Hunters: “Daddy Cat”, “Lee Jiabao”

Two short stories about stray cats, written by well-known Taiwanese author Chu Tien-Hsin.
Adapted into picture book format by popular comic book artist Ruan Guang-Min.

獵人們:貓爸爸、李家寶
“These are representatives of some extremely typical city stray cats, whom I just happened to meet. I personally witnessed their lives and deaths, and felt a sense of responsibility to record what I saw, to prove that these cats really did exist in our world at one point in time.” From The Cats' Lives, by Chu Tien-Hsin

Preview

Accompanied by a sudden meow, the legendary Daddy Cat appeared…

Daddy Cat, with his enormous head and broad yellow back, fought with other cats all over the neighborhood. The area under his control was larger than an entire district, and yet he politely greeted local residents who brought him food on a regular basis; he would purr and fawn on them and become inordinately talkative and affectionate in their presence. Mommy Cat, as she kept a close watch over her own territory consisting of an entire street, was like the local village chief. She taught her children to be independent and alert—and unapproachable. Sister Cat, a rare and exquisite beauty, was extremely shy and afraid of people. After she got fixed, however, she became extremely affectionate and was always begging for hugs.

By presenting the life history of one stray cat family, this piece also reveals the family’s plight, its worries and concerns. A deeply moving narrative that also leads to reflection.

He was different from other stray cats that ended up in our house. Jiabao, with his own last name, turned out to be an extremely unusual cat…

Lee Jiabao is Chu Tien-Hsin’s own personal cat in shining armor. Extremely handsome but also cold and aloof, he does not care for other female cats, reserving his affections for Chu Tien-Hsin alone. The arrival of Toto the puppy, however, takes away from the alone time between Chu Tien-Hsin and Lee Jiabao.

A turn of events leads to Jiabao being given away to the young daughter of a family friend. No one could have predicted that Jiabao would go on a hunger strike lasting for days. When he is brought back to the Chu household, he is dirty and famished; his illness deteriorates rapidly. During the final stages of his life, when Chu Tien-Hsin calls him by name, he wags his tail valiantly: it is his way of letting Chu know that in spite of everything, he still forgives her.

About the Comic Book

Adapted from personal essays found in Chu Tien-Hsin’s collection The Cats' Lives, the stories consist mainly of observations of stray cats. These describe the cats enjoying a common living space as they move about inside and outside of the house, from one end of the street to the other.

In adapting these essays, popular comic artist Ruan Guang-Min has once again ventured beyond familiar territory and broken new ground. Using as his material the precious personal recollections contained in “Cat Daddy” and “Lee Jiabao,” Ruan Guang-Min has captured the feelings and warmth arising from the interaction between humans and cats. With warm soft hues, he vividly brings to life the memories of these feline creatures; the grey background color evokes past memories and is a metaphor for the cold indifference of modern cities.

About the Author

朱天心 / 原著

Chu Tien-Hsin / Original Author

Born in 1958 in Kaohsiung, Taiwan, Chu Tien-Hsin majored in history at National Taiwan University. The former editor of The Threes Journal, Chu is the recipient of numerous literary awards.

Among her works are: Days on the Ark, The Song of Tilling the Toil, Yesterday When I was Young, Imperfect, Changing of the Seasons, I Remember, In Remembrance of My Buddies from the Military Compound, The Old Capital, The Wanderers, Before I Turned 22, Early Summer Lotus Love, The Cats' Lives, and A Cat A Person A City.

阮光民 / 漫畫

Ruan Guang-Min / Comic Artist

His works are marked by a deep and abiding concern for the lives of ordinary people in Taiwan. Through his spare and unadorned drawings, Mr. Ruan has tried to capture the values and outlook on life that have been passed down among Taiwanese from one generation to the next. He is the recipient of numerous awards.

Among his works are: Dong Hua Chun Barbershop and Yong-Jiu Grocery Store, both of which were adapted into television series; Heaven Restaurant, in three volumes; kíng-tshat, Cop or Robber? , in two volumes; and Yong-Jiu Grocery Store, in five volumes.

He also turned the stage play Human Conditions, as well as the novel The Illusionist on the Skywalk, into graphic novels.

獵人們:貓爸爸、李家寶

Hunters:
Daddy Cat, Lee Jiabao

Author: 【Comic】Ruan Guang Min; 【Original Story】Chu Tien-hsin
ISBN: 9789869411080
Series: LA|Dimensions: 17 x 23 cm|Pages: 78 pages
Color: Full-color Printing|Publication Date: 2021.08

誠品線上 博客來 金石堂 讀冊TAAZE 三民書局 MOMO PChome 讀墨Readmoo(電子書) BOOK WALKER(電子書) UDN讀書吧(電子書) 樂天KOBO(電子書)
羅曼菲:紅塵舞者(緬懷紀念版+電影書衣)獵人們:貓爸爸、李家寶(文學朱家電影書腰版)

Hunters:
Daddy Cat, Lee Jiabao
(“Chu Family Movie” Book Waist Version)

Author: 【Comic】Ruan Guang Min; 【Original Story】Chu Tien-hsin
ISBN: 9789860692242
Seires: LA|Dimensions: 17 x 23 cm|Pages: 80 pages
Color: Full-color Printing|Publication Date: 2022.01

誠品線上 博客來 金石堂 讀冊TAAZE 三民書局 MOMO PChome

Press & Media (Chinese)

浪貓與獵人們

阮光民《上下游副刊》

>>閱讀全文

在虎年漫遊城市的獵人們

山夢嫻《方格子》

>>閱讀全文

《獵人們》畫出生命教育
漫畫家阮光民:學習面對失去與珍惜

許家齊《親子天下》

>>閱讀全文

【高中生讀什麼】老師帶你看漫畫
躍然紙上的重逢與告別:《獵人們》

黃宗慧《青春OKAPI》

>>閱讀全文

阮光民巧手 朱天心筆下街貓現身

王寶兒《中時副刊》

>>閱讀全文

不墮淚者非貓奴:
每個愛貓人心中最柔軟的痛

隱匿《Verse》

>>閱讀全文

獵人們

麻雀《自由副刊》

>>閱讀全文

柑仔店、理髮廳、朱天心的街貓散文集 都被他「畫活」
台漫大師阮光民: 不想做的事, 未來都會幫到你

鄭淳予《今周刊》

>>閱讀全文

Honors & Awards