Street Cats and Where to Find Them by Jeff Bogle

 

Reviewed by Jeanne

The subtitle of the book is “The Most Feline-Friendly Cities and Attractions Around the World”, which is a good summing up of the contents.  While there was a similar book recently, Cats of the World by Hannah Shaw, this one focuses more on places to interact with cats or cat-related items: cat cafes, museums, festivals, etc.  Bogle does visit some places where street cats abound, including Japan’s Cat Island, Rome, and Istanbul, but he also features lesser known locations as well as a couple of US spots : New Orleans and Tangier Island, Virginia, neither of which I would have thought of as being cat locations. 

A pause (paws?) to note that Bogle has an introduction about these cats, defining street cats, how to safely interact with them, and what to do if you find a sick cat.

This book was a real treat.  The photos are wonderful, and convey a real sense of what a place is like as well as being very attractive. Most of all, though, I really loved the tone of the book. Bogle explains that he had a happy childhood except that he was cat deprived.  More than that, he was the victim of anti-cat propaganda from his parents.  As an adult, he was appalled when his girlfriend announced that she was bringing home a relative’s cat and announced that the cat would ruin his life.  As Bogle explains, “Roughly four hours and two seconds later, I was an unabashed cat dad who wondered, What the hell was wrong with my parents?”

Bogle is also a professional travel writer and photographer, so his observations are helpful as well as entertaining.  For example, he offers specific locations which are conducive to cat spotting, the closest airports to the city, best ways to get around, and where to get food.  While not exhaustive, I found them handy for daydreaming about visiting some of the locations.  I also enjoyed that Bogle didn’t make it sound as if everything was always easy-peasy. On his trip to Cyprus, his international phone service failed and he was forced to find free wifi in a restaurant parking lot to figure out where his hotel was and how to get there.

Most of all, the book was fun. I know I won’t be going to many (if any) of these places so I was happy to travel vicariously.  I will admit to being a tad disappointed that some of the places were brief text only (Catcon in Pasadena or Hemingway Home in Key West) but he introduced me to so many amazing places that I can’t really complain.  Maybe next book he’ll make a stop in North Carolina’s Museum of the American House Cat. I can dream, can’t I?

New & Coming Soon in Nonfiction

 While we usually highlight fiction, we do have some new and forthcoming nonfiction books of interest.  There are a lot of memoirs from fascinating folks; books on historical events like World War I, the birth of the American nation, the Crash of '29, and the sinking of the Edmund Fitzgerald; and a new science book from the always fascinating and entertaining Mary Roach.

September

Brown Woolley, Christine  Sister Wife: A Memoir of Faith, Family and Finding Freedom

Campbell, Alyssa Blask  Big Kids, Bigger Feelings:  Navigating Defiance, Meltdowns, and Anxiety to Raise Confident and Connected Kids

Cowley, Robert The Killing Season: The Autumn of 1914, Ypres, and the Afternoon That Cost Germany a War

Edward, John & Hilland, Robert  Chasing Evil: Shocking Crimes, Supernatural Forces, and an FBI Agent’s Search for Hope and Justice

Henderson, Artis  No Ordinary Bird:  Drug Smuggling, a Plane Crash, and a Daughter’s Quest for the Truth

Kotb, Hoda  Jump and Find Joy: Embracing Change in Every Season of Life

Lepore, Jill We the People: A History of the U.S. Constitution

Patterson, James  Disrupt Everything—and Win:  Take Control of Your Future

Pinker, Steven  When Everyone Knows That Everyone Knows

Presley, Priscilla Softly, As I Leave You:  Life After Elvis

Roach, Mary Replaceable You: Adventures in Human Anatomy

 

October

 

Bacon, John U. The Gales of November:  The Untold Story of the Edmund Fitzgerald

Baier, Bret To Rescue the American Spirit:  Teddy Roosevelt and the Birth of a Superpower

Curry, Tim  Vagabond:  A Memoir

Ellis, Joseph  The Great Contradiction: The Tragic Side of the American Founding

Giovanni, Nikki  The New Book:  Poems, Letters, Blurbs, and Things

Macy, Beth  Paper Girl: A Memoir of Home and Family in a Fractured America

Orlean, Susan Joyride: A Memoir

Sorkin, Andrew Ross 1929: Inside the Greatest Crash in Wall Street History—and How It Shattered a Nation

Vaill, Amanda Pride and Pleasure: The Schuyler Sisters in an Age of Revolution

Yousafzai, Malala  Finding My Way: A Memoir

Isabella Nagg and the Pot of Basil by Oliver Darkshire

Reviewed by Jeanne

Henric Nagg lives on a cursed farm with his wife in a marriage of mutual disrespect and heavy-duty annoyance.  It’s really not as if anyone around has much better luck, living as they do near a goblin valley with its yearly goblin infestation.  Fortunately they have a wizard named Badgemagus who keeps the goblins in their place (more or less) and can occasionally be called upon to perform some wizardly service—or not.  He does brew potions that require some interesting ingredients, which is what brought Mr. Nagg to Badgemagus’ hovel with a collection of mandrake leaves. 

But Badgemagus isn’t at home. Since Mr. Nagg doesn’t want to face the derision of Mrs. Nagg should he return home empty handed, he decides to take one of the wizard’s books. This decision is not well received as Mrs. Nagg is of the opinion that to steal from a wizard is just asking to be turned into a weevil. 

It seems that, as per usual, Mrs. Nagg is going to have to clean up Mr. Nagg’s mess and return the book to Badgemagus. Perhaps if she pleads and apologizes and reminds the wizard of Mr. Nagg’s many shortcomings, they will not be turned into weevils. . . but first she may take just the tiniest peek inside the book.  And maybe, just maybe try a little spell. . . .

This is a witty, madcap adventure with dark undertones.  There are some laugh out loud lines as well as parts that are more than a bit creepy.  Darkshire creates a whole cast of over the top characters, including an entrepreneur with blonde hair and spiked heels who is intent on building a goblin fruit empire.  There’s a talking donkey, a one-eyed creature who is sort of like a cat and who offers unsolicited advice, and most of all, there’s a pot of basil.

This isn’t exactly  straight-forward fantasy, and I wouldn’t use the word cozy in connection with it at all.  There are some fascinating twists and turns in store for readers and an ending I mostly enjoyed for reasons I can’t divulge without spoilers.  It’s no surprise to learn that my favorite character was the cat-like grimalkin.

There are footnotes and excerpts from the book of magic to add entertainment.  Fantasy readers may be reminded of Terry Pratchett in some ways—the footnotes and the witty comments for example—while others may think more of Douglas Adams.

If you are in the mood for a clever, moody read, this just might fill the bill. 

 

Romantasy Crochet Club: 20 Epic Projects for your Reading Journeys by Amanda Sennett

 

Reviewed by Jeanne

Yep, it’s another book about a craft I don’t do, but what can I say?  I was drawn in by the gorgeous cover (trust me, the above image does NOT do it justice) and charming images.  While I haven’t yet dipped into “Romantasy,” I have read my share of fantasy books, so I was immediately intrigued.  The cover has two elf-like characters, which are of course adorable, but when I started looking at the book I was more taken with some of the other projects, just because they were a bit more unusual.

The book is divided up into four sections:

For the Passionate Reader (book-related projects like bookmarks or tablet covers)

Personal Arsenal (objects, such as a skull)

Wear the Fantasy (masks and such)

Fantastical Creatures and Amazing Animals (pretty much what it says)

The designs are really clever! Each pattern also as a difficulty rating, which I would find helpful if I ever took up crochet, as well as a finished size, recommended weight yarn, and the size of crochet hook.

I especially liked the creativity of items like the “poisoned apple,” the potion bottles (green poison flask and a heart-shaped love potion bottle), and the skull.  Who knew a skull could look so cute?  The mushrooms are also quite darling.  Another personal favorite is the “Dark Siren,” aka a mermaid who is (okay, I’ll say it) enchanting.  I also love the Wise Raven figure and the lacy looking mask looked both comfortable and fetching. Of course, there are a lot of other items, including a dragon, a chalice, and even a sword but these are the ones that particularly caught my fancy.

If fantasy is your thing and you are crafty (or have a crafty friend!), you may want to take a look at Romantasy Crochet Club.

Nevermore: El Dorado Drive, Theft, Miller’s Valley

 

Nevermore 8-19-25

Reported by Rita

 

El Dorado Drive: A Novel by Megan Abbott

Facing financial ruin, three sisters in Detroit join a seemingly lucrative club called "The Wheel," but their desperation for financial independence spirals into an addiction, leading to shocking crimes that threaten to destroy everything.

I didn't care for it. I thought it was mediocre, and it dragged on. -NH 2 stars

 

Theft by Abdulrazak Gurnah

In early 21st-century Tanzania, Karim, Fauzia, and Badar navigate ambition, escape, and uncertainty as their lives intertwine amidst global changes that bring both opportunities and challenges, reshaping their understanding of destiny and self-determination.

It was sort of strange, but well-written. - AH 5 stars

 

Miller's Valley by Anna Quindlen

Coming of age in a dwindling 1960s farming community in eastern Pennsylvania, Mimi struggles with profound family secrets and the pain of falling in love with the wrong person against a backdrop of dynamic historical periods.

Really relatable with lots of interaction among characters. I loved it. - CD 5 stars

 

Other Books Mentioned

Signal to Noise by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

The Bewitching by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

Vera, or Faith by Gary Shteyngart

The Journey, A Novel by James A. Michener

I Like You: Hospitality Under the Influence by Amy Sedaris

Where the Rivers Merge by Mary Alice Monroe

Differ We Must: How Lincoln Succeeded in a Divided America by Steve Inskeep

How to Forget: A Daughter's Memoir by Kate Mulgrew

Starling House by Alix E. Harrow

Everything Is Tuberculosis: The History and Persistence of Our Deadliest Infection by John Green

How Y'all Doing?: Misadventures and Mischief from a Life Well Lived by Leslie Jordan

 

New Books

The Codebreaker's Daughter by Amy Lynn Green

The Witch's Orchard by Archer Sullivan

New Fiction in September!

 

September

Aoyama, Michiko  The Healing Hippo of Hinode Park

Archer, Jeffrey  End Game (William Warwick)

Armentrout, Jennifer L.  The Primal of Blood and Bone (Blood and Ash)

Barrett, Lorna  A Perilous Plot

Bentley, Don Denied Access (Vince Flynn/Mitch Rapp)

Black, Holly  Thief of Night

Brennan, Allison  Don’t Say a Word

Brown, Dan Secret of Secrets

Cleeton, Chanel  The Lost Story of Eva Fuentes

Cleeves, Ann  The Killing Stones (Jimmy Perez)

Dailey, Janet  Calder Strong

Deaver, Jeffery The Grave Artist (Sanchez & Heron)

Feehan, Christine  Deadly Storms

Follett, Ken Circle of Days

Francis, Felix Dark Horse

Galbraith, Robert  The Hallmarked Man (Cormoran Strike)

George, Elizabeth  A Slowly Dying Cause (Lynley)

Gilmore, Laurie  The Gingerbread Bakery

Grace, Hannah  Holiday Ever After

Herron, Mick  Clown Town

Hilderbrand, Elin  The Academy

Ishida, Syou We’ll Prescribe You Another Cat

Jance, J.A.  The Girl From Devil’s Lake (Brady)

Jonasson, Ragnar The Mysterious Case of the Missing Crime Writer (Hulda)

Kelly, Julia  A Dark and Deadly Journey (Evelyne Redfern)

Klassen, Julie  A Sea View Christmas

Krueger, William Kent Apostle’s Cove

Lewis, Beverly  The Christmas House

Mackintosh, Clare Other People’s Houses

Martin, Kat The Unseen

McCall Smith, Alexander In the Time of Five Pumpkins (No. 1 Ladies)

McEwan, Ian  What We Can Know

Mosley, Walter Gray Dawn (Easy Rawlings)

Novik, Naomi  The Summer War

Osman, Richard The Impossible Fortune (Thursday Murder Club)

Patterson, James  Billion-Dollar Ransom

Robb, J.D.  Framed in Death

Ryan, Hank Phillippi  All This Could Be Yours

Scalzi, John  The Shattering Peace (Old Man’s War)

Smirnoff, Karin The Girl with Ice in Her Veins (Lisbeth Salander)

Steel, Danielle  The Portrait

Thorogood, Robert Murder on the Marlow Bell

Woodward, M.P.  Tom Clancy Terminal Velocity (Jack Ryan, Jr.)

Rick Steves Europe’s Top 100 Masterpieces: Art for the Traveler by Rick Steves & Gene Openshaw

Reviewed by Jeanne

Rick Steves is probably one of the best known travel guide writers around.  Part of his popularity can be traced to his mission to help travelers enjoy the culture of foreign climes: the local foods, music, shopping, and art.  In this volume he has made a list of the 100 top works of art in Europe, including paintings, sculpture, and architecture and explains a bit about each to heighten appreciation for each piece.

The book is divided up chronologically, starting with pre-history (Lascaux cave paintings, for example) then moving through ancient Greece and Rome to the Middle Ages, Renaissance, Baroque, 19^th Century and ending with the 20^th century. The full color photos are lovely, and the text is informative but informal.  I could practically hear Steves’ narration and indeed there’s a list of video clips by Steves about individual pieces that are available on his free Classroom Europe site.  These is also a handy map at the back showing where the pieces are located, since some are not held where they were created.  For example, the Greek Elgin marbles are in London as are some of Dutch artist Van Gogh’s paintings. 

While serious art students might find the descriptions to be a bit simplistic, I found them to be interesting and insightful, sprinkled with Steves’ light humor. I feel that Steves’ goal is to heighten appreciation for the works, make people take time to appreciate what they are seeing and to have fun with it.  For the “Mona Lisa,” he gives a bit of the painting’s history and includes the fact that Leonardo was using “new-fangled” paints and mentions that the portrait is one of the few art pieces one can locate by sound because of all the people sure to be clustered around it. The chatty tone and feel of inside information is like catnip, making me want to keep reading.  That portrait of Louis XVI? It’s designed to show off the elderly king’s athletic legs, as well as show him as anointed by God to be a ruler. His sartorial choices were copied throughout Europe, from the lacy cravat to the elaborate wig to the red heels on his shoes.

On a couple of my favorite pieces I felt Steves didn’t explain enough or else blurred some of the facts but like Elsa I decided to “let it go.”  Those were picky things in an otherwise very enjoyable book.  If I ever head out on a trip to Europe, I’ll be sure to check this book to see what art I don’t want to miss.

Nevermore: Driving Miss Norma, Cults, Truly Madly Guilty

Nevermore 8-12-25

Reported by Rita

 

Driving Miss Norma: One Family's Journey Saying "Yes" to Living by Tim Bauerschmidt, Ramie Liddle

When Miss Norma was diagnosed with uterine cancer, she was advised to undergo surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy. But instead of confining herself to a hospital bed for what could be her last stay, Miss Norma—newly widowed after nearly seven decades of marriage—rose to her full height of five feet and told the doctor, “I’m ninety years old. I’m hitting the road.” And so Miss Norma took off on an unforgettable around-the-country journey in a thirty-six-foot motor home with her retired son Tim, his wife Ramie, and their dog Ringo.

A good book about end-of-life living: it was sweet and enjoyable. - CD 5 stars

 

Cults: Inside the World's Most Notorious Groups and Understanding the People Who Joined Them by Max Cutler

The founder of a popular podcast studio and a national best-seller join forces to describe what goes on inside the minds of cult leaders and also the mindset of their followers, from Manson to Applewhite and Koresh to Raël.

Filled with horrific details, but I couldn't stop reading. -NH 4 stars

 

Truly Madly Guilty by Liane Moriarty

A busy couple, formerly on the brink of realizing their dreams, reflects on a fortuitous gathering with their best friends and another couple, in a tale that explores the role of guilt in relationships and the power of everyday moments in family life.

A nice light beach read that I enjoyed. - VC 5 stars

 

Other Books Mentioned

The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison

A Pictorial History Bristol VA TN by Bristol Historical Association

The Nag Hammadi Scriptures by Marvin W. Meyer

Abandoned Southern Virginia: The South Begins by Liz Roll

Half Asleep in Frog Pajamas by Tom Robbins

Waiting for Tom Hanks by Kerry Winfrey

 

New Books:

The Place of Tides by James Rebanks

The Road That Made America: A Modern Pilgrim's Journey on the Great Wagon Road by James Dodson

Vera, or Faith by Gary Shteyngart

Typewriter Beach by Meg Waite Clayton

The View From Lake Como by Adriana Trigiani

The Blanket Cats by Kiyoshi Shigematsu

 

Reviewed by Jeanne

There’s a pet shop in Tokyo with seven unusual cats—the Blanket Cats.   Each cat has its own special security blanket, something familiar.  They need it because these cats are rented out to different customers for a three day periods, after which the cats are to be returned to the shop.  The customer has to agree to certain rules, such as only feeding the cat its specific food and keeping the cat and blanket together.  These are cats who have been chosen for their demeanor and calmness; most are purebred cats. 

The people who come to rent these cats come because their lives are in some way broken.  They come hoping that the company of a cat, even if it’s just for three days, will somehow make their lives better.

Sometimes they’re right.

Lately it seems that there’s been a proliferation of books by Asian authors, mostly Japanese, which have cats on the cover and feature stories about troubled people who come to a certain café or coffee shop or restaurant and have a life changing moment. Some have referred to this as “healing fiction,” since most of these people have a revelation or encounter that changes their lives for the better.  Blanket Cats is in many ways a more realistic take on these situations. People do not miraculously change their hearts or make peace with an enemy, but they do see their problems in different ways. For some, there is a glimmer of hope; for other may find the courage to face a problem-- or else become resigned.

These may not be “feel good” stories found in other collections but they do feel more true to life, and as a result feel darker to me. They avoid sentimentality, which can be a good or a bad thing, depending on your preferences, but they are also wonderfully crafted, complex tales that leave a reader wondering what happened next.  The translation seems very smooth, not as choppy as some can be, which certainly added to my enjoyment.

Short story fans will find a lot to like in this book as will cat lovers.

The Teller of Small Fortunes by Julie Leong

 

Reviewed by Jeanne

Tao is a travelling fortune teller, but will only tell “small fortunes,”minor things that do make a difference but aren’t life-changing--usually. Not only do major predictions take a lot out of her, but they also draw unwanted attention.  Tao needs to keep a low profile, and that’s already difficult since she is a Shinn woman in Esthera. Then a small prediction has greater consequences than she expects, and she ends up with not one but two travelling companions:  a mercenary and thief (possibly reformed), who are not going to give up until her prediction comes true. . . if it does.

This was my choice for the “debut novel” for Book Bingo, though it could have gone for “judging a book by its cover” for that enticing drawing of a woman with a cat sitting on the steps of a brightly colored wagon under the stars. The cover is an accurate one, because this is a charming tale indeed.  I liked all the characters.  Tao is a brave and determined young woman who is trying to make her way in the world but is forced to keep a low profile or risk being commandeered into the Guild. Mash, the soldier is seeking his young daughter who was lost, probably kidnapped by raiders while his companion Silt is just along for the ride.  And possibly to lift a few valuables.  Reforming is a process, not something one can do cold turkey. They are soon joined by Leah, the baker’s apprentice, whose baked goods taste marginally better than they look.

While I can’t say that this book broke new ground, it is a fun and cozy fantasy full of adventure, characters we enjoy rooting for, a dash of romance, and family.  Tao has more than a few secrets of her own, and there’s a whole backstory to gradually unravel.  Leong has some points to make and she does so elegantly and without fanfare. There’s humor and heart in this book, and I’d be ready to join in on another adventure should one be in the offing.  

And yes, there is really a cat with a role to play!

Nevermore: The Lost Boy, Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, Ordeal by Hunger

 

Reported by Rita

Nevermore 8-5-25

The Lost Boy by Thomas Wolfe
A captivating and poignant retelling of an episode from Wolfe's childhood. The story of Wolfe's brother Grover and his trip to the 1904 St. Louis World's Fair is told from four perspectives, each articulating the sentiments of a different family member.

A real page-turner. This immersive novella puts the reader inside the story. - PP 4 stars

The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid
Aging and reclusive Hollywood movie icon Evelyn Hugo is finally ready to tell the truth about her glamorous and scandalous life. But when she chooses unknown magazine reporter Monique Grant for the job, no one is more astounded than Monique herself. Why her? Why now?

I enjoyed this book. It was interesting and enjoyable. - NH 5 stars


Ordeal by Hunger: The Story of the Donner Party by George R. Stewart
The tragedy of the Donner Party constitutes one of the most amazing stories of the American West. In 1846, eighty-seven people — men, women, and children — set out for California, persuaded to attempt a new overland route. After struggling across the desert, losing many oxen, and nearly dying of thirst, they reached the very summit of the Sierras, only to be trapped by blinding snow and bitter storms. Many perished; some survived by resorting to cannibalism; all were subjected to unbearable suffering. Incorporating the diaries of the survivors and other contemporary documents, George R. Stewart wrote the definitive history of that ill-fated band of pioneers. Ordeal by The Story of the Donner Party is an astonishing account of what human beings may endure and achieve in the final press of circumstance.

It is a very matter-of-fact telling of the Donner Party. I liked it. - FE 5 stars



Other Books Mentioned

The House of the Spirits by Isabel Allende
The Martha's Vineyard Beach and Book Club by Martha Hall Kelly
Cats in Art: From Prehistoric to Neo-Pop Masterpieces by Alix Paré
The Murder of Roger Ackroyd by Agatha Christie
A Marriage at Sea: A True Story of Love, Obsession, and Shipwreck by Sophie Elmhirst
The Grandes Dames by Stephen Birmingham
The Swiss Family Robinson / Robinson Crusoe by Johann David Wyss
Chasing the Dime (Harry Bosch Universe, #12) by Michael Connelly
Abandoned Southern Virginia: The South Begins by Liz Roll
The Women by Kristin Hannah
In the Distance by Hernan Diaz
The Penguin Lessons by Tom Michell
The Pirate's Wife: The Remarkable True Story of Sarah Kidd by Daphne Palmer Geanacopoulos
Murderland: Crime and Bloodlust in the Time of Serial Killers by Caroline Fraser
Signal to Noise by Silvia Moreno-Garcia



New Books:

The Book Censor's Library by Bothayna Al-Essa
The Bewitching by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
Cults: Inside the World's Most Notorious Groups and Understanding the People Who Joined Them by Max Cutler
The Aviator and the Showman: Amelia Earhart, George Putnam, and the Marriage that Made an American Icon by Laurie Gwen Shapiro
Nature of the Appalachian Trail: Your Guide to Wildlife, Plants, and Geology by Leonard M. Adkins
Absolution (Southern Reach, #4) by Jeff VanderMeer
House of Frost and Feathers by Lauren Wiesebron
The Homemade God by Rachel Joyce

Come Fix You A Plate: Food you’ll actually cook from Your Barefoot Neighbor by Matthew Bounds

 Reviewed by Kristin 

I love a good cookbook, even if I don’t cook as much as I once did. This is one of those indulgent books that tells you how to cook good food, and involves ingredients like “1 stick of butter” or “1 block of cream cheese”. I immediately wrote down four recipes and need to add a couple things to my shopping list. 

With funny names like Crock Pot-ato Soup and RotelTisserieVeetaTini and Ain’tChiladas, the cook obviously has a sense of humor. He also promotes charitable organizations close to his heart without being preachy about it. His love of family and friends also comes through in the short narratives accompanying some of the recipes. 

Myrtle’s Pasta Bake sounds a lot like the baked ziti that my husband orders at our favorite local Italian place. Pasta, meat sauce, cheese: I could fix me a plate of that. 

Sweet Potato Casserole isn’t an everyday food at my house, but this one sounds like a delicious variation that might be worth making for the next holiday. I can practically taste it now. 

Sodie Spice Cake is literally what it sounds like. A can of whatever soda you like, a box of whatever cake mix, both dumped over some apple pie filling. I haven’t made a dessert in ages, but I think this would be a big hit next time we have a family gathering. 

But that Chicken Cobbler…I might just make that this weekend. Shredded chicken, any variety of vegetables, biscuit mix, some liquids and that stick of butter—come fix you a plate.