5 comments about Cat Wrangling Made Easy: Maintaining Peace and Sanity in Your Multicat Home.

1. Cat Wrangling Made Easy provides easy to implement solutions to problems we all encounter living in a multi-cat household. Dusty Rainbolt's writing style is very straight forward and honest with a sense of humor. This book is must read for any cat owner.



2. This book was recommended to me by a shelter volunteer. One of my cats has some major behavioral issues and I have been at my wit's end trying to solve her problems. I was even thinking of trying to find her a new home. It was that bad.
   
   My cat Tooko hates all my other cats, especially the oldest one, Heather. She spends all her waking hours tormenting poor Heather. Heather is scared for her life all the time and is disheartening to watch them. Heather even stared peeing in unusal spots because she was so upset.
   
   Ms. Rainbolt's book gave many helpful tips that REALLY worked. She had many recommendations for natural behavior products and an excellent guide for medications to handle aggression. She also, funny enough, had wonderful ideas for handling inappropriate urination and how to find the places that Heather peed.
   
   My house is now at peace and smells great, for a change.
   
   So, if you have cats, this is really a great idea. I appreciate her honesty and product recommendations. i hate it when you buy something that promises you the world and delivers nothing!



3. Reading this book was like deja vu. I, too, live with a family of kitties, and I had to smile or even laugh at some of the pointers and anecdotes with a "yep, been there, done that." This book has a lot of practical wisdom in it. Most of the suggestions work 100% of the time; 100% of them work most of the time. Your mileage may vary. At any rate, Ms. Rainbolt has a way of making sense out of complex observations and issues in living with a multitude of cats. It's like the kitties have their own sorority/fraternity and you get to be the house parent.
   
   The product suggestions were great. How odd it would be to read about suggestions for how to resolve an issue but no mention on where to get the stuff! My first questions would always be: what is it and where can I get it? I thank Ms. Rainbolt for doing her research and pointing the way.
   
   If you live with any number of cats, this book will help you keep sane and work out an understanding of what to do, how to do it, and how to live with what goes on in a household of cats.



4. "Cat Wrangling Made Easy" is written for people with multi-cat households, but it can help you manage any size cat family, tiny or huge. It offers lots of insights into uniquely feline behavior, as well as tips about playing, feeding, medicating, mediating, and all means of harmonious living within your kitty family. Plus, it has an entire section about products to help you solve the trickiest of cat-related problems.
   
   This book is well-written and well-researched, and cat households everywhere should welcome this thoroughly entertaining and informative gem.
   
   Betsy Stowe, author of Calico Tales...And Others



5. Is your homestead a bit cluttered with a clowder? Then lasso up those frolicking felines and set them down while you read how to maintain your herd.
   
   Is there an outlaw in your bunch? Author Dusty Rainbolt will lay down the law of the west when it comes to understanding this critter.(Check out Chapter Four-Family Feud). She will let you see daylight where once there was only darkness. She punches into every corner of multi-cat care and that's no bull!
   
   If you are a tenderfoot to multi-cat care, Cat Wrangling will take the worry out of your rawhide and show you the way to a happier, healthier herd. Knowin how you might get tired of mucking out the litter pan, she scoops you out of the frustration by her practical tips "Reality Bites."
   
   Is she qualified to train you, you might ask. Heck yes! She has been roundin up rescued critters for eons She is an amigo to a multitude of cats of her own, most of them just visitin for a spell. She runs you barefoot through the bull, separating fact from fiction while giving you a clear trail ride ahead.
   
   Are you tired of biting the litter dust? She offers you various cat litter products that the Rainbolt Test Kitties have tried out, leaves you a trail to find them online.
   
   Peppered with her wry sense of humor and her large scale of knowledge, she won't bushwhack you. If you have more than two cats sharing your home, this book is a MUST for your library. If you are considering adopting another cat to your crew- this book will provide vital tips and bring you into the inner-workings of a cat's mind.
   
   Easy to read, illustrated with delightful and humorous drawings. Cat Wrangling IS made easy- thanks to Rainbolt breaking down the fences and sharing her life experiences with other multi-cat owners.

4 comments about Caring for Your Aging Cat: A Quality-of-Life Guide for Your Cat's Senior Years.

1. I found this book very useful in finding ways to take proper care of my cat ERNIE in his senior years. Their needs such as possible change in diet and exercise and what to look for in spoting changes in their health(things you can do)and when to see the vet, are clearly explained. I highly recommend this book.



2. This is a wonderful book! I have already recommended it to several friends and our vet. Easy to read- well organized. Some sad stories though. But as sad as they are, they are meant to "light a fire" under the reader, so that they don't fall into the same situations with their beloved feline. The writer is definitely passionate about her cats. Good to use as a reference book as well. Easy to look up symptoms, treatments, etc. A must read for all cat lovers.



3. This wonderful book strikes the perfect balance between really useful information and deeply touching stories about the feline companions in our lives. The author has created a rhythmic dance that offers very smart, insightful ways to deal with all the circumstances of an aging cat, while keeping us delightfully entertained with pictures and true stories. The advice and information will arm you for just about anything, and help to make you a pro-active partner in your pet's aging process. Each story will touch your heart, bringing a smile, or maybe even a few tears as you remember the pets you've known. And now you'll be better able to make sure that the dear kitties in your life today won't suffer needlessly, due to things you might not have realized before. This is a delight to read!



4. I received this book as gift and it is amazing. As the person of an older cat I have found it, even in just a few days, to be of extreme benefit. It is a comprehensive, well written, accessible guide to helping your best friend age. It makes getting older less scary and details how you can maximize your older pet's quality of life. There is medical advice from veternarians as well as pet owners on how to deal with the medical issues that inevitably come up. The book gives you the knowledge, guidelines, and options to confidently deal with and enjoy your future with your older cat.

3 comments about Cattitude: The Feline Guide to Being Fabulous.

1. This was a great little picture book for those woman who love cats and have CATITUDE!



2. A fabulous pairing of beautiful photos and cleverly written lines. The book itself is nicely crafted and assembled-Love the real 'bling' on the cover. You go girls!



3. This is one of the most beautifully done books I have seen in a very long time. The cover alone is worth the price of the book with a feline "Cindy Crawford" adorned in a "real" jeweled collar in a true Hollywood glamour puss pose.
   And it only gets better inside the cover. The subjects are some of the most enchanting furry gods and goddesses this side of heaven. Their personalities just jump off the pages and when they share their feline wisdom in everything from behavior, "Don't whisper when you can roar", beauty tips "Remember that good lighting is more important than good genes" and fashion "Embrace your irrational love of shoes" we realize that we can indeed learn much from them.
   As a cat lover and owner of three felines with their own attiutdes, I could not resist reading this book from cover to cover (easy to do as it is about 60 pages) the minute I got it.
   This book is a must have for any or all cat lovers or just anybody who appreciates great photography and very errudite wisdom.

5 comments about The Blessing of the Animals: True Stories of Ginny, the Dog Who Rescues Cats.

1. Ginny's unique talents in locating sick and injured cats had rendered her numerous appearances in CNN, Animal Planet and major news. Her rescue stories were illustrated by two national best selling books: The Dog who Rescues Cats and the Blessing of the Animals. Ginny passed away on August 25th, 2005.
   
   
   
   With the passing of Ginny, her unfinished mission of cat rescuing is continued by her caretaker Philip Gonzalez everyday. A non profit organization, The Ginny Fund, has been established to raise fund for cat rescuing in Long Beach New York.
   For more information about Ginny, Pleas visit ginnyfanclub website.



2. Today's New York Daily News reported on the passing of Ginny, a/k/a the Mother Theresa of Cats, gone at the age of 17. She succumbed to old age yesterday afternoon on a blanket in Philip Gonzalez's care. As for Ginny's story, this is one of my favorite books. The stories are truly heartwarming and this book was a "gotta have it" purchase. Browsing the pet section in a local bookstore, I found this and it jogged my memory: Ginny's story was familiar to me due to a Reader's Digest article, but what happened next? This book captures all the tails...er, TALES, lol. I will definitely re-read this now. How could a dog love cats she doesn't live with? As a cat person, I've always been intrigued by this. How ironic that such incredible humanity could have come from one of god's furry creatures. Rest in peace, Ginny. Let us hope there are more of you in the world.



3. I read this book in one afternoon and handed it off to my husband, who could not put it down. I relate to the author in one respect: after having animals all my life, I connected with one cat so profoundly that I have devoted my life and work to alleviating animal suffering and overcoming the devastating problem of pet overpopulation. It's bittersweet. I love animals with a depth that is so satisfying, and enjoy human and animal company more than I ever was able. But I am now so attuned to animal suffering (generally due to human neglect or abuse -- I'm not trying to fight the forces of nature) that it is difficult to focus on anything else. Just read this book. It feels so good!



4. A continuation of a very sweet story. I have a few stray cats around my home and even though my inside cats aren't as willing to share as Ginny (LOL), I make sure to feed them and give them shelter. I highly recommend this book and also the one that came before it! (Not sure of the exact title).



5. Just as I feel about their first book, do yourself a favor and treat yourself to this one too! Let's hope these true stories inspire others so be so kind. Enjoy.

5 comments about Catwatching.

1. Watch Video Here: http://www.amazon.com/review/R3PO5LTOSL56RB Key points of my review: One of my favourite non-fiction books. This illustrated cat bible is full of fascinating facts and beautiful photos. Five stars. This review also available at youtube.com/amazonreviews



2. I'm a fan of Desmond Morris and this book represents some of his lighter work. However, it is full of interesting facts that any cat owner would find interesting.
   
   It is consists of 2-3 page sections organized by subject. It addresses questions like, why cats purr, what effect catnip has on them, how cats find their way home, etc.
   
   Desmond Morris is a zoologist and he has a deep knowledge of many subject areas. This is a simple read, but it is quite interesting and a nice gift book for cat owners.



3. Well, my toes are being hunted. Somehow, his mayfly attention span has settled on those wiggling things at the end of my leg. His killer instincts awaken, he crouches for his approach, and ...
   
   ouch. I've just got to trim the little beggar's claws.
   
   This enjoyable book describes and explains a lot of what goes on in those furry little minds. If you're among the many fascinated by these familiar, even friendly little aliens, you're sure to enjoy this illustrated series of one-page observations.
   
   //wiredweird



4. This book is full of interesting facts about cats. It was a fun read, and I read it in one evening.
   
   I only have two complaints about it. First, there are no footnotes. Morris doesn't cite any of his sources.
   
   Second, he doesn't tell us why we say, "Cat got your tongue?" He answers several similar questions. He explains why we say, "Let the cat out of the bag," and "It's raining cats and dogs," but he doesn't tell us why the cat has our tongue. That's really important, you know.
   
   Anyway, I would recommend this book just because it's entertaining to read. I also read his book on Horse watching, which is just as good.



5. ive read this book in 4th grade and i was amazed, the way he describes things makes learning addicting. today, at 24 years old, id reccomend this book to everyone and have purchased multiple copies over the years to give as gifts. you are at a loss if you dont read this book, as well as the second book in its series "Catlore"

5 comments about The Cat Inside.

1. I love cat stories and that is why i bought this book, it left a bad taste in my heart, i read it with an open mind and did not find that he was kind to cats, he did not have a cat spirit inside and he did not seem to learn anything about his cats. This book seems to be a cheap print to target cat lovers and make some money. This book is just HORRIBLE and CREEPY!



2. I'll be honest with you- I only bought this book for two reasons. Burroughs was a now deceased ex-girlfriend of mine's favorite author, and the book was short. That makes my credibility fly out the window for some of you, I'm sure, regarding literature, but I'm too busy with different things to put many hours or days into reading a book and keeping it fresh in my memory. My Multiple Sclerosis doesn't help matters when it comes to remembering what happened in a book I read part of just a day before either. But being an avid cat-lover and reading nothing but 5 star reviews of The Cat Inside, I decided to give the book a shot. What did I have to lose? To be honest, I read the first few pages and was thrown off by the demi-journal entry-esque layout of the book. Some pages would be one small paragraph in the middle of the page, while others would be a sentence or two. That was about a year ago. Cut to just yesterday, when I read the book over the course of two of my three breaks at work, and I can't believe that I didn't give the book more of a chance sooner. The Cat Inside is easily one of the most brilliant pieces of work I've ever read. I understand every page of it, every point Burroughs tries to get accross...and a few parts aren't even really cat-related, but more of an observation on humans in general. After reading this book, I've become a Burroughs fan that easily, and can't wait to read his other books, regardless of what they're about. But if anything, you can trust all the 5 star reviews here- they're not over exaggerating. Trust me: I don't rave over many things easily.
   
   It's hard to summarize The Cat Inside properly, as it's not really a novel or short story on any one particular cat or anything. It's somewhat of an autobiography on Burroughs while focusing on some of the different cats he's known in his life. While this normally wouldn't sound that interesting, Burroughs manages to pull it off with great analogies, and a deeper look at the whole picture. The book starts out with Burroughs about to leave for work, when he notices that some of his cat's kittens are missing. He notices also, that his luggage is a bit heavier, and sees that there are four of them inside, as if the mother wanted him to look after them, taking on the role of the human guardian. And that's what we are really, when it comes to having pets, aren't we? Pets provide us with companionship, relieve us of stress, give us some unforgettable entertainment, and what do we do for them? We take care of them. We protect them. When the bond between a human and their pet is strong enough, they know that nothing can harm that animal, or friend I should say. That's how it is with myself and my oldest cat that I own, Toby. I won't get into detail about my life for a book review, but The Cat Inside, from the very beginning, made Toby and my bond grow even stronger. Each page had heartwarming, as well as heartbreaking stories that made me want to know that Toby was invincible, and no harm could ever come his way. But you have to face the truth, and Burroughs touches upon that numerous times here. From finding a new companion, to the loss of others, to doing otherwise "natural" things we go through such as giving away kittens once they're born. This portion of text: "When the kittens were ten weeks old I gave two of them away. And Ginger kept looking for them and crying from room to room, looking under the bed, under the couch. And I decided I couldn't go through this again". I wouldn't want to either, Bill.
   
   I knew I wouldn't be able to give much of a helpful review, given the length of the book, and that I don't want to ruin much of it for future readers. But let me tell you that The Cat Inside is one of the most honest works you'll ever read. Amazon actually postpones reviews if you use too many quotes, so I'm not able to give you more great examples of the work found here. That's unfortunate, as well as good for you all, as I'd probably just end up typing the entire book. Also, for those who haven't read any of Burroughs' work yet, The Cat Inside -is- a great introduction. I was worried that he'd be one of those many over-hyped writers, and I'd be disappointed, but that's not the case. I'll be sure to set time aside for future purchases.



3. I just finished reading this book. Not only is it a very fast read (I read it in an hour), but it is also the most touching book I have read in a long while. Any cat lover will love this book. This is my first taste of Burroughs, and I must say it was a wonderful taste. I have been crying ever since he spoke of Ed and not being able to find him. I highly recomend this book for anyone!



4. From his exasperating need to be at the highest point in the room, to his function as a wrist rest while I type, my cat is a psychic companion. Loki is a classic "one-man-cat", though he will stray when I am not available. This book is so true on many levels, even the wild fantasies... Definitely one for the library.



5. The Elder Statesman of the Beat Generation is best known for the fantastic creatures of his drug-induced fantasies and nightmares: the Reptiles and Mugwumps of "Naked Lunch", the ramora-like pseudo-human parasites of "Junkie", and others too loathesome to mention. In contrast, in this slim volume, William S. Burroughs introduces us to the real-life creatures who accompanied him throughout his tumultuous career and particularly during his old age. These are his numerous and beloved cats, with names like Calico Jane, Fletch, Rooski, Wimpy, and Ed. Any cat-person will identify with Burroughs' pleasure in the affection and antics of his feline friends and his heart-breaking grief in their loss. But it would be a mistake to label this book of recollections a "Warm & Fuzzy". Burroughs' affiliation with the Cat is on a quite archetypal level. He reveals a recurring sensation from his earliest childhood of cuddling a small, trusting, but long-unidentifiable creature, and to realize much later he was "cast in the role of the Guardian, to create and nurture a creature that is part cat, part human, and part something as yet unimaginable, which might result from a union that has not taken place for millions of years". This resembles the vaguely disturbing imagery of classic Burroughs, to be sure. But there comes to him a startling revelation "...and now the creature is clearly recognized as a cat spirit, a Familiar. I postulate that cats started as psychic companions, as Familiars, and have never deviated from this function." This is a shamanic departure from typical Burroughs or his contemporaries. But Bill's most "off-Beat" book will surely strike a chord with anyone who has -- or is! -- a cat Inside.

5 comments about How to Live with a Neurotic Cat.

1. Its light hearted, simple, and funny, thats it. Its pretty true, and the illustrations in it are a riot.
   Its a humor book, its not meant to be taken literally.



2. "How to Live With a Neurotic Cat," by Stephen Baker, Gramercy Books, NY, 1999. ISBN 0-517-20734-6. HC unnumbered pages (not counted) with 9 chapters has an Introduction & many Illustrations. 9 1/2" x 6 1/4".
   
   This prolific author gives an informed and knowledgeable accounting of feline behavior, undoubtedly from extensive experience as he effectively describes the collective and individual behavior demonstrated by our 4.5 cats (one comes early AM just to eat) & counts as 1/2). The illustrations by Jackie Geyser are superb and are as good as photographs.
   
   I've often considered all my cats demonstrated paranormal activity and behavior akin to pre-psychotic afflictions, all exhibiting variable degrees of autism and Mama Keikeiaeu demonstrating typical Asperger's syndrome, but with big-time class. Mighty Sebastian at 25# smashes on the steel doors when he wishes to come inside.
   
   I enjoyed Baker's calculating the degree of cats' boredom by their yawning gap: for years I naively ratiocinated it was true fatigue! Our cats, however, cherish prolonged brushings and do not object being bathed (wife does this); so obviously they have an inborn organic brain defect...I'll order each a CAT scan to make the diagnosis.
   
   The book has a serious flaw, to my mind -- the pages are not numbered and I downgraded it for that reason. Else, I love the book.



3. This book is ONLY a comic relief, there is nothing here that you can learn. The words "How to" in the title are misleading. I was mislead by great reviews here, so want to warn other potential buyers. I bought this book as a gift to my girlfriend because we got a cat and she has never had cats before, only dogs. I was hoping that she will learn something from it. She read the whole thing in about 20 minutes, smiled a couple of times and that's it. Even as a humorous book, it is very silly, repetitive and lacks in quality.



4. I've given several of these to friends with multiple cats. Hilarious! I flip through every now and then just to chuckle at the illustrations, which are definitely the highlight of the book.



5. This is a must-have for any cat owner,or someone who's cat owns them, great fun, and very funny!

3 comments about Weep Not for Me: In Memory of a Beloved Cat.

1. It is a beautiful, beautiful poem that she's written and published in this book. It's heartbreaking and consoling at the same time. Having just lost one of my Babies, one of my little children, it was very moving. I highly, highly recommend it for anyone who has been so unfortunate as to have lost one of their "little children" too.



2. My late wife left behind dozens of books on or about cats, this was one of them. While it is aimed at helping those who grieve the loss of a beloved animal companion, reading it was almost like hearing her voice whispering in my ear about how to best deal with her death. A loving gift for those that are suffering the loss of a pet. Recommended.



3. There are only about 30 pages in this tiny book. It's approximately 4.5 x 6" and hardcover. Every two-page fold has a black and white picture ("sugar lift etching") of a cat, and a few words of the poem that fills it. The title of the book is the beginning words of the poem. It is from a cat's point of view.

   Only get this book if you want to offer your sympathy to a cat person, or if you feel like being weepy over your own cat's loss. It seemed a bit maudlin to me, but it's very well done, commercially.

   In the back there are "pet loss helplines" to call for the US or Britain. This is a Souvenir Press book, printed in Italy.

   It seems a little overpriced to me, because it's so small.

   amr

5 comments about Cat Women: Female Writers on Their Feline Friends.

1. There's a reason this book was on the mark-down section. It is horrible. It is trying too hard to be edgy when its target audience wanted pro-cat stories. From the owner who let her cat get frostbit then brags about it, to the other stories of neglect and hatred of all things feline, this bunch of essays deserves to quietly get tossed in the recyle bin. It's actually not even worth the cost of printing nor the paper it was printed on.
   I happen to love cats, and fully expected to enjoy this book. I suppose I'm out of the demographic for this book anyway. It's aimed at 30-somethings who got a cat because they were lonely then were afraid to admit it.
   Yada yada yada.....bunch of hot hair by people who don't really understand cats.



2. I picked up this book for a very specific reason: to help me decide if I wanted to become a cat woman again. It had been a few years since my two feline loves had moved on to that bottomless bowl of cat treats in the sky, and it seemed time to welcome a new meow into my life. To be sure, I wanted to revisit that special, mysterious, hard-to-articulate-without-sounding trite relationship that develops between felines and females without the risk of falling in love again. And for this purpose, the book deserves five stars. More than the evocative prose, the funny stories, the intimate details, hearing the range of feelings -- physical and emotional -- that cats have evoked in other women, helped me realize I wasn't yet willing to dive into a new relationship with even the prettiest kitty. Special thanks to Megan McMorris for her right-on introduciton and Sophia Dembling for an unforgettable opening essay.
   Jean Fain



3. I can not say enough about this book without almost gushing. I found this book "staring" at me one day only days after my Mistie had passed away. Reading other people's stories about their cats unique habits and unique personalities and the bond that was there for him made me feel comforted somehow during this grief period that I am experiencing.
   
   I loved all the essays to one degree or another but two top favorites were about a little man named Murphy aka Murph dawg and how he wedged himself a place in the heart of his owner's significant other and then the editor's. Megan McMorris, own essay on trying to get her Lucy and her boyfriend to find some common ground.
   
   If you want to read how cats can affect your life...this book is the perfect place to start.



4. To me, cats have always been as mysterious as women--they're elusive one moment, playful the next, and you never know what's going on behind those eyes--so I read this book in the hope that the pairing of the two species together would offer some insight, that like with mathematical signs, the shroud of mystery would be cancelled out when multiplied. I wasn't disappointed.
   
   There's a lot of variety in the essays, some humorous, some sad, but all very genuine. My favorites are "Strutting the Catwalk: Seven Habits of One Sexy Beast" by Jennifer Jalalat, which compares the innate sexiness in cats with female sexuality, and "Saved by the Cat" by Melinda J. Combs, which tells a tale of how saving a cat saved a friendship.
   
   I haven't read all the essays yet, but the ones I have are great, and while they haven't taken the mystery out of women or cats--nothing ever will (and I think I like it that way anyway)--there are a lot of insightful and touching moments.



5. In fairness, I want to say that many of the essays in this book are five-star essays by excellent writers, and they actually seem to fit in the collection.
   
   Before getting this book, I read the title, the subtitle "female writers on their feline friends"), and the back cover. I was prepared to have my heart warmed and broken by fellow cat lovers who could poignantly express this love. I was not prepared to find in this book essays by people who might be decent writers but who dislike or are indifferent to cats. I'm struggling to understand this editorial decision, considering the subtitle and what I assume is the intended audience (am I taking too big a leap to think it would be cat lovers?)--not to even mention the puzzling inclusion of an essay about a stuffed animal cat. Perhaps this could have been split into two volumes--one with the current title and the other with something like "Cats. Ugh." I don't know where the stuffed animal story should go, though. :-)
   
   There was the writer (who in the acknowledgements section the author names as one she "personally begged" to contribute!) whose neglect resulted in her cat losing her ears to frostbite (an incident about which she said this not-exactly-a-cat-woman quote: "A few beers with the right crowd and, okay, Tink's special-needs ears are good for some laughs"), the one who "sorta" wanted her cat to die, the ones that gave away their cats for reasons of convenience, the indifferent-to-cats person who wrote about a friend who took in someone's cat and wanted to give it away (a very mysterious inclusion, as the essay seemed to have nothing to do with the cat in question), the woman who dislikes cats but did trap-neuter-replace (which was a humane choice, but again, why is this essay in this book?!), and a continued parade of indifferent "not a cat person" writers who were not converted at any point--and who I'm sure are wonderful people nonetheless, but isn't that category of humankind the opposite of cat women, the title of the book?
   
   This feels like bait and switch to me, and I regret spending time and money on the book. Still, I write this with apologies for the low rating; many of the authors wrote beautiful essays that fit the book's title.

5 comments about Sunderlies Seeking: Ghatten's Gambit #1 (Ghatti's Tale).

1. For some reason, Greeno starts this book off with 200 pages of complaining and self-pity that make you hate virtually every character. Well, what I imagine she's trying to do is show the tragic humanity of every character and how many complex problems they have, and the fact that they don't live happily ever after, but the effect is as I have described. Every book in the series thus far has started out this way, with Doyce feeling guilty over something stupid or being depressed or confused in some way. This is not the way to engage a reader's attention.
   
   The action picks up a little as the book goes on, but I found myself skimming through the book to get to the dialogue and the occasional action sequences after I realized that 90 percent of the words add nothing to the story. I've read over a thousand books in my life and I've never done this before. I just can't get into the long descriptions and the narrated indecision as various characters consider whether or not they should act on information they have obtained, usually, of course, choosing not to and regretting it later.
   
   I give this book three stars because it's not terrible but I wouldn't recommend it either. If you really like cats and own three or more, that might contribute to your enjoyment of this book. There are a lot of inside jokes for cat owners about how quirky cat personalities are. Some might find these cute; I don't.



2. It starts off slowly as there's so much that has happened between the end of the last series and this one, but if you plough through it, it gets better. Not as good as the first three books, but still a worthwhile read as you are already involved with the characters.



3. Although I love the ghatti series, this generation of characters just isn't as interesting. Diccon doesn't seem to do much and Jenneth really annoyed me...having her lose her memory was also cliched and one would think her Bondmate would still be able to reach her. Let's hope the characters grow up a bit more and acquire some dimension in future books



4. Gayle Greeno has outdone herself in this book. It is a real page-turner! We enjoyed the first three books, the Gatti trilogy, but the first Gatten book is the best yet of the series. Doyce has retired from position as Seeker General and accompanies her husband and children on a trip to the Sunderlies. On the way to the seaport to catch their ship to the Sunderlies, it becomes apparent that someone is trying to sabotage their trip. On the sea, there are further problems which include one of Doyce and Jenret's twins and her bond being swept off of the ship in a great storm. There is intrigue all through the book and the author doesn't give away who are the good guys and who are the bad guys until the end of the book.



5. A must read for anyone who enjoyed "The Ghatti's Tale" trilogy or someone looking for something new and different.

   Starting sixteen years after "Exiles' Return", Doyce Marborn's and Jenret Wycherley's marrage is on shakey ground. On their twins, Diccon and Jenneth, sixteeth birthday, Doyce resigns as Seeker General and announces she will join her husband and children on their trip to Sunderlies.

   The Sunderlies: land of exiled outlaws and those seeking a new life. This land is very different from mainland Canderis.

   As the large party travels to port to leave for the Sunderlies, there are mishaps. Accidents or sabotage? Questions abond. While waiting for the ship to be readied, the twins are Chosen by young twin Ghatten. Diccon by Kwee and Jenneth by fat, shy Pw'eek.

   On the sea trip to the Sunderlies, trouble strikes. Jenneth and Pw'eek are sweept overboard during a storm.

   But this is only the tip of Greeno's masterpiece. For the Whycherley trade in the Sunderlies is being drained, very slightly, of its funds. There are old wrongs that fanatics feel must be revenged. Plus, there is political intrique to boot. The question becomes who will survive the voyage.

   Greeno does a wonderful job of filling story with familiar chacters from the first trilogy and a slew of new characters from the Sunderlies.