Monday, January 25, 2016

Tortitude:The BIG Book of Cats with a BIG Attitude by Ingrid King (Give-Away!)

When a copy of Tortitude:The BIG Book of Cats with a BIG Attitude by Ingrid King arrived at my home a few weeks ago, I was in complete shock,  I was honored, AND I was, (and am!) just a tad nervous!!!

Why? I do not live with, nor have I EVER lived with a tortoiseshell cat!  My immediate thought was "How am I qualified to review a book about tortoiseshell cats when I have never lived with one?"  I know of other bloggers who are far more knowledgeable about torties than I am, but I took comfort in the fact that since I had reviewed ALL of Ingrid King's books prior to this one, that she must have confidence that I will write at least a somewhat intelligent review of:

My first impression after merely LOOKING at the cover of Tortitude, was that it was GORGEOUS! I am one of "those people" who gets a thrill out of simply  touching a book and gazing at the cover, I become filled with anticipation of what awaits me inside, which is why I am NOT a fan of ebooks, but I digress....

When I turned the first page,  I smiled when I saw a quote by one of my favorite "Cat Daddies", Jackson Galaxy:

“Excerpted from: Tortitude:
 The BIG Book About Cats With a BIG
Attitude by Ingrid King ©2015” 

The foreword is written by another one of my faves; Kate Benjamin of Hauspanther.


Once I began to calm down and think, it dawned on me,  that if I , one of millions of cat lovers, knows little about tortoiseshell cats, surely there has to be many, many more cat lovers who might not be familiar with these wonderful cats!

Thinking back, to when I first began blogging in 2009, discovering Ingrid's blog was probably my FIRST exposure to torties, and from that day on, I always considered Ingrid to not only be one of a number of cat experts that I hold in high esteem, but to me, she is a MUST READ not only for misc. trusted information about cats, but for  personal and engaging stories about tortoiseshell cats in particular.

FROM Tortitude:The BIG Book of Cats with a BIG Attitude:

"With about 2 million tortoiseshell cats in the United States, these special felines tend to be strong-willed, a bit hot-tempered, and often very possessive of their humans. Other words used to describe torties are fiercely independent, feisty and unpredictable. Ingrid King (The Conscious Cat) brings her professional and personal experience to explore why these cats are so special. With expert insights combined with stunning photography and passages dedicated to the cats and their passionate guardians, King offers a new perspective on these exceptional cats."

When I read the above passage on the back cover, I was not only intrigued, but I began to think that if I were a cat, there is a better-than-average chance that I would be a tortie!!! I am "strong-willed, a bit hot-tempered (No!! Really? Ha!), fiercely independent, feisty and unpredictable." I have also been known to be very possessive of my humans!! But once again, I digress...

That quote made me stop and think. I find it interesting that the HUMANS that I know that live with torties tend to have personalities that are the polar opposite of torties! Could it be a case of "opposites attract" or, could it be that these spunky cats have personality traits that their owners secretly wish that THEY as humans possessed, and that they live vicariously through their torties?
I think I may be on to something here!!!


“Excerpted from: Tortitude:
 The BIG Book About Cats With a BIG
Attitude by Ingrid King ©2015”


Did you know...

"that tortoiseshell cats are NOT a breed?"

(if you did, and you don't live with a Tortie, good for you! You move to the head of the class!) I did NOT know that until I read the section in the book titled:

"What is Tortitude?"

Author King points out the colors/patterns and personality traits  that make a cat qualify as a tortie, she also mentions:"while there are some commonalities between torties when it comes to personality, there seem to be wide variations in the degree of tortitude and in how it is expressed. Some cats appear to have read the book on tortitude, displaying all of the traits attributed to cats with this coloring. Others may vary in temperament, and only demonstrate certain aspects of it. All cats are individuals, and torties are no different in that respect, with the possible exception that they are far more demonstrative of their unique personalities than cats of other colors." 


“Excerpted from: Tortitude:
 The BIG Book About Cats With a BIG
Attitude by Ingrid King ©2015”
Being a quote collector/aficionado from way back, I took a special interest in the sizable section of the book entitled:

Quotable Torties

Quotes and photos were submitted by members of "Team Tortitude" and some of my favorites are:

Cats are dangerous companions for writers because cat watching is a near-perfect method of writing avoidance--Dan Greenburg

In order to keep a true perspective of one's importance, everyone should have a dog that will worship him and a cat that will ignore him--Dereke Bruce

If cats could talk, they wouldn't.--Nan Porter

and finally a favorite quote of mine that is posted beneath the photo of beloved Truffles, (who left much, much too soon), submitted by someone who is MUCH more qualified to do a review of a tortie book than I am, Melissa Lapierre of  Melissa's Mochas, Mysteries & Meows, 

A catless writer is almost inconceivable; even Ernest Hemmingway, manly follower of the hunting trophy and the bullfight, lived waist-deep in cats. It's a perverse taste, really, since it would be easier to write with a herd of buffalo in the room than even one cat; they make nests in the notes and bite the end of the pen and walk on the typewriter keys. --Barbara Holland


Tortitude:The BIG Book About Cats With a BIG Attitude delivers exactly what the title promises. While the book is small in that it is slightly over 100 pages, it is aesthetically generously sized, and is PACKED with information that will not only appeal to bona fide tortie lovers, but will also appeal to self-proclaimed "tabby girls" such as myself. Tortitude offered me insight into these delightful cats and a deeper admiration of their "colorful" coats and personalities.  Tortitude will appeal to cat lovers world-wide! You MUST get your "paws" on a copy, today!!


AVAILABLE ON AMAZON (and all online retailers NOW). AVAILABLE IN STORES FEBRUARY 5TH, 2016! 

FOR EVERY COPY ORDERED BEFORE FEBRUARY 5TH, INGRID WILL DONATE $1 TO THE JACKSON GALAXY FOUNDATION.


MORE BOOKS BY INGRID KING:

BUCKLEY'S STORY: Lessons from a Feline Master Teacher

PURRS OF WISDOM: Conscious Living, Feline Style

ADVENTURES IN VETERINARY MEDICINE:What Working in Veterinary Hospitals Taught Me About Life, Love and Myself

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Ingrid King is an award-winning author (of the books listed above). She is a former veterinary hospital manager. Her popular blog, The Conscious Cat, is a comprehensive resource for conscious living, health, and happiness for cats and their humans. The Conscious Cat has won multiple awards, (including but not limited to), About.com's 2012 Readers Choice Award for Best Website About Cats. Ingrid lives in Northern Virginia with her tortoiseshell cats Allegra and Ruby.

GIVE-AWAY!!!!
Ingrid has generously offered to give-away a copy of Tortitude:The  BIG Book of Cats with a BIG Attitude to one of my readers who resides in the U.S.A. (An approximate $20 value!). Must be 18 and over. Entering is super easy! Just enter on the Rafflecopter below! Good luck!
a Rafflecopter giveaway








In full disclosure:I was not compensated for this review/give-away. I was sent a copy of Tortitude in exchange for my always honest review.

40 comments:

  1. Binga says this is the best book ever written and everybody in the world needs to read it! (It really is awesome, even without Binga's endorsement.)

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  2. I'm sure Ingrid knew that you would give an honest and detailed review just as you always do - this book sounds like a REALLY great read! We don't know much about torties but if anyone does, it's Ingrid that's for sure.

    Hugs, Pam and Sam

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  3. We're so excited for Ingrid about this book. It really was a work of love for her about torties!

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  4. What a great review! I love the attitude of a tortie! I can't wait to read the book, and as I already have it, you don't need to enter me in the giveaway! Purrs from Deb and the Zee/Zoey gang

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  5. Pretty book cover. Thanks for the review. Sounds like a great book.
    Sue B

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  6. Tortitude is an AWESOME book!! I am going to post my review later this week. Your review is wonderful, and I hope that a lot of kitty lovers will order the book. I know that all kitty lovers will just love this beautiful book!

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    1. Yes it is awesome! Thank you! I look forward to reading yours as well!

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  7. This sounds like such a great book! I've never shared my home with a tortie, but I've known some torties. I used to pet-sit a tortie that was diabetic and required daily insulin shots - let me tell you, that sure was one independent and feisty tortie indeed! (As a side note, I did share my life with a calico for 21 years, and calicos and torties seem like they have very similar attitudes.) Thank you for this great review, and for the chance to win this pawesome book! Purrs!

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  8. I've been following Ingrid's blog for years, and have even corresponded with her a few times. I'll read her book whether I win it or not, but how cool to win it! Thanks, Caren and Cody!

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    1. I am blessed that Ingrid is a dear, dear friend of mine...she is incredible, as you already know! That being said, it in no way influenced my opinion of this book, or ANY of her books!

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  9. I'm in and I linked this post to Awww Mondays.

    You write the best reviews ever.

    Have a terrific day. Tons of scritches to Cody. ♥♥♥

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    1. Thank you for linking and I wish you the best of luck! Also, THANK YOU for your INCREDIBLY KIND compliment!!!!!! Book reviews will be few and far between (after I do one more this week), but I appreciate that comment more than you will EVER KNOW!!! Sending lots of love! xoxo

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  10. Great review! Sounds like a wonderful book :)

    Purrs xx
    Athena and Marie

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  11. Caren and Cody, you are just the sweetest friends!!! I am completely blown away by your amazing review and beautiful words about our blog and Angel Truffles. This book is incredibly special to me because it immortalizes my precious girl. Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!

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    1. you are most welcome and no need to thank me! It's the truth!!!! You are a zillion times more experienced than I am with Torties!!!!!!! Thank YOU for your kind words!

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  12. I almost had a tortie sisfur but it didn’t work out. Isn’t that cat with Jackson Galaxy a calico? My homie Maggie is a tortie and she’s a bit of a, er, tramp. MOL! Sounds like I need to read this.

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    1. Jackson's Chuppy was a tortie with white. She had tortie markings in the color patches, whereas a calico would have solid patches.

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  13. Mom always wanted a tortie. She may still be contemplating on adding one to our household.

    Emma and Buster

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  14. we've never had a true tortie as part of our permanent crew, but we have a torbie (Ivy - a mix of calico/tortie with tabby stripes) and she certainly has attitude. that being said, one of our last fosters was a true tortie and good heavens was she sweet :)

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    1. Hi my friend! Please see my response to Rosa below....and...you might have missed this quote that I included above from Ingrid's book " All cats are individuals, and torties are no different in that respect, with the possible exception that they are far more demonstrative of their unique personalities than cats of other colors."

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  15. Oh yea, if it's from Ingrid it's gotta be good!

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  16. It's so interesting to see the differences in cultures as far as cats are concerned. In Portugal I never heard this idea of torties being strong-willed or hot-tempered. I never had a tortie, but my mother-in-law has one and she's a sweet and cuddly girl.

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    1. Hi my friend!!! It's just like with people. Stereotypes exist because a certain number of people/animals etc, possess characteristics (usually a large number but not always). I did quote Ingrid above where she states that obviously not ALL torties are like what is written and here is part of the quote again " All cats are individuals, and torties are no different in that respect, with the possible exception that they are far more demonstrative of their unique personalities than cats of other colors."

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  17. OH I would love to read that. I always maintained the Admiral did not have an attitude. Could I have just not recognized it? xoxo

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  18. Well, meowmy has said she couldn't fine time nor space to have any more books, but this one sounds pawsome! We have never had any torties, but we knew some and calicoes too.

    And since the author's name is Ingrid, It has to be good,MOL! (Our Meowmy is an Ingrid too!)

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  19. Dat sounds like a pawsum book. Glad you enjoyed it. We luv torties, altho' we luv all colors of cats. Hope you have a gweat day.

    Luv ya'

    Dezi and Lexi

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  20. What a great review, and what a pawsome giveaway ! Good luck to our US friends ! Purrs

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  21. That sounds like a lovely book. My mum had a tortie called Mother Puss before I was even a twinkle in my dad's eye. She said nobody messed with her, not even the vet's labrador who came with him when he came to see a horse. He bounded over and nudged her and bowled her over playing too boisterously. She flew at him and attached herself to his head! The dog howled and jumped back in the car and whenever they came out again, the dog would cower in the back. He learned to not mess with a tortie!!

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    1. Oh Flynn I love it! Thank you for sharing that adorable story!

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  22. What a wonderful - and very timely - book (given the UC-Davis study about torties recently released). Ingrid ROCKS!

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  23. This book looks and sounds AWESOME! I am learning something new about cats today. Thank you for sharing. Ingrid is a terrific writer and you are very blessed to be chosen to review this beautiful book. Thank you.

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  24. If I don't win this, you can bet I'll be buying it as a lover of torties. What's interesting its that my two tories are totally different. I suspect it's because one is a dilute tortie. Thanks for reviewing. Hugs, Janet

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  25. Our Georgia is a Tortie and a polydactyl one at that.
    She rocks the tude when she wants.
    MOL!
    Purrs Georgia and Julie,
    Treasure and JJ

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  26. I have always loved Torties! The book sounds like lots of fun!

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  27. The Tortie in our family is so extremely mellow that we just don't get the stereotype at all. Seriously!

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  28. This is a great giveaway. My Penny is a tortie and she has tortitude.

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  29. I loved the review and the book looks tantalizing. Its about time this topic was written about! As human to two tortitude filled kitties I I love that whimsical, quirky "twist" that both my cats have. Altho we never decided whether they are calico or tortie or both, tortitude has always been a concept that I believed in!

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