For A Feline View of the world
	"CATS-EYE"
October 1999	The On-Line Magazine By Cats For Cats	Issue 2

CRITIQUE-CAT Freyja on Books

Hello Fellow Readers. Each Issue I will be Trying to review some of the thousands of books around on our favorite subject. (What FOOD? :-Silk) No, all our favorite subject, Us! Cats. I will try and cover some on all subjects related to us from General Books to Fiction and Humor. (And whatever I can knock off the Bookshelf) Note: The links for these books to an On-Line Bookseller is for convenience only. If we ever make a profit from this. (No-One will be more surprised than we will!) We promise to donate it to a good cat charity.

Non-Fiction: The Ultimate Cat Book, By David Taylor, Published by Dorling Kindersley Limited, 9 Henrietta Street, Covent Garden London, WC2E 8PS. ISBN: 0-86318-371-9. Well I don't know if I would call this 'The Ultimate Cat Book' Although as far as general cat books go it does cover a lot of ground in it's 192 Pages. Written by David Taylor who is a highly respected veterinary surgeon. (You should be ashamed of yourself mentioning that word on this site: - Silk) It covers a good basing in cat anatomy and their bodies and senses. Then quite a comprehensive listing of cat breeds, showing very good pictures with arrowed text describing good types. (I was of course glad to see I was perfect in every detail.) Giving at least a whole page to each breed. (Two on Many) From a cats point of view this is like looking through a catalogue. (I saw a very handsome Bombay, which I kept pointing out to my 'Tin Openers' Asking: Can I have one of these pleeease? But they took no notice:-( From a Tin Openers point of view: If they are thinking of looking at a new pedigree cat, knowing what makes a good one of that type before parting with money may not be a bad idea. Then the second half of the book goes into quite detailed sections from Basic Equipment through to Grooming, Showing even a page on The Cat and the Law, and of course Sex:-) The whole book is filled with colour pictures, that are both good and on topic. If you're 'Tin Opener' does not have an up to date General Cat Book. They could do a lot worse than obtain this one.

Fiction: Well not so much One Book as rather a Series of Books. These are the Joe Grey mysteries by: Shirley Rousseau Murphy. The First Three Being: 'Cat on the Edge', 'Cat Under Fire' and 'Cat Raise the Dead'. Published by: Harper Prism (HarperCollins). ISBN's (Respectively):0-06-105600-6, 0-06-105601-4 and 0-06-105602-2 The next two: I can't comment on, as I haven't read them yet. Due to them not being available in the UK as yet. All feature Joe Grey and Dulcie a pair of Cats who can read, talk and get involved in some difficult to solve mysteries. The explanation as to how their talents come about is sufficiently plausible and the stories are very gripping mystery tales, with a good injection of light humor to help break some of the darker periods. Being tightly woven and well thought out, this 'Tin Opener' certainly knows her cats. If I can find anything to criticise these books on, it can only be that some of the fantastical ideas are a little too fantastical. Although in saying that, they are after all Fantasy Mysteries. (And of course cats can't read, write or talk can they!) Here is the Back-Piece from each along with the Inset: Cat on the Edge (Back Cover) Joe Grey jumped down to the floor without hanging up the phone. He was trapped in an unfolding nightmare. First he found he could understand human speech (who would have guessed they had so little to say?) Then he found himself feeling human emotions like guilt and sympathy. He even caught himself planning his day! All that, Joe Grey could have handled. If only he hadn't found himself in the alley behind Jolly's Deli the night Beckwhite was murdered… (Inset) 'Go home!' Joe yelled. The effect was memorable. The dogs stopped barking and jerked to attention - then started looking around frantically for humans. 'Get out! Get the hell away!' They stared at Joe, then back away, their ears and tails low, lips pulled back in smiles of fear. 'Go on, you mangy retards. Get yourselves home!' They turned as one and ran off in a pack, careening down the hill. Joe Grey smiled, licked his whiskers and stretched. Whatever the source of his unusual talent, it had its up side. Cat under Fire (Back Cover) Joe Grey never regretted the mysterious accident that gave him the ability to talk and understand human speech. Especially now that he had company-for it had happened to his 'girlfriend' Dulcie, too. The problem was, Dulcie wasn't only listening to humans. She was believing them! She was convinced that the man in jail for killing a famous artist and burning her studio was innocent. And, leave it to Dulcie, she was determined to find the evidence that would convict the real murderer. Even if she had to get Joe Grey killed doing it! (Inset) 'Joe ever since you learned how to use the phone, my bill at Jolly's Deli has been unbelievable. Doesn't the delivery man get suspicious when you tell him to leave it on the porch?' 'Come on Clyde, what am I supposed to tell him-shove it through the cat-door?' Clyde picked up a wrapper. 'what is this black smear? Caviar!?! And this pink-' He sniffed it and glared furiously at his cat 'Smoked salmon!!' Joe Grey licked his whiskers. 'they were having a special.' Cat raise the Dead (Back Cover) Joe Grey was, well, peeved. His human housemate Clyde was trying to volunteer him as a once-a-week Animal Therapy cuddle-kitty. And just when Joe was about to nab the cat burglar who was terrifying the coast from Half Moon Bay to Molena Point. But it wasn't up to Joe or Clyde. The 'pet-a-pet' scheme was Dulcie's idea, and she was a cat who always got her way. Dulcie needed Joe's help to prove that the old folks' home was hiding more than just lonely seniors: a mysterious doll kidnapper, a severed finger, and a very, very busy open grave! (Inset) Dulcie heard a car start and drive away. Her whiskers twitched eagerly; it was time to start her search. There was no mystery a smart cat couldn't solve-even the mystery of the disappearing old folks at Casa Capri Retirement Villa. A miniature chest of drawers stood nest to the hatboxes in the darkened room. Dulcie nosed at the chest and, with a careful claw, pulled a drawer open. She froze, staring. Eyeballs. The drawer contained human eyes… I have included a link to Shirley Rousseau Murphy's Web site for those who want to know more:Cat Mystery Books This links directley to her Cat Mystery Books Page: Where you can find more information and excerpts from her work.

Humour: A Small Book to finish appropriately called: 'A Cats Little Instruction Book.' By: Leigh W. Rutledge. And Published by: Thorsons part of Harper Collins ISBN: 0-7225-2921-X A hilarious collection of rules for cats. (I thought they were all serious-Shonie) some complete with small basic cartoons to add to the enjoyment of this book. The only way to describe it is to list some examples: When in doubt, chase something Surprise someone by hiding in the laundry basket When depressed or confused, try lying on your back with your legs in the air: sometimes the world just looks better upside down. When playing games with your own kittens, let them get the better of you. When playing games with someone else's kittens, beat them up. Leave every dog with the impression that you are a lion cub who will be back to get even when you grow up. Don't worry about little things Don't worry about big things Surprise the entire household by unrolling all the toilet paper at night Until next Issue Freyja

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