Book Description
After dropping a bombshell that was a bestseller, Lilian Jackson Braun brings back James Qwilleran and his famous felines, Koko and Yum Yum, for the twenty-ninth installment of the beloved, bestselling Cat Who . . . series.
Moose County, 400 miles north of everywhere, is in an uproar (good and bad) following vast inheritances from wealthy old families. Only "Cool Koko" knows what's happening . . . and he's not telling. Jim Qwilleran thinks it's because he has more whiskers than ordinary cats, but who's counting?
Meanwhile . . .
Koko meets a piano tuner.
Polly goes to Paris.
Qwill writes a play (an absurdist play titled The Cat Who Got Elected Dog Catcher).
And there's a mysterious death from a bee sting . . .
Customer Reviews:
Must have been a ghost writer!!.......2007-10-13
This was a waste of time and money. Obviously, writer Lilian Braun is ill and a ghost writer has been appointed. It seemed that the writer was unfamiliar with the previous books in the series and characters we have known for years seemed out of character. I hope that this will be the last The Cat Who book. It will be the last for me.
So Let's Get This Straight...........2007-10-10
So - there was a mystery happening somewhere in Moose County, and Qwill had nothing to do with it, but heard about it vaguely once or twice?
Polly moved to Paris with no notice, and a week later Qwill found someone new to take to dinner, no trouble or emotion involved?
The barn burned down thanks to random arson that had nothing to do with what little plot there was?
And Koko and YumYum make the occasional appearance to reinforce their existence, but do little in regards to the story itself?
The side plots took over! Don't read this book, it's just a disappointment.
Good book, but...(BIG-TIME SPOILER ALERT!).......2007-10-01
I picked up this book, and was so shocked at the barn-burning at the end that I had to read it again. And indeed, I had read that Qwill's barn got burned!! (don't you dare say I didn't warn you!!)
BTW, to those of you that say this book is disjointed: I just took the opportunity to read The Cat Who Read Backwards, and that was disjointed too. I think the entire series has a disjointed feel to it, but that's because while Miss Braun likes to make a whole series, she has to make self-contained books for those of us who are disjointed readers (i.e. those of us who read most of the books out of order).
Can y'all tell that my heart's in Polk County, North Carolina?? She is indubitably my favorite writer still living. She creates the most delightful mystery novels, better than Grafton, better than anyone else save for the dearly departed Virginia Lanier.
BJ Wanlund (aka "The Red-Haired sort-of Qwill")
What did I just finish reading?.......2007-09-30
I am saddened and perplexed. What was this book about? Where did it all go? It consisted of odd paragraphs, vaguely connected. Did Qwill's barn burn down? I think it did, but when did he go over to check it out? Did he and Polly break up? She sent him an unfeeling, unbelievably strange letter, given the long-term relationship they had. He took it as a "Dear John" letter but never reacted, on any realistic level. Wow! Please, ghostwriter of this series, whoever you are, put it to bed! Thank goodness I took this thing out at my local library. Had I bought it, I would be very annoyed, right now. Why did Qwill make almost identical entries into his journal, a few days apart? This pattern of repeated paragraphs in the last few books leads me to believe that the ghostwriter is simply "phoning it in," and whatever is sent is printed, without any editor taking any part in the process, whatsoever. Amazing!
Ruined the whole series.......2007-09-09
I have read the series several times, and also have them all as audio books. Over the years I enjoyed re-reading (and listening to) the series once every year or two. After getting this book I doubt I'll ever read or listen to any of them again. In the back of my mind I'll always know what the characters turned out to be, and don't much care about them any more. I believe LJB is still authoring the books, but is dictating and not writing them. The publisher should be ashamed not to have pulled the plug several books ago when her talent faded. The previous book was awful, but this one is so bad it ruined the whole series.
Book Description
Structural equation modeling (SEM) is a powerful multivariate method allowing the evaluation of a series of simultaneous hypotheses about the impacts of latent and manifest variables on other variables, taking measurement errors into account. As SEMs have grown in popularity in recent years, new models and statistical methods have been developed for more accurate analysis of more complex data. A Bayesian approach to SEMs allows the use of prior information resulting in improved parameter estimates, latent variable estimates, and statistics for model comparison, as well as offering more reliable results for smaller samples.
Structural Equation Modeling introduces the Bayesian approach to SEMs, including the selection of prior distributions and data augmentation, and offers an overview of the subject’s recent advances.
- Demonstrates how to utilize powerful statistical computing tools, including the Gibbs sampler, the Metropolis-Hasting algorithm, bridge sampling and path sampling to obtain the Bayesian results.
- Discusses the Bayes factor and Deviance Information Criterion (DIC) for model comparison.
- Includes coverage of complex models, including SEMs with ordered categorical variables, and dichotomous variables, nonlinear SEMs, two-level SEMs, multisample SEMs, mixtures of SEMs, SEMs with missing data, SEMs with variables from an exponential family of distributions, and some of their combinations.
- Illustrates the methodology through simulation studies and examples with real data from business management, education, psychology, public health and sociology.
- Demonstrates the application of the freely available software WinBUGS via a supplementary website featuring computer code and data sets.
Structural Equation Modeling: A Bayesian Approach is a multi-disciplinary text ideal for researchers and students in many areas, including: statistics, biostatistics, business, education, medicine, psychology, public health and social science.
Customer Reviews:
This is the book you want.......2007-06-07
Bayesian methods are moving into structural equation modeling. The most sophisticated approach to modeling interactions is Bayesian. People who want to be able to predict the values of observed variables need a Bayesian approach.
This book, with the code and datasets available from the publisher's website, will help you to estimate SE models using the Bayesian approach and the free WinBUGS software. Yes, it's a math-heavy book, but Sik-Yum Lee does a great job explaining this very different approach. Lee demonstrates Bayesian methods applied to basic models, interaction models, mixture models, multi-level models, and models with non-normal distributions. You really want to have this book, if you are a serious SEM user.
Structural Equation Modelling: A Bayesian Approach.......2007-05-07
I would rather not recommend this book to whom is looking for SEM. This book is more like Math oriented..so it is difficult to mention that it is good for students seeking for answeres from the business or sociological perspectives.
Average customer rating:
- A brilliant way to introduce our baby to cultural diversity... through food!!!
- LOVE this book--love the entire series!
- cool and quirky board book
- Wonderful, informative book.
- Bad Illustrations
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Yum Yum Dim Sum (World Snacks)
Amy Wilson Sanger
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ASIN: 1582461082 |
Customer Reviews:
A brilliant way to introduce our baby to cultural diversity... through food!!!.......2007-09-23
My husband and I are both foodies. We love ethnic cuisines quite a bit. So, we are so happy that our little boy, who's almost a-year-and-half, already loves items like pasta, onigiri, dim sum, fried rice, taco, quesadilla, etc.
I was so excited when I discovered this book series one day. I thought it would be a great addition to his little library, as well as being a great supplement to our effort to introduce him to all the various yummy food different people throughout the world eat. I began with "Yum Yum Dim Sum." It provides lots of fun, helps him associate these yummy dishes with exciting pictures. I cannot wait to get more.
Highly recommended!!!
LOVE this book--love the entire series!.......2007-06-27
My son *loves* this book, as well as AWS's other books in the World Snacks series. You should have seen him labeling the siu mai and other dim sum on the carts at our local restaurant! So fun, educational and beautifully illustrated too.
cool and quirky board book.......2007-05-07
My one year old son loves this board book! We actually have the entire series. It's fun and creative, and I don't have to worry about him ripping the pages. We are hooked!
Wonderful, informative book........2007-01-17
I love this book, my son loves this book, it's all good. Plus, when we go out for dim sum, he can ask for siu mai by himself. Actually, it's even educational for adults who might want to learn a bit more about dim sum. Very creative, fun illustrations, too.
Bad Illustrations.......2007-01-09
Although the idea of this book is excellent and the illustrations are creative, my son cannot tell that it is even food, so he will not even let me read it to him. He is an avid reader (2 yr old) and loves all of his books...except this one. I would love to see this series of books with a different type of illustration.
Book Description
James Qwilleran and his famous felines, Koko and Yum Yum, are back for another mystery-solving stint in the beloved bestselling Cat Who... series.
Unabridged, 3 CDs, 4 hours
Download Description
It's almost time for the gala groundbreaking for the Pickax bookstore--and the town of Brrr is preparing for its bicentennial celebration. All the festivities, however, are spoiled by the discovery of a man's body on James Qwilleran's property. Could it be the work of the killer who used the same methods in northern Michigan? To solve the case, Qwill and his feline pals, Koko and Yum Yum, will have to prick up their ears and determine who committed this foul deed.
Customer Reviews:
Not really a mystery.......2007-09-29
I listened ot this on CD, and was extremely bored and frustrated. The plot is supposedly a murder mystery, but with the double homicide, the guy is more interested in a books store, the towns anniversary, and his cat being able to make a turkey call than the bodies pileing up. (Spoiler) Even the murderer is caugt by coincidence! (End of Spoiler) The main focus is on life in the small town, which felt nothing like any I've come across, or lived in, in real life. A annoying book
What does the turkey have to do with this mystery?.......2007-02-20
I was disappointed in this book. I had started getting these books on CD from the library amd thoroughly enjoyed the first few I listened to. I enjoy the author's picturesque, almost poetic, descriptions of things. Those descriptions were still there, but they did not connect well. The mystery of the person murdered becomes an incidental by-line, not really crucial to the other goings-on in the story. There is no expanation to why the return of the turkeys is of any significance and what do the cats' being able to communicate with them have to do with anything in the story line. I felt very let down at the end of this audio book.
Happy Cats-giving!.......2007-01-01
Am I going to be sick? I think I ate(read) too much! I couldn't help myself myself because this wonderful title sated my appetite for mystery, cats ('natch), and turkey. Nuff said. This is perhaps the most invigorating marriage of turkey and cats I've yet read. You don't have to be a pilgrim to give thanks for Mr. L. J. Braun!
What the heck was this?.......2006-08-24
I remember when I was first introduced to the "Cat Who" mysteries; my High School French teacher's bookshelf was full of them, along with the Mrs. Polifax mysteries and some Inspector Maigret. I enjoyed them, even though they were a little cutesy and it was hard to suspend disbelief at the cats' antics, but I wasn't really driven to keep up with the series.
Now, seeing the book in a cheap pile at Wal-Mart, I figured why not try it--and wow, what a disappointment. It seems to me that the "Cat Who" mysteries actually used to be mysteries, but judging by this one, now they're just cutesy.
It's a sad state of affairs when the blurb of a book is more exciting than the actual book itself. Talked Turkey's blurb implies Qwilleran has to solve an execution-style murder on his property, and somehow the mysterious reappearance of wild turkeys thought long-gone from the area has something to do with it. Well, it doesn't (nor is it ever explained at all, in fact), and the murder is barely even mentioned in the book; the fact that it gets "solved" in the end is more or less coincidental. In actuality, the book is by and large a slice-of-life story about Qwilleran, his cats, and the community. Which is fine if that's the sort of thing you're looking for, but not all that great when the book is being advertised as a "mystery."
The Cat Who Ate the Plot.......2006-07-17
This was my first -- and last -- Cat Who book. I bought it because I needed something to read at the beach, but found it so inane that I went for another swim instead. Having spent money on the book, I felt obligated to eventually finish it. I kept wondering when I would discover the plot, but alas, the book ended without one. I had hoped to read a mystery story, but the only mystery -- the body found on Qwilleran's property -- was never developed. Another reviewer called this book a pastiche -- a quite appropriate word.
Want to write a book like this? Here's how... Take a small town newspaper, cut out stories at random, then stick them together. Throw in a rather silly single male journalist who spends his days wandering in and out of other people's lives, writing corny sayings and then attributing them to his cat (I thought Koko was supposed to be smart!), eating in restaurants, and traveling between his various properties.
Book Description
The first three Cat Who... mysteries in one volume, from the New York Times bestselling "master of mystery" (People).
Prize-winning reporter Jim Qwilleran and his extraordinary Siamese cats Koko and Yum Yum always land on their feet. This special volume includes the first three books in this "thoroughly delightful"* series.
The Cat Who Could Read Backwards: Modern art is a mystery to many-but for Jim Qwilleran and Koko it turns into a mystery of another sort.
The Cat Who Ate Danish Modern: Reporter Qwill isn't thrilled about covering the interior design beat. Little does he know that a killer has designs on a local woman featured in one of his stories.
The Cat Who Turned On and Off: Qwill and Koko are joined by Yum Yum as they try to solve a murder in an antique shop.
Customer Reviews:
The Best !.......2007-06-27
Ms. Braun is so skillful at suspense and comedy. The "tales" are wonderful, and as Koko says "Yow !"
I should have read further...........2007-06-11
I love and have all of the "Cat Who..." series with the exception of "60 Whiskers" which I'm waiting to come out in paperback. Since I've read all the books, I was itching to continue enjoying the exploits of Qwill.... I bought this book only to find out that I have the 3 novels (3 tales) already... Next time, I won't be so hasty...
THESE 3 TALES ARE GEMS. .......2007-02-14
Great Fun! Delightful light reading. I like to open one of these after finishing a heavier drama. They're like a breath of fresh air.
This is the first in the series and was actually written by Ms. Jackson Braun. Many of the later volumns (there are around 24)lack substance, are thoroughly predictable, and are believed to be ghost written. Here the characters are well developed and the story line has a few surprises. Enjoy!
Two Cats, Three Tales.......2007-02-10
After I received this book, I discovered it was the first three of her Cat Who books, which I already have. I gave the book to my granddaughter who has enjoyed the stories.
mr q and his cats mewow!!!.......2006-11-07
Have been a van since the beginning of the cat tails. This was bought as a gift for my daugther and now she too wants more cat tails.
Download Description
"Qwill's on top of the world when he rents a house on Big Potato Mountain. The owner, J.J. Hawkinfield, brought real estate development to the once-peaceful Potatoes. But Hawkinfield paid a steep price for his enterprise: He was pushed off a cliff by an angry mountain dweller. Qwilleran, however, suspects the man is innocent--and Koko's antics have him convinced something's wrong. He may be making a mountain out of a molehill...but he's determined to find the truth. Even if it means jumping out of the frying pan and into the fire! "
Customer Reviews:
The Cat Who Moved a Mountain.......2006-07-07
In "'The Cat Who Moved a Mountain', Jim Qwilleran took a vacation to the Potato Mountains to have a much-needed rest away from it all. It was here he found he had rented a hotel that had been the site of a year old murder. The locals tell him that the man is now in jail. But Qwill finds out that they have the wrong guy! Then, with the help of Koko, he finds the real murderer and lures him into addmitting it was him. Then Qwill has a near-fatal run-in with the murderer. What will happen? I'll let you see for yourself! Enjoy the book!
The Cat Who Moved A Mountain.......2005-08-30
This is a great book about a man and his to crime finding clue cat Koko and YumYum. There is a mystery on potatoe mountain on a death of a local well known man. Was the wrong person framed. This book is fantastic except kind of has a dissapointing end. But i loved it anyway. I hope you enjoy this book and look for my other reviews
The Mountain Adventures of a City Slicker.......2005-07-03
In an earlier book in this series Jim Qwilleran inherited a pot full of money but there was a stipulation. He had to live in Moose County for five years or he forfeited his windfall. As this book begins, Qwilleran has just completed his five years and is contemplating his future. He has come to love Moose County and it's quirky residents but he was born and raised a city boy and sometimes he longs for more action. The former reporter decides that he needs some time in a quiet atmosphere to think through his options and one of his friends suggests that he spend some time in the Potato Mountains.
In order to find a summer retreat that will accept pets, Qwilleran has to rent a huge former mountain inn that sets on the peak of Big Potato Mountain. It turns out that the last owner of the home was murdered and as normal, Koko immediately begins to exhibit strange behavior. Yum Yum on the other hand starts to tear out bits of her own fur, a behavior that has Qwilleran very upset until the veterinarian tells him that this is not unusual in a spayed female. It is a trait that I have witnessed in my own spayed female cat and this little sidebar makes it very clear that Mrs. Braun most assuredly knows her cats.
Qwilleran for his part has all kinds of trouble in the unfamiliar mountain setting. He has learned some things about rural life during his sojourn in Moose County but the mountains provide an entirely different set of challenges. He gets lost on the mountain roads, almost falls over a waterfall, gets lost while hiking in the woods and gets trapped on the mountain after a dam break. What's a poor city slicker to do?
Despite all of his trials, Qwilleran still manages to get involved in local politics. More specifically he gets involved in a fight between the Spuds (people who live in town and support development) and the Taters (mountain people who oppose development) and he finds that a serious injustice has been done to one of the Tater families. With the help of Koko, Qwilleran wades through the evidence (and a mudslide) and discovers the truth, which once again puts his life in danger and requires a cat to save the day.
The mystery itself, as is often the case in this series, plays a decidedly secondary role in a plot that is laced with humor and oddball characters, including an old mountain man who builds Qwilleran a gazebo that has no door. This book is also a warm fuzzy mystery with a conscience as Mrs. Braun goes to great lengths to point out what happens when humans try to bend mother nature to their own ends. As usual, the writing style is engaging, fun and entertaining. This author's characters are always unpredictable and unforgettable and the cats are fascinating. Mrs. Braun even throws a few witches into this book, just to keep things interesting. This is one of the best books in the series so far and it was a real pleasure to read.
THE BEST BOOK SERRIES EVER.......2005-02-18
The Cat Who is the best serries ever full of humor wit and complexity,
James Macentosh Qwilerin is a off beat repoter/Billion air with his 2 cats Koko and Yumyum who are no shorter than extra ordinary.
This is the best book serries I have ever read and would recomend it to any one over 10.
[...]
The Cat Who Moved A Mountain.......2004-05-11
I just finished with a book called the Cat Who Moved a Mountain and it just swept me off my feet. It involves the lovable Yum Yum, the Siamese cat who lives to be loved and loves exreporter Jim Qwilleren. Qwilleren is an exreporter who used to work in the crime department of a newspaper and hasn't lost his love for crime. He has the right head for it, or shall I say moustache, That's right, I said moustache. When ever Qwill is on the right trail, he gets a tingling sensation in his moustache, but he wouldn't get his clues if it weren't for the brilliant acts of Ko Ko, an odd Siamese cat that always tracks down the clues and leaves Qwill to add them up.
I've already read 5 or 6 of Lillian Jackson Braun's other "Cat Who", books before, and have a taste and craving for them that can't be put out, because Lillian writes with such a colorful array of words, that once you get done you can't tell if you read a book or watched a movie due to all the wonderful, beautiful, and vivid pictures she paints with words. Just like the others she's written she hasn't failed to stump me with her false leads and clue's. Luckily for the characters of the book, Qwill isn't fooled as easily as I was by all the misleading clues Lillian leaves for us, because if he was, then a man would have been locked up for life for a crime he didn't commit. I also liked it because of the plot. It was wonderfully and quite attracting to anyone with an eye for murder, false clues, and a set up to frame someone else and that's just what I like. Another thing that attracts me to book after book written by Lillian is that it leaves you wanting more, Once the book ends, I wished it hadn't ended, luckily for me it's a series with 20 or more books so I still have a lot to read. Over all on a scale of 1 to 20 Id have to give it a 100 because its just that good and Id recommend it to anyone who likes murder, mystery, and misleads, but beware readers, once you read one you might find yourself, like me, addicted.
Book Description
Turn the page a piece of pizza becomes an ice cream cone. Toddlers will love changing one thing into another as they learn to recognize circles, triangles, squares, ovals, rectangles, and crescents. This innovative and durable die-cut board book will provide hours of interactive play.
What's for lunch? Just flip each page and find out! Toddlers will love flipping the die-cut shapes while parents will notice that visual perception is being sharpened.
Customer Reviews:
Great graphics.......2007-08-23
SAMi has another winner. The bold graphics and cutout shapes intrique my year old granddaughter. She likes to feel the shapes and loves the vivid colors.
I love this book.......2007-08-12
I am a daycare teacher and I love using this book with my class. The kids love the pictures. The book shows shapes in everyday ways and that really helps kids get better at identifing shapes. This book is bright and colorful and really gets the children's attention. I would recommend this book to anyone that is working with children on shapes, or anyone that just loves to share great books with children.
Baby loves this one.......2006-10-19
Our baby boy loves this book. Infact this is my favorite entertainment for him. Some of his toys and gadgets over stimulate him. Sure they keep his attention for a while but he usually ends up in tears from over stimulation. He has loved this book from the very begining. You can watch his eyes trace the image on the page. He concentrates very hard and you can tell his little mind is working and learning. Every other page is black or white with a simple image of a face drawn on, using the opposite color. Our son is 11 weeks old and still prefers this book to any other including the baby einstein books. I wish there were more black and white stimulation products available. 5 stars all the way!!!
Book Description
James Qwilleran and his famous felines, Koko and Yum Yum, are back for another mystery-solving stint in the beloved bestselling Cat Who . . . series.
While the town of Pickax is swept up in its sesquicentennial celebrations, Koko has developed a strange new hobby: He drops himself from balconies, occasionally landing in the oddest of places. When a young man comes to visit his wealthy relatives, Koko plummets straight onto his head!
Meanwhile, a hurricane is brewing, and the visitor's family members soon fall deathly ill. Qwill has his work cut out for him as Pickax-as foreshadowed by Koko-is about to be hit by a bombshell.
Download Description
"James Qwilleran and his famous felines, Koko and Yum Yum, are back for another mystery-solving stint in the beloved bestselling Cat Who . . . series. While the town of Pickax is swept up in its sesquicentennial celebrations, Koko has developed a strange new hobby: He drops himself from balconies, occasionally landing in the oddest of places. When a young man comes to visit his wealthy relatives, Koko plummets straight onto his head! Meanwhile, a hurricane is brewing, and the visitor's family members soon fall deathly ill. Qwill has his work cut out for him as Pickax-as foreshadowed by Koko-is about to be hit by a bombshell."
Customer Reviews:
Good book at a good price........2007-10-10
I purchased a book from the Cat Who series. The book arrived quickly and as described. The price was reasonable, less than I had found elsewhere.
The Cat Who Dropped a Bombshell .......2007-10-01
I have read all of Lillian Braun's Cat Books and love them. I share them with all my cat loving friends.
The Author Who Wasn't There.......2007-09-11
Hardcore mystery fans may find it a bit of a stretch, but if your taste runs to expertly written and very light fiction, you can't do better than Lillian Jackson Braun's "The Cat Who..." series. Her detective, reporter James Qwilleran, investigates crimes with the aid of his Siamese cats--and the solutions to the crime inevitably rest more upon intution than actual deduction. The premise sounds farfetched, but Braun's work is usually less fanciful than you might expect, and she presents her eccentric characters and stories with great charm.
Unfortunately, the series has been in marked decline since the 2001 THE CAT WHO WENT UP THE CREEK, the publication of which raised speculations about whether or not the book had been ghostwritten by another author. The 2005 THE CAT WHO WENT BANANAS was a marked low point; with the 2006 THE CAT WHO DROPPED A BOMBSHELL, however, the series receives a slight upturn. This is not to say, however, that BOMBSHELL is any less immune to accusations of "ghostwriting;" although better plotted and better written, it simply doesn't read very much like Braun.
In this particularly title, Qwilleran's home attracts the nephew of a much respected and somewhat elderly couple. When wayward Siamese Koko literally drops from a rafter onto the young man's head, Qwill knows something is amiss--but what? Unfortunately, he is distracted by the necessity of participation in the city's 150 anniversary celebrations, too distracted to be aware that murder is afoot.
As noted, BOMBSHELL reads much better than recent entries in the series; that, however, is not saying much, and it does seem likely to me that Braun is no longer actively writing the series but instead generating basic plot ideas for development by others. The book lacks her light, bemused touch. Give it a miss.
GFT, Amazon Reviewer
Avoid this installment.......2007-08-20
Even though this is a short book, there's plenty of repetition of mundane details about goings on in Moose County. I remember when Qwill actually took the time to investigate murders instead of just waiting for a letter from a friend of a friend to arrive and tell him who done it (and how and when). There's one possible murder in this book that never gets solved, but maybe the letter for that one got delayed and will show up in the next book in the series, which I don't plan to read.
The Cat Who Dropped a Bombshell.......2007-06-27
This may not have been one of the best of the series, but it was still pleasant reading. I always enjoy reading about the colorful characters in Moose County.
Book Description
Fans of the Cat Who... series get an intimate look at the private lives of those extraordinary Siamese cats Koko and Yum Yum--the most unlikely, most unusual, most delightful team in detective fiction.
In this charming collection of feline antics, readers will discover why Qwill considers Koko a veritable clone of T.S. Eliot's Rum Tum Tugger, how Yum Yum was rescued from a burglar who is not above a spot of catnapping, and many more fascinating cat facts.
Customer Reviews:
You don't have to be a cat lover..........2007-04-16
I have enjoyed several titles by this author. They are always a quick and easy read - very enjoyable!
Here Kitty,Kitty.......2007-01-29
This is a short wet your appetite journal, begs for more stories, it's a good old fashion detective story that makes you think, and make you feel you are part of the plots, if you like cats and you like good clean story lines Lilian Jackson Braun books are for you.
A Rare Foul Ball from Mrs. Braun.......2005-09-19
Being a great fan of Koko and Yum Yum I was absolutely delighted when I saw this book. I figured that this would be a compendium of cute cat stories that were never mentioned in the actual mystery series but alas, I was wrong. Most all of the anecdotes related in this book come directly from the pages of previously published books and what little new material there is, is not very well thought out or written. I really can't imagine that Mrs. Braun actually wrote this book because it is really not up to her talent level.
Worse yet, several of the little stories give away the ending of the other books and if I had not already read most of the ones mentioned I would be quite upset. The worst thing about this book is that the idea behind it had so much promise. The lives of these two lovable cats are obviously not completely covered in the series proper for there are times when James Qwilleran, the cat's human companion, is not solving mysteries. A look at what these two felines are up to during these down times would be great fun and with a little effort and imagination this could have been a delightful book. Unfortunately, there appears to have been far to little effort and absolutely no imagination applied to this project and whoever came up with this mess should be ashamed of themselves.
The only redeeming qualities of this book are the adorable picture of the two Siamese cats on the back cover and the frequent references to T.S. Eliot's cat Rum Tum Tugger. A little class never hurts.
Blank Pages and Redundant Material.......2004-10-20
I received this book as a gift, and I am so glad I did not buy it. It is a 137 page book, of which over 50 pages (FIFTY PAGES) are blank, or have bad line-art of a siamese cat. The remaining pages are large type, double spaced, half of which are just rehashes of previous books. I figure there are probably 30 pages of original material. It's obvious that Ms. Braun (or the publishers using a ghostwriter) are just trying to milk the fan base for more money. Avoid this book, even if you are a Cat Who completist.
Astounding Performance That Brings us Into the Cats' Lives.......2004-03-14
"The Private Life of the Cat Who..." is a light, fun read that brings us a bit closer to our favorite mystery cats. With this audiobook performance, George Guidall brings us even closer. Guidall is a master at narrating Qwilleran's style, adopting the many voices of the series and providing the sound for the many noises made by Koko and Yum Yum. Read the book and then delight in Guidall's narration of each entry, bringing the story to life. Thrill to sayings of "Kool Koko," delight in the tale of Yum Yum's thimble and just have a good time.
Note: This audiobook can be found in both cassette form and on a CD.
Book Description
James Qwilleran and his famous felines, Koko and Yum Yum, are back for another mystery-solving stint in the beloved bestselling Cat Who . . . series.
The good people of Pickax are agog with anticipation: Not only is the new bookstore, The Pirate's Chest, about to open, but the Theatre Club is set to perform Oscar Wilde's The Importance of Being Earnest.
The play does not continue past opening night, however, for a member of the cast is killed in a car accident . . . or was it an accident? Koko seems to suspect otherwise, and Qwill and his clever cats have their work cut out for them.
Download Description
"James Qwilleran and his famous felines, Koko and Yum Yum, are back for another mystery-solving stint in the beloved bestselling Cat Who . . . series. The good people of Pickax are agog with anticipation: Not only is the new bookstore, The Pirate's Chest, about to open, but the Theatre Club is set to perform Oscar Wilde's The Importance of Being Earnest. The play does not continue past opening night, however, for a member of the cast is killed in a car accident . . . or was it an accident? Koko seems to suspect otherwise, and Qwill and his clever cats have their work cut out for them."
Customer Reviews:
The Cat Who Should Retire.......2007-09-08
Hardcore mystery fans may find it a bit of a stretch, but if your taste runs to expertly written and very light fiction, you can't do better than Lillian Jackson Braun's "The Cat Who..." series. Her detective, reporter James Qwilleran, investigates crimes with the aid of his Siamese cats--and the solutions to the crime inevitably rest more upon intution than actual deduction. The premise sounds farfetched, but Braun's work is usually less fanciful than you might expect, and she presents her eccentric characters and stories with great charm.
Unfortunately, the series has been in marked decline for some time now, and THE CAT WHO WENT BANANAS is a case in point. On the surface, the plot has possibilities: Qwilleran's interest in a local theatre group's production of THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING ERNEST opens a path to death that may or may not be accidental. Unfortunately, the plot goes nowhere and, although the conclusion certainly points to a specific person as a killer, there is no actual resolution per se. To make matters worse, the prose lacks Braun's light, bemused touch. While I think it possible that the book has been written from Braun's basic ideas, I think it very unlikely that Braun herself wrote it. It reeks of "ghosts."
This is a tremendous pity, a disservice to both Braun and the reader. Newcomers to the series should look to earlier works, such as THE CAT WHO CAME TO BREAKFAST or THE CAT WHO MOVED A MOUNTAIN--but the later titles in the series should be avoided like the plauge.
GFT, Amazon Reviewer
The Cat Who Earned Two Stars.......2007-08-12
The Cat Who Went Bananas, by Lilian Jackson Braun, is a rather slight novel that sadly seems to have been written for the sole purpose of producing a book, rather than telling a story. The paperthin plot does not inpsire much interest. I had a difficult time determining what the book was about and whether or not there was any mystery involved. I remembered somebody mentioning a person had died, and then there was a missing book, but I could not for the life of me remember why. This was my fourth book in the series, after starting with the first three. I think I had better continue with the series in order as the quality comparison between the first three and this one decreased drastically.
Two stars.
The cat went bananas? Not in my copy of the book he didn't.......2007-07-19
Very disappointing actually. I've read lots of 'The Cat Who ...' books and this one was quite unlike any of the others. The plot elements did not tie together and people, who seemed mysterious and interesting, disappeared or died. And the banana peel, which could clearly have been used to great comic effect, made a single very brief appearance and was barely mentioned again.
Very poor. I gave it 3 out of 5 because it reads well *but* and this is a big butt ;-) there is no closure to any of the mysteries introduced.
If Heloise or Emily Post tried to write a mystery, this would be it! .......2007-07-09
This book was ungodly boring. Nothing happened. Certianly nothing that warrented 223 pages to discuss. I found the tone of the novel to be similar to reading an Emily Post or Heloise column in the newspaper. Stuffy, old-fashioned, pompus, self-important and rediculous. However, I do believe that this book could be turned into an episode of a not so funny sitcom, as it seemed to have all the plot of an episode of Seinfeld without the humor. If you could imagine Northern Exposure without such an intresting plot, this would fit "The cat who..." sitcom exactly. Unfortunatly, this will be my first and last of "The Cat who" series as I cannot bear to suffer through another page of her useless, plotless, pointless drivel.
The Cat Who Went Bananas.......2007-04-14
This is the first one of the "Cat Who..." books that I have read. I thought this book was going to get really good but it never did. I thought it was kind of boring because it really didn't have a point. It just rambled on and on. This book was only a little interesting when Quill was interviewing people for things to put in the book he is writing. This book was mostly boring though again becase it had no point, it would go to one subject and then not carry on with that and go to something completely different. Overall this book was just okay.
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