Interesting premise, and overall well-written. The characters were quite nuanced, and the story was gripping enough to keep me reading to the end. I hInteresting premise, and overall well-written. The characters were quite nuanced, and the story was gripping enough to keep me reading to the end. I had no problem for the first part of the novel suspending my disbelief enough to accept the concept, but it got so bogged down in the middle by trying to sell the "science" behind that it really just succeeded in making the premise seem kind of ridiculous. This might have been a nice parable or fantasy story, but by over-explaining and by taking itself way too seriously, it just made it harder for me to accept the story on its own terms. I started getting bothered by how little regard Nora has been showing the other Noras, swooping into their lives, pushing them into limbo (or something?), screwing things up for them, and then ducking out when things get bad, leaving them to live with the mess she made. The theory of the multiverse is—to my understanding—debated in scientific circles; it is not a universally (ha ha) accepted fact the way this book seems to imply. The more seriously the book would take itself and its premise, the harder it would be to gloss over stuff like this. I also didn't enjoy the last part of the story very much; it leans pretty hard into an atheistic worldview and then gets preachy. This doesn't mean it's objectively bad writing, but it isn't going to be everyone's cup of tea. Certainly not mine....more
I can't remember the last time I had such an enjoyable reading experience! This book is not my usual cup of tea: it's bleak, it's distressing, it's viI can't remember the last time I had such an enjoyable reading experience! This book is not my usual cup of tea: it's bleak, it's distressing, it's violent, it's mysterious, and the obviously unreliable narrators make it difficult to know what's going on. And yet—it's compelling. I kept turning pages. I also cared deeply about the characters, so even though the situations weren't always clear, I certainly could feel that emotional investment.
And the drama! Well-plotted and full of twists and turns, the narrative keeps building, as the interesting characters work through their struggles and move toward the book's climax. And then! That special moment when everything falls into place. Suddenly, everything makes sense, and the realization is as the sunrise. Light shines in the story, too, and as a VERY minor spoiler, I can say (view spoiler)[the characters who survived the dark night of this novel are greeted at the end by a much more hopeful dawn. Things are definitely looking up. (hide spoiler)] This novel was cathartic. It was cleansing, even healing. Despite the unpleasant subject matter and disturbing events of the story, the novel feels as wholesome by the end as a deep breath in—and out—slowly and peacefully, at the start of a new day....more
Garfield as you've never seen him before! The main premise of the story is that each of Garfield's previous lives shaped something about his personaliGarfield as you've never seen him before! The main premise of the story is that each of Garfield's previous lives shaped something about his personality. This collection of Garfield tales re-interprets the well-loved feline and showcases a variety of styles, genres, and iterations. Consequently, Jim Davis and his team had more freedom to play with the character; things happen here that could not be done in a typical installment of Garfield's established timeline. See? Jim Davis was reimagining his characters before it was cool!
The storytelling AND artwork vary dramatically between the tales, one of which is even in prose and not comics; and this works well, as each of the nine lives stands apart from every other one. The tone changes, too, with some slapstick, some gentle fun, some horror, and even some noir. The stories can't even be said to take place in the typical Garfield universe, as one might be set on a more magical or even spiritual plane, and one takes place in a city run entirely by humanish cats who wear clothes and have humanoid forms. Since this book pushes the boundaries of Garfield's character, it involves some things that maybe are a bit . . . unorthodox. One of the stories involves a scantily-clad woman and a man who spanks Garfield with a paddle (a possible fraternity hazing?) while another tale implies some romance for Garfield involving a lady cat, alcohol, and a convenient couch. The tone is in many places darker than in other Garfield stories, and sometimes things even border on the macabre. There is, for example, a tale in which a homeless cat (not Garfield) asks for someone to bury him, and another story involving people experimenting on and then dissecting animals. Not for the faint of heart!
These stories are, on the whole, very well-crafted, and the creativity involved is just astounding. Shining through all of it, of course, is a love for Garfield and a desire to play with his character a little bit, to try him out in different circumstances and styles, and (as Jim Davis put it), to stretch him to the limits of the imagination....more
Lots of fun! Spencer Quinn does a phenomenal job of capturing the voices of his cat and dog narrators, and the mystery, told from their point of view,Lots of fun! Spencer Quinn does a phenomenal job of capturing the voices of his cat and dog narrators, and the mystery, told from their point of view, is wonderfully entertaining. There is plenty of humor here, of course, but I was surprised to see the amount of tension that the author managed to build, and I enjoyed the thrilling action that kept me reading. Although it's the second of a series, it can work as a standalone. Overall, a splendid book!...more
Beautiful, heart-wrenching, poignant. I had a very hard time reading this one. Very well-written, with characters that seem to leap off the page. It'sBeautiful, heart-wrenching, poignant. I had a very hard time reading this one. Very well-written, with characters that seem to leap off the page. It's life-affirming, yes, but it's also very sad and, in many respects, bleak. It made me nostalgic for the past, and mournful for that which was lost, and the loneliness in this story is palpable. The characters are all quite lovely, and reading them was a joy. Even the antagonist—the closest this book comes to an antagonist, anyway—is still a sympathetic and tragic figure. This book is not for everyone, but if you like a good tearjerker, you'll probably find your bliss here. A well-crafted and extraordinary volume.
There is a cat in the story. (view spoiler)[The cat dies. He is hit by a car and carried immediately, still living, into the house so that he can die in his home. The people who know him all gather around to tell him they love him as he passes. It's brutal to read, but it's also a scene filled with love and warmth. Later, Eudora buys a kitten for the little girl to love. (hide spoiler)]...more
Utterly charming. Sweet and sad but never maudlin, this cat book is more than it first seems. The novel tells the story of one cat's travels, but the Utterly charming. Sweet and sad but never maudlin, this cat book is more than it first seems. The novel tells the story of one cat's travels, but the book is also a sweeping portrait of human relationships and growth. Love, loss, hope—all the emotional elements are present, yet the story never feels overtly manipulative or hastily cobbled together. Indeed, this book is gentle and thoughtful and ultimately unforgettable....more
This one is pure fun. The inspirational quotes are nice—and some in particular are excellent—but it's the photographs that make this book the joy thatThis one is pure fun. The inspirational quotes are nice—and some in particular are excellent—but it's the photographs that make this book the joy that it is. Most of the pets featured here are dogs and cats, but in all cases (even the pig!), the beautiful pictures shine. Here there is dignity and humor, goofiness and energy and rest. The text and images are well matched on each page. This one is great for a smile....more
In this memoir, Elizabeth Cee describes her struggles to save a colony of feral cats. It’s tougher than it sounds—it requires a great commitment in teIn this memoir, Elizabeth Cee describes her struggles to save a colony of feral cats. It’s tougher than it sounds—it requires a great commitment in terms of both time and money, and often, adult cats are too old to be rehomed. Cee writes with concise and clear prose, telling her story in a straightforward manner that is nevertheless quite powerful. There is much heartbreak here, but this is ultimately a story of hope. A short book, but unforgettable....more
My review, like this book, will be short and sweet: This collection of essays is sure to brighten many people's holidays. Sweet, uplifting, and with jMy review, like this book, will be short and sweet: This collection of essays is sure to brighten many people's holidays. Sweet, uplifting, and with just enough humor to see us through, this volume is another success from a remarkable mother-daughter team. Look here for a glimpse of their holiday experiences, for wisdom, a little chaos, and a lot of warmth....more
Well this was certainly different: a celebration of cats that’s too disturbing for me to recommend wholeheartedly to other cat-lovers.
What’s good: QuiWell this was certainly different: a celebration of cats that’s too disturbing for me to recommend wholeheartedly to other cat-lovers.
What’s good: Quite a lot. Beautiful illustrations, bite-sized chunks of information, a wide range of countries, historical context about felines, a timeline—the list goes on and on. I appreciated the mini-biographies for the 30 courageous cats, but I also liked that in between these sections, the author included things that expanded the focus beyond these 30 felines. For example, one section describes a cat’s physical characteristics. Another lists cats with amazing survival stories. These aren’t the 30 cats referred to in the title; they’re simply other cats who are noteworthy. Quick, informative, and fun.
What’s troubling: The cat deaths. Or maybe it’s not just the deaths themselves, but the vague way the book hints at them. For example, there was a cat sent into outer space. She survived the journey and returned safely to Earth. The author makes a big deal about saying that this cat survived the trip; she went to space and lived to tell about it. The author also says that scientists were interested in learning what effects the space travel had had on her brain. And that’s it. Except at the bottom of each cat’s page are the years for its birth and death, and this cat’s death year is the same as her spaceflight. So my initial reaction was horror, because it sounded as though she survived the journey only to be killed by the same scientists who sent her on the mission in the first place . . . and yet I wasn’t sure. It wasn’t stated outright, and so I was left to wonder about it. Eventually, I looked it up, and yes, it was exactly what it sounded like: she came home safely, and they killed her and examined her brain. And now I’m still horrified but also disgusted.
There were other cats whose violent ends are hinted at but never explicitly stated, such as the cat whom pilots took in their planes during WWII missions in 1945. It also died in 1945. (That isn’t a coincidence.) I can’t decide how I feel about this particular approach. I expect that she’s trying to shield her child viewers from something uncomfortable and upsetting, but she’s dropping enough hints that it might be unsettling anyway. And if the hints go unnoticed, then she’s perhaps being misleading. One final example that seems to go the other direction is that of Mrs. Chippy, a male cat who sailed on Ernest Shackleton’s ship. The cat was named Mrs. Chippy because he belonged to (and constantly followed) the ship’s carpenter, who was called Chippy. When the ship was destroyed by ice, Shackleton decided that they couldn’t risk taking the cat away with them. The author states that they gave the cat its favorite food, and that it lay down for a sleep from which it would never awake. So from this, I knew that the healthy cat was killed. But based on this text, I was picturing a cat freezing to death slowly on the ice, or perhaps drowning. I looked for more information online, and it looks as though the cat was shot. As much as I hate the idea, at least it was a much quicker death than I’d envisioned. So how much information is too little? Are kids going to imagine something that’s worse than it was? Or are children going to assume a happy ending where there wasn’t one, as with the cat in space? Would it have been better for some of these cats to have been left off altogether? I don’t know. I was so distressed after reading the section on Mrs. Chippy that I went back to re-read some of the happier chapters until I felt a little better. So this book was both the cause of and the cure for my disquiet.
To be fair, there were only a few cats with disturbing deaths. Many lived long lives and died of natural causes. Some are still alive at the moment. But between even this small amount of disturbing content and the confusing way that it was handled, I feel compelled to take off a star. I’m giving this one a 4....more
It’s such a rare and wonderful feeling to read a book that inspires me to be a better person. I am delighted to report that this is one such book. ThiIt’s such a rare and wonderful feeling to read a book that inspires me to be a better person. I am delighted to report that this is one such book. This collection of wisdom on the importance of kindness offers quotes from a wide range of inspirational sources, from the Bible to the Dalai Lama. With its small pieces of good advice, paired with charming illustrations and hosted by the world’s most laid-back cat, this book is sure to delight children and adults alike. Yes, it’s a kids’ book. But it’s also an everybody book....more
I think Jim Davis is amazing. It’s hard to think of many authors whose books convey such a sense of fun. These cartoon vignettes don’t seem to have muI think Jim Davis is amazing. It’s hard to think of many authors whose books convey such a sense of fun. These cartoon vignettes don’t seem to have much purpose beyond simply trying to delight their readers, and at that goal, this book excels. The style is a bit different from the daily comic strip, but the humor is completely on point. And of course, Garfield himself is pure gold....more
I don’t quite know what to make of this little collection of poems. I would love to know more about the process by which the poems were selected: obviI don’t quite know what to make of this little collection of poems. I would love to know more about the process by which the poems were selected: obviously, these poems all involve cats in some way, but if there was anything else at all that guided the process, I can’t figure out what it is. Not all the poems even seem to have been written by people who liked cats. Some of the poems are beautiful, but others are disturbing, and few are just odd. I also can’t seem to find any sort of intent or continuity with regard to source. There are some modern poems, and some from the 18th and 19th centuries; I don’t know if there are any older than that. There was no information given about the poems or the authors (except to list a translator) so all I know of the poem’s ages comes from my own background knowledge. A few poems have been translated from other languages, but there doesn’t seem to have been any particular effort to include a broad sample or a certain number of countries or regions.
There is one children’s poem, “The Owl and the Pussycat,” and I was delighted to find it so unexpectedly. By the time I reached the end of the volume, however, the poem about the dead cat, the poem that gives a sad reimagining of a classic nursery rhyme cat, the poem about the person who is disgusted with cats, and the poem about the cat-owner who would like to kill her cat had all dampened my enthusiasm considerably. I understand that this poem book isn’t meant as an ode to cats, but rather as a collection of various depictions of cats in different countries, centuries, and languages; but the bizarre nature of the collection and its overall effect were a bit disappointing. Sometimes anthologies take bits and pieces from all over and craft them into a meaningful, beautiful, poignant whole. Here, however, the many pieces seem disjointed, and they don’t seem to make more than the some of their parts. Something feels lacking overall....more
A charming story about a cat looking for a human. Funny and sweet, this picture book tells of the pet-adoptions process from the cat’s point of view. A charming story about a cat looking for a human. Funny and sweet, this picture book tells of the pet-adoptions process from the cat’s point of view. Gentle illustrations add warmth....more
This story was sweet and charming. The only black cat of the litter watches all the other kittens go to good homes . . . but black cats are too unluckThis story was sweet and charming. The only black cat of the litter watches all the other kittens go to good homes . . . but black cats are too unlucky for people to want them! This is a story about a cat who loves having black fur, who discovers that being lucky has nothing to do with what other people say, and who rises above long-standing superstitions with good cheer. Kids might enjoy the fun story for its own sake, while deeper themes of self-worth, family support, and prejudice enrich the experience.
The version I read had been translated into French....more
This was very sweet. Soft illustrations bring a gentle warmth to this book of wisdom, and although a very short book, this little tome provides a sootThis was very sweet. Soft illustrations bring a gentle warmth to this book of wisdom, and although a very short book, this little tome provides a soothing moment for any cat-lover. Part humor and part homage, this celebration of life with cats will feel as welcome as a sunbeam and as familiar as an old friend....more
I was torn between 3 and 4 stars. I gave it 4 because the cat pictures are high quality and very cute. The humor wasn’t as strong as I would have hopeI was torn between 3 and 4 stars. I gave it 4 because the cat pictures are high quality and very cute. The humor wasn’t as strong as I would have hoped, although it might have resonated more strongly if I were someone who used Snapchat. Since I don’t, I’m probably a bit outside the author’s intended audience. Someone more familiar with the ins and outs of Snapchat might have found more to laugh at here, but I thought it was a little insubstantial and a bit too gimmicky. Those cat pictures, though! Lovely!...more
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