By Sparkle on April 25, 2011
Your Cat’s Just Not Into You
By Richard Smith
Based on the best-selling relationship book, He’s Just Not That Into You,
Smith’s slim, satirical volume compares us cats to single male humans. Isn’t that kind of insulting, considering that we are way smarter and better-looking than the majority of male humans? And as the title reveals, it focuses only on our supposed aloofness, which is not a trait all of us cats have. So it boils us down to stereotypes. As a result, what we have here is a one-joke book, and its quality relies on how well it is able to milk this singular laugh. I must give credit to the author for making his book short without being chintzy (just under 150 pages), and for coming up with several different approaches to its one topic (a Cat I.Q. test — for humans, of course; quizzes; “Straight from the Kitty Litter” sidebars, etc.). And there is the occasional truism (“Cat love is better and much more reliable than human love”) amidst the silly, fake “Dear Abby” style letters (you want real advice? Read my books!).
But for the most part, it just rehashes the idea that cats are selfish creatures who generally have better things to do than give their humans the time of day. It ignores the fact that every cat is different and that actually, a fairly sizable percentage of the feline population is nothing like what is depicted in the book. But come to think of it, the same could probably be said for the book it is based on and male humans. I think this book would be best for someone who has been around cats and likes them, but doesn’t really know them. Real cat humans probably won’t get all that much out of it.
Posted in Book Reviews | Tagged cat book reviews, Richard Smith, satire, Your Cat's Just Not Into You |
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We agree that cats are not selfish, at least not us. We have survived terrible previous caretakers, and we fully appreciate our forever home with our forever mom. We are always loving and available, even when we are hungry and sleepy. Like, when Mom comes home from work…our first priority is giving her affection, and the food, etc. takes 2nd place.
I agree, cats each have their own personalities, likes, dislikes and quirks. Hmm, sounds like humans!
I think I already like this book before read it : )
Thank you, Sparkle for this reviews
xoxo
Momma says that alla’ us are into her an’ lovin’ her. Don’t know what that book is talkin’ ’bout at all.
Great review Sparkle. We know that your book is better. Besides we are not all aloof. And we do give our hooomans the time of day. We pay a lot of attention to our Mom.
Have a great week.
I don’t get it…I’m into EVERYONE!
Purrs,
Ellie
Thank you for your review, Sparkle. We don’t think our Mom is going to read this book. We are the opposite of aloof!
Well, we don’t think this book could tell us anything new about us cats. But it might give us a good laugh.
Ha! Someone gave me this book a few years ago. All I can say is, whoever wrote it never met Jake.
Thanks for the review Sparkle. Always love to keep up to date about books, that’s for sure.
pawhugs, Max
hmmmm, we are ALL into our Mommy and Daddy! Even Scouty likes to hang out and sleeps with Mommy when she’s not looking.
Thanks for the review Brian. M says she’ll check it out. She does like reading animal books, among other things.
The Male needs to read that about me…
We’re happy to say we don’t think this book is about REAL CATS!!!!!!!! Cuz real cats are into their humans for sure!!!!!!!!
Our mama says this is one book she doesn’t think she will ever read cuz she can’t agree with the title……:) Isn’t our mama great????????
xxxxxx
Good for you for telling it like it is, Sparkle.
Thanks for the review, sounds like mixed felings about this one, we will have to check it out. Hugs Gj x
We appreciate your honest review Sparkle but of course you are the best when it comes to knowing kitties! We are certainly not all alike and to think we are is silly.
It sounds like a royal waste of time to us. One thing that #1 says she has never experienced is a cat that was not interactive, interesting and loving, even if only to its one person.
There are 4 Farm cats and they are all very different. sheesh
It is good to be different. Right?
what if we were all the same — how uninteresting life would be
bonkbonkbonk
Now ya got me curious about that book, thanks Sparkle!!!
Hi Sparkle. That does sound like a strange book, but we think it sounds like people who don’t know a lot about cats probably shouldn’t read it because it will give them the wrong idea!!
OMC! That sounds like a good book, but just so you know, I am into my mom bigtime! hee hee
–JB
Comparing us to male humans! Gasp! Well I never!!!
Ummm sound like he stereotypes us!
>^..^^..^^..^^..^^..^<
Abby Ping Jinx Boo Gracie
purrin
xoxox
~ManxMnews
Dear Sparkle,
that sounds like a terrible book. Everything may be about me, but me is not selfish. Me thinks only non-cat peoples would get any enjoyment out of the book.
thanks for the great book review!
Kisses
Nellie
Well, probably **I** do fit that stereotype, MOL! But still, a whole book? Human time would be better spent serving the kitteh’s needz, that’s what I say!
thank you! thank you for that HONEST review!!! I appreciate when someone wasn’t thrilled with a book and has the courage to say so. My Cody certainly isn’t aloof, he never was and never will be. He is an “in your face” I “can’t get close enough” kind of cat….as you said each cat is different….just like each dog is different. None of us wish to be stereotyped…least of all……CATS! xoxoxo
Hmm, very, very interesting points are made here Sparkle. Thanks! My Human says that all of her cats have been really into her, so much for that premise! (Including me of course, I’m quite the kneady guy…)
My first idea was: “Wow! What a great title! I want to have this book!” But you’re making me doubt now. That said, I own almost every existing cat book in the world, so it probably won’t be long before this one hits my shelves as well
Purrrrrrrs from Avalon xxxx