My Beloved Monster Audiobook By Caleb Carr cover art

My Beloved Monster

Masha, the Half-Wild Rescue Cat Who Rescued Me

Preview

Get this deal Try for $0.00
Offer ends January 21, 2025 at 11:59PM ET.
Prime logo Prime members: New to Audible?
Get 2 free audiobooks during trial.
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
Premium Plus auto-renews for $14.95/mo after 3 months. Cancel anytime.
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
Premium Plus auto-renews for $14.95/mo after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

My Beloved Monster

By: Caleb Carr
Narrated by: James Lurie
Get this deal Try for $0.00

$14.95/mo. after 3 months. Offer ends January 21, 2025 11:59PM ET. Cancel anytime.

$14.95/month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy for $24.95

Buy for $24.95

Confirm purchase
Pay using card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Taxes where applicable.
Cancel

About this listen

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
Biographies & Memoirs Pets & Animal Care Cats Feel-Good Inspiring Heartfelt Thought-Provoking

What listeners say about My Beloved Monster

Highly rated for:

Profound Love Story Beautiful Storytelling Heartwarming Cat Tale Moving Emotional Narrative
Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    157
  • 4 Stars
    11
  • 3 Stars
    4
  • 2 Stars
    3
  • 1 Stars
    1
Performance
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    144
  • 4 Stars
    11
  • 3 Stars
    4
  • 2 Stars
    1
  • 1 Stars
    0
Story
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    144
  • 4 Stars
    9
  • 3 Stars
    1
  • 2 Stars
    4
  • 1 Stars
    2

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

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.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Rips my heart open, cats don’t live long enough lives on this planet

Finally a book exploring the depth of the cat-human bond, and done with such prose to make anyone feel a small piece of Caleb’s connection with Masha. I was sad to learn Caleb passed away, but grateful he published this, his best work, in his time left in this plane. Enjoy your eternity with your soulmate Caleb.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Memoir through a study of feline behavior

This is as much a poetic memoir as it is a study of feline behavior and the bond between man and beast. It will make you laugh and make you cry. It takes the reader on a personal journey and makes the story all your own. A beautiful book from a masterful writer. And if you share your life with a cat, this is a must read for you.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

The insight of the narrative to express the emotional bond between him and Marsha,

I loved everything about this book, especially the connection between the narrator and his cat, Marsha. This story has heart and depth, truth and splashes of endearing humor. The writing is stellar. It has changed my outlook towards animals, in general. Bravo is all I can say about this wonderful book. I highly recommend it to anyone who has ever loved an an animal.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

I would give this book 100 stars

I really loved this book. It made me laugh & cry. Such a beautifully written love story it broke my heart. Would have loved to know someone with such a compassionate heart for animals. Rest well and I truly hope you & Masha are running together once more ❤️

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Beautiful Tribute

Any animal lover will find this story to be a beautifully written piece that will make them laugh and cry. Well written easy to listen to.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Beautiful Story!

Love this book! such a beautiful story of the bond between cat and owner. I picked this up because of my love of cats, but I think it would really resonate for anyone!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Excellent

I love the bond between Carr and Masha. I was engaged from start to finish. Carr puts into words what is often difficult to explain to those who have never experienced the love of a cat. I feel we are kindred spirits in our love for these magnificent animals.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Beautiful Love Story

This story made me laugh, wonder, cry, and sob. As a cat lover myself, I could relate to the many stories Mr. Carr shares about the cats who shared his life. The Beloved Monster truly was a gift.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Heart-felt story of two souls

I loved this book and may need to listen to it again! It was well written and narrated. There's lots of books on dogs, which I also love, but this story brings the relationships we can have with cats to the forefront. I just wish I could have been close friends with Caleb and Masha!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!