Posted on by Cathy

📘What’s on the table …..November

I do have some reading ‘on the go’ but nothing finished so next month should be a good one. There’s been lots of movement on the ‘in house’ books here though…….some of them are destined for new homes…….

Including several from (but definitely not all of) my collection of ‘cat books’…..they’ll only be given to the op shop ‘when I go’ so I’m happy to rehome them ‘while I’m still here’

Most of them given as gifts – might have been something I said about our cats or cats in general – someone has remembered it and thought the gift would tickle my fancy.
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Purrsonalities : life with your cat – Bev Aisbett 1992

Who hasn’t seen this

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Catmas Carols – Laurie Loughlin 1993

A fun play on a seasonal carol

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Alphacats – Nicholas Brash 1989
This beautiful children’s picture book by Nicholas Brash is a fun and unusual way to teach children the letters of the alphabet. Australian locations are added to the cat’s names to make a rhyme

This is how a ‘friend’ imagined me out bush

Douglas Hall’s CATS – 1988.
A small hard backed book describing various cat breeds. The text is by Jonathan Hall and the ‘humourous’ illustrations by Douglas Hall

Not quite Kiera’s style

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The Cat Dictionary – Peter Mandel 1994

Definitely a familiar sight/sound to cat owners

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Cats in the sun – Leslie Ann Ivory…was a gift after I mentioned all the cats we saw in Greece….especially the ones at Ephesus

Some of the Cats at Ephesus

And here’s one I’ve never been able to get a copy of:-

Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats – T. S. Elliot 1939. 
Free download found here at fadedpage.com.

T. S. Eliot’s playful cat poems have delighted readers and cat lovers around the world ever since they were first published in 1939. They were originally composed for his godchildren, with Eliot posing as Old Possum himself, and later inspired the legendary musical Cats

It’s no secret that cats (felis catus) are my pet of choice – any sort…..domesticated moggie or purebred….we’ve had them all – and whenever a new arrival has taken up residence the (often takes a while to appear) naming process begins…..although a little like the cartoon Ginger, Fluff and Marmalade were instantaneous


So I make no apology for giving you the first poem in this wonderful book…..

THE NAMING OF CATS

The Naming of Cats is a difficult matter,
 It isn’t just one of your holiday games;
You may think at first I’m as mad as a hatter
When I tell you, a cat must have THREE DIFFERENT NAMES. 

First of all, there’s the name that the family use daily,
Such as Peter, Augustus, Alonzo or James,
Such as Victor or Jonathan, George or Bill Bailey—
All of them sensible everyday names. 

There are fancier names if you think they sound sweeter,
 Some for the gentlemen, some for the dames:
Such as Plato, Admetus, Electra, Demeter—
 But all of them sensible everyday names. 

But I tell you, a cat needs a name that’s particular,
A name that’s peculiar, and more dignified,
Else how can he keep up his tail perpendicular,
Or spread out his whiskers, or cherish his pride?

Of names of this kind, I can give you a quorum,
Such as Munkustrap, Quaxo, or Coricopat,
Such as Bombalurina, or else Jellylorum—
 Names that never belong to more than one cat. 

But above and beyond there’s still one name left over,
 And that is the name that you never will guess;
The name that no human research can discover—
 But THE CAT HIMSELF KNOWS, 
and will never confess.

When you notice a cat in profound meditation,
The reason, I tell you, is always the same:
His mind is engaged in a rapt contemplation
 Of the thought, of the thought, of the thought of his name:
 His ineffable effable
Effanineffable
Deep and inscrutable singular Name.

(https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Naming_of_Cats)

And here you can listen to the lilting voice of the author himself

Sharing with What’s on your Book Shelf Challenge.

Also Bookworms Monthly found HERE

34 Replies to “📘What’s on the table …..November”

    1. Glad you enjoyed it Helen. A bit of fun does us good now and again. Rehoming rather than doing a charity shop drop means they’ll be fun and entertainment for others – people I actually know, not bargain hunters

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  4. Perfect books for the cat lovers of the reading world, Cathy. I know when we moved, we had so many books we couldn’t bring with us because we were downsizing. I like the idea of rehoming with perhaps the view of being able to ‘borrow back’ when you feel the call to read an old favourite. Thanks so much for joining us for #WOYBS? Have a lovely weekend. Sue L xx

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    1. I’ve enjoyed looking at them over the years EC…now it’s time for someone else to have that pleasure. What a shame, If I’d have known there was ‘outside interest’ I would have offered

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    1. Have to say it’s one of mine as well Kat. It just flows along with the emphasis on certain words and then comes to end by stating what we all know is true – the cat knows but he’s not going to tell.

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  10. Delightful. Especially Kakadu Katherine. As for those Greek cats… They’re still everywhere, can hardly take a photo still without a cat photo bombing the pic. At least half of postcards here have a cat on them. Great if you’re passing through. Just a dang nuisance if they’re invading your home.

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    1. it’s strange the way they’ve been tolerated for so many years. I know there are contraception methods (catch/release) in s places but do they ever slow the population growth down?

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  12. I think it’s wonderful that you are finding a new home for some of your books. That Alphabet book looks beautiful. And of course T. S. Elliot – I can still hear the music from “Cats” in my head.

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    1. Isn’t it marvellous Jane how something as ‘simple’ as a book of poetry can be adapted, dramatised and then become a very popular full scale musical production.

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  13. I, too, am a cat person and friends have given me so many cat ornaments and knick knacks.

    As a child I was given (and still have) a book called “Cats”. It contains all sorts of pictures and stories and historical facts including The Naming of Cats which is still a favourite poem. Thanks for the trip down memory lane.

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    1. I’m sure I could write many more ‘favourite things’ posts if I set my mind to it…..but there wouldn’t all be of interest to others. It pleases me to walk down that path now and again but I’ll not be making a habit of it

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  14. That is a lot of cat books! I had no idea there were so many books about cats around. Some of the illustrations are beautiful. I’m sure they’ve given you joy and will give others joy in the future.

    Popping over from Book Worms Monthly.

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    1. Hello Sarah. lol it’s a little like some of those tv ads…..but wait there’s more. There definitely are more here to find new homes for. I just have to come to terms with that decision

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    1. They and others have been a fun collection to have Debbie – now it’s time for others to smile when they read them.
      And yes, next month’s post has been on my mind – when you think of the season- it’s probably going to be a mish mash of this that and the other. I’ll have to get my thoughts in order soon

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