Monday, August 25, 2014

Cat Book: "Houdini" by T.J. Banks

Imagine if you will,. that you are a mere wisp of a kitten. A Flamepoint Siamese to be exact, and you discover that you have been deserted. You're hungry, frightened, thirsty and ALONE. 

The above scenario occurs on the first page of one of the most beautifully written cat books I have been afforded the pleasure of reading.



Sitting down on a Saturday night, from the moment I read the first page of Houdini by T.J. Banks, I did not move from the couch. I did not lift  my head from the pages until I finished reading, nearly two hours later.

As cats are drawn to catnip, Houdini will lure you into his world as he extends his paw from the pages of this beautiful and touching story about the love and undying loyalty of a cat for "his girl".  You will fall in love, as I did with the determination, devotion, faith, loyalty and love that is evident on each of the 190 pages of this book that is a MUST READ for all who love cats.

"A Siamese only gives his heart
to a human once....

" For Houdini, an abandoned down-on-his-luck Siamese kitten, that human is Jill Leonard, the girl who smuggles him home aboard an airplane. He lives a good life out of doors with Jill's other cats. That life has dangers of its own, however, as he discovers when he inadvertently strays from his home.

Lost and injured, Houdini finds a safe haven with a cat-loving artist, but his longing for the child who first gave him love and a home is as intense as ever, and he is determined to find his way back to her."

While the plot of Houdini is captivating, touching and sometimes humorous, that isn't all that I was impressed by. I was impressed by the obvious knowledge of cats that Author Banks possesses. There is a vast amount of thought and detailed description of the qualities that make cats, CATS. Banks enables us to be privy to what their thoughts might be, (if we only knew,) their motivation, what delights them, and what perturbs them.

  As a cat effortlessly weaves through your legs when he or she wants to be fed,  Banks expertly weaves into the story details about how cats move, the meaning behind their interaction with other cats and  how they find their "place" in  a  pre-existing cat hierarchy.

"So Houdini crouched down and lowered his head to show that he understood whose territory this was. The tabby cuffed him lightly and stalked off. He sat down by the kitchen table and watched Houdini with wide friendly green eyes. Want to play? those eyes said. I might, the Siamese telegraphed back. He sat up and began lightly touching up his fur, feeling a bit more like his old self. Definitely more at ease."

There are important  lessons to be learned  in Houdini as well. Lessons about abandoning pets, the love they need, outdoor dangers, spay/neutering,  lest I reveal more, I will stop here, when you read Houdini you will find out the rest. Banks doesn't preach, many of these messages are subliminal,  but their impact is strong and clear.

If you love cats (and I know that you DO), if you want to be inspired, delighted, charmed, and wish to join Houdini as he experiences life and love, then this is one that MUST be a part of your cat book library.  It is sheer purrfection in every sense of the word.

ISBN:13:978-1-59113-734-4
ISBN:10:1-59113-734-9

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:T.J. Banks is the author of Sketch People:Stories Along the Way, A Time for Shadows, Catsong, Derv & Co.: A Life Among Felines, and Souleiado. Catsong, a collection of her best cat stories, was the winner of the 20007 Merial Human-Animal Bond Award. A Contributing Editor to laJoie, she is also a columnist for petsadviser.com and has received writing awards from the Cat Writers' Association (CWA), ByLine, and The Writing Self. Her work has appeared in numerous anthologies, including Guideposts' Soul Menders, Their Mysterious Ways, Miracles of Healing, and Comfort From Beyond. She has also worked as  a stringer for the Associated Press and as an instructor for the Writer's Digest School. 

She lives with her son Zeke, their power-mongering cats, a rabbit, and chinchilla, in a sometimes peaceable but always interesting kingdom.

I was not compensated for this review. I was sent a copy of Houdini in exchange for my honest review. It is my pleasure to share a book as marvelous as this one with my readers.


 



36 comments:

  1. This book sounds magical...putting it on my Amazon wish list right now so I don't forget. Fantastic review, Caren :)

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    1. Melissa it is just superb! You will love it! Thanks so much!

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  2. This sounds like a really awesome book! BTW, my human says thank you for your caring and kind words about Sparkle. She misses her lots and has been very sad.

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    1. Oh Summer! How sweet of you to stop by! Welcome! We hope you like your visits here. Please, please give your human a HUGE (((hug))) from Cody and I. I just got tears in my eyes....again. xoxo

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  3. That sounds like fun.
    Have a marvellous Monday.
    Best wishes Molly

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  4. Sounds like a wonderful read :) meezer owners evrywhere i am sure will love it especially as they have such unique personalities :) hugs Bev xx

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  5. This is one of my favorite books by this wonderful author. Great review, Caren!

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    1. OMG Ingrid I LOVED IT!! It was just superb! Thank you!! (Great minds again!)

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  6. Gosh it sounds like another wonderful book......love the lessons it contains too especially about abandoning pets which we all know is an all too frequent occurrence. Sounds like Ms. Banks knows how to write a captivating AND informative book at the same time...........great review!

    Hugs, Sammy and Mom

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  7. Thanks for the review the book sounds great!

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  8. You know I love cat books! I've put this one on my reading list...thanks!

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  9. Great review. This sounds like a fascinating read.

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  10. What a wonderful heart-felt review, Caren. This book is very dear to me, as was the real-life Houdini. On his behalf -- and on my own! --many thanks!

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    1. TJ THANK YOU! Your book touched my soul. It is superb! Thank you! ((((hugs))) and love

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  11. I would love to read this! Adding to my Amazon list!!

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  12. That one sure sounds like a real winner!

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  13. Sounds like a great book! We love sweet, touching kitty stories around here. We'll have to check it out!

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  14. Only gives his heart once? Sounds fierce! In case you were wondering, Cody, I'd be willing to give you my heart two or even three times. Just sayin. - Crepes.

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    1. Crepes, "be still my heart!!" You shocked me!! I would be HONORED!!! Love, Cody

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  15. Sounds like a wonderful book. Thanks for the review.
    Sue B

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  16. Great review ! It sounds like a great book ! Purrs

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  17. Wonderful review Caren. I love it when I find a book that so engrosses me that I can't put it down.

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  18. Thanks so much for the review. Just in time as Dad needs a new book to read us to sleep by
    Timmy

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    1. you are most welcome Timmy! Your Dad will LOVE This and so will you!

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  19. Sounds interesting! When I saw the word Houdini, I thought....you must be talking about my huskies! BOL!
    ღ husky hugz ღ frum our pack at Love is being owned by a husky!

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  20. Great review! Sounds like such a great book! :-D xx Roxy & Tigerlino <3

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  21. Sounds like a grreat book !
    Thank´s for the review :)

    XOXO

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  22. Sounds like a terrific book! Have a great week!
    Marty and Mom

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  23. This sounds like a fantastic book! We're adding it to our wish list now. :)

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  24. I will definitely have to had that to my queue!

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