Novel Cats ~ [Various books] ~ 3/00 ~ Mystery Export

CATS in fiction, CATS in literature, CATS in-your-face!
They’re the CAT’S pajamas and they’re everywhere!

There has been a proliferation of cozy little cat novels in recent years, due to the popularity of cats as pets, so let's track down as many as we can find. And classics and poetry for all ages have on occasion featured cats. So... CATapult your thoughts in the direction of these PURRfect pleasures!

Click here to buy these books.

Current Quote: Epitaph from a pet cemetery...

 
 
"No heaven will not ever 
Heaven be 
Unless my cats are there 
to welcome me."

Thanks to Phyll for suggesting this quote.

Marjorie and Sage’s cat Gypsy

Click here to view a chronological list of all the "Cat Who..." books.

Your discussion co-leaders were catladies Ann Alden and Jeryn!

Welcome, welcome to our discussion of The Cat Who... series. This is YOUR discussion and will take whatever direction YOU readers want it to... after all, you are the ones who requested it! I'd like to hear from each interested person which of The Cat Who... books you have read already, or ARE reading. Then we can compare some notes and get rolling...

Meow!

LET THE GAMES BEGIN!!!!

Welcome to this discussion. It's so good to be back and hear from you! Its been a long wait and we never gave up seeing you in here when the Books folder was repaired!!

Hello............

I just posted in Mystrey..............then scrolled down and seen this group............

I have read quit a few of these The Cat Who series.....I think they are very good ......I like light mystreys........I'm not into scifi or blood gory and torture..................

I just finished the Red Cardinal.........and another...I forgot the name...but believe it must be one of the first ones ,if not the first. where he aquired coco...................very interesting............

Hope this is a successful discussion........Judy

Judypoet, love your name! Yes, that's one biiiiig mark in favor of these mysterys--nothing particularly gruesome, gory, or horrific! The Cat Who Could Read Backwards is the very first one--is that the one you're reading? It's been a while since I read that one but I'm pretty sure that's the one where he gets Koko.

I've read them all except the very latest one. I'm hoping to nab a copy from the local library soon...

Hi...........

Yes.....that was the name of it.................The Cat who read backwards.................and I apoligize about ...coco.....I knew it didn't look right when I wrote it........I know it was KOKO.........

Qwill sounds like a really nice man......would like to meet him also.. and wouldn't it be nice if people really did all the good things he does for his community thru the k fund...........Oh..well....guess that's why it is called fiction.................Judy

What I want if for someone to leave me all that money to be so generous with! LOL! I just finished the one where he goes to the lakefront property and tries to remodel the cabin and none of his contractors can stay on the job. Been there, done that!

I just recently discovered the "Cat Who . . ." books. They are an absolute delight. So far I've read "The Cat Who Tailed a Thief" The Cat Who Knew a Cardinal" and "The Cat Who Saw Stars". Amusing, lots of little interesting tidbits about books, dolls, various and sundry topics.

Eileen Megan

Hi..........

Ann...........yes.....I go along with the money thing......LOL

Eileen..............I just read that The Cat who saw stars.....I thought that one was different than most she writes........I wasn't quite sure what I thought about it when finished......the others always had what I call.......a good solid ending............maybe she is leaving it hanging for another book...........Judy................

Hi everyone! Nice to see some cat-who lovers in here today!

Judypoet, you have read the very first one, The Cat Who Could Read Backwards, then one of the later ones, The Cat Who Saw Stars. Do you think you'll read another one? And, if so, will you try to read them in chronological order?

I have a chronological list--would you all like me to put it in the header?

Ann, that sounds like The Cat Who Played Brahms--am I right? I remember it best because it's the only one I've read twice! It was the very first one I read, then much later, I reread it after I'd read a lot of the others. I believe it is the 5th one in the series.

Eileen! Great to see you here! These books are precious, aren't they?!

How about if we all save ourselves some effort and start referring to these individual titles as "CW..." for Cat Who? Like this: CW Saw Stars was one of the later ones in the series, wasn't it? I'm wondering if we can notice any trend or changes in the books that have been written last, say the last 4 or 5? Something to keep in mind if/when you read more.

Judypoet, yes, I agree with you, even though I've only read 3 of the books I thought that "The Cat Who Saw Stars" left a few things undone - was there ever an explanation of what happened to the backpacker??? It's a couple of books ago for me but I think that's what was left hanging.

Jeryn, what a great idea, a chronological list. Should I assume that the list in the front of the books has them in order? Yes, I'm enjoying them immensely!

Eileen Megan

Not necessarily, Eileen. I tried to go by a list in the front of one of the books, and found they were WRONG as to order when I got to comparing copyright dates! No, I got this list from a recent book that's come out all about this series and it sounds correct inasfar as I recall the sequence.

I'll put it up in the header for a few days then have Pat S make it into a clickable for us to save header room... I may have OTHER things planned for the header too!

I'm rereading the very first one, "CW Could Read Backwards" just to refresh my memory about how things all got started. Does anyone remember in which book, an early one I believe, Qwilleran comes into the inheritance?

Hi Everyone............

Thank you for suggesting the list.........it would be interesting to know............although I have read probably most of them already............................................................. And I don't read a book twice.........too many out there to read.....

I think there was no solution of the guy buried in the sand......but can't remeber for sure................that's one of those ends they left sort of dangling..........but they had so much about starting a group at library or whereever to study ufo's etc...........that I just thought it would lead to more along that vain..................Maybe she is running out of ideas.............(:>).........................................Judy

I love your kitten up there chasing some thing in your header please do not get rid of it.

I haven't read any of the "CW" books, but all your comments have really piqued my interest. Do the books relate to each other, that is, if I wanted to read one is it best to start with the first or doesn't it matter?

Hey, Jeryn, how do you want to do this? I can't figure which book to read first since I started reading them 10 years ago and just waded in. Do you want to discuss each one? Or what? Where did you find the book about the CW books? That would interest me if I am to make any intelligent comments. Or any remarks at all! I just finished two of them and can't remember the titles. I think they were CW who went into the closet and CW who went underground. I mentioned the underground book which I think was all about Quillen going to the cabin on the lake and trying to remodel it but his contractors keep dying off. The plumber is a girl and he as usual gets himself into much trouble and the cats bail him out.

Jeryn, thanks for the list. So far I've read 12, 19 and 21 - guess I'll read them as I find them. (:

Judypoet so you noticed that too - hmmm, maybe in the next book there'll be an answer?

Eileen Megan

Ginger, glad to see you! Yeh, my kitten up there is a cutie, isn't he!? We have Pat Scott to thank for finding him and giving him a home here with us!

OH, Ann, let's just stay sort of unstructured here, for a while at least. These books are so popular, getting hold of the very one YOU want at any given time may not be that easy for everyone.

I'm rereading the first one [CW Could Read Backwards] just for this discussion and actually enjoying it a lot! Chuckling all the way! I hope to find the newest one and read it next, 1] because it's the ONLY one I've never read, and 2] to compare, as some of you are doing, and see if the author is running dry. After 22 books about a cat who solves mysteries, it would be understandable!

Ann, CW Played Brahms also takes place at that lake cottage, I think; I'm confusing it with the one you read where he had the repair troubles. The Cat Who...Companion by Sharon A. Feaster is the book I referred to.

Hi Jeryn and Ann A.

I love the Cat Who books, too, even though I am allergic to cats. At least I can enjoy the books without sneezing and wheezing.

Does anyone else agree with me that the Cat Who Moved Mountains is a great social commentary? Sounds a lot like some communities I've known that draw an invisible line between the "haves" and the "have-nots". But a lot funnier.

Qwill is someone I would like to know, I think, and I would love to sit in the Apple Barn and listen to him read whatever book KoKo has chosen.

Phyll

Hello Phyll! Nice of you to stop by! I'm sort of remembering CW Moved a Mountain... what you said does ring a bell about the dual social climates. [..."duel" social climates, more like!]

I do think there is a wee bit more to this author than initially meets the eye, which is probably why these books are so popular. I really think Ms. Braun keeps her tongue firmly planted in her cheek! Some of the dialogue in CW Could Read Backwards just cracks me up... and I don't remember thinking it was that FUNNY the first time I read it. Maybe it's me... I love subtle, droll humor.

Qwilleran is indeed a darling, low key, first rate hero. What's not to like... and he's a bachelor! [divorcee, actually]

Well, well, well. Seeing all you CW.... lovers does my heart good. I feel like I am coming out of the cat closet!!! I read everything I can get my hands on, high-falutin' and otherwise, (except westerns and romance) and always felt a bit embarrassed because I SO enjoyed the cat books. And now I can let my real self all hang out because I see I am not alone!!

These are charming books and a real pleasure to read. Such characters. Such cats!

Oh, am I glad to hear you say that, Gail T! We'll all just step right "out of the closet" and ENJOY these darling stories! How many of them have YOU read?

hi im a cat who lover , ihave all her books and have read them all. will be interested to c all your comments.lorryevans

Welcome Lorry! So far, you, Gail T, and I are the only ones here who confess to having read ALL these books. And I haven't read the very latest one yet... waiting to get it from the local library. WE look forward to hearing YOUR comments, too!

I'm going to feature a different quote from some one of these books up above in the header from time to time...weekly, if I can manage it. What do you all think?

You can still view the list of ALL the books with the clickable. Just use your "back" button to come back here or you'll have to login again--at least until Marcie et al get that problem fixed.

Well, I see where I neglected to answer your question the other day, Gail G. I read it, made note of it, and still forgot! Oy--CRS again. Anyhow, I'd say these books would be very enjoyable read in chronological order, but definitely NOT mandatory! I certainly didn't read them in perfect order and didn't even FIND the earlier ones until I'd read half a dozen later ones.

What do you think, Gail T. and Lorry? Did YOU read them in chronological order?

lorryevans: WELCOME ABOARD, This is place for us Cat lovers and I have always had one till I became allergic to them but sill love them and so do like pictures of them. When I learn to post pictures I will show the best one I have ever seen. My Mother's favorite and mine. So good to see you and will ttyl.Friends for sure.

Ginger

I've read several of th CW books but can't remember the titles. Definetly didn't read them in order, but had to go back and read some of the earlier ones to see how Qwilleran got to where he was. I think any order is fine......Mary

Welcome, EME! Yes, any order seems to be the consensus. Just grab one and start reading! If you can find one...

Did you all know that there is a gap of 18 years between the third and the fourth book in the series? Ms. Braun had a full-time job on a newspaper during those years. She had written the fourth novel but her publisher felt that public interest had waned so she just put it away in a drawer for 18 years!

I really think her career in newspaper work helped her writing style for these books. So breezy and refreshingly straightforward...

Hello Everyone! This folder has got to be a dream come true for me. I just love the Cat Who books. Tell me more about this folder. Are we discussing all the books or will we be reading one and discussing it?

Welcome jeanine! Glad you found us! Will we be choosing one and reading it, you asked. Well, I'M willing.

It has been mentioned. How many of you would like to do that? Would there be any interest in choosing the very first one--CW Could Read Backwards--for our very first read? Please speak up, CW Lovers! This is YOUR discussion!!

Actually, I don't think I have read all the books -- and therefore probably not the first one, since it has only been the last few years that I even discovered them.

One of the problems I have is that I read so much that books tend to run together. I can more easily remember the author's name than the book title, but that doesn't do much good if you're trying to tell someone about it. I've taken to keeping a book diary, and it certainly has helped me recollect names and plots. (Some things you never forget - like "Love in the Time of Cholera" - even if you've read all his other works). But all of Anne Perry's books run together in my mind, as do most of those done in a series....and yes, even Braun's kitty books do. I'm probably the only one who has this problem, right?

Anyway, I'm game to read/reread any of the CW books...whatever you leaders decide on! And just for the record, I have three of my own - cats, not books - Tigger, Cipsi and Gloria Darling.

I am willing to reread the CW books. We don't have to if others don't want to or that is not the purpose of the board. I went up to the bedroom last night to see what CW books I have. I have several. I was so tired I crawled in bed and fell asleep. Maybe when I get home this evening I will try again.

Gail, I envy you. I wish it was me retiring this summer. I really need to get my life back. I also have your book problem. I read a lot and sometimes they tend to run together. I have just started keeping a book journal. Partly to solve this problem and partly because I belong to a couple online book clubs and I become very confused. When you go online and post about the wrong book you know it is time to take action!!

Oh, and I have a cat of my own. Actually it belongs to my daughter but she could not take it to college with her. Kitty's name is Tigger and she is about 12 or so.

Jeanine

Well, Ginny is always saying it only takes 3 to make a discussion so I say let's go for it! Gail T, jeanine, and moi--and OF COURSE, anyone else who wants to join in!!!

Do you both have a copy of CW Could Read Backwards? I have it from the library and have already started it. The quote in the header is from this book... did anybody notice?

Hey, what a great idea! I bet MANY in this group have a cat or cats of their own! Let's introduce our CATS like Gail T and jeanine just did! My two little darlings are Purrsia and Charley Dickens. Charley was the mascot for Seniornet's Hard Times discussion last year. Purrsia had her picture in Photos Then & Now last month.

I've been thinking of featuring some pictures of mine and Ann's cats in the header, soon as I work out the plan. Watch my header, everyone! If you don't like it today, you might like it tomorrow... or next week! If you can get a picture to Pat Scott, we might eventually feature YOUR cat too!

Hi Jeryn, I received an email from PatS to the effect that she had put up my two cats here in the header so was anxious to see them. But they aren't here!

Anyway, I am off to upstate New York for a week or so and will check in from there is my grandson has the Net up. He is attending college plus working at Lightlink or Earthlink. Busy fellow! Since I don't remember which of the CW books that I have read, I will pick up CW Who Read Backwards for discussion when I return. Or, if by then you have started another one, let me know.

Did I mention that my mother got us started on these sweet books about ten years ago? At the time, she had just made friends with our cats and decided that they were A-okay. Before that, she was only a dog person! It got so that every once in a while, we would receive a package from her with three or four of the CW books enclosed. And, eventually, she bought Christmas gifts for the cats.

I was really surprised to hear that Braun didn't publish the fourth book until 18 years had passed. Very much like Celestine Sibley who wrote mysteries about a little widow in Atlanta. She also was a newpaper woman who had her own column in the Atlanta Journal.

I dug around in the bedroom last night and could only find three CW books. I know I had more than that and know I did not give them away. Now to remember where I put them? We have a used book store in Vandergrift and I have to pass buy it to go home so I think I will stop and see if he has a copy of CW Read Backwards. I know I read this book. It will take me a day or two to get the book because he isn't open everyday. Feel free to start without me because it doesn't take me long to read Braun's books.

Oh, jeanine, we have all the time we want for this! I'm going to refrain from commenting until I see that you all have started reading. Let me know when you've gotten into the book, say, to where the quote above was taken from.

Ann, I'll bet she put the pix in my practice folder which is what I asked her to do. I'll go check and start working on them.

Everyone! Shortly, we're going to be reading the very first book in this series; it's called The CW Could Read Backwards. Now HOW in the world could a cat read, let alone backwards?

Sure hope YOU can join jeanine, Gail T, Ginger and I in reading this delightful little caper!!!! The more the merrier...

I can see that my Saturday next will be taken up at either the local libraries or used book stores, trying to track down the right cat book! Luckily I'm in a metropolitant area and I should be able to find it, though you know how if you have something specific you are going for, it is never available!! (Murphy's law). I am still working full time and just don't have enuf time or energy left at the end of the day to go galavanting around from store to store. I used to be able to do it, but not any more!!! Give me a book and a couch!

However, if you all want to go ahead and post, don't worry about me, I'll catch up!

To reply to Jeryn's comment, "Now HOW in the world could a cat read, let alone backwards?"

Just a bit of "witism" may answer that. You see I like to do counted cross stitch and I designed a bookmark with a picture of a bookworm reading, and on it is this statement. "Bookworms understand language by interpreting written symbols for speech sounds." Perhaps that is the same way that makes it possible for cats to read. Then, too, if the cat held the book up to a mirror and looked at the reflection, it could read backwards. Does anyone agree? LOL

As for the CW books, I have been reading them for years, and I believe that I have read all except the last one, CW Who Robbed A Bank, and I have my request in at the library for that one. I'd like to start back over again and will get the one that Jeryn mentioned, so that I can join in the discussions. Purring reading to you all. Mary K.

Welcome, welcome, Mary K! Glad to have you purring along with us here! Hahaha! When you all get started reading this first book, then I--or someone--can post the explanation of how Koko reads. Don't want to spoil it for you! Sufficient to say it's NOT with a mirror 8>) heh heh!

Gail T, we're just delighted you want to join us. Do so at your leisure, of course. One suggestion... I found this first CW book in a little wire kiosk of paperback whodunits at the local library. If your library has anything like that, might just be there rather than on shelf.

Hi. I read about these books and ordered CW Went Into The Closet. I should get it any day now. I found the list of books in order and will try to get CW Could Read Backwards. I do like to read things in order.

Marjorie

Welcome Marjorie! Sure glad you are going to join us! Should be fun as we now have six interested in reading this first book and out hunting for a copy!

Libraries do have them but they are very popular and often checked out. Any good bookstore should offer the paperback copy for around $6.99 if one wants to make the investment. Books have gotten so expensive but PB whodunits are still among the lower priced items, comparatively speaking.

Hello Everyone!

One day a month I do not have to work at all and today was my day. So my girlfriend and I went shopping. I went to Waldens and bought the cat who book. I hope to get started this evening.

Do you all know that there is a "CW Companion" out! I was in a bit of a hurry at this point and just flipped through real quick. It describes the people, places etc in all the stories.

A little more posting then on to the book.

Jeanine

jeanine! So glad you got the book! I have the CW Companion you mention. I thought it might come in handy if I needed to check a reference but actually, I've found it rather difficult to use. It does have an informative little interview with the author, where I picked up some odd facts.

I was not surprised to learn that Braun had been a newspaperwoman. That breezy, right-to-the-point style of hers smacks of reporting. And, of course, most of you know already that Qwilleran, her protagonist, is a newspaper columnist.

Does anyone know where I might find Joan Grimes? I have a traveling questions and I think she might have the answer!

Jeanine

I found a bunch of CW books on both the eBay and Yahoo! auction sites. The clickables are for home pages to those sites. I am bidding on 8 of the books and I haven't even read one yet. I like buying books at one of the auctions. It can be addicting.

http://www.ebay.com eBay Home Page

http://auctions.yahoo.com Yahoo! Auctions Home Page

Took phone calls to three libraries and trips to two used bookstores to find the CW... book we're going to read. Wasn't as easy as I suspected - and had to buy a book of 3 to get the right one. (Also found another book I'd been looking for, so it cost me $14.00 to get out of the store). But I consider it a successful morning. I allowed myself to read Chapter 1 before I started on my housework and can't dig into the rest of it until I do my chores...if I didn't make up those kinds of rules, I'd probably do nothing but sit and read with squalor all around me!

Oh, Gail T! Sounds like my mother all over again! No sitting and reading until the work is done... hahaha! I'm just so glad you found the book! Progress is being made!!

jeanine, hi there! Joan G can generally be found in her own discussion called "Travel Books". Look on the main page or do you want me to get a link for you?

Hi Marjorie! Thanks for the links to the auction sites. Want to tell us just how that works? You bid by email? Does it take minutes or hours [or days] to know if you get the book?

I found a book on the eBay auction that is not listed in your chronological list. It is "CW had 14 Tales."

And you can also get the "14 Tales" from B&N

Is "CW who had 14 Tales" a new story or does it combine 14 of those on your list?

Thanks Gail, make me feel guilty for sitting here in all the squalor! I announced after church today that I really did not feel like cleaning house. I am tired today for some reason. Hubby said he didn't care. He didn't think things looked "that" bad so........... The Lord said we should rest on the 7th day so that's what I am doing.

Jeryn, I still haven't found Joan. I some how keep missing travel books also!!

I misplaced my CW book. AAUUUGGHHH! Now I might have to clean up!

Jeanine

Found my book. It was hiding under another! Now I can curl up in my chair and read.

Marjorie, look at the bottom of my table in the link above: Cat Who Had 14 Tales is listed there. It is outside the chronological list because it is a book of short stories. Has anyone read it?

jeanine, I see you found the Travel Books place by your post there today! I knew you could do it!!

OK, how many of you are NOW reading CW Could Read Backwards? Besides jeanine and me?!

Jeryn,

I am. I need some lighter reading than Chaucer from time to time and I have always enjoyed The CW books. It's fun to start back at the beginning. I hope you notice that Lilian Braun lives in North Carolina? Just a little territorial plug.

Phyll

Great, Phyll! And I am also reading The Canterbury Tales! Our paths shall cross and cross! How far away from Ms. Braun are you? Gee, maybe you could call her up and ask her to join us?!? [wishful thinking]

Jeryn, don't forget me. I am reading it too!

Phyll - Want to give me yet another plug for your state? We are going to the outer banks this summer for a week. We rented a house in Kill Devil Hills. Presently looking on line to see what fun things there are to do because my 17 year old is afraid that she will be board to tears!

I am trying to read Chaucer but I don't know if I can do this. I was reading the "old version". I am going to try the updated translation and see if that is any better.

And of course I am reading CW too!

I think my problem is I have too many books stacked on my table at present. I believe there are 6 or 7 at present. Maybe I need two put all but two away!

Well, I left here and went to the North Carolina folder and see that you did leave me a plug there. Thanks Phyll! I thought I would add this rather than rewrite!

Jeanine

I shan't forget you, Gail T! So that makes 4 of us, at least, that are reading away on this first CW book.

As it begins, our hero is looking for a job and has NO pets. Hmmmmmm. Just how old a man is our Qwilleran as he enters the uh literary scene?
And help me here, does anyone know what the newspaper's slogan means: Fiat Flux?? It's irritating me because I think it's meant to be funny and I DON'T GET IT! )8>? Where's Ginny Anderson when I need her??! [She's a retired Latin teacher!]

Well, Qwill's had a lot of jobs in a 20 year period, a downward spiral of his career, a divorce, and "a humbling experience"...which all together means he's not a yuppie anymore and probably professionally has peaked. I've always imagined him in his mid to late 50s...but if he was that when the first book was written, he certainly has aged a lot more slowly than I!

My dictionary says "Fluxion" means "daily change." Both Flux and Fiat are in there too but I won't take a stab at what they might signify together, but I'm sure it is funny.

Jeryn,

My Webster's gives the Latin root for fiat as "Let it be done." and an alternate definition for flux is: "L.-flow". My husband just suggested that Fiat Flux could mean "Go with the flow." That sounded pretty good to me and seems to jibe with L. Braun's tongue-in-cheek kind of writing.

Phyll

Hello All!

I haven't finished the book yet. Don't know why it is takeing me so long. Usually I can gat a CW read pretty quickly. So far I have only read 6 1/2 chapters.

Braun makes a point of letting us know that Mountclemens is left handed, I am sure before I finish the book it will mean something. I always wondered how Quill acquired his cats. I now know where Koko came from.

Jeanine

It doesn't surprise me at all that in any books set in the early 1900s lots of horses are taking people from one place to another, or that books in the 1800s have people using chamber pots -- but what DID surprise me in this book is that by page two we have typewriters clattering, teletypes jigging and telephones screaming, none of which happens nowadays! Assuming L. Braun set the time frame of this book in the in the era of the time she wrote it (1966), it seems like just yesterday. Yet it is over 30 years ago and not surprising that so many technological things have changed -- computers are quiet, telephones give a much quieter ring (except in the middle of the night) and fax machines silently spit out their messages. My, my, my! This book seems so "modern day" and yet what a difference 30 years makes.

I also think that Qwill's mustache was a lot more active when he was "younger" that it is in the later books when he obviously is a few years older. Happens to the best of us, I guess!

Ooohhhh, that mustache! My husband has one, perhaps not as voluminous as Qwilleran's; I asked him if he could use his mustache as an extrasensory appendage... he said, "Huh?" Hey, it makes a good story... heh heh.

Fiat Flux = "Go with the flow"! Sounds great to me! Thanks for that deduction, Phyll, and thank your husband! Tongue-in-cheek is definitely Ms. Braun's style so fits right in...

Qwilleran's age:
I did a little backtracking and find the very first sentence says,
"Jim Qwilleran, whose name had confounded typesetters and proofreaders for two decades... "
Soooooo, I think we might safely peg this gentleman at about 40 years of age as the series begins. He's been around... the job market, the marriage bit, and quite a few bars!

Apparently, newsrooms had quieted down just a bit by the mid-60s, Gail T. At least to the point of having an electric pencil sharpener! NOT what the Qwill was accustomed to, however; so it must have been about then that changes toward peace and quiet began occurring?

Does anyone else find that the later Cat Who---books have a little more substance to them? This first book in the series was good but it seemed to me that Braun wasn't quite sure yet just what direction she wanted to go with them. I think what has made her entire series so successful is that she allowed the characters, Qwilleran, KoKo and later, YumYum to develop in their own way. I liked this early Qwill but I'm really crazy about the more mature Qwilleran that shows up in later books.

Phyll

I just got the first CW book and started reading it this afternoon. Now I have some idea who you are all talking about. I didn't get very far yet.

Whew, I'm running late here AGAIN. I'll be back tomorrow with some new stuff, more questions, more intelligence than I can summon up right now! Ah'm sleepy! Nighty night; love you all!

Today I finally got "The Cat Who Could Read Backwards".

I would like to mention that one of the most enjoyable aspects of Quilleran's character is his curiosity. So far, in every CW book I've read, I've picked up little odd tidbits of information about various topics. I love writers who inform you about all sorts of odds and ends.

Eileen

I have The Cat Who Could Read Backswards also. I noticed that Quill ia drinking tomato juice instead of, what was it? Squnk water? Something like that. I've just finished Ch 5, so not much has happened so far.

EME, Eileen [good buddy!], so glad you both are among our little crew reading the first CW book!

I think Qwilleran drinks tomato juice because he is a reformed alcoholic. Did the rest of you come to that impression too? Later books, which are set "400 miles North of everywhere", feature a local beverage called "skuunk water" which I've always thought was just a bottled water?

I've never yet seen friend Qwilleran fall off his wagon! Wonder why this author chose to make her hero a teetotaler? It's possible she has experience?

Yes, Eileen, I think that is one of the marks of a good author, particularly of light fiction like this. I like to see them introduce interesting sidebar info, make moral judgements, and add social commentary. John D. MacDonald was so good at the latter, I thought.

Marjorie, I wanted to comment on your observation that the later CW books seem to have more to them... I sort of agree. Ongoing characters and the ambiance of the North woods surroundings create a pleasant place to visit and revisit, figuratively speaking, I guess. Do you feel the plotting becomes more elaborate, as well?

The Cat Who Could Read Backwards

Veteran crime reporter Jim Qwilleran, on the rebound from a bad bout with alcoholism, has taken a position at the Daily Fluxion under his old best friend Arch Riker in an attempt to get his life back to normal -unfortunately, though, his experiences at his new job turn out to be anything but run-of-the-mill. At first, he feels indignant (and bewildered) at being assigned to cover the modern art world, but it soon seems that he is all too suited for the job - a gruesome chisel killing, a vandalized art gallery, a vicious art critic who draws more than his share of blood, and a psychic cat named Kao K'o Kung (a.k.a. Koko) are just a few of the strange sights Qwill encounters on his new beat. It seems impossible that they could all be interconnected, and yet... Could Koko hold the missing clues to untangle this web of deception and murder - before Qwilleran is ensnared as well?

I found the above review of the Cat Who book that we are reading and thought it would explain the tomato juice drink. I guess the fact that Qwill is a recovering alcoholic is one of the first premises of Braun CW series. I thought he had inherited the money and the estate from day one because when I started the books, he was already upstate, 400 miles from nowhere.

P.S. Jeryn, the pictures of your cat are just perfect for these books. I look forward to more. I was never been able to catch my cats in their "photo opportunity" poses. They would always take off if they caught me watching them.

Oh thanks for that, Ann! The review, I mean. Did you see the picture of YOUR cats I had up last week? It was pretty beautiful but maybe they DIDN'T know they were being photographed!? I had the one where they are looking out the window at the snowfall.

I think we have to read 3 or 4 more in this series before Qwill inherits all the dough. Anybody remember? I THINK it's CW Played Brahms...

BUT, back to the CW Reading Backwards and how will that solve the mystery, anyway? I am far enough along to see 3 [three] murders have taken place; now I'm wondering if there will be one murderER or possibly 2, or even 3???

I do love it when the cat influences Qwill in a moral judgement [see quote of the week above]!

JERYN: You have me confused with someone else. I didn't read any of the CW books before I got this first one yesterday. I don't know about any differences between them.

I am looking forward to finishing this book from all the comments here. I, too, like books that provide odd bits of information about different things.

A friend of mine many years ago took up with an officer of the cruise ship on which she was vacationing whose name was Odd. He was Norwegian. She was quite enamored of him for a while - - which is why the name "Odd" stuck in my mind. Had I not known that, I would have had a hard time figuring out what kind of a funny name this photographer on the Daily Fluxion had. It is a strange name, but probably not if you are Norwegian.

On the first page of Chapter 3 it says, "The club had originated forty years before in the back room of a blind pig." What, pray tell, is a blind pig?

Well, Ann's posting settled the question about Quill being an alcoholic. Yet I do question that, further on in the book while at the press club, he was not having a good day and decided to have a scotch but a call from Zoe diverted him. If this is the first book, it isn't written anywhere specifically that he is an alcoholic - maybe he just decided to quit drinking for other reasons.

Jeryn Another writer I recently discovered who fills you up with all sorts of fascinating facts is Barbara Michaels, she has interesting characters who have unique careers, the last book I read was about 2 proprietors of an antique clothing shop.

Eileen

GAIL T.: I had the same question: What IS a blind pig?

Gail T, Marjorie, I saw that too... "a blind pig" hmmmmmmmmm. I really don't have a clue except to assume she means something pretty ramshackle! And thanks for the background info on the "odd" name.

Oh, Marjorie, sorry I mistook you for another poster! <laughing> You know, what we need here are liddle pictures beside our names! Some of us are terrible with names! Well, whoever it was, I hope you'll identify yourself!

Eileen, I don't recall another single instance where Qwill almost falls off his wagon but, throughout the series, it will mention that he drinks tomato juice or skuunk water or something equally nonalcoholic! I think the author is trying always to subtly emphasize that aspect of her hero.
Isn't Barbara Michaels a nom de plume for Ruth Rendell?

If I had to guess I would think that it has something to do with the old speak-easy, the blind pig being the legitimate front. Though what that has to do with a pig beats me!

I just came back from visiting my very lucid 92 year old father and I asked him if he had ever heard of a blind pig. He was as mystified as I was.

Well, thanks for the research, anyway, Gail T! Must be some sort of regional expression only none of us are from the right region!

Thanks so much, Ginger! And thanks for the research, even if it turned up nothing. I wonder if the good lady Braun has a website?

Oh yes, Ginger, there are several sites covering Miss Braun. They are compilations of all the Braun books plus many fans of the books and their take on the stories.

As to The Blind Pig, I wonder if that is the name of a pub or bar. Remember how Martha Grimes books are all titled with the name of a pub? Maybe that's what is being done here!

I checked my dictionary and found blind pig. It means blind tiger. Really. And a blind tiger is a place that illegally sells intoxicating beverages. So it probably was a speak easy. But I wonder where those expressions came from. Doesn't seem logical to me, but what do I know......MaryE

In looking up The Blind Pig, I have discovered a new author(for me) of mysteries named Jon A. Jackson who writes police procedural mysteries and did one titled, "The Blind Pig". I have also found that there is a record company by the same name plus a well known bar in Michigan which has a dubious history. I gave up reading all of this after 30 minutes because I am on my way to bed.

OH the things we learn! Thanks to all of you ambitious ones who found that information. I was going to do a bit of research but just didn't get around to it. [basically, she's lazy] [And getting sleepy too]

Night night all. A demain...

Hello Everyone. Wow I go don't get a chance to join you all for a few days and look what I miss! It has been very interesting reading all those back posts.

I got a year old on Friday and that didn't rest real well with me! Saturday we went with friends and our daughter to dinner and to watch the Pittsburgh Lacrosse team. I should have taken my book along! I am not a real big sports fan however my daughter loved it. Anyway I just have to tell you about the place we went to eat. It's in the strip district (where all the food trucks bring in the fresh veggies, fish etc for distribution to other stores) and is called Pomannitti Bros. You have your choice of meat, sasuage, or fish but they take a slice of Italian bread add meat, cheese, a very large handful of french fries, cole slaw and of course another slice of bread. And they serve it on a piece of wax paper! Go there late at night and you have to wait an hour or two for your sanddwich that's how busy they get.

Anyway back to the CW books. I am glad EME solved the blind pig mystery. When I first read the question I thought to myself "I bet Larry Hannah could give us the answer" (Have any of you met Larry in other folders? ) BUT do we want to let a guy know that we don't know the answer? hahahaha

I too noticed that Q was drinking tomato juice and not squunk water. I am kinda of glad he is a teatottler. I'm not into drinking one or two sips and I am in the bathroom throwing it back up! Hubby said that was why he married me I was a cheap date. Drank soda pop.Anyway I guess Ms.Braun does not need to promote drinking. PETA is doing a very good job on their own. Have any of you seen the commercials? They are telling the college kids to drink beer not milk. I have got it in our area one time. Haven't seen it since. Wonder if their were too many complaints and they were made to take it off the air?

It was interesting to learn how Q becomes the owner of KoKo.

Well, the baby is starting to stir so I guess this is where my day starts. (I am a nanny) Talk to you all later.

Jeanine

jeanine! Belated HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

What a mouth watering sandwich. MMMMMmmmmmmmmm. Time for a snack...

LATER: I believe the skuunk water comes later in the series. I remember it as a local product of the "400 miles North of everywhere" setting... isn't Qwill required to live in that area as a condition of his inheritance?

Hey, you guys all let me know when you've finished the CW we've been reading... I'm through and ready to discuss but don't want to give away the ending...

Happy birthday, Jeanine, I know what you mean--getting a year older never rests well with me either! But, considering the alternative, I guess I'll take the added year.

Jeryn, I'm ready whenever everyone else is - I don't want to give away the ending either - or the way I felt about it.

I don't remember who was speculating about Qwill's age in this book but I think he must have been in his mid to late 40s. He mentions his 20 years as a journalist and also, that he still has 3 dark hairs for every gray one. And has so far only gained 10 pounds! He still has a way to go to catch up with some of us older than 40 folk!

Phyll

Thanks, Phyll; I expect we better wait a while longer.

Hey, EME, Marjorie, jeanine, Eileen, Gail T and anyone I've missed who's still reading the book...... LET US KNOW WHEN YOU'RE FINISHED!

Meantime, Phyll, anyone else--what would you say to getting on the list at your local library [I am already Waiting for it] to read the very latest one: CW Robbed A Bank?!?!? From first to last might be an interesting comparison.

JEANINE: We have that ad for beer instead of milk here too. I think I saw it at least twice. I think it is awful! Sorry, I haven't finished the book yet. Another day or two at the most. I will look for CW Robbed a Bank.

Jeryn,

Funny you should mention that----I just went to the library today and picked up "Cat Who Robbed a Bank" but I couldn't find the next on the chronological list, "The Cat Who Ate Danish Modern", so I'll be happy to read the last. It will be an interesting comparison--to see how Braun's style has changed, if it has, and especially to see the changes in Qwilleran.

I have enjoyed re-reading "CW---Read Backwards" but I was surprised that it was not as well-developed, IMO, as her later Cat books.

Phyll

Jeryn, I got the book on Saturday morning and finished it Sunday afternoon - darn it. It's such an easy read I just kept going. Now how much of it did I actually retain - hmmm - we'll see when we start discussing it.

I'll have to see if I can get the "Bank" book next.

I'll have to look up BM to see if she and RR are one and the same, I'll get back to you on that.

Thanks EME for the "blind pig" explanation.

Eileen

Well, Eileen, and all of you--let's keep in mind as we critique this first book that the author herself had NO CLUE where these characters would go nor how long her string of successes would become! This book is her prototype. She wrote the first four then waited, how many years was it--17?, before writing #5!

I finished the book today. If there was a 17 year wait between the 4th and 5th books, was there a big difference in style?

I have a little more to go but not enough to hold every one else up so feel free to go ahead.

Several of you have mentioned the CW Robbed the Bank. Do you think this is what we will do next? Compare her first and her last? I am asking because if it is I need to put a request in at out library now. We are a very small rural library and it will probably have to be interlibrary loaned.

Jeanine

I am about 25 pages into the Cat Who Robbed a Bank and what a difference in Braun's writing style! But I won't get into that yet until Jeryn is ready for it to happen.

Enjoying the discussion and enjoying re-reading the Cat books.

Phyll

Jeryn, I checked on Ruth Rendell - her other "nom" was Barbara Vine, not my Barbara. (:

Eileen

I am in the middle of the CW book and should be finished by Friday. Am trying to read four books at once for different discussion groups plus I have a good Elizabeth George mystery going. Too many title choices!

Ann, Eileen, and jeanine still reading, am I right? We'll wait a while longer--no one in a big hurry, are they?

Eileen, sorry I goofed on that. Barbara Michaels... Barbara Vine. I'm not familiar with Michaels. Everybody get that: Barbara VINE is a nom de plume for Ruth Rendell.

Phyll, so glad you are reading the latest CW. I am still waiting for mine so, yes, jeanine and anyone else--go ahead and request the book. We'll get into discussing it and comparing with this one after we've all gotten hold of it AND read it. Makes sense to you all?

I didn't read the 4 earliest books until I had read several out of the middle and I did not then notice they had MUCH earlier copyright dates sooooo I can't really say I noticed differences. It has been over a period of many years that I have read these anyway. That is why I am eager to immediately read the latest one after having just reread this first one. As Phyll seems to be finding out, It Will Be Interesting!

I just went back to the "CW Companion" and here is what happened. Braun wrote the first four books in the 60s, but only three were published then. EIGHTEEN years later, she pulled the manuscript for the 4th out, looked it over, and decided to try for publication again. It happened and Berkley Publishing give her a contract for more and... I guess, the rest is history!

When I was at the library picking up the CW book one of the workers said she liked Rita Mae Brown's books. I spotted one on the new book shelf and picked it up. It is written from the point of view of the animals, two cats and a dog. I'm two chapters into it and not sure what I think. I'll let you know when I get further along.....MaryE

Jeryn,

I didn't know that about the 18 year stretch between the 3rd and 4th book. I guess it just proves the point that it doesn't matter whether you are a writer, or whatever, you just shouldn't give up. Who knows what will come of it.

Do you suppose that we would notice the difference between the 4th and 5th books---showing the changes that 18 years made in Braun as a writer or was she able to fall back into the pattern of the first 4 books easily? And what do you think changed in the publishing world that after that long Berkley would decide to go with it?

Phyll

The brief interview in the CW Companion only says this about the time lapse [Ms. Braun speaking]:

"By the time I had written the fourth one, tastes in mysteries had changed, the management had changed, the policy had changed. They wanted sex and violence, not kitty-cat stories. Sex and violence were not my style, so I just forgot all about The Cat Who. I had a full-time job on a newspaper and it was exciting, and I had a wonderful social life, so who needed it?"

I suppose our NEXT interesting analysis will be to read [reread] Book 4 followed by Book 5!?!

Jeryn,

That sounds good to me.

Phyll

We ARE going to discuss #1 before we jump to 4-5, aren't we?

Gail T, I certainly hope so! Just doing a little future planning. Here's the scheme:
---Discuss Book 1 [as soon as everyone finishes it]
---Read, then discuss the latest, CW Robbed a Bank [as soon as everyone GETS it; I know libraries have waiting lists--I'm waiting myself]
---Read, then discuss briefly book 4
---Read, then discuss book 5, comparing it with book 4 since they were written 18 years apart!

And we've got all year, and next year too as far as I'm concerned, to accomplish these fine plans!
Meanwhile, let's see, what else of interest is going in our lives? What other sorts of books do you all enjoy reading? Can you make any recommendations for others of a specially good book you've read lately?? Heck, let's make small talk while we wait!

Oh goody, Jeryn. The plan sound just fine! I have such a time at my local library. The "New Books" on that shelf are never new -- mostly 1999 publication dates. There is a rental shelf that charges $1.50 a week for stuff like "'Tis" and "Southern Cross" (a dog of a book that I closed for good at Chapter 3). Last night I tried for Kaaterskill Falls and Winchester's "The Professor and the Madman." The former showed on the available list but they could not find it anywhere. The latter had been lost. I live in a big metropolitan area and you'd think a library could do better than that. This is what keeps driving me to Barnes and Noble, much to my husband's chagrin!

I'm just starting Clive Cussler's book, "Atlantis Found." I love his books and think I have read almost all of them over a period of 20 years. One of my favorite series is the Susan Howatch books centering on the Anglican Church...they are big fat books with very interesting characters...talky books and I always felt like I got my money's worth when I read them.

I've gotta go cook dinner or I'll lose my happy home. Nite all.

Jeryn, I've finished reading it - as a matter of fact, I finished in a 1/2 days - darn it. Maybe I'm a lightweight reader but I can just fly through her books.

I like your plan for our readings. That aforementioned Barbara Michaels has now become one of my favorites. Not exactly gothic, no torn bodice stuff, interesting stories, characters and little tidbits of information strewn throughout her books. I find that the phase I'm gong through now is one in which I don't want to read anything unpleasant, no foul language, no graphic sex scenes, no blood and guts, just a good story well told.

Eileen

Ask and you shall receive! I looked up Qwilleran's age on my favorite site and here is what it says: Q: How old is Qwilleran/Koko/Yum Yum?

A: A bit difficult to deduce, as birthdays and exact ages are rarely given out in the series. Qwilleran's birthday, however, is stated as being May 24 in The Cat Who Moved a Mountain, and he is stated as having turned fifty in The Cat Who Sniffed Glue and as being 52 in The Cat Who Lived High, which takes place in a November. Qwilleran receives his inheritance one-and-a-half years after High (in a June), and a little more than three years pass between that time and The Cat Who Robbed a Bank (which takes place in September. Need proof? Go to Jan's excellent Cat Who... timeline). Koko is said to be three or four years old at the start of The Cat Who Saw Red, which takes place the March before Qwill's five-year sojourn in Pickax. Yum Yum is said to be a kitten in The Cat Who Ate Danish Modern and five years old in The Cat Who Knew a Cardinal (which meshes, since they're five years apart from one another). Cardinal takes place about four years before Robbed a Bank. I've probably thoroughly confused everyone by now, so I'll shut up. In summary - at the end of Robbed a Bank, Qwilleran would be 57, Koko would probably be eleven or twelve, and Qwill's "little sweetheart" would be eight or nine.

Sounds good to me! Thanks a lot for that research, Ann! You can be our resource guide and research official! So we have a gentleman approaching his uh senior years and two rather middle-aged kitties accompanying him as we approach the final book of the series.

But enough of that! Appears we are about ready to discuss this very first one. jeanine! jeanine! Are you with us?

Eileen, you are in the right place for well written, entertaining, light reads with violence definitely downplayed!

From a review on the net: Braun doesn't waste a lot of laborious explanatory prose on Qwilleran - she simply and immediately places him in a situation and allows him to react, letting little expositional details crop up in the matter of course and conversation. Braun's confidence in Qwilleran's character to carry his own and hold center stage all by his lonesome clinches the reader, and we instantly feel comfortable - even bonded - to this man and his environment. It's very unusual for a mystery to care to take the time to put the reader at ease with its world, but that's what Braun does here, in Backwards's first chapter.

I think this really sums up the introduction that we have to Qwilleran in this first book. I have always felt comfortable with the writer and read these books for the quiet in them even though they have all this mayhem and murder. She is a "comfort food" on my menu of good reads.

Jeryn, I found this photo of what someone thinks Qwilleran might look like in real life.Qwilleran?

Also, here are some CW Read Backward book covers from different countries.EnglandplusFranceplusGermany

I think these are interesting and as the man says, the French covers are flat-out ugly!!

Oh My Goodness, I hope not.

I mentioned earlier that I was reading another cat book. This cat runs around solving mysteries. She talks to the other animals and we know her thoughts. That is just a little too far fetched for me. With Koko we are never sure if he is really doing these things or if it is just coincidence. Is he reading the headlines or just smelling the ink? Is he pointing out clues or is Qwill using his imagination? You never really know and that is the intriguing part......MaryE

Ann, what fun finds! I pictured him looking something like Howard Duff - remember him? You're right about that French cover it's awful.

EME, that's one of the pleasures of reading Braun's books. Little tantalizing bits - does he or doesn't he?

Eileen

Ve-ry interesting review, Ann!! Do we all agree with it?

I'm with both of you, Ann, Eileen. I don't like those French book jackets at all! They cheapen the whole thing which really, for a light mystery, is a class act--wouldn't you all agree?

I like what MaryE says about leaving us wondering... "just how intelligent IS this cat?" Everything he does, as you say, can be interpreted Either Way!

But what about Qwill's moustache? It quivers! It droops! It bristles!! I LOVE the moustache!!!

Ann, that picture of Qwill makes him look too young, too 19th century, I think. I went to some website where there were a couple of other, different pictures of Qwilleran that I really liked, thought they fit the image. I'm going to see if I can find them and bring back the URL for you all. See ya shortly...

on edit: OK, guys, let's see if this works. Qwilleran and the cats in a graphic meant to be scarfed for wallpaper, so allow it some time to load. It's BIIIIG!

yes, yes, I am here Jeryn. Sorry those 40 hours that I work every week sure do interfere with my life!! I got a little busy this week and lost track of the time. I also got a year older since the last time I posted. Perhaps that is slowing me down also! haha Then last night I lost yet another hour. I can never get ahead! Plus I must admit that I am guilty of reading other stuff at the time. I am really into herbs lately and I hve a book on them that I am trying to read before I start planting this year. I am also in to feminine spirituality and reading religious books. I work and read that's it! My daughter is right - my life IS boring!!

I do not know what it is about this book but I am having a bugger of a time reading it. Usually I pick up a CW book and I have it read in 48 hours. I can't stay interested in this one. Boy sure am glad I read it last and not first I may not have tried the rest!

That IS NOT at all how I pictured Q but thanks for the picture Ann.

Gail T I had to chuckle at your remark about books and your hubby. Mine is the same way. I finally said to him I don't make comments about your golf "stuff" so no more comments about my books. Every one is happy now.

Jeanine

I have really enjoyed this series. Always look forward to the next book coming out, since it makes such a "good read" for a couple of evenings. Hope I can find the time to stop by here and add a little something once in awhile.

I guess we all form a mental picture of what certain characters look like. I'm usually disappointed when I see a movie made from a favorite book...the characters are not as I've imagined them. (That's what Hollywood gets for not asking my opinion! Ha!) Anyhow, I have always pictured Qwilleran as looking something like the actor Wilford Brimley, but a bit younger. Anyone know him? Great moustache!

Lee

Oh My Gosh, that French cover is ghastly!!! The illustrator obviously didn't read the book! Poor Ms. Braun's sales were probably next to nil in France, for who would think anything quite wonderful could possibly be inside THAT cover!

Oh, and as for Howard Duff, I'll cast a second vote for him as a Quilleran poseur. (That wasn't exactly the image I had of him over the years, but I'm quite willing to exchange mine for Howard Duff, that handsome fellow!).

I love how the writer captures so succinctly the funny positions cats get into. When she talks about KoKo stretching when he gets up, you know that it your cat's stretch too....and my cat's....and my friend's cats. Her descriptions are so "right on" that I have to laugh. A friend of mine says told me her own cat "meatloafs" a lot, and I think that, too, is a very accurate description, don't you?

Jeanine, I don't intend any rudeness toward your daughter but, with a book in your hand and herbs to plant, life is NEVER boring.

Jeryn, Closer on the picture of Qwill but not enough grey in the hair. And I don't like the cats' eyes that much. Yum Yum would have either an angelic, innocent or guilty look.

Lee, Closer yet on Wilford Brimley but fuller face, bigger (Qwill is 6'2"). I'll look around and see if I can find MY concept of Qwilleran.

I just finished the CW Robbed a Bank (had to hurry--it is a seven day book from the library) and for those of you haven't read it yet there is a surprise toward the end of the book. I won't spoil it for anyone but it answers some questions that we haven't had answered before. Ms. Braun is a gentle master at dropping these little tid-bits here and there. Maybe, that's why we keep reading her books. Like a puzzle, each little piece makes up a whole picture. I really do feel that I could sit down with Qwill and discuss almost anything and not feel self-concious about my opinions--knowing he would accept them even if he did not agree with them.

I'll go look for a picture.

Phyll

Well, I looked and I looked and I couldn't find just the picture of Qwill that I have in my mind! I guess I'll just picture him in my own way whenever I read a CW book.

Phyll

HAPPY BIRTHDAY jeanine!!!

It really is deplorable how working interferes with our young lives! Nowadays, I have trouble figuring out how I EVER found the time to work!! We're just glad you're with us even if the very first CW was not up to your expectations, jeanine. We'll be moving on to the latest one soon--put it on reserve now!

Lee D, welcome welcome to our little group! A young Wilford Brimley, only looooots taller... I like it!!

Oh, Gail T, we've been calling our larger, lazier cats "meatloaf" for years! Especially when they get that hunkered down, feet tucked under position!

Well, Phyll, I didn't particularly like the cats' eyes either--too calculating. If we could wrap this guy and Wilford Brimley together, we'd be close, don't you think?! I really like what you said about Qwilleran as another human being to talk with--to me, that means we would probably feel that way about the author, Ms. Braun herself.

I was going to ask how well you all think Ms. Braun's characters come across. Are they believable? Obviously, we think Qwilleran is! What about the others? Mountclemens? Zoe Lambreth? Others? Do they come alive for you??

I found in this book that the men all were so cleverly drawn that I have no trouble remembering each one of them - have a picture of them in my mind's eye. Not so the ladies, tho. They kind of all run together. Maybe Ms. Braun has more fun with the men!

Jeryn, that's a handsome picture but too young, maybe that's because I'm somewhat on the older side myself. (:

Lee D, yes, I know who Brimley is - great mustache but a little too old, see I don't think I'm THAT old. (:

Gait T, I think Howard's right in the middle - not too old, not too young - and he did have a mustache at some time or other.

I love to watch a cat stretch, wish I could do that!

Eileen

That's an astute observation, Gail T. I think I agree with you that the lady characters tend to "all run together." As the series progresses, some at least of the female characters become much better defined, I think. What say some of you who have read other CW books?

Ah, Eileen! He needs some more grey in that talented moustache, doesn't he?!

It does seem that the male characters stand out more clearly in the first CW. Perhaps it can be explained by the fact that Qwill seems to be starting all over again. He is fresh out of a real low point in his life--divorce, a serious drinking problem that led to losing one job after another. Moving from one newspaper to smaller and smaller papers and maybe, from town to town. Remember he was so surprised by the change in the newspaper City Room---how quiet it was and even an electric pencil sharpener! It sounds like he may have been out of the newspaper business for a time while recovering from alcoholism. In starting all over his initial contacts seem to be mostly with men so they are more clearly drawn. In later books more vivid female characters emerge.

I think Lilian Braun is a much more adept author at slowly developing characters than we might expect in a fairly "light", not too complicated mystery. I have read some mysteries where the plot becomes so thick and twisted and so many characters are brought in that I couldn't really connect with any of them.

What I find so interesting, Qwill is brought along from one book to the next and though he matures, he doesn't change. He is still the same inner man we met in this first book.

Phyll

Phyll - I agree with you nothing better than a book to read and herbs to plant. I was joking. We must remember that my daughter is young. We live in rural Pennsylvania and she is in NYC going to school and interning at a magazine and smitten with it all. She has been to Frances Ford Coppalla's office (sorry i did not spell his name right) she has been to DKNY to obtain and carry clothes to a shoot. Meet Silver Raven Wolf and Ani D. Things you just can't imagine when you live here! But she is slowly learning that as Dorothy said in the Wizard of Oz "The next time I go looking for my hearts desire I don't need to look any further than my own backyard!"

Ok - so I need to locate CW Robbed a Bank? Shall call the two closet libraries tomorrow.

I think that's true, Phyll. Qwill, the man, is a constant throughout the series.

Still speaking of CW Could Read Backwards, I admired the characterization made of the art critic, Mountclemens. He turned out to be a "bad guy" but oh, such a sophisticated one! Didn't you love the ways he found to manipulate Qwill into cat care duties! Taken as a whole, did you all find the plot here to be plausible? Sufficiently obtuse to prevent guessing "whodunit" too soon?

Hey, jeanine! Don't hurry! Most of us don't have that book yet either! May take a while...

I am so excited and so proud! Remeber I said I live in a very small town. I called our little library and asked the librarian if we had CW Robbed the Bank. Guess what? WE DO! I am so proud of our little library, The librarian and I joke that all our books date back to the early 1900's! And I am excited because they have not finished cataloging it yet but I will be the first to read it!

Jeanine

Hey, that's great jeanine! I'm envious! I have to wait in line... so much for the big city!!!

Hey, I agree that my Qwill is too much and that Jeryn's is too young but at the same time, I think all that the one Jeryn gave us needs, is a little weight and some gray hair and he'll work fine. I did not like the cats as they looked mean or mad. Not a good job on them.

Every time I read about these cats, I regret that I gave away those two guys up in the header. Oh well, hindsight, etc. Braun does such a good job of putting the reader in the scene of the rooms at the art critic's home and then in Qwill's and sending KoKo back and forth. And, fine desription of the his movements and quirks. I am looking forward to starting the next book now that I know what a creep Mountclemens was. Didn't he deserve to die?

I received an email from one of our Chicago readers today and she said that she had intended to join us here and will later on;her best friend is ill. Buuuuuut, she also mentions that they had just finished Elizabeth George's newest where they learned more than anyone ever wanted to know about S&M(sadism and masochism). Gave me a chuckle as I had just finished it myself and was having the same reaction. Anybody else?

Eeewwwww! S&M? Let's read another Cat Who! <laughing> Seriously, that's disturbing and disappointing. I've read George's novels in the past and enjoyed them all very much. Guess I'll just steer clear of this new one...

I have all the Cat Who books and am hooked. The most recent one The Cat Who Robbed A Bank was a very light read. It is more a story on what M. Q is up to than a mystery. Anyone who is just starting out reading this series would be disappointed in this book. I recommend the reading of some of her others in the series first.

Thanks for that review, gaj, and welcome to our discussion! Our intention is to do a comparison. We've already read and discussed the first in the series; many of us have read some or all of the others; now we want to see how the latest one compares with the earlier ones.

One thing that made me laugh in this first book is where Qwill is reading some of Mountclemens' reviews and finds one that says, "The complexity of eloquent dynamics in organic texture...internal subjective impulses expressed in compassionate linguistics" in talking about certain artists' paintings. Then later on Qwill offers, "He seems to be hooked on triangles." I laughed out loud when I got to this point (early on in the book). I am an appreciator of art, but I am absolutely dumbfounded when I read reviews of exhibits and find that for the most part I haven't a clue as to what is being said - I might as well be reading a foreign language. Qwill's observations really struck a chord in me...keep it simple, stupid!

I mentioned before that I think Qwill's mustache is much more active in this first book than in any of the others I have read. I am anxious to read the last book and see where his mustache rates on a scale of 1 to 10. If it is, in fact, becoming less active, it surely must be a sign of aging.

Gail,

I had a good laugh over Braun's little slap at some wine connoisseurs.

"Q. ran the glass (of tomato juice) under his nose and considered the bouquet thoughtfully: "An unpretentious vintage. Nothing memorable, but it has a naive charm.----I would guess the tomatoes came from---Northern Illinois. Obviously a tomato patch near an irrigation ditch , getting the morning sun from the east and the afternoon sun from the west.----My palate tells me the tomatoes were picked early in the day--on a Tuesday or Wednesday--by a farmhand wearing a Band-Aid. The Mercurochrome comes through in the aftertaste."

I thought it was so typical of some of the wine snobs we see and hear occasionally on television. Very funny.

Phyll

Oh yes, Phyll, that wine comment was fantastic! I had the same reaction that you did and admired this author's writing talent. She does a great job of putting some snobby things down.

Jeryn, oh yes, a greyer mustache, the handsome devil.

That was an interesting comment about how well the male characters were drawn as opposed to the female characters, especially since Braun is a female writer. I find Qwill a very believable person, I don't know anyone like him - I just wish I did!

Eileen

Great observations, Gail T, Phyll, Ann, and Eileen! Sounds as if we mostly enjoyed this first novel in the series; I know I did! Even reading it for the second time...

I agree wholeheartedly that one of Braun's most entertaining skills is to home in with good-natured sarcasm. She lampoons things that need lampooning, as you've all pointed out. She can sure make you smile a lot which is a fun way to read.

Shall we give this book a grade? How about a rating from 1-10 [10 being best]? What say you all??

Just got back from the library and reserved CW Robbed a Bank. I am number 32 on the list but there are 12 copies. Boy, this is a popular book or maybe all those people heard us talking and want to join in.......MaryE

Those are precious cats!

Ginny

Guess I'm going to have to break down and BUY the latest book!!

Gail T, don't rush out and buy this book since we may be moving on to another one soon. Once we grade this one, we will probably be reading the second. Isn't that right, Jeryn or am I speaking out of turn.

I didn't get in from bridge until 1am this morning and my brain is fried.

I thought after CW....Backwards we were going to read her newest. Have we already read and discussed it? I am confused.

Gail T.,

I thought that, too. CW Reads Backwards and then CW Robbed a Bank. Just to make a comparison between her first and last and the changes or developments we find.

Maybe Ann A. and/or Jeryn will set us straight.

Phyll

Hi all! I am ery sorry but I forgot to mention the last time I posted that I am done with the story.

Gail, Phyll according to Jeryn's post on March 30 we are going to read and dicuss book 1 and then read and discuss the newest. The read an discuss book4, and then read ad discuss book 5. I just wondered what happened to books 2 and 3? I only know this because I copied the post. Other wise I always seem to be in a fog!

Did someone suggest we rate this book on a scale of 1 to 10? HUMMMMM That is hard. I really like her later books this one was very slow to get started and then suddendly in the last couple chapters she winds it all up and ends the story. I'd say maybe a 4? I truely believe if I had read this one first I would not have read the rest!

Jeanine

Jeanine, I too find this first one hard to rate. In fact, I was avoiding doing it. I found this one a little confusing, maybe because I just couldn't seem to keep the women separated in my mind. A couple of times early on I had to go back and make sure which one was which. Nevertheless, I was quite taken with Mountclemens (the cad!), and his portrait was so vividly worded that I KNEW exactly how he looked. Because of the darling cat, I probably would have continued to read every subsequent book of hers. For a first book, I think I'll go with a 4 too....though I probably would have rated it higher if I had not know how good they would become as the author develops more of them.

I liked this book for a first time read of CW because it gave me some background for the rest of the books. I would give it a 7. I would buy it for someone else to enjoy.

Jeryn, which one do we start now? I remember talking about reading the last one,too but I didn't know it was next.

I think I'll give this a 6 and a half, just because I am half in love with Qwilleran already. The cat is cute, too, even if he is a little hoity-toity but of course, royalty is entitled, aren't they?

Phyll

Hoity toity cat!! I love it! That's his CHARM, Phyll!

Well, here's the schedule we had discussed:
Read first CW... we just did that. I'll give it a 6 just because of Mountclemens, if nothing else. Actually, I adored Qwilleran too.
Read LAST CW... but we're going to WAIT for it from our libraries. Don't run out and buy an expensive, hardback book that you will read ONCE, folks!!!
Read CW #s 4 then 5... because there is an 18 year time lapse between when 4 and 5 were written and we wanted to compare them.

Now! I am open to suggestion if you all want to do something different. Or perhaps take up #2 NOW while we're all waiting for the latest one to become available to each of us? Maybe we could discuss that latest one at some future time AFTER we've all gotten it and read it?
What's your pleasure, people??

Oh, and before I forget, here's an AD I'm running for a friend!
Have you ever considered reading true crime accounts? Lorrie Gorg and Ed Zivitz are coleading a brand new discussion right here in the Books & Literature called "True Crime". Check it out now! Starting May 1, they'll be discussing their first selection, The Orchid Thief by Susan Orlean.
To commemorate the occasion, Ed wrote this:

Gather ye Orchids While ye May
(with apologies to Robert Herrick)

Gather ye orchids while ye may
Find out if crime, indeed does pay.

Strange things do happen in Florida, South...
But no clues can emanate from my mouth.

Thieves, adventurers, and The Seminole
Forge a mystery like a deep Black Hole.

Gather ye orchids while ye may,
Come, join us; the date is May, first day.

Jeryn, whew, that's a relief - I haven't got the newest book yet. The schedule you set up is fine with me.

I had already read 3 later books before I read #1 - I was already fond of Qwill and the Siamese so I have to say I really enjoyed this one too, guess I'll give it an 8.

Does anyone remember the Disney movie with Siamese cats who sang "We are Siamese if you please, We are Siamese if you don't please" that's all I remember but I can hear the singsong melody in my head.

Eileen

When I bought #1 CW...Backwards, it came in a 3-novel book, and not having the newest one yet, I started reading #2 - CW who liked Danish Modern. It starts with Qwill being evicted and he and KoKo having to move. I have found it delightful. Regardless of what we do, I'll read #3 also! You know, they are really easy reading, and such fun!

I am also on a waiting list for the last book so will get my copy of the second and third one at the library today. To think that I owned many of these titles and I sold them at the used book store or put them in our book Exchange. Oh, well, onward and upward!

Eileen, the movie is Lady and the Tramp. I know because I spend Monday through Friday watching my 2 neices and 1 newphew and Katie loves to watch movies! She has made me watch it a zillion times!!! hahaha

I called my library yesterday because the first time I called I was told they were cataloging the book and to call back in a couple days. She said they were not done yet but she is going to call me when the book is ready.

The CW ate Danish Modern is one of the ones I misplaced! I can't decide if I am going to get it and reread it now - are we going to discuss it now? - or wait because i am reading Leota's Garden and am really into it!

I just DON"T DO choices!!!

Jeanine

Ok, so we're reading #2, CW Ate Danish Modern. Happens I own that one so I'm all set.
Gail T is reading it.
Ann is going to get it.
jeanine has it but misplaced it.
Eileen, is it one you just read recently?

Have I got it straight now? <smile>

You see one of my little darlings illustrating our heading this week! If any of you have digital cameras or scanners, send your kitty photos to Pat Scott for Photos Then & Now then I can copy them and put them on view here for a week!

JERYN: Charlie Dickens is adorable. Nice picture.

EME had the correct definition for "blind pig" because I was just reading The Cat Who Had 14 Tales. In one of the short stories the following description appears: "...took her to Gus's place. It was a blind pig before Repeal. After that it was Gus's Timberline Bar." I guess a "blind pig" is a place where they sell intoxicating beverages.

That cat's not Charley!! How did you get a photo of my cat Tigger?

Jeanine a, thanks, the song is in my head everytime I think of Qwill's cats.

Jeryn, oh oh, it looks like the books I have are much later - # 12, 18, 19 and 21. I went to the Paperback book store which sells second time around paperbacks at half price and they only had the "Cheese" one. Our libraries are only open at odd times, I won't go to the downtown one, so I haven't investigated them as yet, but I may have to!

Eileen

Oh my how did I miss the fact that we moved on to another book? I will try to get to the library in the next few days and see if they have it.

Thanks Marjorie; he is a sweet-natured fellow, just as he appears there! I looked for "14 Tales" at the bookstore but haven't found it. One of these days, I expect we'll want to discuss it here.

Oh Gail T, sorry I stole your cat! Kidding of course... I've always been partial to "tigger" type cats.

No rush there, jeanine, or Eileen! Although your enthusiasm delights me! We are really in a "waiting" mode now anyway as most of us hope to read the very latest CW as soon as our libraries can cough it up!

I have CW Ate Danish Modern at hand and it starts out appealingly, as did the first one. I believe Qwill ends up with TWO cats before this book is over?

I also noticed right on page 5 of CW Ate Danish Modern that Qwill is "over 45" years old. Comes right out and says so!

I have my name in for the last book but will also be picking up the Danish Modern on Monday. Probably I should be hitting the used book store here in downtown Gahanna but its embarrassing since they are the ones that I sold my CW books to.

Ann, I laughed out loud about having to buy back your books. I feel so stupid because at one time or another I had all of them and then passed them on. Now I'm having to buy them all again. I seem to have little recollection of some of the stories. Or maybe it is just that it's so much more fun to talk with others about them. My husband doesn't read much to speak of, and if he did, it probably would be just like when we go to a movie: I get jazzed and want to talk about it afterwards and he says, "What's there to talk about?" That's why I prefer going to movies with my daughters! We can sit at Starbuck's and go on for hours about what we've seen! Get a lot of mileage out of both the movies and the latte.

I just finished CW...Danish Modern and found it to be much, much better than the first. And yes, Yum Yum appears. I started on the third one, but one of the books I had on reserve at the library came in so I'm doing that one this weekend and will save CW#3 for lunchtime at work this week. 61 more days till I retire and can read to my heart's content!!! YIPPEE!

Jeryn, I couldn't resist it, I was in another bookstore yesterday and found the "Danish Modern" and got it! Just started to read it last night. Hee, hee now I have 2 "Cat" books I haven't read!

I'm far enough along in the book to have met Yum Yum who is Yu in the beginning. Cat on the kitchen table - ewww- nope, nope - I don't think so!

Eileen

Oh, WAIT! WAIT!!!

I have to pick up --Danish Modern this afternoon at the library. I'll run to catch up! Thank goodness, Braun is a fast read.

Phyll

Oh Ann, that is just a hoot about buying your books back! Maybe you could go in that store in disguise? Or send a friend?? <chuckle>

Wow, Gail T, when you retire, you’ll be reading circles around the rest of us! Already finished with #2! Well, I’m glad to hear you liked it even better than #1. Gives the rest of us a reason to go on!!

Glad you’re along for #2, Eileen. Hey, do you have a cat? We don’t allow our cats on the breakfast table either. But when I’m out in the yard looking in the window, there they sit!

Phyll! So glad you’ll be with us! Don’t hurry! We’ve got as much time as we want to read this book and all the rest of them, too.

Okay, I have a copy of both the Danish and the Post Office but the Post Office for only a short two weeks. I also have my husband running out of his kind of books and now reading the CW's again. He and I can't remember what day it is anymore. Annnnd, one of us is deaf and the other one mumbles! Life is just peachy around here!

I am in the middle of ICON by Frederick Forsythe and trying to finish it before tomorrow night because its due then. I suppose I could renew it but its not that good. Also, trying to get some comments together for the Alice Munro short stories that we read for the library discussion group which is tomorrow night also.

Gail, my husband used to be that way about reading but my mother handed him a Clive Cussler book back in the 80's and told him that she thought he would enjoy it and he has been reading ever since. But only certain stuff, like spies, an government agents and flying stuff. He actually read "Pillars of the Earth" by Ken Follett and loved it. Then he tried "Sarum" but didn't finish it. It was a long book!

I was lucky!! I found a book containing the first three CW books and right next to it on the library shelf was a book with the next three CW books. So I am set---for awhile.

By the way, I found this on the Web and thought it was interesting. I'm sure Ko Ko and Yum Yum exceed the standards!! (Warning, it is a long post!)

GENERAL: the ideal Siamese is a medium sized, svelte, refined cat with long tapering lines, very lithe but muscular. Males may be proportionately larger.

HEAD: long tapering wedge. Medium in size in good proportion to body. The total wedge starts at the nose and flares out in straight lines to the tips of the ears forming a triangle, with no break at the whiskers. No less than the width of an eye between the eyes. When the whiskers are smoothed back, the underlying bone structure is apparent. Allowance must be made for jowls in the stud cat.

SKULL: flat. In profile, a long straight line is seen from the top of the head to the tip of the nose. No bulge over eyes. No dip in nose.

EARS: strikingly large, pointed, wide at base; continuing the lines of the wedge.

EYES: almond shaped. Medium size. Neither protruding nor recessed. Slanted towards the nose in harmony with lines of wedge and ears. Uncrossed.

NOSE: long and straight. A continuation of the forehead with no break.

MUZZLE: fine, wedge-shaped.

CHIN and JAW: medium size. Tip of chin lines up with tip of nose in the same vertical plane. Neither receding nor excessively massive.

BODY: medium size. Graceful, long, and svelte. A distinctive combination of fine bones and firm muscles. Shoulders and hips continue same sleek lines of tubular body. Hips never wider than shoulders. Abdomen tight.

NECK: long and slender.

LEGS: long and slim. Hind legs higher than front. In good proportion to body.

PAWS: dainty, small, and oval. Toes: five in front and four behind.

TAIL: long, thin, tapering to a fine point.

COAT: short, fine textured, glossy. Lying close to body.

CONDITION: excellent physical condition. Eyes clear. Muscular, strong, and lithe. Neither flabby nor boney. Not fat.

COLOR: Body: even, with subtle shading when allowed. Allowance should be made for darker color in older cats as Siamese generally darken with age, but there must be definite contrast between body color and points. Points: mask, ears, legs, feet, tail dense and clearly defined. All of the same shade. Mask covers entire face including whisker pads and is connected to ears by tracings. Mask should not extend over the top of the head. No ticking or white hairs in points.

SIAMESE COLORS SEAL POINT: body even pale fawn to cream, warm in tone, shading gradually into lighter color on the stomach and chest. Points: deep seal brown. Nose leather and paw pads: same color as points. Eye color: deep vivid blue.

CHOCOLATE POINT: body ivory with no shading. Points: milk-chocolate color, warm in tone. Nose leather and paw pads: cinnamon-pink. Eye color: deep vivid blue.

BLUE POINT: body bluish white, cold in tone, shading gradually to white on stomach and chest. Points: deep blue. Nose leather and paw pads: slate colored. Eye color: deep vivid blue.

LILAC POINT: body glacial white with no shading. Points: frosty grey with pinkish tone. Nose leather and paw pads: lavender-pink. Eye color: deep vivid blue.

Phyll

What a beautiful picture of Charles Dickens. It does seem as though cats and books belong together.

Oh, Ann! Tell your husband I never finished Sarum either! It still sits on my bookcase making me feel guilty! And we have the same situation—Ron is growing deaf and swears I mumble!!!

Phyll, thanks so much for all those Siamese cat facts. Koko and Yum Yum are sealpoints, are they not? Have any of you ever owned a Siamese cat? I had a friend years ago that had a pair of males, gorgeous creatures but kind of scrawny looking for my taste. I didn’t really know them [the cats OR their owner] intimately.

Louise, welcome to our little discussion! Thanks for admiring my kitty! Cats and books complement each other—yesssss! They are both so deliciously SILENT! Well, cats are MOSTLY silent...

Say, have you checked this site out, anyone? The Cat Who Timeline Probably more than you wanted to know about Cat Who Chronology and nothing settled conclusively but thought you all might be interested, anyway.

Thank you for the catwho timeline.

Jeryn, nope, we haven't had a cat for years, we did have several cats in the past, we lived on a very busy street and you can guess what happened too many times. I only agreed to have a dog for my husband's sake. I'll be honest, I don't want to have any more animals. . . I love snimals but I just don't want to get attached or be responsible for another cat or dog.

An observation about Qwill, I read the last several books first and I think that he was much more self-assured and laid back in them than in the first books. Maybe it was the fact he didn't have to worry about money anymore or he just matured, who knows.

Eileen

Jeryn,

Thanks for the timeline---you are right. It might tell me more than I really want to know. I printed out 7 pages. But what interests me is that someone would go to all this time and effort to figure all of this out!! Amazing!

Phyll

For sure, that is utterly amazing, Phyll! That whole Frobnitz website amazes me! Ms. Braun must be floored!!

Well, Eileen, many people come to that way of thinking. Having a pet demands almost as much of us as raising a kid, I sometimes think! I still enjoy the rewards but, at the same time, those responsibilities can be irksome.

You're welcome, jeanine.

Hey, how many of you know where these kitties' names come from??? Koko and Yum Yum?? I know but I'm not telling, yet. I do not believe Ms. Braun reveals that source, ever, in any of these books! Sure don't remember it if she did...
Who Knows? Gee, I ought to offer a prize or something?!

In the CW ate Danish Modern it says that the female cat's name was Yu, the ancient Chinese word for jade but I don't know why Qwill changed it to YumYum, do you? KoKo was orginally Kao K'o-Kung and was named after a thirteenth century Chinese artist. I imagine Qwill started calling him KoKo because he is less pretentious than Mountclemons was in the CW Could Read Backwards.

Phyll

Yeh, Phyll, all true; BUT Koko and Yum Yum are characters from a famous... oooooo, I'm going to give it away! Somebody will know, I bet!

Jeryn,

Is it Madame Butterfly?

Phyll

NO! NO! I take it back. I think it was The Mikado by Gilbert and Sullivan.

Phyll

O yes, The Mikado - Phyll, I think so too.

Never gave it a thought until Jeryn posed the question.

Met a nice lady today who offered to lend me a "Cat Who" book - the ghost one, I think. i'll only have the week end to read it but these books are so easy to read I won't have a problem. (: You just never know where you'll meet a CW fan, do you?

Eileen

Eileen,

Oh, yes, CW fans lurk everywhere and some of them are really surprising because you wouldn't think they are the type to read CW books in the first place. It is funny that these books appeal to so many different people.

Phyll

Eileen, the way these books SELL, there must be plenty of CW fans around!!! Glad you got a new one to read.

Yes Phyll! You got it! Koko--"Behold the Lord High Executioner" and Yum Yum his ward, fiance, and one of "Three Little Maids from School"! Until Nanki Poo arrives on the scene!
I just LOVE The Mikado! Can you tell? I kind of cut my teeth on it. The first piece I ever learned to play on the piano was "The Sun and I"--a version greatly simplified just for me by my Mom!

I did read somewhere, that Ms. Braun has had several cats named Koko herself. Koko, then Koko II, and currently Koko III. Also a Yum Yum or two and I believe, a Pitti Sing.

I bought the book "CW Ate Sanish Modern". It was in a three book collection. I bought it at the used book store. It was marked $5.00 he sold it to me for $4.00 and said to bring it back if I wanted after I read it. I won't get the book started till MOnday. I am going on a retreat. Never did anything like this before. Leaving after work today and won't be bak till suppertime tomorrow. Talk to you all on Sunday.

Jeanine

Phyll, yuu are so right - I never would have guessed she was a fan - she brought in three books for me to choose from - what a nice person! I picked "Cat Who Saw Red" since I think it's the 5th book.

jeanine a, weren't you lucky, what a find!

Jeryn, I'm almost finished with "Danish" now I have "Red" and I STILL have the "Cheese book to read - delicious!!

Eileen

Gee, Eileen! All you need is a cuppa coffee to go with your Cheese Danish! Heh heh!

jeanine, we'll excuse you till Sunday but we expect a full report then... [just kidding!]

I can't seem to get into Danish Modern... book lays here while I am deep in the jungle of The Testament by John Grisham. I have read the CW Ate Danish Modern before, so I'll catch on [I hope]. Gotta find a new quote... any suggestions?

I always learn something that I didn't know while I am reading. A quote, "Its the purest white I've ever seen, and thin as a rose petal." Now, I didn't know that jade could be white let alone thin as a rose petal!

And, of course, the best so far quote, "We don't ever say drapes! Its draperies!"

I believe we don't ever say drapes or curtains or draperies now but "window treatments". This book is old?!!

I meant to mention that in our small local paper, here in downtown Gahanna, there was an article about a restaurant that carried three sizes of sandwiches, Fat Cat, Thin Cat and a Koko! And the author wanted to know what Koko meant! By gosh, some lady called him up or emailed him about where Koko came from and he quoted her this week. So a free plug about the CW books and Lillian Jackson Braun. I think I will email our discussion URL to him. Just for fun!

Ann, so what size is a KoKo?? Long and lean, maybe? Yes, white jade, thin as a rose petal? When we were in Chicago (o happy memories), Donna and I went to the Field Museum and they had a gem display but I can't remember if there was any white jade.

Although I've finished the book, there was a point where I thought one scandel might be that David was either Mr. Tait or Mrs. Tait's son. The point was made that he was an orphan and was brought up on the wrong side of the tracks

Eileen

"There is a saying in China that everything has a price, but jade is priceless. Jade has been used as tools and ornaments since the earliest time of Chinese history. People take jade as the Stone of Heaven, anything made of it, anointed as a protector against devils. There are legends and mysterious stories around jade about how jade leads the mortal to immortal, how it makes a poor to become rich and how it save a man from disaster and so on..

Gradually, jade is symbolised as an image of peace, kindness, elegance and eternity. In China, people believe that Jade can bring safety, wealth,health, longevity and peace of mind. It is not just a jewelry."

I am sure that G. Verning Tait knew this about the lore of jade but I didn't. Thought you might be interested. Apparently it didn't bring safety to Signe Tait!

Phyll

Yesterday morning about 4 a.m., in a misguided attempt to shoo away a neighbor's mean black cat that was harassing my indoor cats at the sliding glass door, I stamped my foot (intending to scare the outside cat away) and instead startled my own red one so badly that he bit the instep of my right food as if IT were the wretched black cat. The whole thing appeared to me (in retrospect, I think) as if it happened in slow motion - my red cat's mouth opening up, moving over my instep and then four large fangs slowly closing on my poor foot. (I was shoe and sockless, having just gotten out of bed.) My Tigs then slowly opened his mouth back up, extracted his fangs and gave me a look like "Take THAT!" and walked off. Needless to say, I couldn't be mad at him because what I did was fairly stupid (also in retrospect, but it seemed appropriate at the time.) By 2:30 pm I was at the doctor's office, getting a tetanus shot and a megadose of Augmentin! I could barely walk because of the swelling, tho I did manage to go to work, limping all over the office, until I could get in to see the doc.

As you all may know, cat bites can be very wicked -- 80% of them turn into cellulitis, which is not a good thing to have, so I felt I'd better not try to doctor myself.

So today, (Saturday) I have had the luxury of having meals provided by my husband while I lie stretched out with my foot up, finishing up the CW-In and Out book (her #3) and starting the CW Robbed a Bank (picked up by my longsuffering husband from the library when my name finally came up today at the top of the "reserved" list.

I am getting better by the minute, although the Augmentin seems to be causing some gastric problems. But even THAT is better that cellulitis. Poor Tigger certainly didn't mean to hurt me and I don't hold it against him. In spite of how smart he is (tho' not a siamese and not as smart as KoKo), he is still just a cat - a very large cat with BIG TEETH!!!

Window treatments! Well, sure enough, this book is dated in THAT regard,Ann! You are very “with it” to observe that. It was published first in 1967 according to my copy. Anyhow, no drapes.

Poor Qwill, now he’s stuck with Interior Design stories! Is this a sort of reporter’s trial by fire, I wonder? Will he ever get the assignments he wants? Or does he just inherit the millions and retire? Stay tuned...

Eileen, I bet there WAS every kind of jade in the Field Museum! White and thin as a rose petal... and priceless, as Phyll points out. I have a piece of jade jewelry that was my mother’s—she called it “new jade.” I know nothing of what she might have learned about it, can only describe it. It is a thin disk [NOT as thin as a rose petal!] in a very pale green with a gold filigree symbol like a Chinese alphabet in the center. Not the traditional “jade green” color I had always thought any jade would be... Soooooo it comes in different colors AND forms... and ages, too?

Gail T, you poor baby! Bitten by the beloved Tigger!! I am like you-- whenever something like that happens, I blame myself. The poor kitty doesn’t speak English nor understand our intentions! He is only reacting. Well, I sure hope your poor footsy stays sore just long enough for maybe another day of being waited on hand and “foot”. [Big Grin!]

You are the second one to get the CW Robbed a Bank. Write down your thoughts as you read that one, folks. We will ALL discuss that puppy one of these days!

Jeryn, your jade piece sounds beautiful. I didn't know it meant good luck, hmmmm, I could use some of that.

Gait T, ouch, that hurt! But now you're enjoying all the privileges of being laid up - getting fed, reading your book without feeling guilty, hope your foot is better. (:

I've started reading "Red" - one CW book after another - hope I don't get my stories mixed!

Eileen

Yeh, I thought of that too, Eileen! But how do you discuss a series unless you READ them? Getting into the latest book after reading a few early ones should provide some contrast and, I hope, stimulating conversation!

Hello! I am back from my retreat. Jeryn wanted a full report. I hope you ment the retreat and NOT the book! haha We had a wonderful time. It was a church retreat and I had never done one before. Not at all what I expected. I was expecting something very religious - something with a lot of bible reading and praying - and this was more like a seminar with a christian twist! The topic was stress. Something I and I am sure all of you know a lot about. We listened to several speakers and had an auction, plus a silent auction, did a craft and there was a rec room to play pool, pingpong, and my girlfriend brought along board games. The food. OH THE FOOD. If you left that retreat hungry it was your own fault. Friday for dinner we had chicken w/ your choice of baked potatoe or wild rice, green beans and then there were the salads the bread the drinks and the desserts and you could eat all you wanted. All the meals were like this. We stayed up yakking and caring on almost all night. Only got 2 hours sleep! But we had a wonderful time.

Gail - OUCH! Sorry to hear about your foot. As you say Tigger didn't know any better he was just reacting. My Tigger attacks my foot all the time (in play). I don't know what she thinks she is stalking!

I hope to get the book started this week. I am reading Leota's Garden and really enjoying it. Sometimes I just don't want toput it down.

Jeanine

Hi jeanine! Thanks for the full report! All those fun activities did the unstressing, right?! 'Twould work for me...

Pretty unstressed around here... I just hung out all weekend, doing my evening walks, a little gardening, and reading a lot in the day. Finished The Testament so now I can devote some time to CW and Qwilleran.

Thanks for all your well-wishes. We are due for rain tomorrow, and as of today, my foot will not fit in any of my shoes. Since I may have to wear a fuzzy bedroom slipper to work tomorrow, I'll have to encase the whole thing in a baggie to make the trip across the parking lot. I will look really silly but I guess a good laugh is a good way to start the week!

I've finished CW In and Out (#3) and am about a third of the way through CW Robbed a Bank. It is nice to be back with Qwill and Polly for a while. I also read Jane Hamilton's "Short History of a Prince." Do any of you read her stuff? Gosh, she's a good writer! Am also doing "Ethel, Joan and Jackie" (or is it Joan, Ethel, Jackie?). If you can't clean house, you might as well read!

I knew you all would understand about my cat not being responsible for the bite. Tomorrow at work all my cohorts will tell me what they'd do if a cat bit them!!

Question of the day from CW Robbed a Bank: Who is Ronald Frobnitz?

This book really got me interested when LJB mentioned Ronald Frobnitz, who I knew was here on the net and then she mentioned that the Inn manager got his hotel management degree at Cornell. My daughter is the financial advisor for the Cornell Hotelmen's Association. And, of course, we then find out about JQ's growing up in Chicago and we, the Books&Literature group who went to Chicago last year, can identify with some of that. Made the book worth reading! I don't have it for long as its a new book and must be returned quickly. The waiting list is long although they do have 20 copies in our system.

Did anyone else watch "The Chamber" last night on CBS? Pretty good movie. I understand that Hackman won the Academy Award for his part.

Storm clouds and lightening tell me to get off here for now. I must get ready for my annual visit to the mammo center. See ya later in the week. Happy reading to everyone!

Gail, meant to suggest you just take a day off until the swelling goes down. Will be thinking of you!

Ronald Frobnitz? Well, I haven't got a clue! This is intriguing, Ann! I just know it's the name for that fascinating website on Braun and her CW books... it says "Ronald Frobnitz AND FAMILY"... Hmmmmmmm! A mystery!! A MYSTERY?!? Well, that's what we're here for! Hahaha!! I still eagerly await my copy of CW Robbed a Bank.

Ann you still didn't say what kind of a sandwich a KoKo was. (:

Jeryn I just finished "The Cat Who Saw Red" - a somewhat gruesome discovery in this one. No one has commented on this, but I find Qwill quite different in these early books as opposed to the last few books. I like the later Qwill, more self assured by far.

Eileen

Hello Friends!

I don't know if I ever really unstress! Sometimes I believe it is stress that holds me together!

I must admit ladies that I am not keeping up with my CW reading. BUT please do not feel that because of this I am leaving you. Not so. Carry on and I will join in at some point.

Gail - I don't wait to hurt my foot to skip house cleaning and read! And sometimes you can really tell!

I don't know about the rest of you, maybe it is just because it is spring, but I can't stay focused. My mind jumps from one idea to the next. First I am reading, then I want to work on one of my journals, then I want to work here on the computer, then I want to sew. I can't stick with one thing. What is going on?

Do any of you have a homepage or on line journal? I would like to give both of these a try. Not sure exactly where to start. If you have either are you willing to share your url?

Oh, by the way - I am leaving Friday morning for a long weekend in New York City visiting my daughter so if I am not back for a few days don't worry!

Jeanine

Hi, I'm Jessy and completely new to all of this internet goings on. So, I hope I'm doing this correctly.

I've read all of the The Cat Who...series and am "impatiently" waiting for a new release. I would like to know if anyone is aware of future books in this series. Is there a way to find out using the Internet?

I'm so excited about being able to make connection with people who are obviously "hooked" on these books as I am, and look forward to getting involved in these discussions. Bye for now.

WELCOME ABOARD THE CAT WHO BOOKS

JESSY

Just above the post here is a place to (click Here) (to view a chronological list of all the "Cat Who..." books) and see all of the CAT WHO BOOKS. We are very pleased to have you here.

Ginger

WELCOME Jessy! WELCOME welcome to our Cat Who discussion! You are among the few who have read them ALL! Have you even read the very latest one, CW Robbed a Bank? Some of us have read it and others [me] are still waiting for our libraries to cough it up!

What did you think of Eileen's observation that the Qwilleran of books written later in the series is "more self-assured" than our younger Qwill of these first, pre-inheritance stories?

Thank you Ginger from Michigan and Jeryn for your "welcomes".

I do agree with Eileen's observation about Qwill being more self-assured in the later releases. I did not read the books in order written, I couldn't always find them in the libraries to read them in order. However, in reading some of the very first releases towards the end of my experience with the series, I agree. He didn't seem as well "kept", as at ease or as confident as in later books. Likeable all the same, but definitely more "charming" in later books.

I can't comment on the CW Robbed a Bank at this moment, like some other person who wrote earlier, I'm having trouble with plots and titles running together. I'll have to refresh myself by reading the synopsis or first page or two to refresh my memory. The very last book I read was the CW...14 Tales". That was very different and somewhat of a "downer" for me...sadder than what we are use to in the actual series.

I am very anxious to find out if there are other books "in the works". Do authors give out that information or do we just wait and see? It is so frustrating to find a series one is so enamored with and come to...the end...

I'm back! My 'puter got a glitch and was out of commission for a few days. The guru at work kindly came by to get me up and running again. In the meantime, it is a good thing I had a bunch of books to read!

As for the earlier and later Qwill, what I see is that in the first few books he doesn't have Polly. He is actively looking for dates in the first 3 books (which all came in a volume I bought so of course I had to read them all) In his later books he and his "love interest" have settled down to a nice comfy relationship and I think this alone makes him less frenetic. Seems that way in real life too, doesn't it?

My foot is healing nicely, though I still am limited as to what shoes I can get on it!

I don't have anymore info on Ronald Frobnitz and family than you do, Jeryn. Just thought someone else might be able to tell us. I suspect that the whole site is made up, including the name. But who would go to all that trouble? Got me!

I am not sure what the Koko sandwich is either, Eileen. Like you I thought, long and lean! Maybe, I will call the restaurant and ask! Tee hee!

I am finished with CW and robbing of banks and liked it. I agree that the reason JQ is a better character is because of Polly. He just seemed too old to be "cattin'" around, even the earlier books. Or maybe it was the way he was portrayed. Just not the bar hoppin', woman seekin' type! Those descriptions didn't fit him a man who appreciates cats.

Gail T., so glad your foot it better. Hope you were able to rest and read a bunch while recuperating!

Well, Jessy, Eileen... I’m thinking this author is pretty sharp. Perhaps she has made Qwill grow more self-assured on purpose! And, come to think of it, if I had inherited umpty million dollars, I might become pretty self-assured too! What do you think of THAT theory?!

I’m sorry to hear you consider the 14 Tales to be a “downer”. I haven’t read it yet—have been looking for it, in fact. I will read it anyway. I read in my Cat Who Companion that in the first story, “Madame Phloi’s Sin” or something like that, Ms. Braun recreates a real life situation that happened to her with one of her own cats. Just sounded kind of intriguing... supposedly this situation [I don’t want to give it away] was her start down the road toward writing mysteries!

I really don’t know how one might KNOW if Ms. Braun has another book “in the works.” Anyone else have any idea?

Hi, Gail T! OF COURSE we missed you! I’m just glad to hear your modem and foot problems are on the mend! As for Qwill and Polly, well yes, there’s ANOTHER reason [besides the inheritance] for him becoming more self-assured, as well as mellow, laid back, all the other good stuff that comes with a nice, secure love life!!!

Yes, Ann, I bet Ronald Frobnitz IS fictional... but why THAT name? Just for fun, I guess. Hey! Maybe adopting a cat... then still another cat... had that maturing, quieting effect on our Qwill TOO! Lots of reasons. Just plain growing older can do it! And, of course, Ms. Braun is growing older as she writes these soooooo SHE is also becoming more self-assured, laid back, etc etc.

Gawrsh, I’m sorry to have run on so here! I’ll butt out a while and let somebody else “talk!”

Hi all! I am very new to this discussion group in fact, I haven't actually read any "the Cat who" books yet... but... a friend of mine speaks quite highly of her work and these books have quickly become a favorite with her.

If they are half as good as what she says, I will definitely be joining in your disussions! Just think of this as the "introductory" posting. If I can squeeze out the time, I hope to read them all.

Unfortunately, I must keep this short because I am in the mood for some Ice Cream and the shop in my town is absolutely fabulous. You can even sit down inside and it looks like an authentic ice cream parlor! I do enjoy going there.

Good bye all!

Jessy, Welcome to the "Cat Who" discussion and all the wonderful discussions in Books & Literature! Feel free to pop in any folder that interests you, just "lurk" if you like or add your comments. The "Library and Bookmobile" is an open discussion folder, come on in!

Ann, let me know if you do (:

Gail T, glad to hear your foot is better.

Jeryn, I still think it's the do-re-mi that makes Qwill so much more self-assured.

Eileen

Cleopatra - Welcome to the "Cat Who" discussion! Please feel free to roam around in any of the Books & Literature folders, either "lurk" or add your comments, you will be more than welcome. !

Eileen Megan

Cleopatra Welcome to Senior Net and our Books and Literature Folders Especially the Cat Who Books.

Ginger

LOVE your name, Cleopatra! Welcome welcome! Pick up a Cat Who... and stay awhile! Ice Cream--my downfall!

Yeh, Eileen, that ole do-re-mi will do it every time! <LOL>

Hi stranger, I mean Ginger! Are you reading a CW book? Or just lurking? Your comments are invited...

Jeryn, No Cat Who Books yet. At this time I am trying to keep up by reading posts, but I am here every day till I leave for Minnesota and England, Then maybe I can get into things. Love Ginger

Have a good time, Ginger, as I know you will! Need a stowaway?

Jeryn, Stowe away sounds good to me. Thank you for your good Wishes. Ginger

Hello on a rainy day from Grand Ledge, Michigan. Cleopatra, hello! I'm interested in the ice-cream parlor you go to. Are you speaking of the Corner Cone? If so, it's one of our favorite places to go as well. I understand the owner of the Corner Cone is a "CW" series fan and has a couple of cats to boot!

I'm waiting for the library to notify me of the return of "CW-robbed a bank", I still have to see it to know if it's truly one that I have read (they are running together in the mind). The rest I've read for sure and am looking forward to more (please Lilian J. Braun...!?!)

This is my first post in an SN book discussion; I've read thru about a month's worth of past posts, and am delighted to see so many CW fans! I think these mysteries are clever and fun to figure out, and of course, Koko and Yum Yum are darlings! My own cat, Picha, a haughty yellow-striped stray, loves to curl up in my lap when I'm reading CW books. I think so many of the characters are believable, you know? I've read all the books to date, in chronological order, because I like knowing the history when a former character or situation is mentioned in a sequel. The books are great company on trips or warm Spring days in my porch rocker.

So, hello to all CW fans; I look forward to catching up to which book is currently under discussion.

Welcome, Sallyc, so glad you are reading the posts and want to comment on the books. We are reading the first book and then the last! Join us!

Can we all join you from Grand Ledge at the ice cream shop? Sounds so good! but a little chilly for our weather right now. Chilly and raining here in downtown Gahanna. We have new Graeter's Ice Cream parlour that just opened this week. They are the best in this area!

Youse guys will kill me with all this talk of ice cream! I'm drooling on my keyboard!!

Hey, WELCOME, Sallyc57! You are most welcome to jump in and comment. Many of us are waiting for the latest CW from our local libraries, THEN we will discuss and compare with the very first in the series which we just recently finished reading and discussing. In the meantime, I'm reading CW Ate Danish Modern [catching up] and most the others have moved on to #3 and #4. Did you know, there was an 18-year time lapse between the writing of CW #4 and #5? Another interesting comparison we plan to examine in the future. So stay tuned here as we leisurely move along!

I may be kind busy tomorrow--see you all Sunday evening or Monday and have a

HAPPY EASTER!

Well, I have to return my copy of CW Robbed a Bank on Monday but I think that I can remember it well enough to discuss it. I certainly hope so!

Happy Easter to all of you! See ya on Monday!

HAPPY EASTER, EVERYBODY!

Eileen

I like this review about LJB and her writing:

Booklist .... Braun knows how to make readers feel good, preferring to shun blood and gore in favor of describing a delicious meal. And while her plots may not be complex, Braun is hardly a lightweight writer. Her descriptive powers are excellent, and she is one of the very few mystery writers to master the art of characterizing cats without relying solely on corny, cutesy feline antics. Likewise, her human protagonist, the gentlemanly Jim Qwilleran, is so well drawn and utterly endearing that women from 25 to 105 are in love with the stubborn Scot.

Ain't it the truf'?

Jessy, yes I am talking about the Corner Cone. They do make the best ice cream. The couple who run the place are very nice. The employees are some of the towns best, don't you think? I was planning on making a trip down there, but the rain drove me off. You know what they say, "no one wants ice cream in the rain".

Unfortunately I have not read the CW robbed a bank so I can offer no help to you on the subject. I will keep in touch as I read more books.

Ann, yes, ma'am, that was very nicely said!

If it wasn't for B&L I never would have discovered LJB.

Eileen

Ann, I too agree with the LBJ review. Well put.

Cleopatra,

You are so right, the employees at the Corner Cone seem to be some of the best. For the most part they are teenagers. Our experience with teenagers in many ice-cream shops has not always been the most positive. If we can get past the "blaringly loud music", we very often deal with the attitude that we are interrupting their private, good time! However, at the CC they have the most courteous and helpful teenagers we've personally ever had serve us with a healthy dose of "personality" to go along with it....what do you think...they must be cat lovers?

Still waiting to hear from the library that the "CW..Robbed a Bank" is in. Until then...Hope everyone enjoyed their holiday weekend.

Ann! Thanks so much for that great sketch on LJB!!! I couldn't agree more with whomever wrote it! I think she is quite a classy writer.

Yep, most of us are still "waiting" for CW Robbed Bank, Jessy, Cleopatra. Meanwhile, some of you who have read the first three... do you think they improve as she goes along? I don't have CW Turned On and Off but I did read it long ago.

I think I'll move along to CW Saw Red, the novel that laid unpublished in a drawer for 18 years!

Jeryn,

I am just now reading "CW Turned On and Off". I can see a big improvement just from the first and second books. Maybe improvement is not the exact word---more like a maturing. I really like the central theme that Braun carried in the first three books where she takes the art world in "Read Backwards", the decorating business in "Danish Modern" and in this 3rd book, she is poking gentle fun at the antique business. She had to have put in quite a bit of research to be able to write intelligently about all three of these areas.

My favorite quote in the CW Turned On and Off, so far is: "Qwilleran wore a sincere expression. He had a talent for sincerity that had drawn confidences from the most reticent person." I'd say that is a mark of a good investigative reporter which according to this book, he was in New York, before alcoholism became his downfall.

I find that I am paying closer attention to the details of the CW books now that we are discussing them instead of glossing through in order to get to the whodunnit part.

Phyll

The CW could read backwards and CW played post office were, just today, added to my personal library. At 50 cents each, who could pass up the bargain. Just might join you in this discussion after all.

Oh Shirley! I do hope you will! CW Could Read Backwards is the very first one of the series! How serendipitous that you found it on a bargain!!!

Phyll, I'm delighted that you admire Ms. Braun's slowly maturing technique in these first three novels. They are really quite well-written, for what they are. The themes of--first, the art world--second, interior decorating--then antiques--adds variety and does keep one interested. Character development slowly improves too, don't you think? Qwilleran seems "born" fully developed but the other characterizations get better as we progress.

Jessy,

Absolutely, they must be cat lovers, or quite possibly have their own cats! The owners are very lucky to have such wonderful employees. I have personally had them serve me, and in my humblest opinion, the one who usually works on the weekends is by far the nicest of the teenagers. However, the employees have a lot to learn form the owners, who definitely prepare the best ice cream in town.

If I get my hands on the copy of the CW Robbed a Bank, I will let you know.

I checked with my bookstore, they said the CW Robbed a Bank came out in January wo it would be at least a year before it was in paperback.

Right now I'm reading the CW Ate Cheese. I've read 5 other CW books within the last few months! I'm trying to keep track of them. I've read 3 early ones CW Read Backwards, CW Ate Danish Modern and CW Saw Red. Later books I've read are CW Saw Stars and CW Tailed a Thief. Now there's a whole bunch in the middle for me to find.

Eileen.

Hello. I am back. Actually we never went any where!

We were to go to NYC and visit our daughter. She called us thursday and said it had been raining and was to comtinue raining all weekend. This was causing her stress because she did not know what we would do if it rained so we decided to wait and go up over Memorial Day. She is much releived!

We had a very busy weekend and I bought somemore herb plants so I have been reading my herb book and not the CW books.

Hope everyone had a wonerful Easter.

Jeanine

Hi, I'm new ... and I just LOVE "The Cat Who..." series. I've just started to read them and I'm totally hooked!

Hi, Fibi,

Glad you are joining us. The more the merrier, as they say. The CW books only get better, I think. I have gone clear back to the beginning after reading all of them, I think, and I am enjoying them even more than the first time around.

Phyll

Oh what fun! ANOTHER Cat Who lover!! WELCOME Fibi!!! Glad to have you "catting around" with us here! Everyone is reading or has read SOME one of the CW books; just throw in your comments too!

Many of us are waiting for CW Robbed a Bank from our local libraries. Thanks, Eileen, for asking about it. Surely we'll all latch onto a copy before a YEAR passes! [I hope...]

Fibi, Welcome to the "Cat Who" folder and all the wonderful folders in "Books & Literature"! The "Library / Bookmobile" is available for just general comments or book suggestions. Feel free to drop in and "lurk" or join in any of the other discussions as well as this one.

Again, welcome!

Eileen

You REALLY must check out the newest arrival...

Noah

Yes, yessssss everyone! Our happy DL Ann Alden has again become a grandma!!! Click on Pat's link for a picture of this little red-headed darling!

I wanted red-headed babies SO badly! Nearest thing I ever got was my cat Tigger - a darling cat but a poor substitute for a red-headed baby! Congratulations. He is adorable!

My puter died for good and I just got myself a new one. I had the heebie-jeebies waiting to get back online! I finished the CW..who Robbed a Bank and it has to go back to the library 'cuz it's got people waiting for it. Hope I can remember things from it.

I find it amazing how much more I "see" in a book when I am reading it to discuss! Makes me wonder how I read all those others and how much I must have missed!

I'm sure glad to be back among the readers!!

A quote that I like from CW TURNED ON AND OFF---

"She half closed her eyes. "I see you as a Yorkshire Windsor. Everyone resembles some kind of chair. That dainty little Sheraton is a ballet dancer. That English Chippendale looks just like my landlord. You're a Yorkshire Windsor....Think about it for a while, and all your friends will turn into chairs."

Maybe that is why I like Qwill so much---I love Windsor chairs!

Phyll

I'm so excited, the "CW - Robbed a Bank" is finally in my hands! No, I have not read it (thought I had). It is the last one though! I almost hate to start, once I do I'm not going to want to put it down and I want to savor it...

My only hope is L.J. Braun is writing her little heart out on number 23!!

As soon as I've read "Robbed a Bank" I will be back with thoughts! (Maybe even...while). More later...

GailT, Phyll, Jessy--you are all ahead of me! I STILL haven't even got the "Bank" book. You all may just have to start discussing without me! Sigh.

What about you, Ann? Have you had time between babysitting and visiting that new grandbaby to read the CW Robbed a Bank?

Yes, Jeryn, I have read the book(a week ago) and returned it to the library. It was a 1 week book as it has a long waiting list and is new! I did enjoy it.

Thanks for putting up that picture. I just think its so funny and so catlike!

Yeh, Ann! I thought Smokey was pretty adorable! Pat cropped him so beautifully, didn't she!

Jeryn and Ann A,

Nice surprize to see the CW quote in the heading. Thanks. And Smokey looks quite content to be peeking at us through the railing. Cute picture.

I was just at the library and saw CW Robbed a Bank so picked it up again to refresh my memory. I have too many Sr. moments lately and forget what I read. The book is still on the 7 day shelf so I'll keep it as long as I can and then get it out again when we get to discussing it.

Phyll

Thanks, Phyll!

Ann, would you like to just go ahead, get this started, and make some comments on CW Robbed a Bank since several of you have already read it? Don't want to WAIT so long that we foster those senior moments! I can jump in later. It just seems to me MOST of you that are interested have already read it... sorry MY library is soooo slow!

Jessy here...Just getting into the CW...Robbed a Bank. Having a hard time finding "concentrated" time to do my reading...busy days lately.

I absolutely love these pictures of the cats at the beginning of the "cite". The one previously peeking out from under the rug was darling and Smokey as well. Can anyone submit their cat pictures? I'll have to ask the grandkids how to do it if so.

More later when I've read my book!

Yes, Jessy! I would welcome your pictures! Attach them to an e-mail to me, Ann, or Pat Scott who loads them to the server for us. If you have a scanner or digital camera, you can DO it!

That's an adorable picture of Ann's cat, they do like to get into strange places!

I don't think I"ll be getting the "Bank" book anytime soon. I'm still reading the "Cheese" book. I have enough "mental" pauses that whatever is posted about the "Bank" book won't be retained by me for long. (:

Eileen

Heyyy! Where is everybody?! Gee, I take one night off and since the cat's away, all the mice went ELSEWHERE to play?! Heh heh.

I was hoping you all would start talking about CW Robbed A Bank?
Is it as good as you had come to expect from Ms. Braun?
Someone commented a while back that it wasn't so much of a mystery, more just a nice visit with all the old characters. Would you agree?
Do you think Ms. Braun has grown as an author since she first wrote the Cat Whos of the 60s?

Now why don't each of you who have read the book submit a question for the rest of us!

Jeryn, so sorry to be falling behind. As you know, the new baby and his brother and sisters have taken up most of my time for the last week.

But, I wanted to answer your question about LJB's growth since the first book. I think her characters have become more interesting and not so flighty as in the first book. I really didn't care for Qwill's character in the first book but have grown to like him in subsequent books. I also like the way she has brought in Dolly? who is his permanent lady friend. She adds something to the stories with her wit and intelligence. Whatever happened to the lady who was in the middle books who lived in the old rambling cottage out in the country or is that Dolly? Senior moments are occurring with reoccurring frequency this week!

Ann A. and Jeryn,

Sorry I haven't been here much lately. I am expecting company next week and it seems like EVERYTHING has to be done. Of course, the best way to get a real good housecleaning done is to have company coming, isn't it?

I try to read some at night but I only manage to squeeze in about 2 pages and I'm gone! zzzzzzzzzzzz

I am about half way through the fourth CW book------oops! Senior moment. Darned if I can remember the name and the book is upstairs. Anyway, I'm looking forward to settling back in with you all when the company leaves in about two weeks.

Phyll

Thanks Ann! Grandmotherly duties always come first! And getting ready for company is also front burner stuff, Phyll! Yep yep yep! I think everyone else has spring fever; I've had a touch of it myself! Heh heh...

So, Ann, you think Braun's development of Qwilleran matches her own development as a writer and of the series in general? I see these early books as quite clever, well written for what they are, and with a younger Qwill. He grows older, mellower, even more likeable with time. He is aging well!
I think the lady friend's name is Polly. She does make her appearance later, toward the middle of the series. I do believe I remember her moving in one of the books? So she very well could be the lady who lived out in the rambling house in the country!

I was going to read the 4th book next but just got word from the library that my CW Robbed a Bank IS IN!!! At last! Soon as I find time to go pick it up, I'll try to readitextrafast so I can catch up here!

I am trying to juggle reading four books and commenting but its getting difficult. I want to comment on the wrong book in the right discussion! Eeeeekkk! In fact, I have done so today because it happened to fit! Just the right words to answer a question and it was in another book here on SN. Oh, for the simple days, when I read a book for fun!

I'm glad I started with her later books, Qwill is so much more self assured and "together" than he was in the earlier books.

Eileen

Over the past years, I have read all of the CW books by LJ Braun. As the last one, (who robbed a bank) ended, it left me wondering about one of the characters. I am trying to remember how it was worded (it was a fast read 7 day loan). It was something like, Delacamp aired - Pamela North was really Harriet Marie Penney. I do not remember this name being mentioned before. Does anyone know "Harriet Marie Penney"?

Also, I did not notice the character of Qwilleran being so improved until, just recently, I was able to get the book with her first three stories in. In reading the first one again, it was really evident of her improved writing and character development.

Sometime ago, I bought a book at a discount store entitled, "Mysterious Cat Stories". It was published in 1994 and was edited by John Richard Stphens & Kim Smith. In it was one of LJ Braun's short stories, "Weekend of the Big Puddle". It has been sometime since I read that, so I really don't rememer what it was about. I'll look at it tonight and let you know what it was about.

Oh, Ann! I know the feeling! I'm ALWAYS trying to read 2 or 3 books at a time and getting behind anymore! I'm about ready to just lurk and go back to reading books For Fun! I HAD [command performance] to go to Lexington today to play bridge so couldn't pick up the CW Robbed a Bank yet; I doubt if I can get to the library before Saturday--Monday for sure. And I've GOT to finish this book Ginny loaned me first... Eye yi yi!

Well, Eileen, I hope you keep reading them; maybe you will help us spot a turning point in Qwill's development. I'm suspecting it may be around the time he gets the inheritance... and I'm sorry, I do not remember exactly which book that is.

Mary K, glad to see you back! I have this CW Companion book and among its features is an alphabetical list of ALL the characters from ALL the CW books EXCEPT CW Robbed a Bank. The only listing halfway close is Penney, Yates and Kate--owners of the Half-Baked Bakery at Potato Cove in CW Moved a Mountain. I'm wondering if your Harriet Penney is a relation?! No listing at all for the other name.
I'd really like to read her short stories. Other than Robbed a Bank, I've read everything else too. I've been rereading the early ones for this discussion and, frankly, they are better than I remembered. NOW I will have to reread some later ones to compare!

Intrepid Ann, ever watchful for interesting CAT stuff brought to my attention this post by Seniornetter Betty Gregory [first posted in the Greatest Generation discussion]--Betty gave her permission to be quoted and we thought you all would enjoy it!

"Not much sleep tonight, left knee, right ankle doing their best to keep me awake, but what else is new. The best diversion, even beyond reading, is the ongoing battle with Sammy, an orange tabby, who has entered his teenage rebellious stage (10 months old). In the first place, who knew he'd grow to be this large. He is a very long, very large cat. With an attitude. Between our territorial battles, we like each other very much.

His latest obsessions the last few days have made me hoarse from yelling (I forget that the blue spray water bottle works fine by itself). Tonight, he kept leaping from the floor to the top of a very tall bookcase where I keep part of a miniature chair collection. I got out the blue bottle, which he doesn't like to see, and started saying, in character, 'Angry voice. Do you hear this angry voice?' He doesn't budge the first time or two I squirt him with water, then it gets to him and he vaults down and tears out of the room. I barely have time to put the water bottle down beside my chair and get my book positioned when he begins doing the thing that really drives me crazy (this is new)----he jumps up onto the lamp table, then stands on his hind legs, grabs the top of the lamp shade with his front paws and peers inside at the (warm) light. Yesterday, I held off spraying him to see what he meant to do with the lamp and he just stood there with his eyes closed, sunning his face in the warmth. This was only cute to me for a while (yesterday??) before he pulled the lamp into the floor.

I'm typing this over his sleeping body that is stretched east to west in my lap, front paws hanging over one chair arm, back paws hanging over the other arm. Maybe 30 minutes ago, he jumped up into my lap, stretched out and within seconds was asleep. Before reaching for this keyboard, I was reading and thinking of all his off-limits behavior and wondering if we have that in common."

That is life with a cat, if I ever heard tell of it!

Jeryn - When reading this particular paragraph giving this name (In CW WhoRobbed The Bank), I "kinda" got the impression that it may be a lead in to her next book. We'll see!

Mary K.,

I had that same feeling that we would learn more about Harriet Marie Penney in a later book. Also, did anyone else think that there is a sort of developing distance between Qwill and Polly in CW Robbed a Bank? I wonder if that means anything or am I just imagining it?

Phyll

I will watch for those two developments when I read the book, Mary and Phyll.

Today is Purrsia's 9th birthday! For her special lunchtime treat, she got tidbits of my Wendy's single--her favorite thing to eat! Then she got some catnip and a new fur toy. Fresh Sheba turkey for dinner. She is one happy princess of a cat!

Hope everyone had a nice weekend... the weather certainly has cooperated, actually rather unseasonably warm, but I'll not carp! I am supposed to be reading CW Robbed a Bank but other duties and pleasures have kept me occupied all weekend. Stay tuned, I really will read it SOON!

Meantime, here is a new quote and cat picture for visitors, lurkers, and all CW lovers!

"Cat with Mouse." That is one of my very favorite graphics. The cat sort of looks like my Kimba but she doesn't have a computer mouse to play with.

Jeryn, that's so funny, I was looking all over my files to find that cat picture to send to you!!! Great minds , , ,right?

I don't know when I'll get CW Robbed a Bank but I did finish the "Cheese" one. A while back someone commented on the fact that the writer didn't describe her female characters very well. I don't find Polly a very interesting character, at least in the books I have read.

Eileen

Jessy here...haven't had much to report, moving along very slowly in the CW...Robbed a Bank. Our business has been exceptionally busy and the only time I have to read is when I go to bed, and as someone earlier mentioned I don't last long... I'm not sure if it's because my ready spurts are so disjointed, but so far there doesn't seem to be as much interraction with KoKo and Yum Yum as in previous books. What I need is a good "rainy afternoon curl up" and read, read, read. I almost feel I should start over!

Eileen, I agree and almost hesitated saying anything about Polly. I almost get the feeling LJB doesn't want Polly to take a real active role here, just kind of be there...to fill up the romantic interest portion of the stories. I do not find her to be exceptionally interesting, rather "bland"...never seems anxious to prolong her and Qwill's time together "Not tonight dear, I need to get home to feed the cat(s)"!!! Oh, please...If we didn't know better we might be highly suspect of her motives as in "Oh, I'd love to but I have to wash my hair", or "I really have to reorganize my sock drawer tonight" routine. Perhaps Qwill's love life is not to interfere with the "crux" of the stories..the mystery!...I'll be back.

Jessy,

Good points, so far all the females that Qwill has been "seeing" in any of the books I've read so far seem to be just window dressing. LOL about "reorganize my sock drawer". Exactly!

I just finished "CW Cheese", Polly and Qwill went away for a week end and had their own rooms, hmmm.? Although I must say one of the charms of her books is the absence of graphic sex scenes which I find mighty tiresome.

Eileen

I felt in this last book that perhaps the author was laying the groundwork for splitting up Quill and Polly. I have always liked the "cute" relationship between the two....but I felt she was pulling away in this book. Hmmmm.

I am really enjoying all your comments about this latest CW. I kind of agree about Polly; in the past, she is of the stories but not really PART of them. Refreshingly chaste, is our Ms Braun; I DO agree! Now, maybe Polly can be replaced, heh heh. From what you all have said, sounds as if there WILL be another CW down the road.

I did not move fast enough, so now my husband is reading this newest one! Soon soon...he'll have it done in a day or two, I bet.

Oh, I think that Polly will still be there for awhile. I think Ms Braun is trying for this relationship to be more chaste(my god, did I say that?eeeeek!) and idylic and really Victorian. Makes me wonder about her life. Hahahaha! But, maybe, she just wants to stay away from the all too used graphic scenes we are exposed to in most other books written today. I always say that I know what happens when a man carries a woman to the bedroom door, I don't need to watch it.

I certainly hope there is another book soon as I did enjoy this one. A simple and fun read!

Lucky lucky me! A brand new Barnes & Noble Bookstore opened near us last week and, of course, I had to check them out. I found and purchased CW Had 14 Tales.

So far I have read the five Tales that were originally published in Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine in the 60s. Sweetly spooky, they make wonderful bedtime stories! But not because they are boring. Not at all. Like all the CW, there is mystery but nothing to cause bad dreams!

Jeryn, I have a gift certificate for my favorite book store and I do believe I saw the "tales" the last time I was in there. . .worth reading you say? Okey, Dokey.

Eileen

Jeryn, where is everyone? I'm torn between getting the "14 Tales" and the Helene Hanff "apple" book with my gift certificate.

I guess for the sake of discussion, it works better when we are all reading the same book.

I love that picture of the cat. I'm almost tempted to get a cat but I'm getting too old to be bossed around. At least Sam, our cocker spaniel, cares when I yell at him and is duly grateful for any show of affection. (:

Eileen

Eileen, I shouldn't be saying this, but I'd get the Hanff book--that promises to be a more active discussion than THIS currently is!

Probably my fault, I've taken forever to read the CW Robbed a Bank and everyone got tired of waiting on me and went elsewhere. I AM reading it and will be back with my "review" in a few days, I hope.

I've only read The Cat Who Could Read Backwards which I liked very much. I want to read them in order, so haven't tried to find the Bank one.

mem, that is exactly the best way to read a series like this--in order. I wish I had done that. Feel free to jump in any time with your comments on WHICHEVER Cat Who book you are reading.

Jeryn,

I was having a terrible time finishing the "Robbed a Bank", don't exactly know why. We've been so busy I fall asleep at night reading. So, I ended up taking it back to the library UNFINISHED,knowing there was a waiting list...put my name back on it and hope to finish it then. I couldn't get into this story line reading it sporatically, I must need to just spend some concentrated time reading (hard to find right now). When I get the book back I will be back with some discussion. I've started collecting these books, only have 4 so far, but check our used book store periodically. I'd love to have the whole series and at my leisure begin reading them all again, this time in order. More later...

Jeryn, I just might go for broke and get BOTH books! I don't think this store has any more "Cat Who" books but I know they have the "14 Tales". I think I will have to order the Hanff book.

I probably won't do the "bank" book for a while. I'd like to get more of the older books first.

Eileen

Good plan, Jessy, Eileen. Read them in order, as near as you can. It doesn't matter; each book stands by itself. But there is a sort of progression, an occasional event that makes itself felt in all subsequent books, characters slowly aging [aren't we all?], all of which makes it "more better" to read them as they were written.

I STILL plan to reread the 4th and 5th of the series just to SEE if there are subtle differences, now that I know they were written 18 years apart.

I really enjoy this series. I have read all of the books, but I have a hard time remembering which is which! I think my favorite was "The Cat Who Played Brahms", which was the beginning of Qwilleran's "Moose County period".

I hope that Ms. Braun is hard at work on the next one. Nothing is nicer than to come home from work and find a lovely box from Amazon on the porch, with a new "cat book" inside. Ha!

Wow - just found you and couldn't resist joining in. Have all the CW books plus some audio tapes for the car. I find the discussion of Polly interesting - in the early books, Qwill was involved with "younger" women but has settled with Polly for many books now. And in every case, LJB is always careful to cite how Qwill is enjoying this relationship with "a woman of his own age". I can't help but wonder whether reader comments persuaded her to find him a love interest more compatible with her audience?

Welcome, LornaB, to our little group here. Yes, I think Polly has been a popular addition to these novels--a regular love interest without the uh heavy breathing, as it were, heh heh. Some of those who have finished CW Robbed a Bank [I'm getting there] think Ms. Polly may be on her way out. What do YOU think?

Welcome BACK, LeeD! CW Played Brahms was the very FIRST one of these books I read! Someone gave it to me [years ago] because they knew I liked cats and I just went on from there when I found out it was a whole series. Have you read CW Robbed a Bank already? What did you think about the hint that Polly and Qwill may be going their separate ways?

I think maybe now is the time for me to make a few comments on the CW-Bank book. Did I enjoy it? Yes. Did I think it was particularly interesting and one of the best? No.

Like Jessy, I think when you just have bits and pieces of time to read (which I do on my 1/2 hr lunch and then before I fall asleep at night), it is hard to stay with the continuity of most books. What I found very disconcerting in this book was the device of the kid's calendar as a method of moving the story along. It seemed like my starting and stopping was never in sync with Brauns. I kept finding myself having to go back and take another run at the story to figure out where I was. It was a very choppy way to read a book...and I am not saying this was not a good idea for the author to do it, but rather that for me, it just didn't work very well.

The plot just didn't hold my attention very well either. I thought there were a lot of extraneous characters that I couldn't keep track of and consequently didn't emotionally connect with them.

Now after saying all that, every time I pick up one of the cat books, I fall in love with Qwill all over again. (I am sure I am the right age for him!) I though Polly was being a poop in the latter pages of this book, and he might just need to cast his eye my way to find someone who appreciates him more. She was just being a mite too excited over that new neighbor, if you ask me. Reading these books are like being with family -- we have known the people so long and are so familiar with them that regardless of the strength or the weakness of any particular book, you feel good for having been with them one more time.

What I have decided is that I am going to go back and re-read them all. I've done the first three and then this last one. I have found them better the second time around, and especially when I have this outlet (this message board) to share with you all. I think this is a good forum, because it helps me get lots of mileage out of my reading.

You know, when my husband and I go to a movie, when we come out and stop for pie and coffee (if we haven't pigged out on popcorn), I'll say to him, "What did you think of the movie?" I am lucky to get anything more than "It was nice," or "Pretty funny!" There is no discussion, no analyzing, no nothin' except a short little blurb. If I say, "Let's talk about it?" he always replies, "What's there to say?" Now when my cousin and I go to the movies and stop for coffee afterwards, we talk the movie to death ... we really get our money's worth and love every minute of it. I don't know if this is a "guy" thing or what, this unwillingness to share thoughts. I guess this is what I like so much about book boards - and especially this one, since I'm a cat and a mystery person. I just think having this board is great fun!

Hi, Jeryn! Nice to be here. Yes, I have read the "Bank" book, and I really don't think the relationship between Polly and Qwill will end. It would, however, be interesting to see what a temporary separation would bring to the next book. Polly can be pretty annoying at times (I think), but I would miss her, I guess, if she wasn't such a prominent character.

I have to say that the last two books weren't the best in the series. Thought the ending of the CW Saw Stars(think that's the title) was pretty peculiar, and I agree with Gail about the "calendar" method in the "Bank" book. Will look forward to the latest one to see what develops!

Lee

LornaB, Welcome to the "Cat Who" discussion and Books & Literature in general!. Have you checked the Index of Books & Literature? We have lots of other interesting discussions going, feel free to just "lurk" or post in any place that interests you.

Gail T. I've read 5 of the books, early ones, "Read Backwards", "Danish Modern", and later ones such as "Tailed a Thief" and "Saw Stars". So it's really been a mixed bag for me. As I said before I like the "later" Qwill much better than the early one, he's much more confident. I find Polly pretty dull too.

Eileen

Gail T, what a nice long, pithy book review! I'm nearly done with CW Robbed a Bank myself so I understand exactly where you're coming from. And sympathize. I'll be posting my "review" of this book in another day or two...

Lee D, appreciate YOUR comments, too. I agree it would be kind of hard to see ol' Polly drop out of Qwill's life. I'm at the point where Qwill thinks he might have to move back into his condo pronto! So HE'S still interested, at any rate...

Yes, Eileen, our Qwill has "grown" as a person and as a character; with each passing novel, he becomes more loveable! To Ms. Braun's credit.

Had to go back and skim through "CW Robbed a Bank" again but didn't get any feeling that Qwill and Polly are anywhere near an end to their relationship. I do think we were given strong hints that Qwill may be subject to a bout of jealousy in a forthcoming book - not to mention a dandy new potential crook who may or may not have been a former Moose Countian (Moosian?). Thought Gail T made some great points in her comments on this book. Found myself 1)surprised at the money Qwill threw around after being noted for his frugality, and 2)very disappointed at what happened with the letters (would like to say more about the letters but don't want to spoil anything for those who haven't read the book yet).

Lorna, I am a long time genealogist, and I nearly died when Qwill did away with the letters! Yes, I knew it was only a story, but oh, how many times I have wished someone had just KEPT the letters!

Aaarrrgh, yes, THE LETTERS! I bet Qwill will live to regret that little fit of incineration!! Sooooo interesting to us, though, to learn more of Qwill's heritage.

Well, miracles never cease! I have FINALLY actually finished the CW Robbed a Bank! I see mystery story plot moved to a back burner while the bulk of the book chats, cavorts, gossips, and visits with all my old friends from mythical Pickax, Moose County. And I enjoyed that in itself but if these cozies get much lighter, they can market them as cozy mysteries “lite”, heh heh.

There wasn’t much mystery to the mystery part except for wondering whether Koko REALLY had it all figured out or was he just being a cat! That and pushing us to the edge of our seats as we are left wondering if Polly is going to throw our dear Qwill over for a rare book dealer! I like Lorna's prediction, that our Qwill will save the day--and his romance--by proving this character to be a crook! Stay tuned...

What is the frequency of production on these things? Anyone know?? Is Ms. Braun publishing about a book a year? Or is it longer between them??? If anyone has a copy of CW Saw Stars, check the publication date for us, please. CW Robbed a Bank came out in 1999.

Well, does it still interest anyone to peruse the 4th and 5th in the series? The 4th , CW Saw Red, is the novel that lay in a drawer for 18 years. Hence, the 5th, CW Played Brahms, was written 18 years later. I’m going to reread them; first time around, I did not know these fun facts about Ms. Braun’s writing history. AND I’m picking my way through the 14 Tales at odd moments. They are little cat mysteries but, so far, none have the same characters as the CW series.

Jeryn, I have "CW Saw Stars", copyright is 1998 - "Tailed a Thief" 1997 - "Said Cheese" 1996.

I have "Read Backwards" 1966, "Danish Modern" 1967 Borrowed and returned "Saw Red". I think I lent out ""Knew a Cardinal", I know I read it. Wow, I didn't realize I had read 7 of the CW books.

Eileen

I am reading CW PLAYED BRAHMS and really enjoying it. I am so glad that I have gone back to the beginning and am slowly reading all the CW books. I found that apparently I had never read CW SAW RED even though I thought I had read all of them. I really like the way Braun explores different artistic areas. Artist and Art Galleries, Furniture and Interior Decoration, Antiques and in SAW RED---Pottery. Not too sure I like to think of what went in to making the beautiful red glaze, however. Ugh!!

By the way, remember when we were all trying to tell how we pictured Qwill in our minds? I just saw a commercial today for Thomasville furniture in which they feature several pictures of Ernest Hemingway and suddenly I realized that in his late middle years, when he had a mustache but no beard, Hemingway looks much like my idea of Qwill.

Phyll

Thanks, Eileen. Looks as if she is pumping out a book a year nowadays. So, won't be too long till there's a new one and we will see whether she does indeed turn our friendly rare book dealer into another shady character! Saving the day for Qwill and Polly, of course!!

Phyll, I'm so excited! YOU are doing just what I've been wanting... reading CW Saw Red, followed immediately by CW Played Brahms! Do let us hear your thoughts when you've finished the latter. Don't want to be a broken record but remember, 18 years passed between the writing of those two.

I went to Walden books today and found several "Cat Who" books I haven't read! Today I got the CW Sniffed Glue - apparently he has already met Polly and the police chief's daughter in coming on to him.

I also was able to order Helene Hanff's "Apple of My Eye" for less than what they wanted at the Paperback Junction!

Eileen

Hi, Eileen! We'll expect reviews and comparisons when you have read your new Cat Who's!

Has everyone who wants to reported on CW Robbed a Bank? I believe I heard a consensus that it was entertaining but not quite up to the standards of the books written 3 or more years ago, barring the very early books as also inferior. Not impossible, not inferior really, just not quite as good. Comments, anyone?

I went to a Salvation Army Thrift Store yesterday looking for a small dining room table and ended up buying NINE (yes, 9) of the CW books - actually 8 and the CW 14 Tales book. I got them for $2 each, less my 25% employee discount! Pretty nifty, huh? I got #7 - Knew Shakespeare; #10 - Talked to Ghosts; #15 - Went Into the Closet; #17 -Blew the Whistle; #18 - Said Cheese; 19 - Tailed a Thief; #20 - Sang for the Birds, and #21 - Saw Stars. Most of the latter ones I have read, but I completely missed out on the earlier ones. I am sorry I didn't find 4 and 5, but will hunt again at the libraries for those.

I just read a wonderful collection of cat short stories - called "Cat Crimes" written by various authors and edited by Martin Greenberg & Ed Gorman. Copyright date is 1991. It was a most enjoyable read -- a couple of the stories were real surprises! And all were kind to cats, which is the most important thing for me, because I just hate to read about cruelty to any kind of any animal (or humans, for that matter.) I figure I get enough of that in the newspapers and on TV!

Getting back to the CW books, it is funny how some of us at one time owned these books and gave them away, only to feel we need to buy them again now. This has been - and still is - a fun discussion group! Don't quit yet!

Thanks Gail T! I'm not quitting yet!

ANYone can mention and report on ANY Cat Who they may have currently read or be reading. Lurkers, posters, and I ALL enjoy what YOU have to say!

Gail T, boy, you got lucky! Thanks for the tip, I'll have to check out our Amvets store (10 cents for paperbacks) and the Sally too.

Jeryn, a certain familiarity has settled in - I almost feel as though I've already read this book. Better sandwich in a different book before I read the next one. I find the CW books are such an easy read - I'm not sitting there scratching my head wondering if I have the characters and the plot straight. (:

Eileen

Yes, Eileen, they are refreshingly nontaxing, one might say! You gave me a germ of an idea in your email...

Does anyone else see the continuity of these stories yet? Would a brief narrative summarizing "the story of Qwilleran's life" or some such make interesting reading in our heading? Or would that be too revealing to those who have yet to read many of the books?

Jeryn, oh, I like that idea. Anyone who has read all the books might be able to sort of outline the development of Qwill's character. Or, when did Polly appear? Or in which book did he inherited the mansion?

I'm reading the CW Sniffed Glue and he and Polly are sort of on the outs with each other at this point in the book.

Eileen

You know, Eileen, it's been awhile since I read many of these books. I would need some help getting this thing together. Would you care to volunteer?

I could cheat some and use my CW Companion, too! This will be on my back burner for now as I have a lot going on in my life. Also, I'd like to see comments on this from some of the others who participated here.

Jeryn, sure, I'll help if I can - hopefully we have someone who has read all the books and retained enough to afford us an overall picture.

Eileen

Jeryn,

I'm sorry that I have been so long in getting back to this discussion. So much to do, so little time! If I could just cut out all of the unnecessary stuff, like laundry and cooking and housework, then maybe I could keep up with the fun things.

Anyway---I am not really sure that I would have recognized the many years gap between CW Saw Red and CW Played Brahms if I had not known about it and yet---I really think there is a more mature quality to the writing between the two. And Quill is more mature, as well (No, not old! Never old!!). He is just a little more laid back and actually admits that the young "things" no longer appeal to him as much. He still has an eye for the ladies but Rosemary, whom he knew "Down Below" comes to visit him at the cabin near Mooseville and she begins to wear on him a lot.

BTW, it is in CW Played Brahms that Qwill inherits the Mansion and the Klingenschoen fortune. Lots of little intriguing tid-bits in this book---especially discovering Aunt Fanny's lurid past. Whew!

Phyll

Last Friday I went to the library and got one of those Cat Who books. It's the one that has Three Complete Novels. I was reading it (I even tried reading it aloud). Kimba my cat was beside me and reached out her claw and accidentally put a tear in one of the pages. I don't think she really appreciated being read to.

Louise, they sure let you know what they don't like!!!

Last Monday was the day set aside for my cats to get their yearly shots - Tigger and Cipsi (the Turkish Two) and Gloria Darling, who is soon to make her new home with Sage (and to whom I am eternally grateful!) Anyway, my cat Tigger is a huge cat, but he has always been very fearful. Just the act of getting him to the vet makes him go totally out of control. So my dear cousin, who herself is a vet, comes to the house once a year and gives them all their shots. We do Tigger first, since he is the hardest. She got the first couple of shots done, and the last one was to go into his rump. I was leaning over him with my weight keeping him pretty close to the table, and I had both hands along his body and was gripping his front legs. Well, my cousin went to put the needle in and just as she was approaching his rear end, he made a sudden lunge. He of course was pinned down and couldn't move much, but he moved just enough for the needle to go into my arm instead of his rump, just above the elbow! Nothing was injected, but believe me, both my cousin and I were very surprised! I didn't bat an eye or move my body and her second try got the cat! By that time we were all laughing so hard -- we had an audience of my husband and my daughter who saw the whole thing. It was pretty funny -- and the "jab" certainly didn't even go in far enough to hurt. When I released Tigs, he turned around and gave a monumental hiss and then harumphed off into the bedroom! Poor cat. He is just so terrified of everything. This is the same cat who bit my ankle when I scared him by stomping on the floor to shoo away an outside cat.

Yet this is also the same cat who sleeps with his head on my pillow, who will lick my face if I tell him he is a pretty kitty, and who likes me to run the warm hairblower over his body and then smiles while I am doing it. We are the only parents this kitty has ever known, and we've had him since we found him abandoned in Istanbul when he was about 5 weeks old. So like our own children, we make excuses, allowances and explanations, all the while really knowing that he probably isn't the nicest cat in the whole world!

Eileen, sounds like a fun project but I am not going to even think about starting until around June 19. I just have too much going on around here! Thanks so much for offering to help! If you want to start making some notes or jotting down ideas, fine, and I'll be in touch...

Well, thanks so much, Phyll, for that learned comparison. I suspected a difference might be detectable, but too subtle to see if you didn't know ahead of time. I'm really glad you dropped in to tell us. Sooner or later, I intend to reread them too, just for my own enjoyment of the situation. It isn't common to find a popular series that has an interruption of 18 years!

Louise, I'm laughing at your cat's "book review" technique!

Gail T, they ARE family. And we see them through the same rose-colored glasses we wear when viewing our children! I feel quite sure from reading these books that Ms. Braun feels the same way about her real-life kitties who have inspired all these stories.

At the risk of sounding like a broken record, I want all you nice people to know that I have a lot on my plate--family birthday, son's wedding, out-of-town-guests staying several days in my home, getting ready for all the above--during the next couple weeks. I will drop in but my online time will be curtailed; can't be helped. Doesn't mean I've lost interest... Eileen and I are cooking up something new for your viewing pleasure. And just keep hanging around and discussing what ever you like... you're all a nice bunch; don't go 'way!

Haven't been in here for a long time and really enjoyed GailT's story of her cats annual visit from the vet. Very funny and so typical of cats.

I,too, have been busy with the grandchildren, the getting ready for summer plus trying out my new membership at the health club.

In the process of life, my son lost one of his three cats recently. She was a little lost kitten when he took her in(about 9 years ago) and she probably had picked up a disease or drank antifreeze recently. She also walked in a segmented stride which I thought meant that she had maybe been struck by a car as a kitten. He found her in the middle of a busy street at the university. So she will be missed by the family and the other two cats.

I haven't read anymore of the CW books or looked to see what I missed as I think I have read them all. They are like comfort food, aren't they? Just lazy reads!

Jeryn, that's OK by me. This month I have 2 grandsons graduating and 2 grandaughter's recital. June is also a month for several doctors appointments so it'll be fine with me if we can put it off for a bit.(:

Phyll, thanks! I wanted to know in which book he inherited his estate. Also I didn't realize that the 18 year gap was from CW "Red" and "Brahms". Those are the things I think it would be fun to know in advance.

Eileen

I know this is off the track of your discussion. I am not reading this book. I did read a couple of the earlier ones. Does anyone remember if any of the Cat Who ... books had a part of the story where Qwill goes to a house that is hidden away and finds that the person he is going to see is dead?

Marjorie

Marjorie, I've read them all, but don't REMEMBER them all! When we make our thumbnail chronology, I will watch for that one... thanks for mentioning.

If anyone else half-recalls an interesting twist or event in the life of James Qwilleran, post it here and Eileen and I will try to include all that's significant [or all that will fit!] in our chronology. Later this summer...

Hello everyone! Hopefully I am back. I just lost almost a month of my life! First there was my daughter's prom. Them a mamogram scare. It showed "something". and I had to have a sonogram. Turns out the cysts are not cancerous. Then we took a trip to Canada for 4 days with our daughters band. Then we went to NYC for 4 days to visit our eldest daughter. Inbetween all of this I was trying to get herbs planted that I bought the first of May before they rooted themselves to the porch. Finally, time to sit down kick off my shows and read.

When I am in New York City I like to visit Strands Bookstore. I found the Cat Who Companian for $1.00! My daughter lives 2 blocks from that store and has to pass it on her way to class and work. It seems they always have bins outside with books on sale for 50 cents or $1.00. I would be late everyday! I would never be able to walk past those bins. Kami says that sometimes she has to walk on the opposite side of the street to get past them!

What have I been missing? What is happening here.

Sure hope you all have time for someone who wandered off the path for a while.

By the way - what did I miss with SeniorNet itself while I was gone. I tried to login and could not I had to re-register! What happened?

Good to be back

Jeanine

Welcome back, Jeanine! I don't know of anything happening on SN to cause your problem? Things have been going OK for the past month as far as I'm aware. Here, all of us who wanted to--I think--have finished and reported on the CW Robbed A Bank. If you're interested, you could click the "previous" link at the beginning or end of the posts and read exactly what's been going on!

Eileen and I are cooking up some fun--possibly a chronology of major events in Jim Qwilleran's life and--There May Be A Quiz! We are both pretty busy with other stuff right now so this will be something to look forward to in the [excuse the expression] dog days of late summer ...

Everybody, please hang in there. There is going to be a "fun" something that will involve all of us - and no particular book!

Eileen

I had never read any of these Cat Who... books until last week. I got a book from the library that had three of the novels together. I keep wondering just where the setting is. Since Chicago is so frequently mentioned, I first thought perhaps one of the states close to the great lakes. But when I read the Cat Who Came to Breakfast some of the characters said "Ay-yuh." Then they had a hurricane. There are characters that have Scottish forebears and then there's that apple barn. It has to be New England - Maine? My first stepmother always said "Ay-yuh" when she talked on the telephone, Nova Scotia isn't too far away and there are plenty of lakes. And I dare say if you live is Maine if could be possible to be 400 mis from every where. Apples and pears grow in New England. Our back yard has apple, pear, and cherry trees in it. (No apple barn.) But then this is pure guess. I love that apple barn. I wouldn't mind living there.

I just came in from our library discussion group and there was an author there who had written a new romance novel titled,"Romeo and Julia". I believe Romeo is a cat and that's how the books begins. Since I don't read this genre of writing I will never know what its about but the cover has the cutest kitten on it. Reminded me of our CW books and the discussion here.

There's an intriguing title! Thanks, Ann, for mentioning it. My soon-to-be DIL has two darling cats, one of whom is named "Romeo"! [the other is "Zorro"] Soon, these cats will be my grandcats! Hahahaha!!

Louise, I've always felt LJB's setting for these books to be totally fictional. I picture upper Midwest now [like where N Joan lives!] but early on, I thought New England too. Could be, she intends a composite?

The CW Companion actually has a make-believe map of Moose County. It is bordered on the West by "Bixby County", on the North and East by "The Lake", and on the South by "Lockmaster County". The Railroad through Pickax just says "to Down Below." At the top of the map, in the lake, it says "Canada 100 mi." with an arrow pointing North. How Ms Braun would view this fictional map I could not say!!

Funny, at first I thought of northern New England but as I read the books I pictured it more like Minnesota - Wisconsin Overall it just didn't have the "feel" of NE.

Eileen

A few days ago I visited my favorite Library Branch and got a couple more Cat Who Books. I didn't yet have the Chronologic List so I checked out 2 with pretty old dates. Between the Cat Who Could Read Backwards and The Cat Who Sniffed Glue There are 6 books and loot seems to have happened. So today I went back and got them to show me how to use the Computer Catalog. So I put in a request for them to the other books for me from the other branches.

Just read a review of "Julie and Romeo" in our Bookpages paper that comes to the library every month. The lady who wrote has just become our Discussion Group leader as our regular leader has gotten a promotion and doesn't have time for us! Sob sob sob!! She was so good! Anyway, in the review, I found that the story is about a man and woman in their 60's. I think I might just pick this up and see how it reads.

Is the wedding this weekend, Jeryn or later in June? I can't remember! You must get a wedding gift for your grandcat, too. A new scratching post or something to snack on?

Oooooh, Ann, there's TWO grandcats! I'll post a picture of them here one day soon. The wedding took place without a hitch last Saturday and the happy couple are off on a honeymoon cruise to GREECE [I wanted to go but was not encouraged...] today!!

Hey, Ann, SEE YOU tomorrow!!!!

Well, we DID have out Toledo Trotters weekend and a good time had by all. So interesting to MEET face-to-face some of our friends from Seniornet.

Ooooo, we need something new in the heading... I'll see what I can do. The advertised chronology is still on the back burner but I can SEE it simmering there... heh heh!

Yes, Jeryn, for me it was super extra special to be able to meet you in Perrysburg! I hope it won't be long till we get together again.

Hi there, Patz! Have you finished your Cat Who... book yet?!

YIKES! I don't know what came over me!! I'm NOT calling the Cat Who... dead but it has somehow been absorbed into something new and bigger and, I hope, BETTER!!

Have YOU ever read a neat novel, poem, or work of literature that had a cat in a starring or supporting role? Hey, let's hear about it! Share your knowledge and tell us what you thought of it too!

I like that!!!

I still have not read all of the "Cat Who...." books because one branch of Miami-Dade's library doesn't have all of them. But eventually I will get them tracked down. Meanwhile I have read 2 novels with Midnight Louie as the chief character. (He also helps in the writing) He is a large black cat who goes wherever he wants in Las Vegas and solves mysteries. The book entitled "Cat On a Blue Monday" had as one of its characters a smaller black female. Her name was Midnight Louise - I liked that - >^.^< There is a hint that Midnight Louise could be related to Midnight Louie. He isn't fixed.

The human author of these books is Carole Nelson Douglas.

Oh super, Louise! THAT is exactly what we want to hear about in this discussion! I take it you enjoyed these mysteries? Are they of the "cozy" type or a bit more serious?

I'd like to hear from anyone who has read one of Rita Mae Brown's "Sneaky Pie Brown" novels. I read one but it's been so long ago I've even forgotten the title. At the time, I thought it was sort of cute but quite "lite".

I'd like also to hear examples of cats characters in supporting roles from novels of the past--other than children's books. I've been racking my brain and all I can think of is the famous Cheshire Cat and THAT is, arguably, children's literature...

Cozy - Oh yes. Midnigt Louie is a big man (i.e., cat) about town who likes the ladies including his female roommate. He lives in Las vegas and is such a regular at one of the Strip Joints that he has his own locker. He knows how to get in and out of all sorts of places including his own apartment. The thought of being "fixed" repels him intensely. These books might even qualify as a Beach book. One of the stories did mention a certain book that had pink paws across the cover (You know, the "Cat Who..." books). There is mystery and even a little romance. I am going back to the library tomorrow and try to get a couple more.

Just finished reading all of the posts. Decided to join you some time ago, but it has taken time to get settled in to it.

My cat is Brandy Alexander. My son (who does Not live with us) calls him Brandy Kitty. Most of us call him Brandy, but a couple of granddaughters call him Bran.

He is exactly the color of the Brandy Alexander cocktail. With green eyes. He is the most beautiful cat I have ever seen. I inherited him from a daughter, who had him for almost 10 years. I have had him for 4. He is a real lover. Not in the least frightened by people. Wants to be WITH you all the time.

I have not read a single CW book ever. Never had a desire to. But you have convinced me they would be fun. So I am purchasing the audio books to listen to while walking. Have not started them yet, as I have about 20 audio books to read first. And I would like to listen to them in order. I have on hand:

Blew The Whistle

Robbed A Bank

Sang For The Birds

Saw Stars

Moved A Mountain

Said Cheese

Now, How do I find out what order to listen in? It does not say on the audio book boxes. Does the chronology tell you? I plan a trip to my local used book stores this week to find one of those and see about getting more audio books and then filling in with the reading books until I have all 22 or 23 on hand.

Yes, MaryPage, my chronological list--just click second line over the leaping kitten above--will put them right in order for you. I know CW Robbed a Bank is the very latest one. Who is reading these stories on your audios? Your Brandy Alexander sounds like a darling fellow. Can you email me a picture of him?

Louise, Midnight Louie must be a pretty tough customer! I love the reference to "pink paws", cute! Nooooooo I don't suppose any tomkitty in his right mind would want to be "fixed". Fortunately, in the real world, they don't know what hit 'em!

Let me draw everyone's attention to the "bottom line" underneath our leaping kitten above... we're going to give him a NAME!!!

Thank you, Jeryn. I'm afraid I am guilty of saving a lot of time by Not reading the information above the postings. Found the list and printed it out. The books are read by:

Moved A Mountain ....... Theodore Bikel

Said Cheese & Blew The Whistle ..... Mason Adams

Sang for the Birds & Saw Stars & Robbed Bank .... George Guidall

I have never heard of any of these readers. It may be a year before I can report on whether they are good listening, as I intend to do these in order AND have plenty of other reading. Barnes & Noble e-mailed me on Saturday that my copy of the new Harry Potter has been shipped out!

I went to my library today and am working on the last 1/3rd of the "cat Who..." books. They had reserved "The Cat Who Moved a Mountain" for me. I also got the Cat Who Said Cheese" and 2 more Midnight Louie Books. The librarian who served me also likes these books. I told her about Seniornet and what we do here.

Since these Books come in so many forms from Large Print to audio, as well as, regular print they must really be popular. I keep the Chronological list of the "Cat Who..." books in my purse and check them off as I read them. I also have Midnight Louie's books on the list.

Mary Page: Theodore Bikel is a famous folk song singer from the 50's. He has a marvelous voice. I saw him many times in the 60's in coffee houses in Phila..... He is also an accomplished actor who has done a lot of film & TV work ( If you ever get a chance to see a tape of Noon Wine directed by Sam Peckinpaugh & starring Jason Robards, Theo. Bikel see it..it was a TV show & I saw a tape of it at the Museum of Radio TV in NYC)..... Mr Bikel has also made a career out of playing Tevya in Fiddler On The Roof both on Broadway and on the road.

Mason Adams: Does some film & TV acting,but I think he's most famous for doing Smucker's commercials on TV & radio...when you hear his voice,I guarantee you'll recognize it.

Went to Borders today and saw a cat mystery by Marian Babson. Of course I can't remember the name and I didn't buy it because I'm behind on the books I have. Also I used to read some cat books about a mystery book store owner and I can't remember the author of those. I have to keep notes. Stacks and stacks of notes.........MaryE

hello to all. I have been lurking in the cat who folders. I really enjoyed all of your comments. I have read quite a few of the cw books and have two of my grandaughters that enjoy reading them. EME you may have seen The Diamond Cat book by Marian Babson at the book store.I read it and enjoyed it,especially the part where a cat swallows a diamond and the woman who is taking care of him is anxiously waiting for the cat to pass the diamond.

Thanks for telling us about Marian Babson. ANOTHER example of a novel which stars a cat!! I'm making a list...

Now, who will be the first to suggest a NAME for the Leaping Kitten?!?!? Think MALE kitten...

Thanks, Ed, for giving me some background on two of the readers. I look forward to hearing them now.

I've been reading Marion Babson for years. She is really good.

Have just been to my used bookstore, and only found one cat who. So I ordered the rest from Barnes & Noble! Will have all 22 when they come. Now if I can get through the Other books I'm reading, I just might get to The Cat Who books in a few years! Oh well, I have willed all my books to a granddaughter who Loves cats!

Hello to everyone. If your tired of reading and want to watch a cute video then tune in to The Disney Channel tonight . They are showing Murder She Purred :a Mrs. Murphy Mystery from a novel by Rita Mae Brown. The movie is also out on video. Pat

I stopped in here to tell you about Murder She Purred but I see Pat beat me to it.........MaryE

I was just in the middle of watching it (cute movie) and the cable went out.

OH RATS! I missed it!! My fault for gadding about last night instead of visiting Seniornet! The Disney Channel, eh... know very little about the habits of the Disney Channel. Do you all think they will be likely to repeat this feature, "Murder She Purred"? Anyhow, welcome to our discussion and thanks for telling us about it, pking, EME too!

Has anyone read the book? I presume it's the one called Murder She Meowed? Has anyone read ANY book featuring Sneaky Pie Brown?

No, Jeryn, I haven't read that book, but have two wonderful books about cats. First one is a true story and I'm sure you are all familiar with it. "Scarlett Saves her Family". I cry whenever I read it. Bought one for each of my daughters as they all have cats.

The second one is The Silent Miaow by Paul Gallico and I absolutely love it. Its a manuel for Kittens, Strays, and Homeless Cats, teaching them how to take over, property rights, doors, attitudes, Christmas, motherhood, and all the stuff that all cats need to know. Has anyone else read these books?

Just came back here to subscribe and there isn't a button to do that. Well! Shirley

Heh heh. Of course not. I subscribed last week! Heat must be getting to me.

I haven't read that book but I did read another of the Brown books. I thought it was a little too cute. I did like the movie and it was fun to see the characters live. I think I must like my movies lighter than the books I read. Hmmmm I hadn't thought about that before..........MaryE

"Liteness" in a movie MAY be more forgiveable, at least sometimes! That's an eloquent observation, MaryE!

Well, Shirley, pal, thanks much for those two new titles. I read The Silent Miaow many years ago and it IS adorable; I remember it pretty well. Your other title, Scarlett Saves Her Family is new to me. I'll track it down...

Cats in novels; they ARE everywhere!

Now you all have truly disappointed me. I know most of us don't read headings--at least not more than once--but I DID hope for some help naming the leaping kitten. NOT ONE of you noticed or at least NO ONE offered a name! What about Frisky? Fido? Pounce? Sir Pounce-alot? Leapin' Louie? Lei Po? [did I spell that right?] Duster, Buster, Prancer, Dancer, helpmeouthereI'maddictedtonamingthings.......

I've been thinking about that poor animal not having a name or even that no one suggested one. Have recently heard that the old names given to pets are no longer in use. Fido, Spot, etc. So you who are addicted to naming things, go right ahead. I do like Prancer or Sir what was it? Its your animal - you can name it.

Scarlett Saves her Family is about the cat who rescued four or five kittens from a fire in NYC. She was badly burned herself. A fireman saw the cats and took them to the North Shore Animal Rescue League and they were cared for there. Keep the tissues handy.

Simon looks so serious. What is he thinking about?

Oh dear, I read about that heroic cat in the media when it happened. What fantastic animals they are, really. I'll remember about the hankies...

As for Li Po's name, if I HAVE to do it myself, that's the name I'll give him because it suits him. I pronounce it LEE-po because he's leaping. Li Po was a Chinese poet. Li Po was the name my daughter gave her first kitten she called her own after she moved away from home. I just like it. So much for naming kittens. Until the next one...

The bouncing kitten should be named

Purrcolate

because it perks up & down like the coffee in my percolator!

or call it Purrfervid, because it is extremely eager!

or Purrform, because it is constantly performing!

Oh MaryPage! I love them all! YIKES! You scooted that in here RIGHT AFTER me giving up and naming him myself! I think I'll start a catname registry for all the cute cat names I've heard and made up for lo these many years! Purrformer is just purrfect! I'm weakening... Shall we RE-name the kitten???! MORE ideas, anyone? VOTE?

Shirley, I don't KNOW what Simon is thinking about? When we see his roomie next week, [Terri's other cat] maybe we'll understand!

Purrformer gets my vote. Sorry Jeryn. How long will the voting go on?

As long as you like. Ten minutes? Hey, I like Purrformer too!

Well, maybe till tomorrow since it appeared SN dropped off for a little snooze there for a while. Which is exactly what I'm about to do...

How about Lei Ping?

I stopped in here to tell you about a new author(to me) but you all have already met her. I am reading her title, "Canapes for Kitties" today and enjoying it quite a lot. Has anyone mentioned "The Christmas Cat" by ??? Can't remember the author but the poem above reminded me of the book. I'll go look it up! Be back later!

Jeryn, I love the header above but loooovvvve the leaping kitty!

Sorry, the title is "The Cat Who Came For Christmas" by Cleveland Amory. Take a look at this sight about cats. Devon Cats

Well, Ann, good to see you back! And up to your usual expurrt sleuthing the net, I see! Who wrote Canapes for Kitties? Thanks for the additional cat book [I AM making a list, as ever] AND the site to read about it. I read a couple of Amory's books; one was enough but IT was quite cute. Boy, those Devons are fun-ny looking cats... anyone know one purrsonally?

And Ann, that is a supurrb name suggestion: Lei Ping, a living breathing leaping PUN!!! Glad you like our little mascot, given to us by the ever resourceful Pat Scott.
Who was/is Lei Ping anyway?

Hey Jeryn, I just saw that kitty leaping and frolicking and thought of Lei Ping as a takeoff on his antics. Also I saw your Lei Po and the two names just seemed to fit together.

So how was the snooze? I wondeed what happened to SrNet last night.

Ann, thank you for mentioning Cleveland Amory. I was trying to remember that book which I had given as a gift. Didn't he write three books about his cats?

I LOVE it! Lei Ping gets My vote! It's Purrfect!

Some of the books in the Cat section of my personal library are:

"Compleat Cat" by Cleveland Amory

includes The Cat Who Came For Christmas

The Cat And The Curmudgeon

The Best Cat Ever

"The Poetical Cat" edited by Felicity Bast

"Bella and Me, Life in The Service of A Cat" by Herblock

"The Tribe of Tiger" by Elizabeth Marshall Thomas

"I Purr, Therefore I Am" by Merrit Malloy

"Cat Stories" by James Herriot

"Poetry For Cats" by Henry Beard

"The Fur Person" by May Sarton

Mary, you have that many cat books? Wow, lucky you.

I have an addiction to own books.

That is my great weakness.

me too, but I don't have that many on cats. I have a lot of reference books and a whole lot on genealogy and a few more on lighthouses. Then there are the Readers Digest books still in the bookcase and then the boxes of fiction that I get at the Book Seller. But you have a nice section of cat books in your personal library.

When my husband died and I sold our home and moved to a one bedroom condominium apartment, I had to give away boxes and boxes and shopping bags and shopping bags full of books. Most of the reference books went, the encyclopedia went, did not own any Readers' Digest books, no lighthouse books, no genealogy books, lots of older fiction went, lots of stuff I had to close my eyes and shudder over giving away and then LET GO OF!

Mary, that must have been very hard to do. Knowing that day could hit me too, I am more than willing to give any book I have to anyone who wants it. Oldest daughter got my Field guide to Butterflies, for instance. Downsizing really means giving up a good part of your life. One of my friends went from a big house to one room- more like an efficiency. I remember watching neighbors clean out their mothers home after she died and a city truck made five trips to the junk yard. I didn't want my kids to go thru that so I cleaned out stuff. Five boxes went, I laugh at that now, but still aware of all that should go.But books are friends.

That's the way of it!

Life is not Things.

I did have the pleasure of giving all of my husband's collection of Art Books to our Art History degreed granddaughter, and so on like that. All the books were Given away; none Thrown away. A 15 year old high school girl and her mother were thrilled to come and pick up the Britannica set for nothing!

That's good to hear.

Oh I do empathize with downsizing one's book collection! I am constantly adding to, equally constantly trying to weed out and give away books! So I don't AGAIN outgrow the existing bookcases!

I like your collection, MaryPage. I've read The Fur Person, the James Herriot stories, and that first Cleveland Amory story but the rest are new and will be fun to find and explore. I did have an ulterior motive here, folks! I am adding lots of new cattish ideas to my personal want-to-read list! I hope this benefits others with like interest as well.

Hurry and vote for your favorite cat name, everyone that hasn't already. I'm showing 2 votes each for Lei Ping and Purrformer!

Lei Ping gets my vote!

Just got my Best Friends magazine and it mentions several cat books including Meowtha Stewart's Decorating tips for cats. First book is "Cold Noses at the Pearly Gates" and Hermitage Tales by Fred Yost. Shirley

Meowtha Stewart? Oh dear! What next?? Let's stick to novels, here, please! The Fred Yost, Shirley... have you read it? Is it short stories, all cat stories?

Many super short stories featuring cats exist but I don't know if the scope of this inquiry can take in such abundance! [tongue in cheek, here]

What say you all? Shall we start enumerating short stories that feature cats? I have 3, 4 maybe, whole books of cat stories around here. Maybe just to mention outstanding stories?

No, I have not read it. ---includes some true tales, flights of fancy, past and present experiences from the cat's perspective.

Oh, Shirley! I was editing while you were posting! Go back and read the end of my last post.

I would enjoy reading some stories/items written "from the cat's perspective" if they were well done. Gotta look for that. Where are you coming up with these titles?

Didn't realize you were mostly interested in books as opposed to short stories. Sorry about that. Since you posed the question, I would say stick with books. Otherwise, you might have to ask "what is short"? :-)Jeryn, we might be tripping over each other in these posts. Now it is your turn to go back to see where I found these books.Shh - I'll tell you. In my BEST FRIENDS Magazine that came just the other day.

Hey, Jeryn! I understand the title of this forum, but it IS all about cats, as well, and I listed my wonderful books of poetry about cats. Those books are truly endearing to anyone who loves cats, and you, yourself have listed the T.S. Eliot.

So there, too, and also!

Yes, MaryPage and I intend to continue quoting cat poems! Love 'em. Did you see my free verse excerpt for this week?

Tell you what... we won't get down to SPECIFIC short stories or SPECIFIC poems, but I'll keep listing books that are collections of same! Sound reasonable? As Shirley put it: cat BOOKS.

And where am I going with this? How about if I print it out at some yet-to-be-determined time in the future and email it to anyone who is interested?

Since I just got a printer and finally have it all set up and working, I say fine.

OOoooooooo! A new printer! What kind did you get?

Now, Petite One, you'll be able to do all sorts of new things.

A delay in response due to a mystery trip. We went to Galesburg IL, the birthplace of Carl Sandberg.I got a magnet with a picture of the U,S. postage stamp he was on and a quote from a poem. I think itwas a poem. "The fog comes on little cat feet". The printer is a HP. Does a scanner come next?

I got a new HP printer a couple months ago, Shirley! Mine is a DeskJet 932C and so far, I really like it. I don't have a scanner; seldom feel the need for one. My husband has a negative scanner for his 35mm film so we have plenty of "slide shows"!

Shirley: I wished you had known you were to be in Galesburg... We go every day for Charlie to walk at the Mall.

The Sandburg Cottage is a nice place to visit.. It has really been improved and exhibits have been added.

Oh Pat, I wish I had known too. We visted the train museum, Central Cong church, Art in the Park where I bought three Christmas gifts, Monsanta Learning Center, Seminary Ave with the antique stores and the Browning House. How close to you was I? Did we pass in the park? I would have recognised you if I had seen you. Shirley

Art in the Park.. is really the best I spent all Saturday Morning there... Left Charlie at the Mall and picked him up at Noon.

The Learning Center is only available to residents of Galesburg. So I was only there when they first opened, but it looked like to neat place.

S.Seminary is also a great place... We like to eat at the Landmark Cafe... They have the best fruit pies.

You were leaving as we arrived. Our noon meal was at the Packing House. At the Learning Center, they told us ALL about the bugs that infest field corn and what they do to prevent it. Then we had a tram ride out to the fields.

I am reading a couple more of the Midnight Louie Mysteries. At the end of one of them is this:

http://www.catwriter/cdouglas/

I tried it. It doesn't work. The author of the books is Carole Nelson Douglas

Try this, Louise. It must have been a misprint. I thought it should have a domain name, "dot com" or something so I did a little search engine sleuth and found this:
http://www.catwriter.com/cdouglas/ which seems to WORK fine for me!

Jeryn, you asked me about the author of the cat mystery that I was reading. Its Marian Babson whom someone else has already mentioned. She has a number of books in print. I just couldn't get into it and gave up. Maybe later!

I do like Amory's books about cats and have read them all. I have a huge coffee table book titled "THE CAT" which is like a TV program on Animal Planet or A&E. Super pictures!

Thanks Jeryn. It works beautifully now.

Hey, Jeryn!

I love the name Lei Ping!

Pat Scott, Hello there my friend it is so good to see you here. How are things going for you and Jack, our meeting at the OHIO Luncheon was so special to me as we really got to know one another better.

I am off to Wisconsin and then to Az if all works out ok for me, We may be crossing paths again I hope.

Ginger

Ginger and Patz, welcome faces in my kitty kat place!

That absolutely does it, Patz!!! Yours is the deciding vote to name the kitten. Jeryn the Judge has decided! The Novel Cats Discussion Mascot is now officially named:

LEI PING!

Special thanks to Ann for having the idea and thanks to everyone who played my "Name that cat" game.

I must be on a roll here on SN. Have won two contests in less than a month! Whoa!! Hey, PatS, I know that I owe you an email but haven't been able to look up our train route yet. I am keeping it for next Monday while I am packing! Hahahaha!

Ann, I bet you are getting excited! Have a great trip!!

Who was it mentioned the other day--Shirley, I think it was you--mentioned Hermitage Tales by Fred Yost??? As being stories written from the viewpoint of a cat, or some such... Well, I have checked two libraries, two bookstores, and Books In Print--nothing. Could you check and make sure you had the title right? It sounded so intriguing!

Yes, Jeryn, it was me. Item in BEST FRIENDS cat magazine that I get. It says send $12.00 plus $4.00 for shipping and handleing to The Hermitage, PO Box 13508, Tuscon AZ 85732 or call 520-571-7839 for more info. HERMITAGE TALES by Fred Yost.

So you haven't actually read it, Shirley? Sounds like a self-published book...

No, I haven't. You were looking for cat books and it was listed in the magazine so I mentioned it.

Proceeds help support the efforts of Tuscons no-kill, no-cage, non-profit, cat shelter find homes and care for over 100 needy cats and kittens.

Ahh, go ahead and order it. It also says to be ready to laugh and cry.

Jeryn, I tried to put that waving kitty that I sent you this morning but couldn't get the clickable to work. Can you use it anywhere on this site or can you just make a clickable to it here?

What waving kitty? What? what??

Well, folks, I gotta tell you--I got this book Scarlett Saves Her Family at the library today! I defy you to read this book with dry eyes! Whew!! There might have been a little bit of hype to that story but who cares. Scarlett is legendary!

Now where'd I put that other hankie...

Sounds like a good book, Jeryn. I must go and see if my library has it.

Ann and I are waving to each other as she goes through Guelph on her way to Toronto! I can't believe she'll be so close but I'm going to try and at least talk to her when she's in Toronto.

Pat

So glad you enjoyed the book, Jeryn. It still haunts me thinking of the picture of Scarlett and her burns.

It's easy to read, Pat. Almost as if it were written for children except for the subject matter! The pictures--WELL, THE PICTURES in this book are just priceless. "Haunting" is a good word, Shirley!

Everyone: if your library has Scarlett Saves Her Family, just take a peek!

Is that new cat Yum Yum or KoKo?

Oh Louise! I'd say that was definitely YumYum! Cathryn says she is a tiny little thing...

I was at my library this morning when I saw "The Cat Who Robbed a Bank" in someone else's hands. So I went to the desk and asked them to let me know when it comes back. We also decided it was time for the author to write the next book. I also saw another Midnight Louie mystery book.

Hello everyone! Oy, I've been a busy bee lately! Sorry to have neglected the CATS and you and you and you...

I fully realize one can only read so many cat-themed novels, mysteries, poems, what-have-you. I'm still keeping track of any titles you folks come up with and at some point, I'll email the list to anyone who's interested. Sooooooo, maybe I'd better start collecting names!

And let me draw your attention to my new "quote of the week" above AND the picture of my new grandcats. Two more charming fellows [they are brothers] I have yet to meet!!!

I guess I haven't gotten tired of cat books, yet, because right now I have 3 more Midnight Louie Mystery books in my possession. I think they must be the last in the series. They are "Cat on a Hyacinth Hunt," "Cat in a Golden Garland," and "Cat In a Jeweled Jumpsuit.">

The URL for his website has been corrected.

I didn't really mean I was TIRED of them, just reading something else for a while. If LJB published another one right now, and it was available to me, I'd read it in a minute!

If anyone is still visiting, here is a new quote and a new picture, thanks to Marjorie.

I will happily accept photos AND/OR new quote ideas, if anyone wants to send me same in an e-mail. I try to put up something new every week or so.

"No heaven will not ever
Heaven be
Unless my cats are there
to welcome me."

--epitaph in a pet cemetery

"I wish you could see the two cats drowsing side by side in a Victorian nursing chair, their paws, their ears, their tails complementally adjusted, their blue eyes blinking open on a single thought of when I shall remember it's their suppertime. They might have been composed by Bach for two flutes."

--Sylvia Townsend Warner English writer

These are a couple of quotes that I like. The second one sounds as though it could have been written about Ko Ko and Yum Yum.

My husband just finished TCW Robbed a Bank and he agreed with me that it wasn't quite as good as her other CW books but still good enough that we finished the book and look forward to more.

Phyll

Of COURSE we're still here!

Hi,All,

Haven't been here in some time---work,work,work---but try to check in whenever I can. I see that LJB will be coming out with a new "Cat Who" book in January. Wonder if it will be better than the last two. Even though I like all her books, I preferred some of the earlier ones. I notice that the ratings at Amazon.com for her books are in agreement. Must be hard to stay original when you have written so many books in a single series?

Anyhow, love the photo of Wizard. Jeryn, I would be glad to send you a digital photo of my two ragdoll kittens if you would like. They are very "photogenic". If so, please let me know.

Happy reading to all...

Lee

Please DO send photo[s] of your cats, LeeD, and anyone else who wants to. Just attach them to an e-mail; my e-mail address is right up above anywhere my name is underlined--just click there.

GLAD to hear you're hanging around, MaryPage!

Thanks for the suggestions, Phyll, and I WILL use them! Watch for them during the rest of August!!

Several of you have commented that CW Robbed a Bank was just not quite up to the standards of most of Braun's earlier books in this series. I definitely agree... there just wasn't much MYSTERY. It was more like a visit with old friends who were just doing their usual thing, nothing terribly exciting! She is still a quite adept writer but, indeed, must be running out of ideas for Qwill and his crew... not too hard to imagine after 23 books! Or is it 24 now?

I do have "Robbed A Bank" in my possession but haven't read it yet. At the moment I am reading Cat In an Indigo Mood by Carole Nelson Douglas. I think this is the last of the Midnight Louie Mysteries. I hope there will be more later on because there are a lot of situations like romances that aren't finished yet. Since there is an internet address in the book I might just write and say what I think.

I am going to get one of those "Midnight Louie" books one of these days, Louise. Can you recommend which would be the best one to read first?

I am not sure of the precise order the Midnight Louie books were written, but "Catnip" and "Pussyfoot" seem to be the first 2. I have read them out of order because it is hard to tell from the listing. The only book left for me to read is "Cat with an Emerald Eye." I really love the characters in these books. Midnight Louie does write his own chapters and even hits the computer keys at times. The last book is "Cat In An Indigo Mood." I am sure there will be more to come.

Thanks, Louise; I'll look for one of those two for my start with this series.

Public thanks to LeeD who sent me a darling photo and a couple of quotes in an e-mail today. Watch for his sweet little 10-week old "ragdoll" kitty! Coming soon!!

Hi, Jeryn,

You're very welcome! As I said in my email, I am just learning to use the digital camera that my husband got me for Christmas. Now that we have the two kittens, the photo opportunities are endless.

Lee

p.s. I apologize for the spelling of my name---it is so misleading---but I am of the "female persuasion".

I wan't sure but I sure am now, Lee! I mean, if you've got a husband... ;oD hahaha! Looks from the file name on your photo as if your digital camera is a Sony; I have one--about the first one they ever made--but I've had a lot of fun with it!

Let the drums roll slowly

NORTON is dead!

He will go to Paris no more.

He died one year ago, and I am just finding out. His obit is in the latest LAND'S END catalog.

Seriously.

MaryPage, you blow me away! Forgive me, can you tell us, Who is Norton? Lands End--the clothing merchant? Their quality seemed deteriorated to me and I've been throwing their catalogs away unopened for the past year...

Norton is the Cat Who Went To Paris. Norton is the , was the, wonderful Scottish Fold cat who had books and articles written about him. Norton is the greatest cat, bar none, I ever read about!

Apparently his obit was the first ever printed by THE NEW YORK TIMES last year, picture and all, but I missed it. Also, Newsweek and People magazines wrote it up in THEIR obit columns, and I missed those as well.

I am seriously in mourning here. Peter Gethers is the person Norton owned (he also writes as Russell Andrews).

If you have never read THE CAT WHO WENT TO PARIS or A CAT ABROAD, run and get them and Fill with Joy!

p.s. Norton was the 1st animal of ANY kind, not just cat, to have an obit in the N.Y. Times!

OH, The Cat Who Went to Paris, Peter Gethers. OH THAT Norton!!! Yes, I read the book quite some time ago. Thank you for bringing this to our attention MaryPage. Let us all bow our heads a moment for poor, dear Norton...

IN MEMORIAM Norton a cat for all people and placesRest in Peace

Wonderful, Jeryn. I am in awe of your gifts.

Did you know he was named for Norton in the Honeymooners? The Jackie Gleason show of a zillion centuries ago. Ed Norton. You would be too young ........

Hahahahooohoho, too young? NOT! Used to watch the Honeymooners REGULARLY and ol' Ed Norton aka Art Carney was my favorite!!!

Well, of all the cats I ever knew from the pages of a book, NORTON was without doubt THE GREATEST!

Hi, Jeryn,

Yes, guess "the husband" was a big tip-off! As for the camera, you are right---it's a Sony Mavica, and it's so much fun to use.

My condolences on the passing of Norton. My former co-worker lived a couple of houses away from the "real" Norton (Art Carney).

Lee

This morning I went to the library with a friend and found a new Midnight Louie Mystery. This one is "Cat In a Kiwi Con." The last book I read Carole Nelson did let us in on her plans. She names them according to the Alphabet and plans to keep on writing until she gets to Z. As you can see we are already up to K. There is no A. Ther first books were Catnip and Pussyfoot.

"Cat In a Jeweled Jumpsuit" had a contest for Elvis look alikes. This was fun for those who wonder if Elvis really is dead.

One of the librarians has asked me which set of cat mystery books I like better. I have decided I like this Midnight Louie better than Koko. Louie is a bit of a scoundrel. Besides the humans have all sorts of interesting things going on in their relations.

I really must try one of those Midnight Louie books, and I WILL, Louise! Thanks so much for telling us all about them. Next time I go to the library...

I really AM going to put a new picture and quote up soon, too, folks. I've been neglecting our little corner here, and I'm sorry. Too many irons in the fire, I guess...

Louise, are you still around? I got the book Catnap, a Midnight Louie whodunit, from the library today. Will let you know how I like it.

Wouldn't blame you all for jumping ship. I've been busy and off on other tangents most of the week. Got a new quote and photo for you finally, anyway. All the ones sent to me [yours too, Lee!] will eventually wind up here, I promise.

Hi, Jeryn and all,

Love the cat in the photo. Color is just great. Not to worry about rushing to put the photo in, Jeryn. I enjoy seeing everyone's animal pictures. It seems like every photo I take here(if not of the cats) one of the "hambones" has his face stuck in it somewhere. They're getting just a little too full of themselves.

I, too, will try one of the "Midnight Louie" books, as soon as I finish what I have going now. Usually have at least two, and one is a real slow-starter. Keep waiting for it to pick up speed. Maybe it never will!

Lee

Guess what I just read. The Cat Who Played Post Office. Can't you just see a cat draging a letter around? Or sitting and watching the mail come thru the slot? Allie wouldn't do anything like that.

Hi Lee and Shirley. One of my cats will knock the mail right off onto the floor if you set it on the window seat for a minute! Some cats are hambones, yep; some cats are perfect little ladies and gentlemen; some cats are ornerier [sp?] than dirt and I've got one of the latter!

I've always called her a juvenile delinquent and being a matron of 9 hasn't changed her a bit! She's like McCavity [T.S.Eliot--Old Possum...etc]--the purrpetrator of the crime--BUT, McPurrsia wasn't THERE! Heh heh... I'll have to put part of that poem up here as a quote one of these days.

Who is Lee? That is my nickname but I haven't seen a Lee posting anywhere.

Name is Lee D., Shirley. She posted last #427, just before you!

Shirley... meet ...Lee D!

Lee D... meet ...Shirley!

Hi Lee D. Thank you Jeryn. I did go back and saw that Lee had posted. I do like the name and you can see that it is part of my addy. Lee Curtis, that was me before I got married. Still me as far as that goes.

The best my cat does is sit between my keyboard amd the red light of my webtv so then I have to be a contortionist to send any messages. Not all cats are as smart a KoKo. But I wonder what cat is going to sit around and let you count its whiskers. The author keeps mentioning Koko has 36 on each side and the average cat has 24. Kimba won't let me count hers.

The closest I can get is counting the rows, Louise! Four rows on each side is the standard cattish whisker equipment. Years and years ago, the neighbor kids got kittenish and gave our then cat and their own a special trim... all their whiskers were about one inch long for a while! Their mother and I had a little talk with them and it did not happen again; ahem! Cats DID look funny...

>^.^<Click for Memories>^.^<

Neat! Thanks, Louise.

It is all memories now!

One of my favorite songs! Thanks, LOUISE!

Say, have any of you ever heard the CD called "Songs of the Cat" with Garrison Keillor and Frederica Von Staade? The songs are just adorable. You know Keillor--you're laughing, then you're crying.

Louise,

Thanks for the "Memories".

Will someone tell me why that song always brings tears to my eyes?

Phyll

I don't know, but it is a beautiful piece of music. I remember when I saw the musical performed at the Jackie Gleason theatre on Miami Beach. I stood a couple of hours to get tickets to it. Always wanted to see it again. Now its over and that's sad!

I took a granddaughter, she was 14 at the time and it was her Very First Broadway show. At the Wintergarden. We had 3rd row tickets on the aisle, and I let her sit there so she might get purred at. She did! One of the cats that had come down the aisle in the dark and was waiting to go on stage stopped right beside her and butted his head on her knee and purred at her and smiled and rolled its eyes, etc. Kathryn was Over The Moon!

What a wonderful experience!! I was in the loge when I saw it.

Oh Phyll, it makes me tear a bit too! Because she's dying? Because she's moving on into the unknown?

Louise, MaryPage, I got to see the play live too but it's been such a long time... can't believe how long; at least 12 years, I think. Has it really been around that long? For Christmas couple of years ago, I got a video which was made from the CATS stage play and MOST enjoyable it is.

EIGHTEEN years, Jeryn!

Time flies when we're having fun, I guess!

Got to tell you, Louise, I am STILL reading Douglas' Catnap! I'm about half way though it. It's quite cute and holding my interest [LOVE Louie!] but I have just had some other, nearly overdue books to finish up, and then there's the Olympics [Isn't the coverage TERRIBLE?!] so here I am, taking over a week to read a simple little whodunit!

I have just completed Cat in a Kiwi Con. This is the last Midnight Louie book so far. If you like Star Trek you'll like this one. Since Louie and his human live in Las Vegas most of the books are set there. I love the way the author weaves conventions and a little history, a little popular stuff like Star Trek or Elvis into the stories. To me the characters themselves are most fascinating. I also learned that Kiwi is not only a fruit, it is also a bird. And since Kiwi begins with K there are 15 more books to look forward to.

When you get to Cat on a Blue Monday all you have to do is follow the alphabet to know what order to read them in.

Well, thanks for the tip, Louise! Kind of like Sue Grafton... A is for Alibi etc. I had no idea... Is the one I'm reading, Catnap, first? In the front of the book, it shows Catnap first, then Pussyfoot. Is Cat On a Blue Monday third?

The "Midnight Louie" series promises to be pretty cute. I'll probably meander through them all. Who could resist an 18-pound blackblackblack purring, story-telling lovey-dove like Louie?!

Yes, Jeryn. Catnap and Pussyfoot were the first 2 books in the series. I guess Miss Nelson hadn't come up with the alphabet idea until Blue Monday. I guess there will be no "A" I haven't read them in order because I didn't catch on at first but it isn't too bad to follow. But various events do go from one book to another. And wait until you meet Midnight Louise.

Now there's a treat in store! Midnight Lou-ISE! Heh heh, I love it!

Adam & Eve said: "Lord, when we were in the Garden, You walked with us every day. Now we do not see You anymore. We are lonesome here, and it is hard to remember that You love us."

God replied: "No problem! I will create a companion for you who will be with you forever and will be a reflection of My Love for you. No matter how selfish, childish or unlovable you may be, this companion will accept you as you are and love you as I do, in spite of yourselves."

And God created a new animal. It was a good animal, and God was pleased. This animal was pleased to be with Adam & Eve, and he wagged his tail.

Adam said: "Lord, we have named all the animals in the Kingdom, but cannot think of a name for this new animal."

God replied: "I created this animal as a reflection of My Love for you. His name shall be a reflection of My Name. You will call him DOG."

And Dog lived with Adam & Eve, and was a companion to them, and loved them. They were comforted. God was pleased. Dog was content and wagged his tail.

After a while it came to pass that an Angel came to the Lord and said: "Lord, Adam & Eve have become filled with pride. They strut and preen like peacocks, and believe they are worthy of adoration. Dog has indeed taught them they are loved, but perhaps too well."

God replied: "I shall create for them a companion who will be with them always, and will see them as they are. This companion will remind them of their limitations, so they will know they are not worthy of adoration."

And God created CAT to be a companion to Adam & Eve. Cat would not obey them. When Adam & Eve looked into Cat's eyes, they were reminded they were not Supreme Beings. Adam & Eve learned humility. They were greatly improved.

And God was Pleased!

And Dog was happy and wagged his tail!

And Cat didn't give a hoot one way or the other.