5 Stars
One Liner: Adorable!
Linney the House Cat started as a series of webcomics. This graphic novel is a collection of several illustrations that detail the life of a housecat from the cat’s POV.
I enjoy reading about cats and their antics. When a friend (Rosh) rated it 5 stars, I knew I had to read this one. After all, how can I resist a book that showcases a cat’s personality?
The author/ illustration adopted Linney when Her Highness was older (around four years). This meant Linney came with her exclusive attitude and took every opportunity to remind her silly hoomans about it.
The author’s love and understanding are evident in every illustration. She knows her cat even if Linney would never admit it.
This isn’t a story as such. It is a series of scenes arranged in a sequence to make sense. Linney’s voice is purrfect! She knows hoomans are mere slaves, hooman kittens are ewww, and dogs are even more ewww. Linney loves to take revenge and plots various ways to get even when hoomans don’t do what she wants.
The tone is light, funny, quirky, and super cute. The illustrations are rough sketches (I love the explanation for why Linney has such a vague visual representation) which seamlessly suit the narrative style. The dialogues and thoughts are in speech bubbles with ‘feelings’ and other stuff mentioned as plain text. The layout is simple and uncluttered.
While there is sad news, the reader is prepared for it in advance. The whole thing is handled with care. After all, the author’s pain would have been so much more than what we feel when reading it! But don’t worry. The book makes you smile with its ending.
To summarize, Woe: A Housecat's Story is a beautiful, hilarious, and bittersweet graphic novel about a fluffy orange cat with a huge personality. Though this is marked YA, it can pretty much be read by anyone (kiddos included).
My thanks to NetGalley, Random House Children's, and Random House Graphic, for the eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
#NetGalley #WoeAHousecatsStory
One Liner: Adorable!
Linney the House Cat started as a series of webcomics. This graphic novel is a collection of several illustrations that detail the life of a housecat from the cat’s POV.
I enjoy reading about cats and their antics. When a friend (Rosh) rated it 5 stars, I knew I had to read this one. After all, how can I resist a book that showcases a cat’s personality?
The author/ illustration adopted Linney when Her Highness was older (around four years). This meant Linney came with her exclusive attitude and took every opportunity to remind her silly hoomans about it.
The author’s love and understanding are evident in every illustration. She knows her cat even if Linney would never admit it.
This isn’t a story as such. It is a series of scenes arranged in a sequence to make sense. Linney’s voice is purrfect! She knows hoomans are mere slaves, hooman kittens are ewww, and dogs are even more ewww. Linney loves to take revenge and plots various ways to get even when hoomans don’t do what she wants.
The tone is light, funny, quirky, and super cute. The illustrations are rough sketches (I love the explanation for why Linney has such a vague visual representation) which seamlessly suit the narrative style. The dialogues and thoughts are in speech bubbles with ‘feelings’ and other stuff mentioned as plain text. The layout is simple and uncluttered.
While there is sad news, the reader is prepared for it in advance. The whole thing is handled with care. After all, the author’s pain would have been so much more than what we feel when reading it! But don’t worry. The book makes you smile with its ending.
To summarize, Woe: A Housecat's Story is a beautiful, hilarious, and bittersweet graphic novel about a fluffy orange cat with a huge personality. Though this is marked YA, it can pretty much be read by anyone (kiddos included).
My thanks to NetGalley, Random House Children's, and Random House Graphic, for the eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
#NetGalley #WoeAHousecatsStory
September 30, 2024
3.5 stars, rounded down for 😿😿 - a graphic memoir of the author/artist time with her kitty, ends in grief, of course, like most animal memoirs do, but there are sweet & funny moments that all "cat ladies" can relate to 😻
July 4, 2024
Sweet Linney ❤️ More Splendid Than Ever still gets me every time 😭
June 18, 2024
This is really hard to rate. It's been a few days since I read this, and I still don't know how I feel about it! 75% or so of this book is full of adorable, hilarious comics about this cute, cranky kitty. It's super relatable for cat lovers and I was having a great time! Then the final 25% or so hit, and this book became a devastating, tragic story of an elderly cat's end days. That was sad enough on its own, but certain elements of Linney's passing hit far too close to home.
I lost my sweet Lotus to early onset/congenital kidney failure back in 2022, and I haven't recovered yet. I'm not sure I ever will, truthfully. And while I appreciate the fact that Lucy Knisley tried to make the story of Linney's death as gentle and loving as it could be—and probably used these comics as an outlet for her own grief—I honestly wish I hadn't read it. 💔
Thank you to the publisher for the gifted copy! All thoughts are honest and my own.
✨ Content warnings for: terminal illness and death of a beloved pet
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bookstagram | booktok | blog | storygraph | twitter/x
I lost my sweet Lotus to early onset/congenital kidney failure back in 2022, and I haven't recovered yet. I'm not sure I ever will, truthfully. And while I appreciate the fact that Lucy Knisley tried to make the story of Linney's death as gentle and loving as it could be—and probably used these comics as an outlet for her own grief—I honestly wish I hadn't read it. 💔
Thank you to the publisher for the gifted copy! All thoughts are honest and my own.
✨ Content warnings for: terminal illness and death of a beloved pet
———
bookstagram | booktok | blog | storygraph | twitter/x
October 4, 2024
Given the square format, I thought this was going to be a picture book but when it arrived from the library it was a full color 200 page collection of all the instagram comics author Lucy Knisley ever drew about her much loved fluffy orange cat, Linney. These comics are deeply relatable for any cat owner. I'd read pretty much all of them online before but I enjoyed seeing them all again in this collection.
September 4, 2024
What are the odds of me reading two books about elderly pets and their inevitable fates in the same week? (See also: Hogbook and Lazer Eyes.) Considering the extremely random manner in which I select and read books, trust me when I say it should be very unlikely.
At least this one was more amusing and heartwarming, being 90 percent generic cat humor before the sunset days.
I'm not a big fan of generic cat humor, but Knisley's talents with a pen make it tolerable, and the repeated visits by a friendly dog help too.
At least this one was more amusing and heartwarming, being 90 percent generic cat humor before the sunset days.
I'm not a big fan of generic cat humor, but Knisley's talents with a pen make it tolerable, and the repeated visits by a friendly dog help too.
July 24, 2024
I was excited to see this new book from Lucy Knisley, but I didn't realize they were all previously published comics on her website that I had read when they were released. Still, nice to have them all connected in one place. I've missed Linney comics.
June 27, 2025
Cats really rule the roost.
October 2, 2024
As a "cat lady" enjoyed this bittersweet memoir.
June 10, 2024
A cute graphic novel about a cat.
July 20, 2024
I was expecting an non-descript cat story about how dramatic cats are. Instead I got a real life story about a cat that existed, got sick, and eventually died. Like sheesh.
The art was cute though
The art was cute though
April 12, 2025
Depictions of behavior that all cat people will recognize. Funny & cute with a sad ending, of course.
May 28, 2025
Hilarious, and heartbreaking. I laughed and then I cried like a baby. Don’t say I didn’t warn you! And, like any good cat, this read is worth the tears 😭💖
October 31, 2024
THIS was just what I needed [its been a heavy week for a Monday]!
A hilarious look at what life is like with a cat [I swear at times I thought I was reading about our own cat, who was snooty and aloof, yet snuggly, and loved water from a glass; she's been gone 4 years now and I swear I still see her in the house], and if you've EVER owned a cat, this graphic novel will 100% resonate with you.
Hilarious, honest, heartbreaking, and full of love, this was an excellent way to start both the day and summer!!
Very well done!!
Thank you to NetGalley, Lucy Knisley, and Random House Childrens/Random House Graphic for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
A hilarious look at what life is like with a cat [I swear at times I thought I was reading about our own cat, who was snooty and aloof, yet snuggly, and loved water from a glass; she's been gone 4 years now and I swear I still see her in the house], and if you've EVER owned a cat, this graphic novel will 100% resonate with you.
Hilarious, honest, heartbreaking, and full of love, this was an excellent way to start both the day and summer!!
Very well done!!
Thank you to NetGalley, Lucy Knisley, and Random House Childrens/Random House Graphic for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
October 14, 2023
While plenty of people knew Linney in real life, thousands of us fell in love with her through Knisley’s online comic strips. As the author surmised, we were brokenhearted to learn of her passing, but at the same time grateful to be able to share the burden of grief and offer heartfelt condolences—albeit digitally.
Though Linney lives in our hearts, I hope that more people discover her in this logophilic paean to the beloved ginger cat. Though ultimately heartbreaking, I think it is a must read for anyone who has been lucky enough to have been loved by a cat.
Though Linney lives in our hearts, I hope that more people discover her in this logophilic paean to the beloved ginger cat. Though ultimately heartbreaking, I think it is a must read for anyone who has been lucky enough to have been loved by a cat.
July 9, 2024
ARC courtesy of NetGalley.
I've been looking forward to this book since it was announced. What a glorious tribute to a beloved cat. I knew I was going to cry reading this, just as I did when the original comics of Linney's passing were posted. It brought back memories of my sweet old man who passed away a few years ago, down to the bad dental hygiene and mysterious early years. Recommended for anyone who has ever loved a cat but particularly anyone who has loved a particular and demanding feline without question.
I've been looking forward to this book since it was announced. What a glorious tribute to a beloved cat. I knew I was going to cry reading this, just as I did when the original comics of Linney's passing were posted. It brought back memories of my sweet old man who passed away a few years ago, down to the bad dental hygiene and mysterious early years. Recommended for anyone who has ever loved a cat but particularly anyone who has loved a particular and demanding feline without question.
October 19, 2023
Linney!! You wonderful, angry, mean cat!! I never thought it was possible to fall in love with a cat so quickly as I did with Linney. Lucy Knishley’s vivid coloring and emotive art brought Linney and her lovable family to life. I like the short story format, it was like a referencing slice of life with Linney. The ending was so heartbreaking, I can only imagine what Knisley felt.
Woe! (how i feel with no more linney comics)
Woe! (how i feel with no more linney comics)
July 23, 2024
As usual her art and story are good. However, I thought I would laugh.. but instead I got attached and then cried. All the reminders of the joys and not so joyous moments of having a cat. I miss it.
August 8, 2024
How dare you do this to my heart, tiny book?! Woe!
January 18, 2025
The joys and sorrow of loving one’s pet. I teared up a number of times reading the final days of drama queen Linney and the enormous impact one little housecat had on her family. The author/artist pays a great tribute to her cat, and even though we know Linney is growing old and struggling with kidney failure, this is actually a very funny book too.
I started keeping a list of Linney’s tremendous and dramatic vocabulary to express her daily outrages. Readers who enjoy words will love this book, though the title best expresses Linney’s perspective of a cat with endless gourmet food choices, adoring family members, and plenty of amusements and toys but still grumbles about all the things cats seem to find dissatisfying. I went searching for my elderly cat as soon as I finished this to pick him up, give him a kiss, and ruin his evening.
I started keeping a list of Linney’s tremendous and dramatic vocabulary to express her daily outrages. Readers who enjoy words will love this book, though the title best expresses Linney’s perspective of a cat with endless gourmet food choices, adoring family members, and plenty of amusements and toys but still grumbles about all the things cats seem to find dissatisfying. I went searching for my elderly cat as soon as I finished this to pick him up, give him a kiss, and ruin his evening.
October 20, 2024
As a cat lover and owner I would give this book infinite stars. All cats have a unique personality and their own little quirks, yet when reading Woe I would laugh and say yep, that's Hazel, or that sounds like Nelly, Piggles used to do that too. This book captures perfectly what all cat owners know, they are the most difficult, picky, needy, confusing freeloading family member that you can't live without. And our time with them is never long enough.
October 25, 2024
This cat reminds me of my dearly departed shih tzu, Tammy. She was cranky as hell lol.
November 26, 2024
Linney was a very good kitty who never did anything wrong and this is a wonderful tribute to her memory. I need to read more from Lucy Kinsley asap.
December 12, 2024
The vocabulary and drawing style reminded me of Kate Beaton. Could it be that Lucy is secretly Canadian?
October 28, 2024
The sweetest tribute ever 🥹🥺 Though I definitely wasn't expecting this to turn out the way it did. I like that there's a slight linear narrative, unlike most comic collections. The author really brought Linney and his personality to life 😻
Pet owners will be able to relate to this sweet read: Turning your furry friend's personality into something tangible, giving them a voice, how they become part of the family, the fear of losing them, grief and all the wonderful memories ❤️
Pet owners will be able to relate to this sweet read: Turning your furry friend's personality into something tangible, giving them a voice, how they become part of the family, the fear of losing them, grief and all the wonderful memories ❤️
June 20, 2025
Yup I cried
October 31, 2024
I don't usually read graphic novels, but this is about a cat. Now come on. I had to. And it was so cute and funny. Many things reminded me of my cats. Very entertaining and touching. It's nice that the author has a memoir of her Linney.
August 5, 2024
I laughed and I cried...
Read
July 2, 2024Can’t rate because busy having senior cat feelings.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 488 reviews