The Cat Who Knew Shakespeare (Cat Who...)

Customer Reviews:

Othello, Hamlet, The Tempest...the cats got it right!.......2007-07-29

This is the first one of the series I've read. I must say I am so delighted that I'm now reading THE CAT WHO WASN'T THERE.

For a short time I have been to Pickaxe where I've made friends with Polly, the librarian, avuncular Qwilleran, and dear Mrs. Cobb. I should say, POOR Mrs. Cobb, but I have a feeling she is going to bounce right back after her big ordeal. I've suffered through a mean snow storm and a couple of startling catastrophies, reasons for which are not divulged till the end.

Was anybody listening to Ko-Ko and Yum-Yum?. They are cats who are indulged gastrnomically, but who maintain their independence...as all good cats do, especially Siamese. Someone should have been taking their insights and pranks to heart. They are certainly given credit at the finish of the story.

Each character in this book brings to mind someone, somewhere I've met before. Lillian Braun describes them so vividly they've stayed with me for days. And they are worth thinking about.

My only criticism is there were times I wanted more interaction with Ko Ko and Yum Yum.

My Favorite Cozy Series!.......2006-08-17

In the 7th book in The Cat Who...series, James Qwilleran aka "Qwill", is becoming acclimated to his new life as a millionaire in Pickaxe City (400 miles north of everywhere). He has moved his two beautiful Siamese cats (KoKo and Yum Yum) into the old Klingenschoen mansion and has settled in for a five year stay to fulfill the requirements of Aunt Fanny's will.

As the book begins, Qwill is awaiting the arrival of "the big one", a huge snow fall, as predicted every day on the weather report on WPKX. He is starting to adapt to life as the richest man in Moose County, and has started dating the local librarian, Polly Duncan. He begins to get acquainted with the various families in town, and develops an easy friendship with Junior Goodwinter, the young, energetic editor of the Pickax Picayune. When Junior's father dies suddenly in an accident, Qwill sympathizes with his friend, and looks for ways to save the centuries' old newspaper run for years without profit. Qwill begins to become suspicious of Junior's mother, and her reaction to her husband's death. It seems the widow is ready to sell all of her possessions and has been seen around town with a new man. Could the death of Senior Goodwinter have been anything more than a bad car accident? Distracting Qwill from the suspicious death is the upcoming marriage of his beloved housekeeper, Mrs. Iris Cobb. Qwill brought Mrs. Cobb up from "Down Below" to manage his household and the new museum that is being created in the Klingenschoen mansion. But the man she is marrying is highly disliked in town, and Qwill works hard to insure that Mrs. Cobb is marrying the right man for her.

This is my favorite cozy mystery series! I had read all of the books in the past, and wanted to read them again for a second time. This time around, I have chosen to listen to them on CD, as I love the voice of George Guidall. I am happily rediscovering how Qwill became a resident of Moose County, and how many of the series regulars join him from "down below". In this installment, Qwill brings Hixie Rice to town, and begins to talk about having old friend, Arch Riker, join him in Moose County. Also in this book, Qwill's long-time romance begins with librarian, Polly Duncan.

This is a great series by my favorite author!

The first book in the series is called "The Cat who Could Read Backwards". Enjoy!

Koko Rides the Elevator.......2005-05-03

As we join the soap opera that is Pickax City in this the seventh book of this series we find that all is quiet, at least in the beginning. The people of Moose County are bracing for the first snow of the year, which they refer to as "the big one" and Jim Qwilleran has lost another love interest. Of course anybody who has read any of the other books knows that before long somebody is going to die and that usually the deaths just keep right on coming. With only 4000 people in Pickax City the author is eventually going to have to bring in new people or quit killing off so many in each book. This series can be just a little morbid but I have found that once one begins reading these books the marvelous characters and backdrop become addictive.

Right on schedule there is a death that looks like an accident but Qwilleran isn't so sure that it wasn't murder or even suicide. The first death to occur throws things into an uproar that particularly affects one of Qwilleran's close friends and he jumps into action to solve the problem. He also finds a new love interest and his housekeeper is hinting that she may be close to getting a proposal from her new beau. Along the way he opens a museum in his new palatial home and is suspicious of his old friend Hixie Rice's new boyfriend. Qwilleran also learns that the local radio station predicts snow every day in November until they are finally right and he learns a hard lesson about "the big one" after he starts to ignore the weather forecast. All the while Koko, the cat in the title, is trying to tell the former ace reporter something but somehow Qwilleran misses all of the signals. Koko, for his part learns to use the new elevator in the house and rides up and down a lot.

Like the previous books in the series, the mystery in this book becomes secondary to the antics of the people and cats of Moose County. Lilian Jackson Braun has an uncanny ability when it comes to character creation and the reader will get attached to these people, which makes it all the more sad when she kills somebody off. I have even developed a desire to visit Moose County, even though it is a figment of the author's imagination. I would particularly like to visit the town of Brr where it is always colder than it is anywhere else in Moose County. This is just the kind of extra touch that makes these wonderful books so addictive.

THE BEST BOOK SERRIES EVER.......2005-02-18

The Cat Who is the best serries ever full of humor wit and complexity,
James Macentosh Qwilerin is a off beat repoter/Billion air with his 2 cats Koko and Yumyum who are no shorter than extra ordinary.
This is the best book serries I have ever read and would recomend it to any one over 10.
Trevor Oliver
12 Years old

The Cat Who Knew Shakespeare.......2004-07-04

I enjoy listening to the Cat Who...series on my way to work by audio. I recommend them because they very light and enjoyable. Koko and Yum-Yum have typical cat personalities and are very whimsical. The end always has a neat twist, although many story-lines in this series are very much alike...

Customer Reviews:

My Favorite Cozy Mystery Series!.......2006-09-09

In The Cat Who Knew Shakespeare James Qwilleran aka "Qwill", is becoming acclimated to his new life as a millionaire in Pickaxe City (400 miles north of everywhere). He has moved his two beautiful Siamese cats (KoKo and Yum Yum) into the old Klingenschoen mansion and has settled in for a five year stay to fulfill the requirements of Aunt Fanny's will.

As this book begins, Qwill is awaiting the arrival of "the big one", a huge snow fall, as predicted every day on the weather report on WPKX. He is starting to adapt to life as the richest man in Moose County, and has started dating the local librarian, Polly Duncan. He begins to get acquainted with the various families in town, and develops an easy friendship with Junior Goodwinter, the young, energetic editor of the Pickax Picayune. When Junior's father dies suddenly in an accident, Qwill sympathizes with his friend, and looks for ways to save the centuries' old newspaper run for years without profit. Qwill begins to become suspicious of Junior's mother, and her reaction to her husband's death. It seems the widow is ready to sell all of her possessions and has been seen around town with a new man. Could the death of Senior Goodwinter have been anything more than a bad car accident? Distracting Qwill from the suspicious death is the upcoming marriage of his beloved housekeeper, Mrs. Iris Cobb. Qwill brought Mrs. Cobb up from "Down Below" to manage his household and the new museum that is being created in the Klingenschoen mansion. But the man she is marrying is highly disliked in town, and Qwill works hard to insure that Mrs. Cobb is marrying the right man for her.

In the Cat Who Sniffed Glue, Moose County is dealing with a rash of vandalism that has been escalating to increasingly violent acts. One of the suspects in the vandalism ring is Chad Lanspeak, son of the owners of the Lanspeak's Department Store. As Chad's parents are good friends of Qwill, he tries to befriend the young man, and begins to believe that Chad was not involved in the violence. A murder of two prominent citizens occurs, and the prime suspects in the murder are Chad and his friends. When a car crash kills Chad and two other suspects in the vandalism ring, the police are quick to close the case. Qwill suspects that the police have closed the case prematurely, and continues to quietly investigate. With KoKo developing a fascination with glue, and Polly becoming more and more distant to his affections, Qwill is kept busy while trying to solve the murders and to clear the name of his good friend's son.

In the Cat Who Went Underground Qwill, is feeling despondent over the recent absence of Polly Duncan, and decides he needs a change. He moves his two beautiful Siamese cats (KoKo and Yum Yum) into his lakefront cottage in Mooseville for the summer, and quickly learns that country living is not for him. He has to call for plumbing repairs almost daily, and with the small size of the cottage, he quickly decides to build an addition to create more room for himself and the cats. Finding a reputable builder during the summer season is a daunting task, however, as all of the builders are booked for months in advance. Qwill finds himself a builder with a stellar reputation and feels smug for his ingenuity. This all comes to a screeching halt when the man goes missing, and Qwill must find himself an "underground" builder to finish the job. This latest carpenter is sluggish and lazy, and Qwill finds himself having to supervise all of the work being slowly performed. When the carpenter is discovered dead on Qwill's property, he becomes a suspect. He quickly learns that summer at the lake is not what he intended and works overtime to discover who has a grudge against carpenters in Moose County.

This is my favorite cozy mystery series! I had read all of the books in the past, and wanted to read them again for a second time. This time around, I have chosen to listen to them on CD, as I love the voice of George Guidall.

This is a great series by my favorite author!

The first book in the series is called "The Cat who Could Read Backwards". Enjoy!

Unplug the phone, pull the quilt to your chin and enjoy!.......1998-03-24

Lilian Jackson Braun always delivers, even if it's the latest edition of the "Moose County Something" in Moose County, which is 400 miles north of everywhere. Qwilleran is at his sleuthing best with KoKo, a Siamese cat with keen intelligence, as his mystery-solving partner. As always, the mysteries are well plotted with quirky characters that capture and carry the reader from the first clue to each satisfying conclusion. If you enjoy the "Cat Who . . ." books as much as I do, you'll want to read "The Cat Who Sang for the Birds", the latest in the series. And it's not necessary to read the books in order. Each stands on its own as a complete story. Cuddle with your favorite feline, and as Qwilleran would no doubt recommend, read aloud to stimulate your feline's intelligence.

A fun pair of sleuths for the price of one........1998-03-17

I have read all of "The Cat Who..." books except the very latest one (and it is on a UPS truck at this moment from Amazon.com). Jim Qwilleran is a semi-retired journalist in a small town. His column in the local paper is titled "The Qwill Pen". He is owned by 2 siamese cats, Koko and Yum Yum. It pays to pay attention to Koko if there has been a foul deed commited and to Qwilleran's own mustache which throbs with unease when lies are being told. When you need a break from more serious reading my suggested antidote is one or more of "The Cat Who..." books.

Engrossing mystery that keeps you on guessing who done it.......1998-03-16

Koko and Qwill are at it again in this combination of mysteries. The antics of Koko will keep you guessing who done it in this series. Braun is her consumate self in depicting the life of Qwill and his mystery solving companion centered in this quaint northern city. Once you start the story, you can't put it down until you have finished, even if it is three in the morning.

Average customer rating:

Cute, Colorful, and Educational
Shakespeare's pretty cats
Rather lovely
"Shall I compare thee to a kitty cat?"
Beautiful and Adorable Book!

Shakespeare Cats
Susan Herbert
Manufacturer: Thames & Hudson
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Instructional & How-To | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

General | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

Themes | History & Criticism | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

Cartooning | Comics & Graphic Novels | Subjects | Books

General | Comic Strips | Comics & Graphic Novels | Subjects | Books

General | Comics & Graphic Novels | Subjects | Books

Cats, Dogs & Animals | Humor | Entertainment | Subjects | Books

Parodies | Humor | Entertainment | Subjects | Books

Satire, General | Humor | Entertainment | Subjects | Books

General | Animal Care & Pets | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books

ASIN: 0500284296

Book Description

For this book of cats in costume, Susan Herbert turns from masterpieces of fine art to masterpieces of theater. Painting in her familiar and highly popular style, this imaginative artist presents an irresistible array of well-known characters in the great Shakespearean plays, from the tragic Romeo and Juliet to the mischievous Titania, from the beautiful Cleopatra to the roguish Falstaff.

In thirty-two entrancing paintings, Susan Herbert opens up an unsuspected world of Shakespeare interpreted by cats with all their winning ways. Her many devoted admirers will find this collection full of the charm and humor of her earlier books; and newcomers to her art will be surprised and enchanted by the finesse she brings to this portrait gallery of cats in unusual guises. 32 color illustrations.

Customer Reviews:

Cute, Colorful, and Educational.......2007-07-14

When I first picked up SHAKESPEARE CATS by the British artist Susan Herbert, I was struck by the cute and colorful illustrations showing cats, my favorite animals, as Shakespearean characters. I bought the book, and as I went through it page by page I found it educational, too. Herbert has accompanied each one of her drawings -- works of art in themselves -- with a short synopsis and the relevant quotation from the play. The trouble with cats, however, is that it is not always possible to do much more than suggest their emotions; cats' faces are fairly "blank." This poses a problem with the more extreme emotions in Shakespeare: Herbert's Othello (a black cat) does not look enraged nor her Macbeth (a red-orange tabby) particularly horrified. Additionally, Herbert depicts mostly tabby (striped) cats, which will probably disappoint readers who like other kinds of cats. But if these are drawbacks, they are minor ones; Herbert is a gifted artist. Her scene-composition and her bright color-choices make each illustration a feast for the eyes. There are some subtly clever facial expressions, too, like Malvolio's (TWELFTH NIGHT) self-satisfied grin or Jacques (AS YOU LIKE IT) cynical smirk. And art enthusiasts will see Herbert's drawings of Romeo leaving Juliet's balcony or the sleeping princes from RICHARD III as homages to celebrated paintings by the nineteenth century artists Dicksee and Northcote; her crazed Ophelia (with tongue hanging out) might stand beside the famous depictions of that heroine by Waterhouse or Millais! I am happy to have discovered SHAKESPEARE CATS and Herbert and will seek out more of her books.

Shakespeare's pretty cats.......2007-03-10

I hoped this was a story, but I will find a way to use the pretty pictures. The book isn't constructed in a way that I can encourage its use as a picture book for young children. I do like the fact that there is a passage beside each picture. That will be of some use.

Rather lovely.......2004-06-04

Susan Herbert is, first and foremost, a truly gifted artist. Her style, talent, color choices, all show a mastery of skill. Aside from that, though, she's also an imaginative woman who tryle appreciates the feline, as evidenced by her series of wonderful illustrated cat books.

This book, "Shakespeare Cats", functions firstly as simply an enjoyable coffee-table book for frequent perusal. On another level, though, Herbert has cleverly illustrated 32 of Shakespeare's works, and with detail. The setting of each piece, the costumes, the detail of scene-setting -- all of this shows that in addition to being a cat-lover and an artist, Herbert is also not too shabby as a Shakespearean scholar as well.

"Shall I compare thee to a kitty cat?".......2004-04-07

Shakespeare people also tend to be cat people: why is that? In this case, Susan Herbert has created a beautiful book for cat fans and Bard fans alike. I have all of Herbert's books, and "Shakespeare Cats" is definitely my favorite. It depicts famous moments from many of Shakespeare's plays with intricate detail, and the cats look like they're in the most natural settings in the world! It's hard to pick out my favorite illustrations, but the "Midsummer Night's Dream" picture stands out, as does the humorous painting from "The Taming of the Shrew." All of the paintings are wonderful, and this is an adorable book that you will treasure forever.

Beautiful and Adorable Book!.......2002-12-26

I love this book, it's so adorable and beautiful, Susan Herbert is a great artist, I admire her a lot. You see wonderful pictures of cats playing roles of some of Shakespeare plays. It's a great book for kids and also for adult too.:) If you love cats your going to love this book.

Average customer rating:

My Favorite Cozy Series!

The Cat Who Knew Shakespeare

Manufacturer: JOVE BOOK, NEW YORK
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
Similar Items:

ASIN: 1568659059

Product Description

Qwilleran and his Siamese cats, Koko and Yum Yum sniff out a shocking secret in an unusual edition of Shakespeare that may prove CATastrophic.

Customer Reviews:

My Favorite Cozy Series!.......2006-08-17

The Night I Dropped Shakespeare on the Cat

Average customer rating:

Excerpt from the book and reviews

The Night I Dropped Shakespeare on the Cat
John Olson
Manufacturer: Calamari Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Poetry | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Product Description

From the title piece: "The night I thought I dropped Shakespeare on the cat I felt the reprieve of the man who accidentally goes through a red light without getting hit, the relief of the man who falls from a high cliff only to discover he s been dreaming. But the relief isn t immediate. It takes a little time. There are those few seconds in which the reality of the bed and sheets and room penetrate and so permeate the dream-ridden brain that the dream finally dissipates, melts back into the night from whence it came. There was no cliff, although the fiction of falling, the dream of falling was so real the brain believed all the whirling and twirling and limbs splaying and ground coming up were real. Meaning there is sometimes reality in irreality. Meaning a dream can be mud. Genuine as rain. The space in which I believed there to be a cat and there was no cat was that delicious space we call a fiction."

Customer Reviews:

Excerpt from the book and reviews.......2007-02-25

"The night I thought I dropped Shakespeare on the cat I felt the reprieve of the man who accidentally goes through a red light without getting hit, the relief of the man who falls from a high cliff only to discover he's been dreaming. But the relief isn't immediate. It takes a little time. There are those few seconds in which the reality of the bed and sheets and room penetrate and so permeate the dream-ridden brain that the dream finally dissipates, melts back into the night from whence it came. There was no cliff, although the fiction of falling, the dream of falling was so real the brain believed all the whirling and twirling and limbs splaying and ground coming up were real. Meaning there is sometimes reality in irreality. Meaning a dream can be mud. Genuine as rain. The space in which I believed there to be a cat and there was no cat was that delicious space we call a fiction."

--John Olson

Olson is interested in words. He is interested in how sounds and images represent ideas and things. By the end of the book Olson is more comfortable being explicit with his relationship to language, but the first moment of epiphany--when it becomes evident that he is using the word "jackknife" repeatedly, simply because he likes the word "jackknife"--is the moment the book makes sense.

--Ellen Twadell, Raintaxi

Average customer rating:

Entertaining book, lively illustrations, excellent Feng Shui

Feng Shui for Cats: By Cats, For Cats
Roni Jay
Manufacturer: Sterling
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Animal Care & Pets | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books

General | Occult | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books

General | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

Feng Shui for You and Your Cat

ASIN: 0806970588

Amazon.com

For the kitty looking to improve her life, here's a helpful tip: "if your territory is too small, too cold, too dark, or--worst of all--if it does not have enough food in it, feng shui is the answer." Don't know what feng shui is? Wouldn't know your chi from your chow? Then you need Feng Shui for Cats: By Cats, for Cats. This entertaining and colorful guide not only instructs the curious cat in the ways of feng shui, but also shows "how to manipulate your humans into maximizing the ch'i energy in your environment," leading to a more "warm, comfortable, and harmonious territory"--a kitty dream come true! And while written especially for cats, chances are that your owner will find it just as delightful as you do, so you'd better buy two!

Book Description

Follow the basic principles of Feng Shui given in this marvelously (and amusingly) illustrated book, written by cats and for cats! Consider this: the ch'i, or life force, affects every aspect of life, and compass directions also have great meaning. Hence the need to nap in an eastward-facing room in the morning as the sun rises. And no discerning cat wants to sleep in the space devoted to relationships (which would destroy friendships with humans and other cats) or have a litterbox in the zone reserved for wealth. Find out what changes to make in your home, and about symbolic animals, healing remedies, and the eight areas of the Pah Kwa (encompassing fame and fortune, wisdom and experience, kittens and family, relationships, new beginnings, pleasure and indulgence, and health and happiness). Your cat will thank you!

Customer Reviews:

Entertaining book, lively illustrations, excellent Feng Shui.......1999-03-10

Editor Roni Jay is the author of an excellent book applying the principles of Feng Shui to the garden. Here her four cats use these teachings to improve their territory, food, fortune, and to control their human. The illustrations are playful and lively, the information accurate. Recommended for cats of all ages.

A Book of Courtly Cats: with verses by William Shakespeare

Average customer rating:

Cute

A Book of Courtly Cats: with verses by William Shakespeare
William Shakespeare
Manufacturer: Henry Holt & Company, Inc.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Customer Reviews:

Cute.......2004-05-11

It's a delightful mix of sonnets and portraits of cats in courtly garb.

Average customer rating:

THE CAT & SHAKESPEARE
Raja Rao
Manufacturer: MacMillan & Co LTD
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000IQ6XGG

Average customer rating:

The Cat And Shakespeare
Raoul
Manufacturer: The Macmillan Company
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000JE0RFA

Average customer rating:

the many lives of the mother cat!

Cat and Shakespeare
R. Rao
Manufacturer: South Asia Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 8122201237

Customer Reviews:

the many lives of the mother cat!.......2001-10-16

Govindan Nair, prone to over-philosophizing about the otherwise ordinary middle class life in south India, explains his views to his neighbour in this brief, entertaining, and surreal novel. A whimsical tone throughout the narrative carries a strong, unmitigated and deplorable stench of melancholy and uncertainty, in the personal lives of a society groping for an identity and purpose. Principles of Vaishnavism and the ills of British rule form a genesis for the thoughts of this thoroughly enjoyable tale.

Books:

Books Index

Books Home

Recommended Books