Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats

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Summary: A WONDERFUL BOOK!!!!!!
Review: This really is a great book. It is for people of ages to enjoy. It has very cute poems of cats and everyone of them have their own personality. So if you are looking for a book of poems this is the one to buy!!!! This also is the book that inspired the musical "Cats".

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Summary: Wonderfully funny
Review: This was a book I had to love since I love poetry and I love cats. Some of you may know the play Cats! was inspired by this book but I never saw the play. I have been familiar with the book for a good many years though and never get tired of reading of the antics of Old Deuteronomy, Jennyanydots (the gumby cat) or Macavity (the master of disguise). Fine ink drawings bring the characters to life while T.S. Elliot lets you know why it is cats must have three different names. The only thing that's disappointing about it is it's too short!

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Summary: The naming of cats is a difficult matter...
Review: Two of the most dour staid artists of their day have come together to bring you a work of absolute perfection. T.S. Eliot is well known as the author of, "The Wasteland" and other books of that ilk. So it is undoubtedly odd that he should have decided to write this book, "Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats". Likewise, the somber (though infinitely amusing) Edward Gorey is often attributed with dark Victorian scenes of murder and amusing death. Here he has laid aside his more macabre inclinations and produced a series of pictures featuring roly-poly kitties in all sorts of interesting arrangements. The combination is inspired. If you have ever seen the Andrew Lloyd Webber musical "Cats" then I pity you. You will find yourself unable to read a single one of these poems without the accompanying music jangling in your head. If, however, you don't find this a flaw, then by all means read this book. The poems are nothing if not charming. Where else will you find poetry suitable for children that contains words like, "succulent", "quorum", and "physiognomy"? And as for Gorey, his pen is without equal. The book is delightful, and kids (especially those who've actually seen "Cats") will like it very much.

Rating:
Summary: The naming of cats is a difficult matter...
Review: Two of the most dour staid artists of their day have come together to bring you a work of absolute perfection. T.S. Eliot is well known as the author of, "The Wasteland" and other books of that ilk. So it is undoubtedly odd that he should have decided to write this book, "Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats". Likewise, the somber (though infinitely amusing) Edward Gorey is often attributed with dark Victorian scenes of murder and amusing death. Here he has laid aside his more macabre inclinations and produced a series of pictures featuring roly-poly kitties in all sorts of interesting arrangements. The combination is inspired. If you have ever seen the Andrew Lloyd Webber musical "Cats" then I pity you. You will find yourself unable to read a single one of these poems without the accompanying music jangling in your head. If, however, you don't find this a flaw, then by all means read this book. The poems are nothing if not charming. Where else will you find poetry suitable for children that contains words like, "succulent", "quorum", and "physiognomy"? And as for Gorey, his pen is without equal. The book is delightful, and kids (especially those who've actually seen "Cats") will like it very much.

Rating:
Summary: Not meant as a collection
Review: Unlike The Waste Land or Four Quartets, this book was written poem by poem to amuse friends and children of Eliot's. Put together, it is not something as marvelous as his other work, but it was not meant to be that. Instead, it is a fabulous piece of children's literature, with interesting rhyme and meter and tongue-tripping language. Definitely recommended, but not a good example of "typical" Eliot.

Rating:
Summary: Not meant as a collection
Review: Unlike The Waste Land or Four Quartets, this book was written poem by poem to amuse friends and children of Eliot's. Put together, it is not something as marvelous as his other work, but it was not meant to be that. Instead, it is a fabulous piece of children's literature, with interesting rhyme and meter and tongue-tripping language. Definitely recommended, but not a good example of "typical" Eliot.

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Summary: Fun to read what you couldn't understand on stage
Review: We bought this book only b/c of "CATS". I must say that the book makes a good bit more sense than the play does. Who on earth ever thought that this book of poems, out of all the zillions of books of poems, would end up making a long-running Broadway hit?? Still, the poems are engaging, especially if you like cats.

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Summary: Magical Book!
Review: What first interested me about this book is that I was "Cats" the musical. After I read the poems in the book, I loved it so much! It's the best!!!

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Summary: Great poetry and illustrations!
Review: When questioned where the famous play, "CATS" may have come from, I pointed out this book. It is my most favorite kitty-related collection of poetry. The artwork is by Edward Gorey, the famous magazine and book illustrator of the early 20th century. The poetry *about fourteen or fifteen titles* totally appeal to cat lovers of all kinds. The terrific tales of the Jellicles and the Gumbie Cat will leave readers giggling and searching for thier furry friends out "beside the hearth or in the sun or on my hat..." This book was a bit smaller than I had originally anticipated, but the plucky nature of the poetry left me thinking I bought it at a bargain! Truely a cat lover's book, I highly recommend it!