No comments about Cats, Cats, and More Cats.

2 comments about A Cat in the Manger (Alice Nestleton Mystery).

1. "Cat in the Manger" is a ridicious mystery authored by a hack. Our heroine, Alice Nestleton is a off-off Boradway actress, and tries to discover why her old friend was brutally murdered. Soon, she discovers it's connected to horse racing. The exact reason why the man was killed has got to be the worst idea in the history of writing. The conclusion to this over-the-top saga is mind-numbling dumb(and yes, it has a cat connection).



2. Do you love cats? Do you dream of cold winter days lying cozily on your chaise, a cup of hot cocoa beside you? Do you love cozy mysteries If you answered yes to all of the above, then the new Alice Nestleton series by Lydia Adamson are the right stuff for you. This is a light but highly inventive mystery and I can tell it will be a successful series. In this first installment, we are introduced to a courageous sleuth by the name of Alice Nestleton. She is an off-off-Broadway actress, who is trying to move away from the classical Shakespeare plays and into the new avant-garde theatre. In the meantime, she supplements her vocation with cat-sitting around New York. As befitting a cat-lover, Alice has two cats: a Maine Coon named Bushy, and a frightened, domestic gray shorthair she rescued from the ASPCA by the name of Pancho. It's Christmas time and Alice is preparing for her annual cat-sitting job in a run-down horse-farm near the Hamptons, taking care of eight Himalayans for Harry and Jo Starobin; he a famous ex-cat judge and champion animal lover, she his faithful wife. When Harry fails to pick her up at the local train station as previously arranged, Alice is intrigued. She finds her own way to the farm via a taxi. Upon arrival, Alice finds things eerily normal, but it is only when she starts to get settled into her cottage that she finds Harry's corpse hanging from the back of the door. When a second murder happens to one of Harry's friends who lived just down the road, Alice puts her powers of deduction to work. She will have to deal with a pestering detective, Starobin's grieving widow and his young lover who surreptitiously disappears along with a calico barn cat and all her kittens. A connection? Maybe. Alice decides the case is worth investigating when Jo Starobin shows her a very large sum of money her husband left without explanation of how he got it. In order to solve the case, Alice will put her own life at risk, entering into high-stakes involving horse-racing and special cat genetics, geared toward producing miraculous mascots in the shape of calico cats.

   "A cat in the manger" has the perfect mix of cat lore and sleuthing. I especially enjoyed the way the cats are very much at the center of the story, but they do not possess special powers. This leaves a good balance for the main character - the sleuth - to play her role naturally. Ms. Adamson obviously knows her craft very well, which involves not only the world of cats, but how to develop a good story thanks to what I sense is a background in the theatre industry.

5 comments about The Complete Cats in the Sun.

1. I was given the postcards book as a gift and had to have this book. Full of color pictures. If you love cats or photography with great color and contrast, this is a wonderful book.



2. If you like to look at kitties, this is a no-brainer. It's a beautiful book. One of its charms is that it's a quiet, calming book. It brings the viewer into the world of these cats...and causes me to ask (not being on a sunny island) how can I bring such solitary basking moments into my life? how can I peacefully share space with others? can I find a warm, sunny, basking place within myself and the space I inhabit?
   
   We often hear the expression "Lucky Dog". This book is "Lucky Cat".



3. I purchased it to gift to my niece for her 15th birthday. She has mania for cats and many books related with feline. This book is better than the others she had because the beauty of the scenery is in harmony with cat feature. She was suffused with delight when received this gift.
   It seems that every photograph has mood and story so that is create imagination of beautiful world. If you take a look the picture of this book then you will cannot help but like cats. I strongly recommend people interested in feline to purchase this book.



4. I bought this fabulous coffee table book for my boyfriend's birthday last month, and we both think it is fantastic. The pictures are so luscious and colorful--now I can't wait to visit the Greek Isles and see some of these amazing cats.



5. I was given this book as a present two months after my own kitty was put down. This is the most wonderful book on cats I've ever seen. It shows quite clearly how different their personalities are and seems to capture the essence of a cat's soul! These beautiful creatures will make you laugh because their personalities just shine through the pages of this wonderfully large coffee table book.
   
   Just like cats, they don't need to say anything. There are no quotes within the book, just large beautifully artistic photographs with curious cats smiling, stretching, and being frisky. There is a touching introduction to these critters in the beginning, but then just sit back and make friends with these 400 cats!

1 comments about Everything I Know About Life I Learned from My Cat.

1. Another beautiful book illustrated by the extraordinarily talented Lesley Anne Ivory. Everyone who loves cats, or simply appreciates the individual beauty and grace which makes every cat a masterpiece, will be enthralled with the paintings of these glorious creatures, posed to prefection against Lesley's exquisite backgrounds

No comments about HARCO ILLUS HDBK CATS PB.

3 comments about Dr. Jane's 30 Days to a Healthier, Happier Cat.

1. I have read this book and I must say that it is full of information in regards to feline health. For those of you who feel that too much of your time is taken in preparing Dr. Jane's recipes for you kitty or if you think that store bought cat food is good for your cat, think again! Just look at all of those chemicals like BHT and BHA which studies have shown to cause various forms of cancers as well as brain tumors (according to university and independent studies). Or the fact that almost all cat foods first 3 listed ingredients start with corn and or wheat ( major cause of allergies in cats) should be a major concern. I've recently found her line of pet food to be a great way to go if the recipes are daunting.



2. This book was a disappointment to me since I was looking for practical tips to commom cat problems. Her health check up list was reasonable but the cures turned me off. Reading this book, you might think that you should spend all your time cooking nutritious meals for your cat(s). The fact that most good cat foods are an adequate diet might leave you more time to concentrate on feeding yourself and your family better. My cats are well cared for but I also have a life outside making the many recipes she gives in the book.



3. This is one of my favorite cat books because it has taught me quite a great deal about cat nutrition. It has also stimulated my interest in the area of feline nutrition and helped me adopt a more holistic approach to cat health. Although I read the book in May 1997, I still refer to it every now and then if I have a question on cat health or cat food. This book also contains Dr. Bicks' cat treat recipes and her special '30-day new-life nutrition' program. All in all, I find this book interesting and the advice it offers both useful and quite practical.

5 comments about Everyday Cat Excuses: Why I Can't Do What You Want.

1. Molly Brandenburg is not only a gifted cartoonist and writer, but she is also a standup comedienne and it is this last means of communication that sets her fine little book apart. Though handsomely produced with high quality paper and clean design, the real beauty of this brief book of line drawings of cats with accompanying `cat excuses' is the amount of insight into cat behavior AND the noticeably oblique comparison to human behavior!
   
   In addition to the very funny and very true interpretation of feline thoughts and responses to their 'owners', Brandenburg offers short scenarios of cat behavior when humans are not around. For all cat lovers this is a collection of frequently observed 'looks' we receive from our cats and Brandenburg's interpretation of those attitudes. They are smart, clever, funny, and endearing. This is definitely a book to gift to friends who cohabitate with cats. Well Done! Grady Harp, June 08



2. When it comes to cats, have you ever wondered why? What I mean is, why they behave the way we observe cats to behave. What are they thinking with that look that appears so enigmatic to us? Molly Brandenburg attempts to answer this age-old question with some creativity and imagination, and pictures!
   
   I have experience with a small dog that reminds me of one of Molly's examples. The dog wants out. Then the dog wants in. Then the dog wants out again. Make up your mind!
   
   Humor with hairballs is alternatively gross, fascinating and humorous; except when you find them.
   
   The good: I know I smiled several times in the course of this book. The cost is low for a hardback book. Bye two and give one (or both) away.
   
   The bad: My goodness but this book is short. The price is low, but cats are so darn funny that you would think Molly could have eked out another 64 pages.
   
   Cat lovers everywhere will immediately recognize their cats in this book. Indeed, much of the humor comes from recognizing your own critter in these pictures. Then you might start thinking to yourself, what if that is what the cat is really thinking. Then you might start to worry. Then you might start to wonder whether a hamster might be less trouble.
   
   Enjoy!
   
   Note: The author provided me with a review copy of this book.



3. "Everyday Cat Excuses: Why I Can't Do What You Want" is a charmingly written and illustrated book. Author and illustrator Molly Brandenburg perfectly captures the world of cats. Anyone who is owned by a cat or ever was owned by one will laugh at some of the excuses: I have furballs, I am sleeping, I am eating, and many more. My favorite was the "I want to go outside/I want to go inside" routine favored by so many cats (mine included). The book is relatively short, but Brandenburg cleverly captures just about every cat reason for not coming when called, including a few that my cat, at least, has never thought of. Make sure you read until the very end of the book, because the book isn't over when it seems to be - even to the very end the cats can't make up their mind! As for the illustrations in the book, they are simple line drawings - not great art, but they are very humorous and deftly capture the nuances of various cat expressions.
   
   Cat lovers will enjoy "Everyday Cat Excuses: Why I Can't Do What You Want".



4. Books about pets are always popular. We cat and dog owners are always on the lookout for books that either shed light on those adorable but alien beings we choose to share our lives with ... or ones that make undue fun of them. (After all, laughter can often be the only suitable response for a pet-related situation.) This cartoon creation obviously falls into the latter category.
   
   Following the style set by the classics "All I Need to Know I Learned From My Cat" (Suzy Becker), and "French for Cats" & "Advanced French for Exceptional Cats" (Henry Beard), "Everyday Cat Excuses" uses simple line drawings to portray the many moods and attitudes of the finicky feline. You'll recognize them all if you have a cat in your house. The featured kitty is not particularly fluffy or furry. In fact, at times it looks like a Matt Groening invention that could easily be a new addition to the Simpsons' household. Especially when it's "screeching around the house in a frenzy" or horking up a hairball. The perennial I-wanna-be-outside / inside conundrum is especially well portrayed and represents, in my opinion, the best eight pages of the book.
   
   Cat owners / lovers go big for this stuff. Slim tomes like this one might seem too trite and frivolous to purchase for oneself; but they turn out to make the perfect presents for friends or relatives. No doubt the giver will zip through the book first before passing it on. In this case, it'll take just a few minutes. You might even smile once or twice before you close the covers and get out the wrapping paper.



5. At the risk of sounding catty or being accused of drinking sour cream this morning, I must admit this book failed to touch my funny bone. Oh, I did laugh out loud once or twice, but none of the rolling-on-the-floor laughter that I expected to do.
   
   Leafing through the pages and seeing what excuses the cats came up with for ... well, for being true to their independent natures, took only about ten minutes. That's surely a short read for my buck. (I actually won this book in Judith Kaye's Book Blog, so I can't cry over spilled milk, now can I?)
   
   As the book jacket claims, the cartoon cat drawings depict reasons "Why cats can't do what their owners want" and the drawings depict those reasons, such as: "I'm kneading you"; "My ears are rotating"; and "I'm thinking deep thoughts." My favorite that I found to be mildly amusing is: "I'm having kittens."
   
   True, I'm not exactly purring over this book, but I liked it well enough and found the "fat cat" line drawings by the author to be cute and sassy. I broke a slight grin at some of their antics, while I found their square heads and verrry pointy ears to be charmingly quirky.
   
   The best part about this slim volume (64 pages) is that it's expertly produced: a lovely hard cover book with a very attractive cover and matching jacket in red, white and blue with background text of black. The interior feline cartoons by author/artist/comedian Molly Brandenburg could grow on me ... perhaps with a second reading. ... I wonder ... ?
   
   Don't get the idea that I don't love cats because I do ... especially the ones I have owned ... er ... who have "owned" me in the past. In fact, my second favorite all-time cartoon character is Felix the Cat; you know, the one who "loved those little mices to pieces." (In case you're interested, Goofy is first! One look at his "loopy" grin sends me into hysterics! And, no, it's not because he's a dog!)
   
   I'm reputed to have a "warped sense of humor," so that could be why I failed to respond to this book that some reviewers found "purrfect." I'm certain many cat-lovers will challenge my opinion, and I welcome that; it's your right. For objectivity, I loaned it to a neighbor who has six cats, and she found it hilarious. Perhaps you will too.
   
   Do you think I might need a dose of catnip to enhance this reading experience?
   
   Reviewed by Betty Dravis, 2008
   author of: The Toonies Invade Silicon Valley

1 comments about Fang Shui: Feng Shui for Felines (Charming Petites).

1. This itty bitty book explains quite a few things about cat behavior! Apparently cats are very in tune with feng shui and the flow of energy in our homes. Okay, so it's really just a funny little book that's good for a little entertainment and humor. My fave bit in the book is that to keep the positive flow of energy black cats should only shed on white furniture, white cats should only shed on black furniture, and calicos can shed on everything. I have a calico, so I love that part. This is a great little book for any cat lover.

5 comments about Catspeak:: How to Communicate with Cats by Learning Their Secret Language.

1. This is one of those great gifts to get all your cat loving friends or ones that are considering adopting a feline friend. I love when Bash suggests to ask your cat to do something rather than to tell them. It really works! An enjoyable and educational read.



2. This book was purrfect. I have always spoken to my "girls" but now have a better understanding of their special ways of communicating. The book was insightful and educational. Written simply and easy to comprehend, I felt as though Mr. Dibra was speaking directly to my family.



3. repetative, dull, poorly written, and really dumb. As other reviewers note, it is tough to find anything in here that you don't already know...probably even if you have never owned a cat. And if you think that you will learn Cat Speak, whatever that is, don't hold your breath, the entire section is less than a chapter, and the chapters aren't much. . My sister gave this to me, thinking that it would help us with our two cats. Use it for litter.



4. This is a great book for someone who is getting a new cat or has a cat but doesn't understand him/her.
   I was expecting some new information about a "secret language". There was no mention of the latest research in feline behavior and the author describes training a cat like training a dog; so what's the "secret"?
   I agreed with almost everything in the book except the comment about cat owners who leave on a trip. The author says that cats do not get lonely. Well, that's wrong. He also says that a cat will go to the home where the best food is served. How does one explain cats who live with homeless street people?
   The title was deceiving.



5. This book is probably extremely helpful for people in a few categories. It would be quite helpful to someone who wants to train a cat for show business or for cat shows; it would also be extremely helpful to someone who has never been around cats, someone who has been around cats but doesn't really understand them, someone who wants to learn basics about different cat breeds, or someone who is going to be living with a cat for the first time.
   I had lived with cats before by the time I read this book, and I found most of the provided information to be fairly obvious. Feline body language, for instance, is one topic covered by the text. There were some bits that were interesting and/or surprising to me, though. For example, there is a short section on chattering. My present cat does sometimes chatter, but previous cats I'd known never did, so this topic was new for me.
   The portion of the book about cat selection was not all that insightful, to my mind. If I did want to adopt a purebred cat, I'd want to research breeds in more depth than the book offered; but my cat came from a shelter, and I felt like the only advice the author had that applied to "impure" breeds was to make sure that the individual cat to be adopted was healthy and well-adjusted.
   If you're looking for basics on cats, breed selection, cat training, and/or cat mannerisms, this book is an excellent choice for you. If you're already familiar with cat behavior and have no interest in extensive training, however, the book won't tell you much that you need to know.

2 comments about Cats in the Parsonage (All God's Creatures Series, Book 1) (All God's Creatures).

1. What is more fun if your a cat lover, than reading this wonderful book. Full of religion and cats. The preacher and his wife learn to enjoy the antics of their cats. This is a wonderful inspirational book.



2. I received this as a gift because I LOVE cats! I could only read so much. In the first 17 pages, the author has an "outside" cat that gives birth to 5 kittens, 2 of which get run over. Those 3 then have kittens of their own, bringing the total to 16 cats.
   The author doesn't think about being a responsible pet owner and having them spayed or nuetered. One of the cats has a
   hard time giving birth, and is weak and sick for days afterward. Does the owner take her to a vet? Of course not!
   He leaves everything up to God. The writing is peppered with religious talk that makes me sick, because the owners won't even take care of their pets! I couldn't finish the book- it made me so angry.