No comments about Help! My Puppy is Driving Me Crazy: A Guide to Solving Common Puppy Problems.

5 comments about I & Claudius: Travels With My Cat.

1. Not one of the best travel-related pieces I've read. Driving alone, de Vries has no-one to play off against so in order to provide some dialogue, she makes constant references to conversations with her cat throughout the book. This is funny the first time but should be left as a one-off joke. De Vries flogs it until it become irritating to read.

   In addition to this, I would assume large tracts are fictitious: the very odd-coincidencies, the almost-slapstick moment where she knocks an important boss into a pool, the 'stay with people after knowing them 10 minutes' etc. It can't have happened this way.

   One for the cat lovers; for readers who like travel, try something else.




2. Of all travel books I've read so far, this one has got to be the most hilarious and magnificent. Clare writes with gusto and love for her cat and of travel, and one feels as if they're right along with the couple as they travel throughout the USA. Another great novel to read by De Vries is "Of Cats and Kings", which is equally, if not more, stunning and entertaining. Readers don't have to be cat people to laugh at De Vries antics and mishaps. I would highly reccommend this novel to any female of any age, for it deals with feminine humor and romance.



3. Everyone really seemed to love this book so I thought I'd check it out, but besides being easy to read I didn't find much merit in it. In the end she just really annoyed me. Her generally snippiness was people made me cringe, and she never seemed very aware of her surroundings (although I give her props for the incident in the bar in Texas, I believe it was). As a traveler, I could never imagine trusting total strangers like she does. Sure, I know that if you don't take risks you miss out on a lot, but the fact that she lived to write this book is amazing in and of itself considering the huge amount of trust she puts in total strangers.

   Perhaps not being a huge cat lover was also problematic. I couldn't relate to her rantings about Claudius.

   I think my biggest beef with the book, which I notice other people really enjoyed, was Claudius's insights. I found it very distracting how she'd experience something, and then Claudius would chime it with its historical value.

   There were amusing parts, such as her time in Las Vegas, but all in all, I wouldn't recommend this book. Well, maybe to a cat person.




4. Clare's relationship with Claude is priceless and gorgeous, and though perhaps the future customer probably doesn't really care to read about the reviewer, my experiences are directly related to my love of this book, and frighteningly uncanny...she's right on the mark with this one and I know there are more out there who'd agree.
   
   Just as Clare was, I am 28 years old, lost my mother to cancer , and had travelled across North America with my beloved cat, Sampson, twice when I read this book.( I would like for the record to state that he is equally as magnificent as Claude) and like her, I am terrified more than anything in the world to lose him.

   Clare's relationship with Claude is painfully sincere, and I feel less of a maniac to hear that someone else was as obsessed and driven by her fears and dependance on shopping as her own retail therapy.
   Her confused love for America and Americans, as well as road tripping is hilarious and well shared by this reader. Though I cried buckets,laughed out loud more than once and am still somewhat heartbroken (there is one small paragraph that brings sobs to my throat just to think of it-beautiful), it moved me immensely and all I wanted to do was get home to my boy when I finished it.
   For anyone who loves their pet (any pet) like a child this is your reminder why you do. Marvelous, Clare!
   Is there anywhere we can write to her? Does anyone know?




5. Of course you will read all the other reviews here, and they are pretty right-on. Clare is a bit of a female Holden Caulfield; she is amusing and appealing while going through real trauma and not always behaving well. Unlike Holden of course, she is real and this is a true story. However, do not mistake "I & Claudius" for a how-to-travel-with-your-pet manual or a travel guide to the United States. This is HER story (and Claudius' ). I cried so when it ended-- because it was beautiful and because I was sorry it was over!

No comments about Critters of Illinois Pocket Guide (Critters of...).

No comments about Mammals of the Intermountain West.

1 comments about Dog Trick or Cat Treat: Pets Dress Up for Halloween.

1. I just got a copy of this book today - it's very cute. Everyone in my office thinks it is adorable. My cat is on page 6 -- he thinks he needs an agent. I might be in trouble.

1 comments about Psittaculture: Breeding, Rearing and Management of Parrots.

1. This is a very nice book on the captive breeding of parrots. It was very much state of the art when it was written in 1991. It has probably got the best article on fig parrots that I have seen, and many other articles are good as well. Basically, it is a collection of 2-3 page articles on an exceptionally large number of species of parrots, many of which are quite rare. There are also a lot of good color photographs. The only comparable book that I can think of is Low's "Parrots Their Care and Breeding".

   The book was written by Tony Silva, who was a very prominent bird breeder and conservationist when this book was written. He was subsequently convicted of smuggling endangered parrots. I believe that he is still in jail. Make your own judgement about whether you wish to do business with such a man, but it is a very good book regardless.

5 comments about 150 Activities For Bored Dogs: Surefire Ways to Keep Your Dog Active and Happy.

1. I thought this would have some neat ideas to entertain my dog, however the ideas were more for bored owners than bored dogs. Some ideas were lame, like having a doggy sleepover party. The book was only mildly entertaining because of the author's witty, yet annoying attempts at humor.



2. Didnt really learn much. Maybe if your new to pet care. Not that interesting.



3. 95 of the 207 pages talk about dogs in general, just like any other dog book.
   The "activities" are mostly ridiculous like "go see a pup psychic".
   I would not recommend this book.



4. The book was not what I expected. Some interesting info, but little help with a bored dog!



5. I loved reading this book and Sue Owens Wright's sense of humor kept me turning the pages. She's got SO many great ideas! This book isn't just for 'bored dogs' it's for anyone who owns a dog or anyone who is thinking of getting a dog. This may be a non-fiction, how-to type-book but it read like a fiction book ... it really flowed and I didn't want to put it down. With most non-fiction books I go back and forth reading here and there in the book looking for specific things. With this book I wanted to read every page. It's not often you find a non-fiction book that's this fun to read. This book appeals to people who have had dogs all their lives as well as people who are new to the idea of getting a dog. The first half of the book gives information about dogs, why they do the things they do, information on dog ownership etc (as well as boredom-busting ideas). The second half of the book is filled to the brim with ideas on keeping your dog occupied (when alone, when your with them, and when other animals are around). While reading the book I had some "Duh!, why didn't I think of that?" moments, some "Hey!, I do that!" moments, and of course there was lots of "I've got to do that!" thoughts.
   
   You won't be bored reading the book and your dog will be thrilled you read it!

No comments about Dog Behavior Problems: The Counselor's Handbook.

1 comments about The Chihuahua (Terra Nova Series).

1. I am an unexperienced dog owner and this book was easy to read. learned a lot.

1 comments about Livebearers: Understanding Guppies, Mollies, Swordtails and Others (Fishkeeping Made Easy).

1. Good starting point if you are into livebeares.
   The issues are not dealt with in depth. There is somehow a disconect between the title of the sections and their content, which makes it hard to find things that you read afterwards.
   The style is more romantic than scientific.
   If you are looking for specific, advanced info, look elsewhere.
   The pictures are very nice!