Tortie Shorties on Meowy Monday

Meows from Mudpie!

Did you notice the difference in our blog post title today? Monday is our book review day, but we're not reviewing any mystery books this week so we changed the title to "Meowy Monday" because we have two really fun cat books to tell you about...

Catlantis by Anna Starobinets

From the publisher: Baguette, a seemingly ordinary house cat, is a descendant of the magic Catlanteans who lived long ago in peace and happiness on the island of Catlantis. When he falls in love with the seductive alley cat Purriana, she insists Baguette accomplish a heroic feat before she’ll agree to marriage. They pay a visit to the oracle, Purriana’s great-great grandmother, who reveals to the surprised Baguette the secret of his bloodline and the special inheritance of all ginger descendants of the Catlanteans: the ability to time travel. She relates the cat-astrophe that befell Baguette’s ancestors when Catlantis was struck by storms and sank to the bottom of the Catlantic Ocean. Now Baguette must travel into the past in order to bring back the Catlantic flowers that will grant every cat nine lives. All the cats of the world have been awaiting his deed, but can Baguette, a lovesick tabby, fulfill the prophecy?

Tortie Shorties Review: It never ceases to amaze me the quality of children's books being published today. So many are true works of art, and Catlantis is a prime example.

While fantasy isn't my typical genre of choice, I was drawn in my the artful cover of Catlantis, and the story inside is just as vibrant. Sweet little Baguette watches the world go by from his 12th story window, always eager to see his beloved Purriana go by. When he finally asks for her paw in marriage her answer is yes...provided he travel back in time to Catlantis to recover the flower whose scent grants cats nine lives. Her great-great-grandmother's life depends on the outcome. Black cat Noir, rival for Purriana's affections, is hot on his trail and intends to make sure Baguette doesn't succeed.

The story is simple yet beautiful, as are the drawings that accompany the text. Don't let the fact that this book is billed for kids scare you away, Catlantis is sure to be treasured by young and old alike. It's a cat book unlike anything I've read before, a pure delight from start to finish.

How My Cat Made Me a Better Man by Jeremy Feig

From the publisher: Jeremy Feig was at rock bottom - broke, alone, and living in a shoebox-sized apartment. At the same time, his cat was perfectly content. What was her secret? She couldn't say it out loud, but it was clear she had all the answers to living a good life. How My Cat Made Me a Better Man is a hilarious self-help book for guys, based on the lessons of an edgy cat named Shelly. It's packed with useful advice on topics like relationships, dealing with stress, and even grooming habits. If you feel like your life is spinning out of control, this book will help you set things right - and keep you laughing along the way.

Tortie Shorties Review: Everyone who has known the joy of living with a cat knows that they have the power to teach us so much about how to enjoy a more fulfilling life. This book is labelled as a self-help book for men, but women will find it very enjoyable too. (It even gives us a glimpse into how the opposite sex thinks!)

Each chapter begins with a cute cat story involving the author's kitty Shelly followed by a lesson we can learn from it. At times quite humorous, at times quite profound, this is a quick read that will leave you looking for ways to simplify your own life in order to become as content as your cat.

Disclaimer: I received a free copies of these books from the publishers in exchange for a fair and honest review.