Category Archives: Recommended Reading

Catatonic Mafia Dreams

Not that he wants to be an assassin or even a low-class goon, but when Beamer Baclawski heard that Ginger Wakem’s book, Trust No One, Promise Nothing features the mafia, he couldn’t wait to get his paws on it and nose into it. Call it mafia envy. Or attribute it to the mouser’s fascination withContinue reading “Catatonic Mafia Dreams”

Waiting for Angels

“Angels?” Miss Kitty asked when I suggested she might like Odyssey of Angels by Joan La Blanc. She accepted the book and then looked at me with more antipathy than confusion. “I thought you meant the Christmas kind. You know, with wings and harps. I’m ready for mistletoe and holly. Not nurses on a mission.”Continue reading “Waiting for Angels”

What the Ek? Prey-ing for Birds

Jinx Yengst likes to read about the cardinals, finches, and other birds in his dog- (eh, cat-) eared Golden Guide: Birds. Not only does he like to learn about them as he watches from his favorite cat seat, but he also likes to chirp—or is it chatter? chitter? trill? Or is he reading aloud toContinue reading “What the Ek? Prey-ing for Birds”

Fostering a New Habit

Any cat can tell you that a comfortable habit is hard to break. Miss Kitty, for example, loves to lounge on the lanai with a favorite book.  Not that she has the time to read it, mind you. She’d like to, but life is complicated. There are so many other things to do, you know.Continue reading “Fostering a New Habit”

Crack, Bam, Dot—Creating Chaos Out of Colorful Order

When a neighbor recently invited me to play mah jongg, I balked. Having played once, more than a decade ago with my friend Claire, I didn’t want to appear foolish. So, I sought out Mr. Beamer Baclawski. He’s a fanatic, doesn’t suffer fools quietly, and did teach me to play Rummikub. I started with theContinue reading “Crack, Bam, Dot—Creating Chaos Out of Colorful Order”

Purr-fectly Understandable

John Caskey, an avid reader of this blog, shared with us the article, “Your Cats Can Tell When You’re Speaking to Them,” which appeared in the January 2023 issue of Scientific American. The author, Tanya Lewis, reported on a study published in Animal Cognition that found cats, like dogs, can discriminate speech addressed to themContinue reading “Purr-fectly Understandable”