Reviews

Bambino and Mr. Twain by P.I. Maltbie, Daniel Miyares

beths0103's review against another edition

4.0

A look inside the life of a grieving Samuel Clemens, AKA Mark Twain, and how his daughter's cat Bambino helped him to live again after the death of his wife.

I loved the story and enjoyed the illustrations though they seemed a bit cartoonish/Disney Movie-sih for the likes of Mark Twain.

danicamidlil's review against another edition

3.0

After his wife's death, Samuel Clemens becomes despondent and withdraws from his public life altogether. Only when his daughter's cat, who has become his constant companion about the house, goes missing does the author find the will to venture out into the world again.
It's a very sweet story showing the power of our love for furry creatures and supposed to be true.

nerfherder86's review

3.0

A cute story about how his cat's brief escape from home was the catalyst for getting Mark Twain out of his depression over the death of his wife. (A little speculative, but the cat's escape and subsequent arrivals of fans offering cats to console him really did happen.) Nice illustrations and appropriate language for a picture book; the housekeeper's dislike for the cat adds humor. Not really a biography but more an illustrated moment from the famous author's life. Brief bibliography and author's note at the end, which references the real-life incident.

tarotparrot's review

In need of a reread

booksandbosox's review

3.0

A little long - relates the story of Mark Twain's grief over his wife's death and how his daughter's cat may have motivated him to get back to his life. Interesting trivial bit of history.

tashrow's review

4.0

In 1904, after losing his beloved wife, Mark Twain shut his door on the public life he had led. Instead, he stayed indoors spending much of his time alone except for his daughter’s cat, Bambino. The two of them grew closer as they played billiards together, shared ice cream for his birthday, and stayed together in a bed crowded with books and papers. One day, after spotting a squirrel outside the window, Bambino leapt out and disappeared. Twain put an ad in the paper and many people came with cats and kittens just to meet the famous author. But none of the cats were Bambino. Three days later, Bambino appeared on the doorstep as if nothing had happened. Mark Twain took inspiration from his small companion, and started being part of public life again.

Read the rest of my review on my blog, Waking Brain Cells.