--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: the first sign of something peculiar —a…" description: "\"“the first sign of something peculiar —a cat reading a map. For a second, Mr. Dursley didn’t realize what he had seen —then he jerked his head around t..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/92e/j-k-rowling-86_around-the-corner_the-first-sign-of-something-peculiar-a-c_3078387.png" --- # the first sign of something peculiar —a cat reading a map… ![“the first sign of something peculiar —a cat reading a map. For a second, Mr. Dursley didn’t realize what he had seen —then he jerked his head around to look again. There was a tabby cat standing on the corner of Privet Drive, but there wasn’t a map in sight. What could he have been thinking of? It…” quote by J.K. Rowling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/92e/j-k-rowling-86_around-the-corner_the-first-sign-of-something-peculiar-a-c_3078387.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/92e/j-k-rowling-86_around-the-corner_the-first-sign-of-something-peculiar-a-c_3078387.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/92e/j-k-rowling-86_around-the-corner_the-first-sign-of-something-peculiar-a-c_3078387.png) > ““the first sign of something peculiar —a cat reading a map. For a second, Mr. Dursley didn’t realize what he had seen —then he jerked his head around to look again. There was a tabby cat standing on the corner of Privet Drive, but there wasn’t a map in sight. What could he have been thinking of? It must have been a trick of the light. Mr. Dursley blinked and stared at the cat. It stared back. As Mr. Dursley drove around the corner and up the road, he watched the cat in his mirror.”” [J.K. Rowling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-k-rowling/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A mundane scene becomes uncanny when a cat appears to read a map, hinting at hidden magic. **In simple terms:** Ordinary moments can reveal the supernatural. Key Takeaway Stay alert for subtle signs of wonder. Themes mystery fantasy perception Mood curious whimsical Type literary imaginative When to use this quote - daily commute - unexpected encounters - creative writing Key Concepts magical realism symbolism Questions to Reflect On - What ordinary detail could be a clue to something extraordinary? - How does noticing the odd change your worldview? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Around the corner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/around-the-corner/) [Cat Mirror](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cat-mirror-5239974/) [Cat Reading](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cat-reading-2656610/) [Cat Stared](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cat-stared-5239973/) [Stared Cat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stared-cat-5239975/) [Watched Cat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/watched-cat-1648466/) ## Related quotes > [The cat is the mirror of his human's mind...the dog mirrors his human's physical appearance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winifred-carriere/the-cat-is-the-mirror-of-his-human-s-mind-the-dog-mirrors-his-human-s/) [Winifred Carriere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winifred-carriere/) > [It was on the corner of the street that he noticed the first sign of something peculiar - a cat reading a map.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-k-rowling-2/it-was-on-the-corner-of-the-street-that-he-noticed-the-first-sign-of/) [J. K. Rowling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-k-rowling-2/) > [I love Meredith Monk, and with Instagram, I get a chance to see if she has a cat, and what's she reading.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/devendra-banhart/i-love-meredith-monk-and-with-instagram-i-get-a-chance-to-see-if-she/) [Devendra Banhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/devendra-banhart/) > [“The rapid nightfall of mid-December had quite beset the little village as they approached it on soft feet over a first thin fall of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-grahame/the-rapid-nightfall-of-mid-december-had-quite-beset-the-little/) [Kenneth Grahame](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-grahame/) > [“Her head jerked around. "It's so unlikely to be alive, isn't it? The right temperature, and gravity, the right atoms combining at the precise…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-sean-greer/her-head-jerked-around-it-s-so-unlikely-to-be-alive-isn-t-it-the/) [Andrew Sean Greer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-sean-greer/) > [“Shaking my head, I watched the cat run under the van and stare at us with black eyes. I wasn’t a cat person. They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erin-lynn/shaking-my-head-i-watched-the-cat-run-under-the-van-and-stare-at-us/) [Erin Lynn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erin-lynn/) > [Brooklyn, where I grew up, is a competitive burg - there's always a pretty boy around the corner there, and you gotta look better…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theophilus-london/brooklyn-where-i-grew-up-is-a-competitive-burg-there-s-always-a/) [Theophilus London](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theophilus-london/) > [You don't know what's coming for you in life, and you don't know what's around the corner. 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But in a bad city you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helmut-jahn/you-d-never-think-of-taking-a-cab-if-you-had-to-walk-a-mile-down/) [Helmut Jahn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helmut-jahn/) > [Curiosity is the essence of human existence. 'Who are we? Where are we? Where do we come from? Where are we going?'... I don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/curiosity-is-the-essence-of-human-existence-who-are-we-where-are-we/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [You'll never see me coming around the corner not smiling... I mean, I enjoy every moment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaquem-griffin/you-ll-never-see-me-coming-around-the-corner-not-smiling-i-mean-i/) [Shaquem Griffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaquem-griffin/) > [I feel excited about getting older as an actress, too. I think there are some amazing opportunities around the corner and I don't need…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sutton-foster/i-feel-excited-about-getting-older-as-an-actress-too-i-think-there/) [Sutton Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sutton-foster/) ## More by J.K. Rowling > [“Our Chasers Aren’t Cheating! That was the stunned reaction of Quidditch fans across Britain last night when the so-called “Stooging Penalty” was announced by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-k-rowling/our-chasers-aren-t-cheating-that-was-the-stunned-reaction-of/) [J.K. Rowling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-k-rowling/) > [“Snape pointed at the parchment, on which the words of Messrs Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot and Prongs were still shining.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-k-rowling/snape-pointed-at-the-parchment-on-which-the-words-of-messrs-moony/) [J.K. Rowling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-k-rowling/) > [ “Draco Dormiens Nunquam Titillandus \[ never tickle a sleeping dragon \]” ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-k-rowling/draco-dormiens-nunquam-titillandus-never-tickle-a-sleeping-dragon/) [J.K. Rowling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-k-rowling/) > [“An intense cold swept over them all. Harry felt his own breath catch in his chest. The cold went deeper than his skin. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-k-rowling/an-intense-cold-swept-over-them-all-harry-felt-his-own-breath-catch/) [J.K. Rowling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-k-rowling/) > [“If you're not Gryffindor, we'll disinherit you," said Ron, "but no pressure." "Ron!" Lily and Hugo laughed, but Albus and Rose looked solemn. "He…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-k-rowling/if-you-re-not-gryffindor-we-ll-disinherit-you-said-ron-but-no/) [J.K. Rowling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-k-rowling/) > [“You want to give it a look, Xeno is printing all the stuff the Prophet’s ignoring, not a single mention of Crumple-Horned Snorkacks in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-k-rowling/you-want-to-give-it-a-look-xeno-is-printing-all-the-stuff-the-prophet/) [J.K. Rowling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-k-rowling/) > [“He wore round glasses held together with a lot of Sellotape because of all the times Dudley had punched him on the nose.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-k-rowling/he-wore-round-glasses-held-together-with-a-lot-of-sellotape-because/) [J.K. Rowling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-k-rowling/) > [“Sybill Trelawney, Divination teacher,’” Harry read. “How’re we supposed to get up there?” As though in answer to his question, the trapdoor suddenly opened,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-k-rowling/sybill-trelawney-divination-teacher-harry-read-how-re-we-supposed-to/) [J.K. Rowling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-k-rowling/) > [“Harry et Ron furent enchantés d’entendre Hagrid qualifier Rusard de « vieille ganache ».”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-k-rowling/harry-et-ron-furent-enchant-s-d-entendre-hagrid-qualifier-rusard-de/) [J.K. Rowling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-k-rowling/) > [“Well, I can certainly see why we’re trying to keep them alive,” said Malfoy sarcastically. “Who wouldn’t want pets that can burn, sting, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-k-rowling/well-i-can-certainly-see-why-we-re-trying-to-keep-them-alive-said/) [J.K. Rowling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-k-rowling/) > [“There was no waking from this nightmare, no comforting whisper in the dark that he was safe really, that it was all in his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-k-rowling/there-was-no-waking-from-this-nightmare-no-comforting-whisper-in-the/) [J.K. Rowling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-k-rowling/) > [“Well, I reckon you should --" Ron began, but he was interrupted by the Fat Lady, who had been watching them sleepily and now…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-k-rowling/well-i-reckon-you-should-ron-began-but-he-was-interrupted-by-the-fat/) [J.K. Rowling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-k-rowling/) > [“LOOK AT THIS SNAKE!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-k-rowling/look-at-this-snake/) [J.K. Rowling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-k-rowling/) > [“Potter! Weasley! What are you doing?” It was Professor McGonagall, and her mouth was the thinnest of thin lines. “We were — we were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-k-rowling/potter-weasley-what-are-you-doing-it-was-professor-mcgonagall-and-her/) [J.K. Rowling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-k-rowling/) > [“Psst!” said a voice, and he looked around to see a wispy little witch and the ferrety wizard from Magical Maintenance gesturing to him…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-k-rowling/psst-said-a-voice-and-he-looked-around-to-see-a-wispy-little-witch/) [J.K. Rowling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-k-rowling/) [Explore all 1,347 J.K. Rowling quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-k-rowling/) ## More Around the corner quotes > [I feel excited about getting older as an actress, too. I think there are some amazing opportunities around the corner and I don't need…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sutton-foster/i-feel-excited-about-getting-older-as-an-actress-too-i-think-there/) [Sutton Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sutton-foster/) > [You'll never see me coming around the corner not smiling... I mean, I enjoy every moment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaquem-griffin/you-ll-never-see-me-coming-around-the-corner-not-smiling-i-mean-i/) [Shaquem Griffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaquem-griffin/) > [Curiosity is the essence of human existence. 'Who are we? Where are we? Where do we come from? Where are we going?'... I don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/curiosity-is-the-essence-of-human-existence-who-are-we-where-are-we/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [You'd never think of taking a cab if you had to walk a mile down Chicago's Michigan Avenue. But in a bad city you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helmut-jahn/you-d-never-think-of-taking-a-cab-if-you-had-to-walk-a-mile-down/) [Helmut Jahn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helmut-jahn/) > [With the great people that you work with, it's that they're never giving up and they're never thinking something's finished until they've really, really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-price/with-the-great-people-that-you-work-with-it-s-that-they-re-never/) [Steven Price](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-price/) > [At some point during almost every romantic comedy, the female lead suddenly trips and falls, stumbling helplessly over something ridiculous like a leaf, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chelsea-handler/at-some-point-during-almost-every-romantic-comedy-the-female-lead/) [Chelsea Handler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chelsea-handler/) > [“A courteous war mage. The world really was coming to an end. And then Pritkin ran back around the corner followed by half a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-chance/a-courteous-war-mage-the-world-really-was-coming-to-an-end-and-then/) [Karen Chance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-chance/) > [You don't know what's coming for you in life, and you don't know what's around the corner. When you're in a great deal of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-h-wyman/you-don-t-know-what-s-coming-for-you-in-life-and-you-don-t-know-what/) [J.H. Wyman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-h-wyman/) > [Brooklyn, where I grew up, is a competitive burg - there's always a pretty boy around the corner there, and you gotta look better…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theophilus-london/brooklyn-where-i-grew-up-is-a-competitive-burg-there-s-always-a/) [Theophilus London](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theophilus-london/) > [One thing that's certain: around the corner from every ugly thing, there's something really beautiful. If we stop at every bitter interaction; we'll never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/soledad-o-brien/one-thing-that-s-certain-around-the-corner-from-every-ugly-thing/) [Soledad O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/soledad-o-brien/) > [“job 14:1 man who is born of a woman is few of days and full of troubles "If that isn't your experience now it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-piper/job-14-1-man-who-is-born-of-a-woman-is-few-of-days-and-full-of/) [John Piper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-piper/) > [Many live in dread of what is coming. Why should we? The unknown puts adventure into life. ... The unexpected around the corner gives…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-stanley-jones/many-live-in-dread-of-what-is-coming-why-should-we-the-unknown-puts/) [E. Stanley Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-stanley-jones/) > [And as I reinvent myself and I'm constantly curious about everything, I can't wait to see what's around the corner in newfound art and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pam-grier/and-as-i-reinvent-myself-and-i-m-constantly-curious-about-everything/) [Pam Grier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pam-grier/) > [I know what is around the corner - I just don't know where the corner is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-keegan/i-know-what-is-around-the-corner-i-just-don-t-know-where-the-corner-is/) [Kevin Keegan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-keegan/) > [I love being the age I am, because if there's enough pain or grief, I have enough experience now to realize that there's joy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-gilbert/i-love-being-the-age-i-am-because-if-there-s-enough-pain-or-grief-i/) [Sara Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-gilbert/) [Browse all 569 Around the corner quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/around-the-corner/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“the first sign of something peculiar —a cat reading a map. 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