Best-Loved Cat Stories

Rating:
Summary: You'll Need a Warm, Furry Friend to Curl Up With
Review: This collection of short stories is certainly one that will make you want to run out and buy a furry, new kitten or at least curl up with an animal to read this book with. My favorite short story in the bunch is titled How a Cat Played Robinson Crusoe by Charles G.D. Roberts. This story is enjoyable to read and you find yourself rooting for the poor cat that is left stranded on an island. This cat is very resourceful and cunning and learns the hard way how important a family is. This story has a very happy ending that leaves you with a pleasant feeling. One thing that irked me about this book is that I began each short story thinking to myself, "O.K., is the narrator a cat or a human?" This problem could have been overcome by having sections with the fantasy stories separated from the realistic fiction. I found myself disliking the short story titled The White and Black Dynasties by Theophile Gautier. Perhaps it was over my head or the right context clues were not put in their proper places. Either way, it's a good thing there were not many selections such as these. The Cat That Walked By Himself was an enjoyable tale by Rudyard Kipling that I had never read before. I couldn't wait to find out how the cat would outsmart the woman in the end. I had no doubt that the cat would get what he wanted, it was just a matter of how. The only cat missing from this collection is of course the most famous one in the signature red and white striped hat. Overall this is a pretty good read especially if you have a warm, furry bundle to curl up with.