4 comments about Enough to Make a Cat Laugh.

1. Loved revisiting Thermal and the other cats of Deric Longden. As good as 'The Cat That Came In From The Cold.'



2. I do love Longden's writing. He can handle tragedy (I'm thinking here of a couple of his other books) and high humor (or should I say humour) equally effectively. And, he certainly does know his cats. The scene with the gentleman and the pen just cracks me up every time I've read it--obviously more than once. If you like British style humour and cats you'll love this book.



3. This is an ABSOLUTELY delightful book to listen to! Mr. Longden's ability to give voices and personalities to animals, and especially inanimate objects is a remarkable gift. His accent is charming and the voices he gives his cats and their pets - a wire brush, a walnut [an especially ugly one] and a sultana, will have you giggling down the highway. While listening to this I went straight to see if he had any other books on tape, but sadly, he does not. I do hope he's working on another one. This would be a wonderful gift for a cat lover or anyone who enjoys a clever turn of phrase. His writing is excellent! This was one of the best books I have ever listened to - and I listen to lots! Absolutely worth the price!



4. Here in Australia people love their cats. They care for them. Most have them desexed. Take em to the vet if they are sick, etc, but i find that those who have a real relationship with them are very few. Deric has the ability to bridge the gap between human and animal, to see the personality under the fur coat.

   Working in an animal shelter and adopting out hundreds of cats and thousands of kittens, I applaud the men who mostly chose adult cats for their character, sadly most women wanted kittens and went for looks.

   Our eight cats came to us at various ages, one lived with for eight years arriving at age 17. Each had unforgettable and unique personalities and enriched the lives of the humans and other animals in this household. How incredibly lucky we were that they all lived very long healthy lives and that they left a legacy of laughter, companionship and sweet, sweet memories.

   After reading listening to 'Enough to Make a Cat Laugh' whilst on the net. I immediately told everyone i knew and blasted the internet Pets/Cats/Animal/Welfare groups to tell them of this fabulous book, as most books about cats are purrile and banal in the extreme. Well done, Deric, I think you are a brilliant humourist and eagerly await more thoughtful and inciteful work from your pen.

   I am very cheesed off that the ABC here hasnt shown your play with Thora Hird and I intend to plague them with requests. The local library has your books and they are harder to get hold of than hens teeth and i have complained loudly for more copies.

   I adored your cameos of people and am still laughing at the indian gentleman with the pen.

   How marvelous it was to find a book that presented our beloved cats as they are, warts and all.

   With sincere best wishes to you, your wife and family and any cat lucky enough to be owned by you.

   Lori Holland

3 comments about Cat Caught My Heart: Stories of Wisdom, Hope, and Purrfect Love.

1. Some of the stories in the book are pretty sad. All of the authors talk about how a cat came into their lives and changed them forever. I expected a book that would make me laugh at typical cat antics but what I got was a book that nearly made me cry every time I read it. It's nice to read a book about how a cat helped someone through tough times but this book just wasn't it. It's a pretty depressing book.



2. If you love cats, you will love this book. It's all about real people's relationships with their cats. The stories are funny and sad and sometimes amazing, but they are consistently touching. And contrary to the previously review, the stories are NOT all about cats dying!



3. The actual title of this book should be "How My Cat Died." This compilation of memoirs almost without exception describes the demise of the beloved cat, and the pain the owner went through in the process, which is not surprizing, as a great number of anecdotes are lifted from a cyberspace pet-loss grief site. If anyone has ever gone through the soul-wrenching agony of losing a loved pet, this book will do nothing but reawaken the grief and pain of that experience. As none of this is noted on the book's jacket, I felt this book was highly misleading and the publishers should be ashamed of themselves.

3 comments about Bad Dogs Have More Fun: Selected Writings on Animals, Family and Life from the Philadelphis Inquirer.

1. If you read the title, you'll know what to expect. It is a compilation of short stories about animals, family and life (mostly stories and lessons about life). Yes, I expected more animal stories, but I enjoyed the book none the less.



2. I feel robbed. I should have done more research, I suppose, but I mistakenly assumed that this was some sort of sequel to "Marley & Me", a book I truly loved. Had I known before purchasing this CD set that John Grogan was NOT involved creating it, I would never have bought it.
   
   The cover, both front and back, leads you to believe that this is a compilation of dog stories, which couldn't be further from the truth. Of six CD's included in this set, just one (CD #3) has any dog stories on it! The others are merely ramblings and musings from Grogan's old "Philadelphia Inquirer" column . . . probably alright, if that's what you wanted to listen to, but if you're looking for dog stories, this is NOT the CD set to buy. This set is far from entertaining and is mostly boring and depressing.
   
   I wish Amazon would let us assign ratings in the negative numbers as I would give this garbage a rating of -5 stars. Simply giving it a one star rating isn't sufficient. I feel ripped off, hugely disappointed and wish I had my money back.



3. Do not buy. This was done without the consent, involvement or approval of the author of the NY Times best selling book "Marley and Me," John Grogan.
   
   Stick with ONLY his versions of "Marley & Me." There are editions for all ages: Adult, teens and children.
   
   This is not one of them.

No comments about Treasury of Great Dog Stories: A Collection of Tales That Celebrates Man's Best Friend.

5 comments about Labrador Tales: A Celebration of America's Favorite Dog.

1. This is a kind of book you'd want to take with you to work, and read a story on your break and at lunch. The stories are short, some funny such as the one where much researching was done to buy a pup and it happened the pup picked the owner instead. Some are sad. All are real. I have a lab, and have had other dogs. I identify with all the dogs I've had with this book. If you read this book away from your dog, you'll just want to go home, hug them all and thank them for being them.



2. Being a labrador retriever owner since 1997, I was toucbed at the authors depiction of the way an animal can become so much a part of an individual's life. The book spoke of the hardships of training a lab puppy, to the struggles of dealing with the loss of an old friend. Any lab owner can agree, most of the stories found in this particular book, their lab has done at one time or another. In this book a labrador is more than just a companion. Great Book! I would recommend to all lab owners..



3. A rewarding and wonderful book of tales that will touch anyone who loves dogs. Every tale will touch you with memories of a Labrador Retriever you once had or bring closer to your Labrador pal that you now share your heart with. a must gift for anyone who owns a Labrador Retriever!



4. I had the priviledge of reviewing the material in this book prior to it's publication. If you love Labrador Retrievers, this book is for you. It will make you laugh; it will make you cry; it will make you get down on the floor with your Lab and give him or her a big hug and a kiss! Walt, John and Terry are all to be commended on an extrordinary compilation.



5. John Arrington and Walt Zientek have touched the hearts of those who share Labrador related e-mail lists for quite a while! Their love of the Labrador Retriever is evident in every word and they have the amazing talent of making the reader feel each story.

   Everyone who has or had a pet can relate to the stories, essays and illustrations (Terry Albert has excelled). This is a must read! (Please Note: Kleenex are a necessary accessory!)

5 comments about I Am Puppy Hear Me Yap: The Ages of Dog.

1. 
   You can keep your new, gold Lexus;
   Fancy cars just ain't my cup of tea.
   Don't care about computer games;
   These things don't appeal at all to me.
   
   Some folks need the latest gadgets,
   And have their homes filled with high-tech toys:
   iPods and digital cameras,
   Whatever makes electronic noise.
   
   Now they've even got a cell phone
   They can use to take a photograph,
   But "He kept up with the Joneses"
   Won't be written as my epitaph.
   
   Because I know that Palm Pilots,
   And expensive name brand tennis shoes,
   Silk shirts and laptop computers,
   Will never save a man from The Blues.
   
   If happiness is what you seek,
   It's really a simple equation:
   Jettison computerized junk;
   Get a Lab, Shepherd, or Dalmatian!
   
   While some people dabble in fish,
   Others try turtles, hamsters or mice.
   Trust me and go with the canine -
   You'll find yourself in Pet Paradise!
   
   The Woman weeps watching Chick Flicks,
   While late at night she cuddles her cat.
   Reaching for tissues and chocolate,
   She winds up dehydrated and fat.
   
   But Men have the best idea
   For getting their emotions to mend;
   In the yard they'll romp 'n' rassle,
   And play some Fetch with a "Man's Best Friend."
   
   But suppose your yard is too small,
   And constant barking makes your head ache.
   I know how you can have your dog
   Without yapping that keeps you awake.
   
   Buy 'I AM PUPPY, HEAR ME YAP'
   For you are bound to smile and to laugh.
   The witty verse is by Roy Blount;
   The great photos by Valerie Shaff.
   
   All types of dogs will be found here;
   Some noble, some filthy, some cleaner;
   "The Good, The Bad, And The Ugly"
   And one even looks like a wiener!
   
   I've been so grateful for this book;
   It makes owning a dog such a breeze!
   There's no feeding and no walking,
   And I don't miss a house full of fleas.
   
   Happily there are no drawbacks,
   But there's one thing the book can't replace:
   When I have come home after work,
   This publication can't lick my face.
   
   Still, choosing it over a dog -
   The decision for me wasn't hard;
   I enjoy canine company
   Without stepping in poop in my yard.



2. Rarely do people capture a puppy's playfulness, spunk, and strong personality with such clean elegance and coherence. There are no prissy, smoochy sayings and no sappy mushy talk (thank goodness), but the spirit of the puppy is captured quite nicely with the gorgeous, full page black and white photos. A reviewer thought of the book to be written in a child's point of view and wouldn't appeal to adults, yet I think that it was written with a youthful pup's point of view- which naturally is from a young perspective. One just can't associate seriousness with an image of a puppy destroying your slippers, basking in all that is naughty and mischievous. It's a coffee table book that lightens the mood and celebrates youth.



3. Outstanding photo collection of the most adoreable canines, paired with witty captions and poetic verse. Some amazing close ups that are "chicken soup" for the eyes. A must read for every dog fancier. Arlene Millman, author of BOOMERANG - A MIRACLE TRILOGY (The tale of a remarkable Boston Terrier).



4. Outstanding photo collection of the most adoreable canines, paired with witty captions and poetic verse. Some amazing close ups that are "chicken soup" for the eyes. A must read for every dog fancier. Arlene Millman, author of BOOMERANG - A MIRACLE TRILOGY (The tale of a remarkable Boston Terrier).



5. There are alot of nice pictures in this book. Not really written for adults. Mostly child like content.

No comments about The Cat Lady of Concord: Feline Tales and Other Animal Stories of Love and Rescue.

1 comments about The Dog's Guide to Surfing: Hanging Ten with Man's Best Friend.

1. The collaborative effort of a large number of people who enjoy surfing and the company of their canine companions, The Dog's Guide To Surfing: Hanging Ten With Man's Best Friend is a unique guide to the surfing lifestyle from the perspective of dogs and their pet humans plying the waves together on their surf boards. Enhanced with a profusion of b/w photos, The Dog's Guide To Surfing is a compilation of stories, lessons, advice, movies, gear, and recommendations for surf wear while catching the waves with a four-legged friend. If you surf and have a dog in your life, then you will want to read The Dog's Guide To Surfing!

No comments about Otchum: A Companion in a World of Ice.

5 comments about Animal Antics: A Photo Expose.

1. This book is heartwarming and cute. All of these coffee table animal books are about the same. This one was no different. The pictures are adorable the writing is mediocre.



2. wow i really liked this book! it was sooo cute and funny! i hope one day to have made my very own book just like the ppl who made this one. that's soooo neat. i like the fact that it wasnt just pictures; it was a whole bunch of pictures made into a story. i cant wait to see what these ppl come up with next!

   ~TAylor




3. wow i really liked this book! it was sooo cute and funny! i hope one day to have made my very own book just like the ppl who made this one. that's soooo neat. i like the fact that it wasnt just pictures; it was a whole bunch of pictures made into a story. i cant wait to see what these ppl come up with next!

   ~TAylor




4. I loved this book. Mr. Lund's foxy use of words and pictures lets us into the afterhour life of the animals is our life. I am giving it for a Christmas present. Read it! You will be glad you did.



5. This book will be loved by young and old alike. It is full of warmth and lots of laughs. These clever photographs of animals will have us all saying .. Hmmmmmm what are they doing when we leave the house. Great work Mr. Lund !!