“Did things ever get so outlandishly rock-bottom rotten that you went around muttering, not necessarily out loud, but muttering nonetheless: I don’t believe it!”

From James Kirkwood’s P.S. Your Cat Is Dead.

Jimmy is an aging and struggling actor that has a particularly terrible New Year’s Eve.  On that fateful snowy day, his girlfriend (Kate) has broken up with him because of his overbearing aunt, a leading role on Broadway fell through, his cat (Bobby Seale) has died, and his apartment was broken into for the third time.  Jimmy’s one consolation for the day is that he has captured and tied up the repeat robber.  When the thief wakes up from being knocked out, Jimmy quickly learns that his name is Vito and that he is a fast-talking gay robber with a fascinating life.  Both men struggle to control the high ground of the conversation, but it quickly becomes a battle between Jimmy’s knowledge and Vito’s street smarts.  As the night unfolds, the foul-mouthed Vito shares his life with Jimmy while Jimmy works through the many things that are holding him back in life.  While this is in no way how Jimmy planned to spend his holiday, it soon becomes an experience that neither he nor Vito will ever forget.

Kirkwood uses his main character (Jimmy) as both the narrator and emotional guide for the unbelievable all-over-the-place story. The beginning of the story is hilarious and the ending is compelling, but a majority of the middle drags which throws off the story a bit. The mature language and dialogue seems over-the-top at times. While this book is not a recent release by any standard, the story is surprisingly relative in terms of failure and friendships. P.S. Your Cat Is Dead is a rollercoaster of a read with relatable highs and heartbreaking lows that is sure to captivate the reader.