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Garfield #12
Garfield Out to Lunch
When food is your life, it's hard to think of anything else. Still, Garfield manages. Whether it's time to clean out Jon's drawers his way, finding a hiding place that's too good, or discovering he can sleep in any position, half the fun of Garfield is watching his between-meal antics. In his twelfth book, he's up to his usual tricks, and that's all his fans need to hear.
128 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1986
66 people are currently reading
538 people want to read
About the author
Jim Davis
2,293 books628 followersJames Robert "Jim" Davis is an American cartoonist who created the popular comic strip Garfield. Other comics that he has worked on are Tumbleweeds, Gnorm Gnat, Slapstick, and a strip about Mr. Potato Head.
Jim Davis was born in Fairmount, Indiana, near Marion, where he grew up on a small farm with his father James William Davis, mother Anna Catherine (Carter) Davis, brother Dave, and 25 cats. Davis' childhood on a farm parallels the life of his cartoon character Garfield's owner, Jon Arbuckle, who was also raised on a farm with his parents and a brother, Doc Boy. Jon, too, is a cartoonist, and also celebrates his birthday on July 28. Davis attended Ball State University. While attending Ball State, he became a member of the Theta Xi fraternity. He earned the dubious honor of earning one of the lowest cumulative grade point averages in the history of the university, an honor incidentally shared with Late Show host David Letterman.
Davis as of 2007 resides in Muncie, Indiana, where he and his staff produce Garfield under his company, Paws, Inc., begun in 1981. He was married to Carolyn, a singer and elementary teacher whom he met while both were attending college, and has a son named James with her. However, the couple divorced, and Davis since 2000 has been married to Jill, Paws' senior vice president of licensing, who has worked there approximately 25 years.
Ironically, Davis did not own cats when he started Garfield because of Carolyn's allergies, but they owned a Labrador retriever named Molly. With Jill, the family has expanded to include children Ashley and Chris; three grandchildren, Chloe, Carly and Cody; cats, Spunky and Nermal; and a dog, Pooky.
Jim Davis was born in Fairmount, Indiana, near Marion, where he grew up on a small farm with his father James William Davis, mother Anna Catherine (Carter) Davis, brother Dave, and 25 cats. Davis' childhood on a farm parallels the life of his cartoon character Garfield's owner, Jon Arbuckle, who was also raised on a farm with his parents and a brother, Doc Boy. Jon, too, is a cartoonist, and also celebrates his birthday on July 28. Davis attended Ball State University. While attending Ball State, he became a member of the Theta Xi fraternity. He earned the dubious honor of earning one of the lowest cumulative grade point averages in the history of the university, an honor incidentally shared with Late Show host David Letterman.
Davis as of 2007 resides in Muncie, Indiana, where he and his staff produce Garfield under his company, Paws, Inc., begun in 1981. He was married to Carolyn, a singer and elementary teacher whom he met while both were attending college, and has a son named James with her. However, the couple divorced, and Davis since 2000 has been married to Jill, Paws' senior vice president of licensing, who has worked there approximately 25 years.
Ironically, Davis did not own cats when he started Garfield because of Carolyn's allergies, but they owned a Labrador retriever named Molly. With Jill, the family has expanded to include children Ashley and Chris; three grandchildren, Chloe, Carly and Cody; cats, Spunky and Nermal; and a dog, Pooky.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
January 4, 2025
In this volume, Garfield meets Ed, a fellow feline who was raised by squirrels, has an unfortunate encounter with Jon's cousin Judy's children, and faces the worst week of all: Splut Week! As usual, these were a blast and made me smile throughout.
July 26, 2016
I was addicted to these as a kid. I drove my parents insane following them around demanding, "Read this one!" I'm sure that my Dad regretted owning a bookstore. As an adult, I foster cats, and every foster kitten has a picture taken in a box labeled "to: Abu Dhabi." None of my two personal cats are obese, but one is especially adept at tossing chihuahuas off furniture using only one paw...
August 22, 2008
the five stars are for me actually, because I'm AWESOME because I found 6 hardback garfield books at a thrift store and despite the fact that I think Garfield is the stupid thing since leg warmers and sleeveless turlnecks, I bought them for the school library, because for some damn reason school aged boys looooooove them.
tomorrow I will be writing how to become a saint in 5 acts or less if you want to here more of my self sacrificing ways.
tomorrow I will be writing how to become a saint in 5 acts or less if you want to here more of my self sacrificing ways.
March 21, 2018
This one is REALLY funny!! I loved it and laughed out loud many times.
September 24, 2015
Yes, yes... Garfield is for ALL AGES, but I'm going to take a minute to rave about this book from a mom's point of view.
And as a mom of an active 9 year old boy, I can tell you that it is sometimes rather difficult to get him to sit down and read. Enter the librarian's suggestion of "Garfield Out to Lunch". Great choice. He absolutely loves it. So much so that I can't get him to pipe down and stop telling me about it. He insists on reading every comic to me. He and his sister (11) fight over the book. And laugh and laugh and laugh.
It's just great wholesome fun and a great way to get children, even boys, to slow down for a moment or half-an-hour and read.
THE SKINNY:::
This book has some of the great classics. It contains includes National Fat Week, Sumo Cat, Splut Week, cleaning out the fridge, a visit to Dr. Liz, the Hawaiian Cat Flu, getting stuck in the mailbox, a visit from Cousin Judy and more. (summary courtesy of some guy at amazon)
Accelerated Reading Level - generic 3 (no month given)
The book seems sturdy. The paper isn't glossy, but thick and sort of coarse to the touch, but the color is good.
Pam T~
mom/blogger
And as a mom of an active 9 year old boy, I can tell you that it is sometimes rather difficult to get him to sit down and read. Enter the librarian's suggestion of "Garfield Out to Lunch". Great choice. He absolutely loves it. So much so that I can't get him to pipe down and stop telling me about it. He insists on reading every comic to me. He and his sister (11) fight over the book. And laugh and laugh and laugh.
It's just great wholesome fun and a great way to get children, even boys, to slow down for a moment or half-an-hour and read.
THE SKINNY:::
This book has some of the great classics. It contains includes National Fat Week, Sumo Cat, Splut Week, cleaning out the fridge, a visit to Dr. Liz, the Hawaiian Cat Flu, getting stuck in the mailbox, a visit from Cousin Judy and more. (summary courtesy of some guy at amazon)
Accelerated Reading Level - generic 3 (no month given)
The book seems sturdy. The paper isn't glossy, but thick and sort of coarse to the touch, but the color is good.
Pam T~
mom/blogger
November 19, 2010
This book will make you laugh a lot. I think this is the best garfield from the ones I have read. I hope the next garfield book will be great. Yet this book is a book filled with many little stories not that it's bad but I wish it was one long story. this book was creapy at sum moments but worth it. I think you should rad this book right know.
February 15, 2011
This collection introduces Ed, the cat raised by a squirrel, and has some of Nermal (a character I never liked, actually) as well as the ongoing attempts of Jon to woo Liz the vet. Really, it's just the wonderfully snarky humor of Jim Davis's inner cat, and it's hilarious for a blue day.
Read
August 23, 2008isbn,original
May 11, 2010
Garfield gets yelled at by Jon.
June 22, 2017
More Garfield; he's funny but I have to be in a wry mood. Sometimes his humor falls flat, and especially if you read a bunch all at once.
July 6, 2012
Legomeister loves these little Garfield books. He laughs out loud, reading to himself. He accosts us and makes us read his favorite bits.
February 12, 2014
Great collection!
May 6, 2014
Always enjoy Garfield.
March 5, 2019
I'm glad Nermal is not overly present in this book since I never really liked him much.
June 10, 2015
This book is great. Garfield's back with even more funny jokes. Jim Davis is great!
March 19, 2010
"I hate Mondays."
February 6, 2022
Bueno, qué decir de los Garfields, uno de los compañeros de nuestra infancia (y adolescencia y parte de la vida adulta). Recuerdo haberme encontrado el primero en casa de un amigo y habérmelo devorado de una sentada, con 5-6 años, sin entender varios de los chistes pero disfrutando mucho de los más obvios. Hoy en día, en casa, a los ojos entrecerrados con mezcla de desprecio y aburrimiento los seguimos llamando ojos de Garfield:
Esta sensación de saber que siempre iba a encontrar unos cuantos graciosos la tuve durante las dos décadas posteriores en las que Garfield iba apareciendo periódicamente en mi vida. No es una obra culmen de la literatura, pero nos ha alegrado muchos momentos.
Esta sensación de saber que siempre iba a encontrar unos cuantos graciosos la tuve durante las dos décadas posteriores en las que Garfield iba apareciendo periódicamente en mi vida. No es una obra culmen de la literatura, pero nos ha alegrado muchos momentos.
October 29, 2024
I have been reading Garfield since the first strips in the late 1970s as a young boy, and I decided to re-read all the books in the series. This 12th volume presents strips nearly 40 years old yet I still remember reading them as a teenager! A few have aged, but, in general, this is great classic Garfield that still brings a smile and laugh on almost every page. Garfield is a simple enjoyable humor almost unknown today. In this book, Nermal the kitten visits, Jon makes some of his early forrays into trying to date Liz, Garfield's vet; and Garfield gets trapped in a mailbox. If you enjoy Garfield you will love this collection of classic old strips!
December 25, 2018
Great collection of Garfield comics, always love reading these!
April 7, 2019
Reading through the Garfield books with my son. He loves the fat cat!
May 30, 2019
GARFIELD IS SAVAGE
November 6, 2023
12. kirja ja kyllähän nämä toimii vielä 30-40 vuoden jälkeenkin.
December 31, 2024
A mix of comics I've seen along with ones I haven't. Some resonated more than others but these are always a treat to read. Jon and Garfield's relationship is hilarious.
March 20, 2025
I appreciate that as this series goes on some of the storylines get longer and carry on from day to day and sometimes even week to week. The story about Ed the squirrel cat was funny. 😁
March 2, 2017
The funniest book i have ever read.EVER!
November 18, 2015
Garfield: Out to Lunch is another book in the massive collection of Garfield merchandise on the shelves today. Sure, there have been movies, television shows, specials, and such, but nothing is pure Garfield like the original comic strips.
I had a hard time finding a really funny comic to show up above. In earlier books, I never had a problem, but as the Garfield comic strip matures, I find it not to be as funny as the earlier ones. Like I have said before, Garfield was funniest when he had round eyes, not ovals like they are today.
One thing I wish for is for Odie to have thought bubbles, like Garfield. I think that would add a lot to this strip and make it very funny. I wonder what Odie thinks about? Probably not much.
Overall, Garfield: Out to Lunch is a mediocre collection of Garfield daily comic strips from the mid-1980's. I found myself wishing that this book was funnier. Maybe the next one will be. I need a good laugh every now and then.
I had a hard time finding a really funny comic to show up above. In earlier books, I never had a problem, but as the Garfield comic strip matures, I find it not to be as funny as the earlier ones. Like I have said before, Garfield was funniest when he had round eyes, not ovals like they are today.
One thing I wish for is for Odie to have thought bubbles, like Garfield. I think that would add a lot to this strip and make it very funny. I wonder what Odie thinks about? Probably not much.
Overall, Garfield: Out to Lunch is a mediocre collection of Garfield daily comic strips from the mid-1980's. I found myself wishing that this book was funnier. Maybe the next one will be. I need a good laugh every now and then.
December 10, 2016
Yet another Garfield book from my youth, this one a part of the collected works of Jim Davis from the newspaper, the twelfth book collecting Garfield strips, in fact.
Some good ones in this; many focusing on food, which is one of Garfield's very favorite things. Other favorite things are messing with Jon and Odie, trying to attack the mailman, and trying to kill spiders. There are also Garfield's least favorite things; Odie, Nermal, and the vet.
Definitely an enjoyable, quick read.
Some good ones in this; many focusing on food, which is one of Garfield's very favorite things. Other favorite things are messing with Jon and Odie, trying to attack the mailman, and trying to kill spiders. There are also Garfield's least favorite things; Odie, Nermal, and the vet.
Definitely an enjoyable, quick read.
September 2, 2020
Can't Get Enough Garfield
It's so much fun reading these! I enjoy reading during breaks and any time I can at home. I'm especially grateful my children are getting into them. We all get a good chuckle or even chortle out of reading Garfield!
It's so much fun reading these! I enjoy reading during breaks and any time I can at home. I'm especially grateful my children are getting into them. We all get a good chuckle or even chortle out of reading Garfield!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews