Blue Wolf Reviews

Tag: cat

  • Diary of a Buddhist Cat

    Diary of a Buddhist Cat

    Diary of a Buddhist Cat from Julian Worker is from the beginning a captivating read. Freddie the Buddhist cat is very conscious of being in his new home, rescued by some lovely humans from an adoption agency.

    He is settling in very well, but having issues with Gemma, the other resident cat, also a rescue cat and finding life as a Buddhist cat somewhat interesting as well; as he is very mindful of his good fortune. His antics on day one are very chuckle worthy.

    Each day in the diary is titled Today, as Buddhists live in the moment, or at least try to and as time passes he meets the other residents of the garden and park over the busy road, the local crows and a very forward squirrel called Rufus.

     Freddie is more than just a cat, he is a very learned cat who loves to read and when he discovers a library right next door, he sets about finding a way to enter and be able to read whatever he enjoys. He has decided he needs to further understand many of the philosophers of life, as well as the classics of English literature.

    Even though Mary and John, his new humans, have a wonderful bookcase full of interesting books, the library is even better. Far more choice.

    With the help of the Crows they work put a plan and he carries out his first clandestine visit to the library via the librarian’s open window. Of course he can’t resist the photocopiers open tray and decides he really does need to create the perfect piece of modern art, which is where the real fun begins.

    Add in a very organised squirrel called Rufus, who has always had a passion for things Egyptian, a hamster called Holly who really wants to read more about Care of Hamsters and a lively bunch of neighbourhood Crows and you have a page turning, laugh out loud, feel good book with a lovely message, that by working together, respecting those around us, and by being mindful, many wonderful things can happen.

    Julian Worker has also laced carefully throughout the story some wonderfully insightful commentary on how we humans choose to live our lives. It is also very sobering, as well as amusing, to get the Cats, Crows, Squirrel and Hamsters perspective on humans and their ‘antics’.

    Diary of a Buddhist Cat is a genuinely entertaining read.

  • Understanding Animals: Philosophy for Dog and Cat Lovers

    Understanding Animals: Philosophy for Dog and Cat Lovers

    The Art of Philosophy is an interesting Art, as it is understood that no philosopher can ever be considered as wrong, perhaps because the many permutation of their pondering, observation and research are generally diverse, open to interpretation and always, further discussion.

    So, when a Philosopher such as Lars Svendsen takes up the challenge to understanding the Philosophy of not just Cats and Dogs, but the very humans that love and adore them, as well as their specific relationships, the subject matter makes seriously interesting, fascinating and astonishing reading.

    Does it help to better understand your Cat or Dog, what exactly they are conveying to you, as they twist you and your emotions around their very paw with childlike ease? Yes, perhaps it does, but then as with all things based in emotion, maybe not. Svendsen also looks at the bond that is often unbreakable between animal and human.

    Svendsen peals back the intriguing layers of communication between pets and their humans, looking at what certain types of behaviours, such as a cat purring, the volume used, the tone and times and situation, as verses dogs and their many varied ways of expressing their emotion means.

    Delving into the sensitive issue of changing animals’ behaviours, such as that of chimpanzee’s, once they learn to communicate with humans in the medium of drawing, a type of almost ‘Pidgin’ chatter and specific patterns of learned behave, how does this then change the perception of that chimpanzee. As a chimpanzee as it no longer fits into the traditional behavioural patterns of that species, nor does it fit into the full concept of human behaviour, so where does this leave the chimpanzee?

    He also investigates in some length the bonds that form between animal communication, intelligence and awareness and how all these, along with many other aspects of behaviour, form the basis of lifelong friendships that build a very emotional component of daily life for so many people.

    Thought provoking, particularly in relation to the aspect that because animals can look at us, see us, make us feel embarrassed, guilty or ashamed, even transferring emotions though a mere look, does than then, make them one of us!

    As with all things philosophical, Understanding Animals Philosophy for Dog and Cat Lovers, answers so many questions, and yet leaves many more areas open for further discussion and research, but in the final wash-up, animals and humans are each unique unto themselves, each coming with special gifts and talents.

    A very quirky sense of humour is strategically placed thought-out the book, lest everything written be taken far more seriously than was ever considered.

    Understanding Animals Philosophy for Dog and Cat Lovers is one of life’s more intriguing reads. Enjoy!

  • Finn and Puss

    Finn and Puss

    The front cover of this book shows a smiling boy and a smiling cat, ensuring that we know that all will be well. The tone of the story is set here and on the first few pages. The first double page spread shows a boy cutting out a paper aeroplane, and has the words “This is Finn.” The following double page shows a cat in a basket. The text says “This is Puss,” At first it seems the simplistic text is not telling a story, but merely labelling characters, but then we see in the following double page that the pattern is set for a minimalist story, ably supported by many illustrations.

     The illustrations are quite striking. Gentle pastel colours show a world from a cat’s perspective which is many feet; with each change of the story, the perspective changes. We learn that Finn is lonely and he finds the cat. In the street, just above his head is a poster showing a lost cat, exactly the same as puss. After Finn has fed the cat and she has played with him, Finn notices the poster. “Finn does the right thing.” He returns the cat to her owner, and trudges home.

     As promised by the front cover and the optimistic tone to the book, there is a happy ending, and a reward for someone who does do the right thing. The illustrations are childlike and show the focus of the story to be Finn. This leaves room for pondering what the child is thinking and what inner voices prompted his actions.

     This is a gentle story, simply told and quietly complete. The hardback presentation is attractive and solid for small hands