"My Life in a Cat House" (A Curl Up with a Cat Tale Book), by NY Times Best Selling Author Gwen Cooper

"True Tales of Love,

Laughter, and Living

with Five Felines"

Cover Courtesy of Gwen Cooper

"Celebrate the human-feline

bond with all its joys, mysteries,

and life-changing moments."

(Available October 30th, 2018)

Sitting down with a book written by author Gwen Cooper is like being perched at your kitchen table with your dearest cat-loving friend, sipping a cup of your favorite brew or, depending on your mood, sharing a glass of wine with the same friend, curled up on the couch snuggled beneath a pile of cozy comforters with a cat (or two, or three or five) by your sides. (Cody actually joined me for a few stories in this gem and he thoroughly enjoyed pawing through the pages with me.)

Having read and reviewed most of Gwen's books, I eagerly anticipated pouncing into the pages of "My Life in a Cat House" the latest book in the Gwen Cooper feline family of print. A gentle rain was falling outside my window, I lit a candle, grabbed MY favorite brew and a comfy blanket and curled up on the couch ready to enjoy my long overdue visit with a cherished and dear friend.

Today, being National Cat Day, couldn't be a more PURRFECT day to present this PURRFECT book, written by the PURRFECTLY talented Gwen Cooper to YOU, my PURRFECTLY wonderful readers!

"My Life in a Cat House features beloved favorites from Gwen's Curl Up with a Cat Tale series, as well as brand-new adventures sure to be treasured by cat lovers everywhere." 

Gwen has the uncanny ability to touch our hearts with her gift of  conveying thought provoking, and heart-stirring emotions,  and often side-splitting humor that has her readers running the gamut of laughing out loud to grabbing for a box of tissues. Gwen's writing is unpretentious, its authentic, its REAL. Whether like me, you have nearly all of Gwen's books, or if this one is your first, you will delight in her descriptive, often hilarious and loving stories about her cats, whether you have had two cats like me, or twenty, you will be saying to yourself, as I did "My kitty does that too!!"   Speaking in reference to my Angel Bobo that was the MOST true, in reference to Cody, after reading about Gwen's cats and their antics, I began to think that my boy who I used to (the operative words being "used to") think was brilliant, I am now thinking might be a little "duller" than I previously thought...mind you that was said with the UTMOST OF LOVE!

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

Raised in a dog-loving family, Gwen never pictured herself as a “cat person.”  But from the very first feline she adopted—an adorable five-week-old rescue kitten, slow to learn how to trust after life on the streets—Gwen was smitten.  Eventually one rescue kitten became five, and all the ups and downs of a life with cats are lovingly depicted here: From the obsessive cat who teaches himself to play fetch and demands it morning, noon, and night from his hapless human mom; to the crafty white beauty who raises outside-the-litter-box thinking to the level of an art form; to the routine vet trip that turns into a hi-jinks-filled misadventure on the streets of Manhattan with three (VERY cranky!) felines in tow. And Homer, the Blind Wonder Cat himself, returns triumphant in new tales of life and love after worldwide fame. 

For the few of you who might not be familiar with Gwen Cooper's  books, she is the author of the blockbuster bestseller Homer’s Odyssey: A Fearless Feline Tale, or How I Learned About Love and Life With a Blind Wonder Cat, the book Love Saves The Day (which my eagle-eye caught a reference to in this book, because it is also the name of Gwen's "all time favorite vintage store"  and a clowder of other books! In My Life in a Cat House Gwen's much-beloved, world-famous fur family featuring the cool, cantankerous and aloof Scarlett, the stunningly beautiful man-loving Vashti, Homer the blind wonder cat,  Clayton the playful tripod kitty, and Fanny who has the ability to jump to amazing heights, (even with a moth trap accidentally stuck to her tail!), is back sharing their adventures of life, love, learning and hilarity.

One of my favorite moments of  purrfect humor was a conversation that Gwen had with her husband Laurence, when he brought to her attention that one of the cats had vomited in the other room. As I read the pages that ensued I was CERTAIN that Gwen had visited my home and had heard the same scenario play out with my husband and I,  when she wrote it.

I mentioned above that Gwen has the uncanny gift to touch our emotions through her brilliant writing, as well as the ability to have us stop and think about our own lives. When Gwen's cats lived with her each arrived at a different time of her life. The first arrived when Gwen was a new "cat mom" in her 20s.  Our cats, if we are lucky, live long and fulfilling lives. What I never thought about until I read this book, is that while our cats are getting older, WE ARE GETTING OLDER TOO. Part of what makes Gwen's books resonate with us,  is that she built her life around her cats, as most cat lovers do. Inevitably, we all grow older and change based on our life experiences, I was in my late 30s when my first cat (Bobo) found me and I was much, much older when I adopted Cody. The Mom Cody has isn't exactly the same as the Mom Bobo had. My kitty "children", my babies grew older too That is sometimes hard to face. 

Oh, mirror in the sky

What is love?

Can the child within my heart rise above

Can I sail through the changing ocean tides

Can I handle the seasons of my life

Well, I've been afraid of changin'

'Cause I built my life around you

But time makes you bolder

Children get older

I'm getting older too

----from “Landslide” written by Stevie Nicks

 My Life in a Cat House is ideal for new readers and longtime fans like myself and many of you. This purr-fect memoir is told in eight purr-fect cat stories that are all filled with the humor and heart  that WE, Gwen’s devoted readership, has come to know and love. As is the case with all of Gwen's books, it is magnificent. RUN (don't walk!) and get YOUR copy TODAY!!

PURCHASING INFORMATION

 MY LIFE IN A CAT HOUSE: TRUE TALES OF LOVE, LAUGHTER, AND LIVING WITH FIVE FELINES (with the all-new adventures of Homer and the gang) is coming out on October 30th.  Gwen will be donating 100% of her  royalties on all pre-orders and first-week sales (October 30th through November 3rd) to Blind Cat Rescue & Sanctuary in Raleigh, NC in Homer's name.

 If you haven't done so already, please pre-order your copy TODAY of MY LIFE IN A CAT HOUSE--either on Amazon.com or, ideally, through your local bookstore (whether it's a small indie or part of a chain like Barnes & Noble).  Please note that if you do pre-order MY LIFE IN A CAT HOUSE through a bookstore, you must pick up the book/complete the purchase by November 3rd for it to count as a donation to Blind Cat Rescue.

GET SOCIAL WITH GWEN COOPER:

www.facebook.com/homerblindcatfans

www.instagram.com/homerblindcat

www.twitter.com/homerblindcat

FTC Disclosure: I was not compensated for this review. I was sent a complimentary copy of My Life in a Cat House by Gwen Cooper in exchange for my always honest review. It is my honor to present this book to all of you.

Cat Book Review: Homer:The Ninth Life Of A Blind Wonder Cat by Gwen Cooper

 Writing this book review was hard for me on a number of levels, one of them being an intense emotional involvement with Homer. You see, the first book that I had ever reviewed was Homer's Odyssey   by Gwen Cooper.  When Gwen had contacted me back in 2010 after connecting on Twitter, I was terrified. I had never reviewed ANY book and it was with extreme fear and trepidation that I embarked on the task.  Since then, I have reviewed all of Gwen's books:Love Saves The Day, and Cody had the distinct honor of appearing in Kittenish,  (which was created with the intent of enabling those of us who felt helpless watching the horror of the Nepal earthquakes and the devastation they caused for humans and animals, to do something meaningful.  By purchasing a copy of Kittenish readers helped  the victims of the Nepal earthquakes and their animals).

When Homer passed in the summer of 2013, I was one of millions who were more than heartbroken to hear the devastating news. Homer was the first blind cat I had ever heard of,  and I relished following his  full and amazing life. (Homer was 16 when he passed.)

Gwen Cooper and Homer, Photo Courtesy of Gwen Cooper

Through Gwen's ability to write and touch our souls, I learned about the trials and tribulations of sharing one's life with a black cat, AND a cat who was blind to boot.

I knew that reading:

Cover Photo Courtesy of Gwen Cooper

Was going to be bitter sweet. Yes, I cried. You will too,  As Gwen mentioned in the foreword of Homer:The Ninth Life Of A Blind Wonder Cat, "there were many wonderful times with Homer during those four years after Homer's Odyssey came out, and you'll read those stories here. But there were also some hard times when we lost him, and I wasn't sure I could bear to go through them again."

I wasn't sure if I had the emotional strength to read the sequel. I am glad that I did.

FROM HOMER:The Ninth Life Of A Blind Wonder Cat

The life, loss and legacy of the world’s most-beloved blind cat…

The odds had always been stacked against Homer, the blind kitten nobody  wanted. But destiny took a hand the day he met Gwen Cooper, and with the publication twelve years later of the international best seller Homer’s Odyssey, Homer went from beloved house cat to world-wide star. He became the scourge and darling of the reporters, photographers, videographers, bloggers, and radio hosts who clamored to meet him—dragging his hapless human behind him as he greeted fame with his usual joie de vivre and occasional “catitude.” He became a spokes-cat for the cause of special-needs animals everywhere, and eventually the wise older mentor to the new special-needs kitten who would enter his and Gwen’s lives.

New "fur-sib" Clayton, watching Homer
Photo Courtesy of Gwen Cooper

 Most importantly, Homer taught those who loved him best how to live and die with courage and joy—and left behind a rescue community of “Homer’s Heroes” that continues to save countless lives in his name.

By turns humorous and tender, this beautifully written, 115-page sequel concludes the adventures of Homer the Blind Wonder Cat—the fearless feline who proved that love isn’t something you see with your eyes, that even the smallest of creatures can make a big difference, and that true love lives forever.

What Can You Expect When Reading Homer:The Ninth Life Of A Blind Wonder Cat by Gwen Cooper:

"first and foremost, this is a book of stories-stories about a cat who rose from obscurity to fame, who was promoted from barely tolerated baby brother to adored "big kid," and who continues to save the lives of other animals to this day, simply because HE lived and his story was told."

Jackson Galaxy and Homer
Photo Courtesy of Gwen Cooper

Gwen met Jackson Galaxy on the "cat circuit" and became fast friends. The odds are virtually all of you reading this review have struggled with end of life decisions that inevitably we all must make with our pets. It is the most devastating part of living with and loving a pet. Jackson Galaxy offered sage advice to Gwen during Homer's final months that are words that will offer comfort to all of us who have and who WILL face these decisions.  "Taking care of someone means putting them before you. And that means you , in this moment, don't matter. Your sadness doesn't matter....you're a parent with only one job. You have to listen to Homer...."

Yes, I relived the passing of my Angel Bobo, and the tears I shed while reading Homer:The Ninth Life Of A Blind Wonder Cat  were not only for Homer but for my Angel Bobo too. Bobo was 18 when he left this earth, Homer was 16.

Gwen has a style of writing that is raw, real, HUMAN. She takes you on a journey into her life, into her soul, into her heart.  As a result, you will relive some painful moments in your own life with your pet(s). But that's ok. It's necessary, it's LOVE.  The animal, human, pet parent bond we have with our fur babies is profound and deep. There is an element of comfort derived from reading a work by another pet parent who understands that bond. SHE LIVED IT.

 While Bobo wasn't a "special needs" kitty, I rescued him and he NEEDED ME, WE NEEDED EACH OTHER. When he left, a part of me left with him. Reading about Homer brought my Bobo back to me, if only for a few hours. The gift of  the memories of his love warmed my soul. My tears were cathartic. 

Homer's  Gift To Gwen:

"The greatest gift Homer left me with when he left me for good was fresh evidence every day---every single day---of the innate goodness of most people, even when news headlines make it far too easy to conclude otherwise."

"In a very literal way, Homer's passing brought life in its wake. There are countless animals alive today because of Homer's loss...even in his physical absence, Homer's spirit hasn't gone anywhere....as much as I know that if I could wave a magic wand and undo Homer's death, I would do so in a heartbeat---in a nanosecond--I also know that I would never trade any of the things I have in my life today because I loved Homer, and also because I lost him. Not for worlds."

From the blog post I did on August 26, 2013 when I learned of Homer's passing: Homer, THANK YOU for being a most AMAZING YOU, Gwen, thank you for sharing Homer with the world and teaching the public that not only do BLACK CATS make wonderful pets, but BLACK CATS, BLIND CATS and any cat with a disability is just as able to give and receive love as any cat can.

"Homer Licking Chops"
Photo Courtesy of Gwen Cooper

"Eras much gato, Thou wert plenty of cat."

 Purchase links may be found at www.hihomer.com. 

FOLLOW HOMER ON SOCIAL MEDIA

FACEBOOK 

TWITTER 

AND NOW ON INSTAGRAM!!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:GWEN COOPER is the New York Times bestselling author of the memoir Homer's Odyssey: A Fearless Feline Tale, or How I Learned About Love and Life with a Blind Wonder Cat; the novels Love Saves the Day and Diary of a South Beach Party Girl; and the crowd-sourced collection of cat selfies, Kittenish. 100% of the proceeds from which were donated to support animal rescue in Nepal following the 2015 earthquake. She is a frequent speaker at shelter fundraisers and donates 10% of her royalties from Homer's Odyssey to organizations that serve abused, abandoned, and disabled animals. She also manages Homer's ongoing social-media community, which reaches nearly two million cat enthusiasts and rescuers around the world each day.

Gwen lives in Manhattan with her husband, Laurence. She also lives with her two perfect cats--Clayton the Tripod and his litter-mate, Fanny--who aren't impressed with any of it.




In full disclosure: I was not compensated for this review. I was sent a copy of Homer:The Ninth Life of a Blind Wonder Cat in exchange for my always honest review. 

Cody is in the book:"Kittenish" by Gwen Cooper & Homer's Heroes !!! #Kittenish #HomersHeroes #NepalQuake

It is almost six years since my first book review appeared on this blog. The first review was none other than Homer's Odyssey by Gwen Cooper. I vividly remember how terrified I had been when Gwen contacted me asking if I would review Homer's book. I had been blogging less than a year and had never reviewed any book, EVER. I was so flattered that Gwen had contacted me, that I eagerly accepted and figured I'd worry about how to review a book later.

Since then, I have reviewed dozens and dozens of books, both on this blog and Dakota's, and have featured Gwen on this blog a minimum of  six times. I reviewed her book,  Love Saves The Day (I guess I did a good enough job on Homer's review that Gwen asked me to review her next book!), and some misc. blog posts to help Gwen in her on-going quest to help animals in need.

Today I am honored to feature her latest  endeavor:

Cover Cat:Maddee/Atwater, California

which started in late May, 2015 as a "send-up" of Kim Kardashian's best-selling selfies collection, Selfish. To quote Gwen "to that end, we tried to hew as closely as possible to the look and feel of the original-down to the interior black-page section where the "sexy pics" are featured. (Warning:Very few of the cats consented to wear costumes for this book, so almost all of these selfies are nudes;) Cats are probably the only ones having as big a pop-cultural moment as the Kardashians, so the comparison seemed apt."

Kittenish was created with the intent of enabling those of us who felt helpless watching the horror of the Nepal earthquakes and the devastation they caused for humans and animals, to do something meaningful.  By purchasing a copy of Kittenish you are helping the victims of the Nepal earthquakes and their animals. 100% OF THE PROCEEDS FROM KITTENISH WILL GO TO HUMANE SOCIETY INTERNATIONAL TO FUND ANIMAL RESCUE IN NEPAL!


When Gwen sent out the call for photo submissions, Cody could not WAIT to send her his photo!

Gwen told us she received over 8000 photos from several dozen countries! Those 8000+ photos had to be tapered down to 403 selfies!  When Gwen wrote to us and said that Cody made the cut to be in Kittenish, we were ecstatic!! Cody and I are honored to be a part of this most important endeavor to help humans and animals in need in Nepal.

When I purchased our copy, and when it arrived, I fell in love with how adorable ALL the "selfies" are in Kittenish. Especially Cody's! See for yourself!

Ok, I live in Farmington Hills, MICHIGAN
but for Gwen,
I'll live ANYWHERE!

From Gwen Cooper: I'm often asked what the value is in helping animals at all when there are so many humans in need. My answer is always the same:When you help animals, you help people too.

Please help Gwen help the people and animals of Nepal by purchasing a copy of  Kittenish. "Thank you for supporting this book, and the cause of animal rescue."

Buy your ebook for only $3.99,
 or a physical copy, here: www.hihomer.com

WE thank Gwen Cooper for all she does for animals in need.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:Gwen Cooper is the New York Times bestselling author of the memoir Homer's Odyssey, and the novels Love Saves the Day and Diary of a South Beach Party Girl. She is a frequent speaker at shelter fundraisers; donates 10% of her royalties from Homer's Odyssey to organizations that serve abused, abandoned, and disabled animals; and serves on the Advisory Boards of Tabby's Place in Ringoes, NJ (where we sponsor a kitty!), and Tree House Humane in Chicago. Gwen lives in Manhattan with her husband, Laurence. She also lives with her two perfect cats-Tripod Clayton and his litter-mate, Fanny-who aren't impressed with any of it!

Order your Limited-Edition HOMER the Blind Wonder Cat Holiday Tees and Help the Animals of the #Philippines!

www.teespring.com is offering these LIMITED-EDITION, custom, high-quality tees and 20% of all proceeds will go to the International Fund for Animal Welfare bringing aid to the thousands of animals left injured and homeless in the Philippines after Typhoon Haiyan.

CLICK HERE TO SEE THE SIZES AND COLORS THAT ARE AVAILABLE

HURRY!! OFFER ENDS 12/4/13!!!!!

"Love Saves The Day" by Gwen Cooper to "Save The Day" for Cats at Blind Cat Rescue & Sanctuary, Inc.!

LOVE SAVES THE DAY by Author Gwen Cooper (Gwen is also the author of  the New York Times best-selling book,  "Homer's Odyssey") is out in paperback this week!!!

Gwen is  donating 200% of all sales through Sunday to Blind Cat Rescue & Sanctuary,Inc. in Homer's memory (in other words, every one paperback copy purchased this week counts as two copies for donation purposes). 

The book is available at Barnes & Noble, Books-A-Million, your local independent bookseller (if they don't have it, you can ask them to order it!), Target, Costco, and online at Amazon.com.

To read my review of Love Saves The Day click here

To read my review of Homer's Odyssey click here

With Sadness and Love, for Homer Blind Wondercat

Cody and I would like to share our love and sympathy with millions of others who are mourning the passing of a cat like no other, Homer Blind Wondercat.

Photo used with permission by Gwen Cooper

He was the cat of author Gwen Cooper who I first met on Twitter back in 2010. Homer's book, Homer's Odyssey  was also the first book I had reviewed on Cat Chat as well as, EVER.

My heart is hurting for Gwen, I don't have eloquent words to share, just my deepest sympathy and love.

Homer, THANK YOU for being a most AMAZING YOU, Gwen, thank you for sharing Homer with the world and teaching the public that not only do BLACK CATS make wonderful pets, but BLACK CATS, BLIND CATS and any cat with a disability is just as able to give and receive love as any cat can.

Our deepest love and sympathy,

Caren and Cody