Literary · Contemporary fiction
Cat's Eye
Painter Elaine Risley returns to Toronto for a retrospective of her work. She looks back on a childhood in which her friend Cordelia bullied her, and on the lasting effect on her art and life.
Facts last checked 2026-10-17
- First published
- 1988
- Pace
- Slow
- Length
- Long
- Pages
- 462
- Format
- Standalone
Read this if you like reflective, character-led novels about girlhood, memory and art.
Skip this if you want brisk plotting or a book with a clear villain and resolution.
The feel
Content warnings
Quick answers about Cat's Eye
- What is Cat's Eye about?
- Painter Elaine Risley returns to Toronto for a retrospective of her work. She looks back on a childhood in which her friend Cordelia bullied her, and on the lasting effect on her art and life.
- Who should read Cat's Eye?
- Read it if you like reflective, character-led novels about girlhood, memory and art. Skip it if you want brisk plotting or a book with a clear villain and resolution.
- How long and how fast is Cat's Eye?
- It is a slow-paced, long read of about 462 pages, first published in 1988.
- Does Cat's Eye have content warnings?
- Content we flag: Bullying.
- Can I borrow Cat's Eye for free?
- Often, yes. Check Libby (OverDrive) to see whether your library lends Cat's Eye; the borrow button above searches it for you.
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Where to get it
| Store | Price | Link |
|---|---|---|
| Borrow free | ||
| Libby / OverDrive | Free with a library card | Borrow free with Libby from Libby / OverDrive |
| Print, new | ||
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| Ebook | ||
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| Audiobook | ||
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