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3.66 AVERAGE
3.66 AVERAGE
In her memoir of different cats who have in their unique way affected the life of nobelist Doris Lessing, she proves comprehensively how one can write gripping and achingly beautiful stories of seemingly simple interactions and day-to-day activities of our dear companions.
The descriptions of smallest things like grooming one's self, the stare fests, small grunts and mewls and all kinds of minutiae form basis for a colourful cast of pets and their personalities. Cats truly are a marvel and it really isn't about the meanings one gives to their gestures and communication - it's more of a language you need to learn to appreciate them.
The descriptions of smallest things like grooming one's self, the stare fests, small grunts and mewls and all kinds of minutiae form basis for a colourful cast of pets and their personalities. Cats truly are a marvel and it really isn't about the meanings one gives to their gestures and communication - it's more of a language you need to learn to appreciate them.
relaxing
medium-paced
Lessing is wholly unsentimental and pragmatic in her musings of cats past, but still effectively demonstrates a strong love for them. It's a wholly refreshing take on cat literature, which I find can be sappy and devoid of much depth. Lessing does anthropomorphise her cats' emotions somewhat, but if you've ever owned a cat you'll know exactly what she's talking about. The book is equal parts brutal and partisan, and it works wonderfully.
This book consists of one longer story about Doris Lessing's cats as a child in Africa and then it continues to be mostly about Grey cat and then Black cat, two female cats she had for a while.
The second story is about Rufus, a tomcat who one day became her cat.
The third story is about Butchkin, the boss of the house who had a leg amputated.
They were cute stories, and since I have cats myself, I could see my cats and also my own behaviour in what happened in the stories. The last one was difficult to read. It made me think about when my cats will die, when I won't get to see them or touch them or hear their distinct sounds anymore. My oldest cat turns 11 this year, and she is very healthy, but she is also an outdoor cat, in the summer she almost never sleeps inside. My youngest cat is 1, and I worry for her as well, but for them both because of different reasons.
These stories are sweet, but they were more anecdotes about a person who has lived with cats her whole life and just wants to tell the world about what weird stuff they do. Like all cat owners. Maybe this book is not that interesting to people who do not own cats, or maybe it is because they can understand cat owners better. Idk.
The second story is about Rufus, a tomcat who one day became her cat.
The third story is about Butchkin, the boss of the house who had a leg amputated.
They were cute stories, and since I have cats myself, I could see my cats and also my own behaviour in what happened in the stories. The last one was difficult to read. It made me think about when my cats will die, when I won't get to see them or touch them or hear their distinct sounds anymore. My oldest cat turns 11 this year, and she is very healthy, but she is also an outdoor cat, in the summer she almost never sleeps inside. My youngest cat is 1, and I worry for her as well, but for them both because of different reasons.
These stories are sweet, but they were more anecdotes about a person who has lived with cats her whole life and just wants to tell the world about what weird stuff they do. Like all cat owners. Maybe this book is not that interesting to people who do not own cats, or maybe it is because they can understand cat owners better. Idk.
An absolutely delightful read which, despite its archaic views on cat care (it is, after all, a "memoir" of times gone by) and some sad and disturbing accounts, is a fascinating read that will interest any cat lover.
Upon seeing a book titled simply "On Cats" I knew I would love it. As it turned out, I was right, but some people would be surprised at my adoration of this work when they read some of the less "fuzzy" feelings toward cats that are described. There are many cat deaths at the hands of humans, including the author herself. It should be noted that many of these instances were in times much different than the one we are in now, not to mention a vastly different land.
It is not a warm, cuddly kitty cat story like that of Dewey. It does show the author's true affection for the many different cats in her life and she describes each of them perfectly, painting a picture that is clear and colorful with her words. It is a true piece of art in written form.
I am now intrigued by this author and can't wait to look into more of her work, which spans from 1949 to her final book in 2007. I encourage you to read this book and keep an open mind. Don't be turned away because of what you might see as mistreatment, you would miss out on something amazing if you did.
It is not a warm, cuddly kitty cat story like that of Dewey. It does show the author's true affection for the many different cats in her life and she describes each of them perfectly, painting a picture that is clear and colorful with her words. It is a true piece of art in written form.
I am now intrigued by this author and can't wait to look into more of her work, which spans from 1949 to her final book in 2007. I encourage you to read this book and keep an open mind. Don't be turned away because of what you might see as mistreatment, you would miss out on something amazing if you did.
This is a fun little book about the cats that the author encounters in her life. It’s a bit funny because it reminds me of all the wild cat stories that older people like to tell about cats they’ve met in their childhood. I feel like these days people treat their cats more like babies (me included). It’s got a slice of life introspective feel to it as well, similar to other Doris Lessing stories.
This book is a gem, written by the Nobel Prize winning author on the cats in her life, from her childhood in Africa, to her life in England. She gives the reader a true sense of each cat's personality, showing her careful observance of their behaviour and how they interact both with other creatures and with herself and the other people in her life. The cats are the stars here though, and one comes to know and love each cat as its story is told, and I found myself also reflecting on the cats in my own life and their quirks and behaviour.
A wonderful book for anyone who loves cats.
A wonderful book for anyone who loves cats.
This is a book by Doris Lessing and her life with cats, the book is based on her love of the feline creatures that habitats her life, included in the book are two chapters on two cats she was particularly fond off, Rufus and El Magnifico.
This book is a lovely read, the style of writing is exquisite and she describes all manner of the cat’s personality and their traits. I wouldn’t say she has a particular love of cats but she sees certain qualities in them that draws them too her affectionately, referring to some cats at the beginning of the book as grey cat or second cat and not by name. Lessing chronicles all the feline’s behaviour from their fussy habits, who is the top cat to the way they move, the descriptions are exceptional.
I didn’t think I would enjoy this being a dog lover but it was a fab book, I’ll look at cats differently from now on. If your a lover of cats then I recommend this book to you.
This book is a lovely read, the style of writing is exquisite and she describes all manner of the cat’s personality and their traits. I wouldn’t say she has a particular love of cats but she sees certain qualities in them that draws them too her affectionately, referring to some cats at the beginning of the book as grey cat or second cat and not by name. Lessing chronicles all the feline’s behaviour from their fussy habits, who is the top cat to the way they move, the descriptions are exceptional.
I didn’t think I would enjoy this being a dog lover but it was a fab book, I’ll look at cats differently from now on. If your a lover of cats then I recommend this book to you.