5 comments about The Search for Joyful: A Mrs. Mike Novel.

1. I thought the authors did a wonderful job of moving forward in a difficult story line and family line. A time table that I think catches so many Mrs. Mike followers off guard. The intention was not to do another Mrs. Mike or Mrs. Mike 2 episode. As they explained they did that already eons ago. For them it was to tell the next generations story and they did that with history intact. I thought wonderful and well written and I'm sad that so many people felt let down. I for one think the writing was good. While my husband would never read the type of story Mrs. Mike was he might read and enjoy the historic times brought out in this The Search for Joyful. I was a young teen when I read Mrs. Mike and not an assignment just a library check out. I fell in love with it didn't re-read it until my 50's. A lot of the romance and pain was no longer the same for me that it was as the teen. Yet I enjoyed the book and wanted to read it again before reading this next story. Hat's off to some wonderful writers who have given us two and possibly three great novels. For my next read is going to be their Kathy.....and so to you dear people thank you for finally getting round to the continuation of story. Thank you thank you thank you. At your ages many blessings to you for doing so makes it even more precious if not a bit precocious. An expression of behavior usually spent on the youth....and in your case young at heart. Such a delight you Freedman's have been!



2. Though many of Amazon's reviewers did not give this sequel favorable reviews, I think this book is far superior to the preceeding story. The two books have a very different flavor. The first book is like a romantic novel, while the second comes closer to being a respectable literary fare. The writing and plot of the second book offer at least as much depth and iterest as the first.
   I think that if those who loved the first book are disappointed by its sequel, it has more to do with the fact that Mary Katherine and Mike Flannagan are minor characters in the second book. Be Joyful's daughter has at least as much moxie and depth as the her adoptive mother Mrs. Mike. Like her mother, she discovers who she is through much adversity, and is forced to answer many of life's enduring questions along the way. I think that Be Joyful's daughter is a more timeless and interesting person than her mother. I sincerely believe that the sequel is the superior of the two works. It is a more sophisticated story and perhaps therefore less accessible.



3. I read Mrs. Mike when I was 7 years old and remember asking my Mother for help with some of the words. Since my 4 daughters and 5 granddaughters are also readers of everything they can get their hands on, I told them about my first book and decided to find a copy (which I did thru Amazon and the Book Service). "The Search for Joyful" arrived before my new/old copy of Mrs. Mike and I read it first. I was amazed that I remembered the history of the characters so vividly.
   
   The story continues for Mrs. Mike thru her children in the sequel. The author writes an easy to follow, light hearted but real story of this family. I am hoping "my girls" will treasure my new purchases as much I have - by memory - for such a long time. I am 67 years old. Thank you Amazon for finding the books for me. Sincerely, Carolyn E Ashbrook



4. Was this really written by the same authors of Mrs. Mike? I find it poorly put together and very hard to believe. I never "like" the character I am reading about. I don't understand her. I plodded through the book anyway, hoping that somewhere it would turn up good. But, unfortunately, that never happened. I have not read the third book in this saga yet, and am hesitant to do so. I may just stick with reading Mrs. Mike over and over.



5. If you are expecting a story as good as Mrs. Mike, you won't find it here. You would never know that the same authors penned this book. Mrs. Mike is one of my all-time favorite books and I would never part with my copy. The sequel is terrible--bad story, Mrs. Mike (referred to in this book as "Mama Kathy") has a very minor part in it, and I wondered why the main character was called "Kathy" when in Mrs. Mike, her adoptive parents decided to call her "Kate" because it would be too confusing to have two Kathys in the house. From what I can tell about the sequel to this book, the next one is even worse and I don't plan to waste my money.

5 comments about The Kitty Treats Cookbook.

1. I wish I had looked at this upon receipt. I would have returned it immediately. I think the graphics of the book are great, but I feel this book is for children. The 10 recipes are totally uninspiring and seem to use the same four basic ingredients over and over.



2. This is a great book for those trying to start their own business and have captured Cat Lover's as clients. The recipes are simple and come with a fish shaped cookie cutter.



3. I was surprised this book was like a childrens book. The one with cardboard thick pages. So it did not contain many recipes. However, the treat cookie cutter was cool.



4. This book is the only one most anyone would need if they want to make some homemade cat treats. It has straightforward, fairly easy recipes with ingredients that are easily found in any grocery store. The book is colorful and attractive. The little fish-shaped cookie cutter is adorable. (You have to break each treat into two or three pieces before giving them to your cat.) I plan to give some of these homemade goodies to all the cats in my family next Christmas.



5. Okay - so there are a few recipe books out there for cats and most have many many more recipes. So after going to Border's myself and decided to choose this one mainly for these reasons...
   
   1. It is a boardbook and I like boardbooks in the kitchen. Easy to clean and wipe down.
   
   2. Every ingredient is already in your house or you get it at any grocery store. Nothing expensive either. The only thing I needed to purchase that I don't normally do is some liver for the one recipe.
   
   3. The cookie cutter!! Not every recipe can use it and even for the ones you can, you don't have to. But it is nice to do with kids and especially nice to make them for gifts to other cat lovers. Oh and for the holidays, you can use other cookie cutters or even use food coloring for green and red. We made great little baskets for a few friends with felines. What a hit!
   
   4. The recipes are easy easy easy! It isn't a whole hassle to make these snacks. Takes no time at all. And really, how many cat recipes are you really going to make over a lifetime? I don't see any need for a treat book with 100+ recipes that are too time consuming and expensive to make - oh and boring to look at. The 12 or so that are in this book are plenty for us and it is always fun looking at the great pics.
   
   5. My main reason though is that my daughter who is 5 loves to help and it is simple, easy for her to read, she can't rip it or destroy it. I personally think these are great gifts to give for kids. We gave the dog recipe book, which is very similar, to her little friend with 2 dogs and she LOVED it. Great for kids 5-12yrs old.
   
   6. The most important reason is that my 2 cats LOVE THEM!!

2 comments about Desiderata for Cat Lovers: A Guide to Life & Happiness.

1. What a treasure for those who enjoy poetry. This vintage poem is enhanced with kitten photos to enrich the written words...Desiderata, a latin word for the phrase " things that are yearned for" is truly an endearing reading full of charm and wit....Enjoy



2. I received this book as a gift and it was uplifting. Also gives brief history of the Desiderata poem.

5 comments about All I Need to Know I Learned From My Cat (And Then Some): Double-Platinum Collector's Edition.

1. My husband bought me this as a gift and it was a delight to read. To be honest, I had seen the book in the store, but figured it was too lightweight to justify buying it for myself. I was wrong.
   
   The illustrations are wonderful and make you smile. You're sure to recognize your cats in the drawings if they've ever tried to eat off your plate, shred the couch, or jump in a pile of warm laundry.
   
   The gems of wisdom are matched perfectly with the pictures and the juxtaposition of life lessons with funny scenarios from a typical cat's life are what really make this book incredibly charming and heartwarming.



2. I'm not a cat person, but these days I'm owned by a cat and I love and admire her as much as I ever loved my dogs. How did this come about? It happened before I knew it, or even realized why.
   
   This cute book articulated, hilariously so, exactly how and why cats take over our lives. Even at their worst, they embody humanity's best ideals.
   
   I do wish the cartoons were better drawn, though.



3. as someone who has owned many cats and enjoyed watching them this book is great. The cat quiz is also fun to take with other cat lovers



4. we laughed till our sides hurt. loved the book and the cats adventures and misadventures. well worth the price even if you're not a CAT LOVER. All I Need to Know I Learned From My Cat (And Then Some): Double-Platinum Collector's Edition GREAT FOR KIDS OF ALL AGES 2 - 102. great for cats of all ages too!!!!



5. This little book is so fun and so sweet! It's a great, light-hearted way to have a laugh.

5 comments about The Big Cats and Their Fossil Relatives.

1. This is BY FAR the best book about ANY prehistoric mammals that I have ever found! The fact that the subject is cats makes the book unique. There just isn't another book like this one. The focus is on fossil cats and their modern descendants, but they are discussed in relation to the environment and the other animals around them. The text is thorough, informative and very lucid. The writing style is clear and concise, without being terse and dry. A college student or interested adult will find it technical enough not to insult their intelligence, yet it is so well plotted and presented that an enthusiastic pre-teen can follow it (although they may need some help with some of the more technical terms). Turner obviously knows and loves cats.
   
   Now, to the illustrations. Mauricio Anton has absolutely no equal as an illustrator of cats. His illustrations of the other animals who share the cats' habitats are equally enthralling. His renderings are so lifelike that they place the reader right beside the cat. You can almost smell the dirt as it's raised by the hooves of the struggling prey and hear the sounds of interaction between cats and the creatures around them. The book is worth having for the color plates alone, but the pencil drawings are fabulous too, and in some ways even more informative than the plates.
   
   As a lifelong student and admirer of cats of all sizes, I cannot recommend this book highly enough. I reread it at least six or eight times a year, and refer to it almost daily. This book belongs in the collection of everyone who is interested in animals and wildlife art.



2. It's hard to review this book without tossing in a bucketful of giddy superlatives, so I'll stick with WONDERFUL! It contains some of the most strikingly beautiful artwork contained in any scholarly book. Having said that, a potential reader needs to keep in mind that this isn't a "popular science" book. You'll be encountering terms like "Paleocene" and "carnassials", but even though they might be a little confusing, they won't hurt you, either.
   
   Get this book! There may never be another work like this about the ancestral cats in print again.



3. I liked most everything about this book. This is a great natural history of the big cats and their various ancient ancestors going back some 25 million years. I especially enenjoyed chapters 4-Anatomy And Action, and 5-Behavior And Ecology. Also, Mr. Anton is a fine artist. This book should appeal to anyone with even a modest interest in the big cats. Both the color plates and the black and white drawings are lifelike and worth the price of the book.



4. For the lay reader - such as me - the welter of taxonomical and anatomical details with which this book is filled could perhaps have made it very boring. However, the fine drawing and the speculative detail about reconstrued ecology and behavior made the book a light read, even comic at times, when you discover that sabertoothed cats were a kind of lions and tigers "on steroids", with heavily muscled forelimbs and shoulders allowing them to immobilize the prey to the ground in order to deliver a devastating neck bite that would close a windpipe and sever bloodvessels neatly and quickly. Very funny to think that evolution could have taken this alternative path of turning the gracile feline form into something like a BB contest...



5. This is a great book on the evolution of the big cats, in fact I think its probably the only book outside of research journals or more technical material. Its wonderfully illustrated with very detailed pencil drawings of skulls, skeletons, musculature, and 'life reconstructions' of exctinct big cats. Also includes color plates with scenes depicting the cats and their habitats. The text is well organized and accesible to the informed layperson and is detailed enough to satisfy those with a deeper understanding of the subject matter.
   
   The illustrations really makes the book stand out: they are detailed and well drawn, and really bring the subject matter to life, as if you were able to examine the museum collection yourself, and then go on a prehistoric safari. An excellent choice for those interested in cat biology, natural history, or paleontology.

No comments about What Philosophy Can Tell You about Your Cat.

4 comments about Natural Nutrition for Cats: The Path to Purr-fect Health.

1. This little gem really spells out how to feed your cat. I have known for years that a raw diet is the best way to feed them, but I could never get my two boys to eat anything raw. This book has helped me feed them right. I am almost there. In another few days they will be eating a completely raw diet. I no longer give them dried food. I know they like it but it is so bad for them, even the high quality, low carb variety that I have because it has been cooked. My cats have already lost weight and their coats are shinier and healthier. Knowing what I know about the human diet (that we eat too many carbs and not enough fat) I am certain that having my cats eat an ancestral diet is the way to keep them healthy and disease free. I highly recommend this book if you want your cats to live a long and healthy life.



2. I found the subject intriguing and have a lot of respect for holistic approaches. The discussion of the dark side of the pet food industry was troubling and made me really rethink what I am feeding to my cat. I also respect the author's emphasis in obtaining nutrients from food (the synergistic blend of nutrients in food can't be duplicated in a lab) rather than pills and supplements. Her approach to nutrition can and should very easily transfer to how we (humans) should eat for optimal health.
   
   Unfortunately, there is some seriously sloppy science and argumentation that occurs in the book. For one, the author states that grains should not be part of a cat's diet. Grains are cheap and make up a large part of commercial cat food. Cats are evolutionarily equipped to eat raw meat so that's what we should feed our cats. She insists that this is safe because cats survived millions of years eating raw meat without bacterial problems. The problem in this country is that our farm animals are eating things that they were not evolutionarily equipped to eat. Cows being fed grain has resulted in the evolution of acid-resistant E. coli strains. The acid-resistant E. coli strains have been an issue for human health too. Our farm chickens are also raised in very unsanitary conditions resulting in higher levels of Salmonella, making me very wary of feeding raw chicken to my cat. The author did warn against feeding our cats raw pork because it might not be safe - I'm not sure why she thinks pork is unsafe while beef and chicken are. As far as I know, the main reason why people cooked pork to well done was to kill the parasitic roundworm Trichinella spiralis. Nowadays, the risk of contracting trichinosis from eating undercooked pork is very rare. But T. spiralis is still found in wild animals. So yes, it is natural for cats to hunt and eat wild animals like rabbits. But it is also natural for cats to contract parasites from these natural diets. While the author stresses that we should try to feed our cats organic meats if budgets allow. I agree with this. But feeding our cats raw conventional meat has its potential risks. The author clearly has her own agenda and makes no mention of these potential risks. She dismisses any real discussion about these risks by giving anecdotes of all the healthy pets she and her vet have met who eat raw food diets. These anecdotes are helpful but they are not scientific.
   
   While criticizing how the pet food industry derives its nutrient formulations from studies done on animals that are not cats, the author will make a case for why artificial dyes, benzoic acid, BHA,BHT, MSG, and citric acid are bad for cats while referencing studies that most likely were not done on cats (I'm not entirely sure because the author never footnotes any of the scientific claims she makes). I understand that it is not scientifically sound to make conclusions about cat nutrition if all the studies done were done on horses because they are two different animals, but as someone who is relatively familiar with the scientific process, many of the breakthroughs found in human nutrition were from studies done on animals that were not human. Other breakthroughs were from accidents - yes it's sad that many kitties died because the pet food industry did not realize that taurine was an essential amino acid. It's happened in the human world too. Sometimes the only way to figure out FOR SURE that something is essential for a particular animal is to do testing on that animal. But I'm sure if scientists were starving some cats of an essential nutrient to prove that it is essential, the author and others would throw a fit.
   
   All in all, the book does a good job in starting a cultural dialogue on the issue. That's it. Hopefully it can result in more scientific inquiry on what is best for our cats. Until then, I will be on the lookout for better resources.



3. Lots of great (scary!) info on the unregulated pet food industry in this country. If you are on the border about switching your cat to a raw food diet, this book will give you the motivation to never feed with commercial pet food again! Lots of detail on how to make your own food and what supplements to add (and why). After conventional vets could do no more for my kitty (and I think were making him worse!) I started taking him to a small-animal osteopath/homeopath. She has been using raw diets on her animals for 12 years and said she found that the animals actually do better on just whole ground up animals (including some liver, heart, gizzard and the ground bones). She did not recommend feeding extra supplements.. If all the supplement preparation in the book looks too overwhelming for you, just try the ground up animal since it is still WAY better than the commercial poisons. Just remember that you must include some taurine (heart and gizzards) and a small amount of liver and some bone for them to get a balanced diet. I think the supplement controversy comes in because cats eating whole animals would eat the stomach and everything and most likely get some vegetable matter from what their prey (mostly mice) would eat. Find a good butcher who will grind whole chickens, cornish hens or quail, rabbits, and turkey meat with added organ meats. They will most likely want to do it at the close of business just before they clean their machines since they would contaminate other meats ground afterwards.. Get the meat coarse-ground and add some small cut-up pieces if you have the time so your kitty has something to chew on.. Also,try to get meats without hormones or antibiotics since cats little bodies really aren't equipped to handle all that either.. although, raw with hormones and antibiotics is still better than commercial as well.. Have patience, if your kitty is addicted to his crunchies, you may have to put a few in the raw food to get him to start eating.. My sister and I both did the "sink or swim" philosophy with our cats (here's the food, eat it) and they both took to it pretty quickly.. and are eating with gusto now! One great benefit is that their poo gets tiny and all dried up with no smell! My kitty had HUGE stinky poo before the raw diet: guess the commercial food had so little nutrient value that it all came out in the litter box! ..Oh, and my kitty is now putting weight back on and his fur is getting thicker every day!



4. This book contains information that every pet owner should know about! I have a good friend whos cat was killed by eating a well known brand of cat food that was included in the pet food recall last year. This book gives you all the information you need to protect yourself and your cat from such a tragic fate. The book is a worthy follow up to Kymythy Schultze's other two books that I recommend to everyone. The No-Cook book for People and Pets is my favorite receipe book of all time, and the Natural Nutrion for Dogs and Cats book was what started me feeding a homemade diet years ago. She has done a brilliant job of updating the information in the first book and adding new and very timely information for cats and their people. As usual Ms. Schultze adds her brand of humor and charm to the subject, making it a very enjoyable read. I really enjoyed the cat pictures too. Great book!

2 comments about The Healing Touch for Cats: The Proven Massage Program for Cats, Revised Edition.

1. I bought this book because I have two ill, elderly cats, and want to do more for them than shove pills down their throats. Although I was already intuitively doing a lot of what's described in this book, it does provide some new options for me. I gave it only a 4 because a lot of the information wasn't new to me. For someone newer to being the servant of cats, this is an EXCELLENT resource (probably a 5 star book) for learning how to interact physically with your cats, and what you learn in this book will bring both of you loads of good times and pleasure, as well as mutual healing.



2. A sensitively and clearly written, well illustrated and very thorough guide to therapeutic cat massage. The author combines professional expertise as a vet and a masseur with a profound understanding of - and respect for - animals.

2 comments about Teaching Your Cat Simple Tricks (Storey Country Wisdom Bulletin, a-272).

1. This booklet seems to have some really good, well-thought out steps to teaching your cat to perform useful behaviors on command. It has been very helpful as a supplement to clicker-training books for that very reason. When I couldn't come up with steps towards a desired behavior, this book supplied them.



2. This book came in perfect condition very quickly. I've already started to teach my cats how to "sit". Thanks!

4 comments about Purr More, Hiss Less: Heavenly Lessons I Learned from My Cat.

1. "Purr More, Hiss Less Heavenly Lessons I Learned from My Cat by Allia Zobel is an aptly titled book for the cat lover in all of us. At 222 pages long, it's an enjoyable romp through watercolor pages that are little works of art, each accompanying a thought provoking saying penned by Ms. Zobel. Gratifiying for kids and adults alike, it contains large doses of the ahh and ha ha factor. Each page w/ saying could be a framable work of art but then, you'd have to buy another book....better to have restraint and just look at the book often. Ms. Zobel is the definitive authority on the humor of cats and the life lessons they share."



2. Purr More, Hiss Less is one of those wonderful books that will delight people of all ages. If life is getting you down, or you think things are rough, Allia Zobel Nolan has provided the perfect comfort and encouragement - a book of wisdom gleaned from felines.
   
   The watercolor illustrations are beyond charming. They're exquisite, making this a book to display as well as enjoy.



3. Purr More, Hiss Less overflows with heartfelt thoughts on how to live a joyous life, based on kitty wisdom. Author Allia Zobel Nolan has perfectly captured the magical eyes through which cats see the world. The enchantment continues with Erika Oller's beautiful illustrations.
   
   All of the insights in this charming book will bring a smile, but two that really touched me are "Do the right thing...even when there's no one watching" and "Retain a kitten-like sense of wonder." Imagine how the world might be if we lived by those ideas?
   
   This book will be treasured by cat lovers of all ages!



4. This book is chock full of wisdom - kitty and otherwise. 'Take the good fleas with the bad,' bestselling author Allia Zobel Nolan advises readers of Purr More, Hiss Less: Heavenly Lessons I Learned from My Cat.
   
   If I had to pick my favorite it would be, 'Don't stick your paws where they don't belong.' There are smiles to be had on all 224 pages. This gem of a book is lovingly illustrated by Erika Oller. The combination of Allia's wit and Erika's watercolors is a winning match.
   
   Buy this just-released book as a gift for anyone (young or old) in your life who adores cats. As Allia says, 'It's okay to be hooked on a feline.' ... So while you're at it, why not pick up a copy for your neighborhood cat lady?
   
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