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Mrs. Murphy #21
Sneaky Pie for President
Finally, a candidate representing all Americans—both predator and prey!
Tired of politics as usual? Despair This election year, Rita Mae Brown has thrown her cat into the ring. Her intrepid feline co-author, Sneaky Pie Brown, is taking time off from her busy schedule writing bestselling mysteries to run for President of the United States.
Hail to the Sneaky Pie heads to the Oval Office with an animal-friendly agenda to unify all Americans—regardless of whether they walk on two or four feet or even if they fly.
With help from her friends—the irascible gray cat Pewter, the wise Corgi Tee Tucker, and Tally, the exuberant Jack Russell—Sneaky crisscrosses her home state of Virginia hoping to go where no cat since Socks Clinton has 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. In the tradition of her heroine, Sojourner Truth, she takes her case to the masses. Journeying from the lair of the red-shouldered hawk to the nest of the tufted titmouse, from a pasture full of curmudgeonly cows to the stately halls of Monticello, the tenacious tiger cat even secures the chattering support of Thomas Jefferson’s mice.
Mice backing a cat for president? Yes, we can!
Now, if Sneaky can get the animal community to band together for the common good, why not the humans? After all, who better to get the economy purring again than an honest tabby with authentic political stripes? Human candidates have had their chance in Washington, with dubious results of nowhere does it say in the Constitution that the president cannot be a cat.
Isn’t it time for real change? Vote Sneaky!
Tired of politics as usual? Despair This election year, Rita Mae Brown has thrown her cat into the ring. Her intrepid feline co-author, Sneaky Pie Brown, is taking time off from her busy schedule writing bestselling mysteries to run for President of the United States.
Hail to the Sneaky Pie heads to the Oval Office with an animal-friendly agenda to unify all Americans—regardless of whether they walk on two or four feet or even if they fly.
With help from her friends—the irascible gray cat Pewter, the wise Corgi Tee Tucker, and Tally, the exuberant Jack Russell—Sneaky crisscrosses her home state of Virginia hoping to go where no cat since Socks Clinton has 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. In the tradition of her heroine, Sojourner Truth, she takes her case to the masses. Journeying from the lair of the red-shouldered hawk to the nest of the tufted titmouse, from a pasture full of curmudgeonly cows to the stately halls of Monticello, the tenacious tiger cat even secures the chattering support of Thomas Jefferson’s mice.
Mice backing a cat for president? Yes, we can!
Now, if Sneaky can get the animal community to band together for the common good, why not the humans? After all, who better to get the economy purring again than an honest tabby with authentic political stripes? Human candidates have had their chance in Washington, with dubious results of nowhere does it say in the Constitution that the president cannot be a cat.
Isn’t it time for real change? Vote Sneaky!
235 pages, Hardcover
First published August 1, 2012
179 people are currently reading
1011 people want to read
About the author
Rita Mae Brown
181 books2,246 followersRita Mae Brown is a prolific American writer, most known for her mysteries and other novels (Rubyfruit Jungle). She is also an Emmy-nominated screenwriter.
Brown was born illegitimate in Hanover, Pennsylvania. She was raised by her biological mother's female cousin and the cousin's husband in York, Pennsylvania and later in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida.
Starting in the fall of 1962, Brown attended the University of Florida at Gainesville on a scholarship. In the spring of 1964, the administrators of the racially segregated university expelled her for participating in the civil rights movement. She subsequently enrolled at Broward Community College[3] with the hope of transferring eventually to a more tolerant four-year institution.
Between fall 1964 and 1969, she lived in New York City, sometimes homeless, while attending New York University[6] where she received a degree in Classics and English. Later,[when?] she received another degree in cinematography from the New York School of Visual Arts.[citation needed] Brown received a Ph.D. in literature from Union Institute & University in 1976 and holds a doctorate in political science from the Institute for Policy Studies in Washington, D.C.
Starting in 1973, Brown lived in the Hollywood Hills in Los Angeles. In 1977, she bought a farm in Charlottesville, Virginia where she still lives.[9] In 1982, a screenplay Brown wrote while living in Los Angeles, Sleepless Nights, was retitled The Slumber Party Massacre and given a limited release theatrically.
During Brown's spring 1964 semester at the University of Florida at Gainesville, she became active in the American Civil Rights Movement. Later in the 1960s, she participated in the anti-war movement, the feminist movement and the Gay Liberation movement.
Brown took an administrative position with the fledgling National Organization for Women, but resigned in January 1970 over Betty Friedan's anti-gay remarks and NOW's attempts to distance itself from lesbian organizations. She claims she played a leading role in the "Lavender Menace" zap of the Second Congress to Unite Women on May 1, 1970, which protested Friedan's remarks and the exclusion of lesbians from the women's movement.
In the early 1970s, she became a founding member of The Furies Collective, a lesbian feminist newspaper collective in Washington, DC, which held that heterosexuality was the root of all oppression.
Brown told Time magazine in 2008, "I don't believe in straight or gay. I really don't. I think we're all degrees of bisexual. There may be a few people on the extreme if it's a bell curve who really truly are gay or really truly are straight. Because nobody had ever said these things and used their real name, I suddenly became [in the late 1970s] the only lesbian in America."
Brown was born illegitimate in Hanover, Pennsylvania. She was raised by her biological mother's female cousin and the cousin's husband in York, Pennsylvania and later in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida.
Starting in the fall of 1962, Brown attended the University of Florida at Gainesville on a scholarship. In the spring of 1964, the administrators of the racially segregated university expelled her for participating in the civil rights movement. She subsequently enrolled at Broward Community College[3] with the hope of transferring eventually to a more tolerant four-year institution.
Between fall 1964 and 1969, she lived in New York City, sometimes homeless, while attending New York University[6] where she received a degree in Classics and English. Later,[when?] she received another degree in cinematography from the New York School of Visual Arts.[citation needed] Brown received a Ph.D. in literature from Union Institute & University in 1976 and holds a doctorate in political science from the Institute for Policy Studies in Washington, D.C.
Starting in 1973, Brown lived in the Hollywood Hills in Los Angeles. In 1977, she bought a farm in Charlottesville, Virginia where she still lives.[9] In 1982, a screenplay Brown wrote while living in Los Angeles, Sleepless Nights, was retitled The Slumber Party Massacre and given a limited release theatrically.
During Brown's spring 1964 semester at the University of Florida at Gainesville, she became active in the American Civil Rights Movement. Later in the 1960s, she participated in the anti-war movement, the feminist movement and the Gay Liberation movement.
Brown took an administrative position with the fledgling National Organization for Women, but resigned in January 1970 over Betty Friedan's anti-gay remarks and NOW's attempts to distance itself from lesbian organizations. She claims she played a leading role in the "Lavender Menace" zap of the Second Congress to Unite Women on May 1, 1970, which protested Friedan's remarks and the exclusion of lesbians from the women's movement.
In the early 1970s, she became a founding member of The Furies Collective, a lesbian feminist newspaper collective in Washington, DC, which held that heterosexuality was the root of all oppression.
Brown told Time magazine in 2008, "I don't believe in straight or gay. I really don't. I think we're all degrees of bisexual. There may be a few people on the extreme if it's a bell curve who really truly are gay or really truly are straight. Because nobody had ever said these things and used their real name, I suddenly became [in the late 1970s] the only lesbian in America."
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 165 reviews
September 6, 2021
It is a rare thing where an author of fiction is given free reign with a book, but Rita Mae Brown isn't a typical author. She's both critically acclaimed, primarily for her novel Rubyfruit Jungle, and commercially successful with her Mrs. Murphy mysteries. The combination of her critical and commercial success allowed her to write this book, a spleen-venting screed on the current political climate, using many characters from her mystery novels.
I typically read Brown's mystery novels as an escape from more heavy reading, and this book is definitely a different than those novels, and I didn'thave much of a problem with the focus of the book. Truthfully, I was interested in how she presented her frustration after hearing an interview on the radio.
However, the novel is extremely clunky--the plot, where Brown's cat (who is credited as a co-author on all of Brown's mystery novels) decides to run for president--flows slowly and boringly and the political points aren't handled well. It's a failure as a critique and a novel, and I would recommend that a casual reader of Brown's books, like myself, to avoid this one.
I typically read Brown's mystery novels as an escape from more heavy reading, and this book is definitely a different than those novels, and I didn'thave much of a problem with the focus of the book. Truthfully, I was interested in how she presented her frustration after hearing an interview on the radio.
However, the novel is extremely clunky--the plot, where Brown's cat (who is credited as a co-author on all of Brown's mystery novels) decides to run for president--flows slowly and boringly and the political points aren't handled well. It's a failure as a critique and a novel, and I would recommend that a casual reader of Brown's books, like myself, to avoid this one.
May 2, 2022
Not sure what the whole point of this book was except as a means for the author to express her political views, through a cat running for president, which seem to be all over the place bouncing from the Left to the Right. I might pick up one of her cat narrated mysteries in the future, but not another one of these senseless one offs.
August 16, 2012
This was Rita Mae Brown's (or should I say Sneaky Pie Brown's) political manifesto. The two Browns have a complicated political philosophy and cannot be pigeonholed neatly. It's like a recipe:
Add one part Tea Party (income tax is unconstitutional)
Add one part Liberal (the other party is anti-sex/gay)
Add one part Libertarian (government needs to get out of the way)
Add one part Green (man is ruining nature)
Stir and one will have a nuanced political philosophy gained by years of experience.
It is worth giving it a read, but it is not like the Sneaky Pie/Rita Mae Brown authored books.
Add one part Tea Party (income tax is unconstitutional)
Add one part Liberal (the other party is anti-sex/gay)
Add one part Libertarian (government needs to get out of the way)
Add one part Green (man is ruining nature)
Stir and one will have a nuanced political philosophy gained by years of experience.
It is worth giving it a read, but it is not like the Sneaky Pie/Rita Mae Brown authored books.
May 21, 2019
Couldn’t get past page 25.
February 9, 2013
when I picked this book up at the library it was billed as a mystery. I enjoy the Sneaky Pie mysteries as an escape, especially if I've just read a really complicated plot type of book, but this one is definitely on my list of "step away from the book". After reading come of the other comments on Goodreads, I think the best description is a diatribe of facts and figures that will not stand the test of time. I understand that this was probably intended to comment on the political system in the US but it was too long, too boring and didn't seem to be going anywhere other than to convince people that animals are a great help to the economy. Please Rita Mae, don't try this again!
August 13, 2012
What an odd little book! I like the Sneaky Pie mysteries and I (mostly) agree with Brown's politics, but I just couldn't figure out the point of this book. Mixing the fictional characters with real ones just confused me. If it were shorter, I would call this a fable with a decidedly political moral. At this length, I just found the diatribe boring -- nothing new, nothing especially witty, just the all-too-obvious conclusion that given the choices offered by our current political system, even a cat would do a better job.
October 19, 2012
I have read all the books in this series. This book was a disappointment. I couldn't get past the first 10 pages. The conversations between the characters were trite and boring. I had looked forward to a good murder mystery and it turned into a strung together series of conversations between the characters on disjointed topics.
August 24, 2019
The year is 2012, and Sneaky Pie Brown is running for President! With the able assistance of Tee Tucker and Pewter (whom we know from the Mrs. Murphy books) and the not-so-able assistance of Tally, the hyperactive, hey-go-mad Jack Russell Terrier, Sneaky Pie hits the campaign trail, seeking support from animals of all species.
While I don't agree with ALL of the political views in this book, many make very good sense, and all are most engagingly presented. And I did agree with enough of them to consider sending a copy to the current candidates, with a note to please AT LEAST read the few pages at the back that describe Sneaky Pie's Platform and Policies...I think it's time for a Cat in Chief!
While I don't agree with ALL of the political views in this book, many make very good sense, and all are most engagingly presented. And I did agree with enough of them to consider sending a copy to the current candidates, with a note to please AT LEAST read the few pages at the back that describe Sneaky Pie's Platform and Policies...I think it's time for a Cat in Chief!
August 11, 2012
This novel was very much what I anticipated as I pre-ordered it. A beautifully expressed neutral opinion about the current political scene as we enter the final months of this 2012 election year.
I knew Sneaky Pie Brown (co-author) of the wonderful Mrs. Murphy murder mystery series, would give us her particular viewpoint of the issues that truly do concern the human population and animal world. This book covers the economy not only from emotional state but with hard, cold, and well researched numbers. We also look at the subjects of food, unemployment, farming, and more.
Many persons have commented upon the series becoming more 'opinionated' and other statements as it has evolved. That, in my feelings, is okay. This book was neither party geared. It was a true look at being in a democratic nation. The nod to the military and new immigrants was precious to me.
Sneaky Pie and her co-Author, Rita or C.O., has grown through the years, and I am proud to hope that I've grown with them. Yes, she has exercised her first Amendment rights to verbally state her viewpoint of politics, but it was done with the old-fashioned method of opposing discourses, which used to be how the two parties were able to fight and then go out for a drink together as pals. I, for one, miss those those civil days.
This is not a mystery, but, I am very pleased that I ordered and read this book. I look forward to where we go next, Sneak Pie and Rita...
I knew Sneaky Pie Brown (co-author) of the wonderful Mrs. Murphy murder mystery series, would give us her particular viewpoint of the issues that truly do concern the human population and animal world. This book covers the economy not only from emotional state but with hard, cold, and well researched numbers. We also look at the subjects of food, unemployment, farming, and more.
Many persons have commented upon the series becoming more 'opinionated' and other statements as it has evolved. That, in my feelings, is okay. This book was neither party geared. It was a true look at being in a democratic nation. The nod to the military and new immigrants was precious to me.
Sneaky Pie and her co-Author, Rita or C.O., has grown through the years, and I am proud to hope that I've grown with them. Yes, she has exercised her first Amendment rights to verbally state her viewpoint of politics, but it was done with the old-fashioned method of opposing discourses, which used to be how the two parties were able to fight and then go out for a drink together as pals. I, for one, miss those those civil days.
This is not a mystery, but, I am very pleased that I ordered and read this book. I look forward to where we go next, Sneak Pie and Rita...
Read
January 30, 2022Goodreads had this listed as a book in the Mrs. Murphy series. It was not. It did have a couple of characters from the series (i.e. Pewter and Tucker) but that is as close as it comes. I didn't get very far in it once I realized this. I didn't care to read about Sneaky Pie's political beliefs even though I'm sure they are probably more entertaining that some human's.
February 4, 2026
I think I made it into the 3rd or 4th chapter. It doesn't really matter, as this was such an annoying book that shouldn't be included in the Mrs. Murphy series. It should be considered standalone. All this is about is pushing the author's political agenda, and I can't imagine it to be something people really want to read about. I'm honestly shocked by the people that left good reviews, saying they loved this. To each their own!
August 26, 2012
This is not a Mrs. Murphy mystery, so I wasn't sure what to expect. I was happy to find out that it was just as, if not more, enjoyable.
The narrator is not the character we know from the Mrs. Murphy novels, instead, it is the co-author, Sneaky Pie herself. Rita Mae Brown, referred to as "C.O." or "Can Opener" also makes an appearance, although she is not a big part in the story.
I say this is not a Mrs. Murphy mystery. It is not actually a mystery at all. I guess I would classify it as simply a narrative. I can see where it is a way for the author to express her political views, as well as some personal views into people and society, in a way that does not preach to any particular party or group of people, except maybe the sane and logical ones who still have a notion of morals and have a head on their shoulders.
In my opinion, most of what Sneaky Pie is running on makes perfect sense. It would be nice if there were more people who felt they could make their opinions known and could act upon them without making a nuisance of themselves.
For a "political" book, it has much humor, as subtle as it may be. Not really the "ha, ha," type of humor. More of the "laugh to yourself because you see this type of absurdity in people every day" type of humor.
Overall, it was a fun read, especially in this year of presidential gaffs and faux pas. Let the candidates read this and maybe we'll have a truly good president when next January rolls around. It may even be Sneaky Pie herself, although I think she missed the deadline to be on the ticket.
The narrator is not the character we know from the Mrs. Murphy novels, instead, it is the co-author, Sneaky Pie herself. Rita Mae Brown, referred to as "C.O." or "Can Opener" also makes an appearance, although she is not a big part in the story.
I say this is not a Mrs. Murphy mystery. It is not actually a mystery at all. I guess I would classify it as simply a narrative. I can see where it is a way for the author to express her political views, as well as some personal views into people and society, in a way that does not preach to any particular party or group of people, except maybe the sane and logical ones who still have a notion of morals and have a head on their shoulders.
In my opinion, most of what Sneaky Pie is running on makes perfect sense. It would be nice if there were more people who felt they could make their opinions known and could act upon them without making a nuisance of themselves.
For a "political" book, it has much humor, as subtle as it may be. Not really the "ha, ha," type of humor. More of the "laugh to yourself because you see this type of absurdity in people every day" type of humor.
Overall, it was a fun read, especially in this year of presidential gaffs and faux pas. Let the candidates read this and maybe we'll have a truly good president when next January rolls around. It may even be Sneaky Pie herself, although I think she missed the deadline to be on the ticket.
October 28, 2014
I enjoyed this book very much. It isn't Sneaky Pie's usual mystery! But she becomes a Cat with a Cause! I did find it even more improbable that's the usual mysteries, but it fascinated me. The remote possibility of making changes in our elected official's Impact on our country almost seems possible!!
January 13, 2013
Rita Mae Brown published this in 2012 before the U.S. presidential election. A thought-provoking fun read. Every candidate needs to have an animal-friendly as well as people-friendly agenda. Sneaky Pie is a candidate who listens, and learns.
August 18, 2012
This one definitely has a message. Animal lovers will agree with most proposals.
Read
August 21, 2012I'm sure its a good book but I thought it was part of her series and is isnt. Just couldnt get into it.
stopped-reading
August 28, 2012Not a Mrs. Murphy mystery, too political for my tastes, and I stopped reading after a couple chapters.
October 16, 2012
Fun! A great way to take your mind off people politics. I'm just about convinced to vote for Sneaky Pie! Find out what animals really think of us!
December 9, 2012
very disappointed - one of the very few books that I start and not finish. This is not a mystery but the authors political views.
March 4, 2013
This was a little different read, but I like Rita Mae!! I'm ready for another cat mystery!!
February 27, 2013
After enjoying so many visits with Harry's pets and their "friends" I was sorely disappointed with this preachy tome.
March 14, 2013
This plot-less book reads like animals voicing Google searches. A mish-mash of random facts and smug opinions. I am a Rita Mae Brown fan, but recommend waiting for the next mystery.
November 10, 2014
Fun book about a cat who decides to run for president of the US.
October 7, 2015
A delightful spin on animal farm. Covers a lot of issues and problems with have today with funny antics of my favorite animals. It was an enjoyable book.
April 26, 2019
When I read the description of this book on one of those "librarians recommend" bookmarks at the library about "books starring our animal friends," I _had_ to read it. A cat running for president? A chance to contemplate cats' inner psyches the weekend before I catsit? "Not just another bureau-cat" campaign buttons on the cover? Count. me. in.
And, to be fair, scenes throughout did in satisfy the skritches for a fluffy read I'd been craving:
- Dogs full of personality, in particular a "wise" Corgi who contrasts so well with an eager Jack Russel terrier.
- All the digs against humans. Hilarious. The "C.O." nickname. "None of us wants to marry a human."
- When the "corgi's eyes shone in the moonlight" after a particularly hilarious description.
- Clever calculations into how much animals contribute to the economy.
- One of the cats writing a novel about vampire cats.
But, the book fell short of the satire I was hoping for. I caught glimmers of potential in the debate about which dog breed makes for a good running mate, and in some of Sneaky Pie's discussions, but those discussions feel rote and repeated as Sneaky moves from animal to animal. There's no real tension in the story, either, just a lot of speeches from Sneaky until page 200.
I'd put up with all of that though if it weren't for Brown's note at the end. I'm giving 2 instead of 1 stars because I'm giving her the benefit of the doubt that in the seven years since this book was published she's realized that not caring about politics or you know basic human decency is not cool. Sneaky's impassioned speeches make me hope Brown's views changed as the times did.
And, to be fair, scenes throughout did in satisfy the skritches for a fluffy read I'd been craving:
- Dogs full of personality, in particular a "wise" Corgi who contrasts so well with an eager Jack Russel terrier.
- All the digs against humans. Hilarious. The "C.O." nickname. "None of us wants to marry a human."
- When the "corgi's eyes shone in the moonlight" after a particularly hilarious description.
- Clever calculations into how much animals contribute to the economy.
- One of the cats writing a novel about vampire cats.
But, the book fell short of the satire I was hoping for. I caught glimmers of potential in the debate about which dog breed makes for a good running mate, and in some of Sneaky Pie's discussions, but those discussions feel rote and repeated as Sneaky moves from animal to animal. There's no real tension in the story, either, just a lot of speeches from Sneaky until page 200.
I'd put up with all of that though if it weren't for Brown's note at the end. I'm giving 2 instead of 1 stars because I'm giving her the benefit of the doubt that in the seven years since this book was published she's realized that not caring about politics or you know basic human decency is not cool. Sneaky's impassioned speeches make me hope Brown's views changed as the times did.
November 10, 2024
Unhappy with how humans are running and ruining the planet, Sneaky Pie decides she is going to run for president. Along with pals Tucker and Pewter (from the "Mrs Murphy" series) and Tally (an excitable Jack Russell terrier), Sneaky goes forth to talk to other animals, both domesticated and wild, to garner support for her campaign. She's running on an animal-friendly agenda that takes into consideration all the money that farming, hunting, and horse racing generate for the American economy. Along the way, Sneaky listens to what other animals have to say about their role, along with the concerns they bring to the table. All of what she learns makes Sneaky more determined to be the first cat in the White House since Socks Clinton.
On the surface, this was cute and funny, but there was certainly a deeper undercurrent that illustrated the author's views on taxes, the economy, the environment, and the roles that both people and animals play. As such, it was thought-provoking.
It's difficult to say whether or not I enjoyed this. I wish it wasn't considered a part of the "Mrs Murphy" series; it could have been marketed as a companion piece. As mentioned, it was thought-provoking. It was laced with humor, although there was one animal death that I found completely unnecessary. Its sole function seemed simply to make me cry, as it didn't advance the narrative at all. Note to authors: unnecessary animal deaths never go over well with readers. In addition, the animals' genders switched here and there, going from 'she' to 'he', which should have been caught in editing. I'm giving this 3.5 stars, which unfortunately must be rounded down to 3.
On the surface, this was cute and funny, but there was certainly a deeper undercurrent that illustrated the author's views on taxes, the economy, the environment, and the roles that both people and animals play. As such, it was thought-provoking.
It's difficult to say whether or not I enjoyed this. I wish it wasn't considered a part of the "Mrs Murphy" series; it could have been marketed as a companion piece. As mentioned, it was thought-provoking. It was laced with humor, although there was one animal death that I found completely unnecessary. Its sole function seemed simply to make me cry, as it didn't advance the narrative at all. Note to authors: unnecessary animal deaths never go over well with readers. In addition, the animals' genders switched here and there, going from 'she' to 'he', which should have been caught in editing. I'm giving this 3.5 stars, which unfortunately must be rounded down to 3.
September 7, 2020
I thought this would be an appropriate read for this year. I’m not very politically oriented, so I don’t read many of the books that are popular at the moment.
Sneaky Pie Brown is co-author with Rita Mae Brown. She is also a cat who has decided that with all that is going on in the world, it may be time for the animals to take over and unify the country.
Sneaky and her friends Pewter the grey cat, Tee Tucker the Corgie, and Tally the Jack Russel canvass their part of Virginia talking with the birds, fish, cows, mice, bats and others creatures to find out what their concerns are and what they feel could be done to make things better. It is surprising what she finds out.
The environment is one of the biggest concerns; pollution and its effects on not just humans but also the animals and the earth itself; lack of recognition of animals and their contribution to humans, nature and the earth in general. The economy and how animals contribute to it, which is a very interesting perspective.
This may not be a mind crushing book, but is it is a pleasant read and does make you stop and think about the animal world and how it relates to the human world. There are some very good points brought up and I found I took my time reading this to think over some of the ideas. There were some pretty good ones!
Sneaky Pie Brown is co-author with Rita Mae Brown. She is also a cat who has decided that with all that is going on in the world, it may be time for the animals to take over and unify the country.
Sneaky and her friends Pewter the grey cat, Tee Tucker the Corgie, and Tally the Jack Russel canvass their part of Virginia talking with the birds, fish, cows, mice, bats and others creatures to find out what their concerns are and what they feel could be done to make things better. It is surprising what she finds out.
The environment is one of the biggest concerns; pollution and its effects on not just humans but also the animals and the earth itself; lack of recognition of animals and their contribution to humans, nature and the earth in general. The economy and how animals contribute to it, which is a very interesting perspective.
This may not be a mind crushing book, but is it is a pleasant read and does make you stop and think about the animal world and how it relates to the human world. There are some very good points brought up and I found I took my time reading this to think over some of the ideas. There were some pretty good ones!
August 25, 2019
I picked this up knowing that it wasn’t a mystery but instead was a more political novel about why Sneaky Pie would do better as a president than a human would.
I read the first half and skimmed the last 50%. It was longer than it needed to be, and was clunky, listing facts and figures for pages. What really got to me was when a rockfish was lecturing Sneaky Pie on the concerns of river pollution and global warming. For several paragraphs.
This shouldn’t be billed as fiction, but should instead be noted as Rita Mae Brown’s political manifesto.
It also shouldn’t be listed as part of the Mrs. Murphy series.
The blending of fictional and real characters was confusing. Mrs. Murphy and Harry didn’t figure in the books, but Pewter and Tucker did, but so did Tally, who doesn’t feature in any of the fictional books since she’s real (like how Sneaky Pie is real) and the human in the book was meant to be Rita Mae herself. It was a very weird blend.
Do not recommend unless you feel like reading a political manifesto with a slight cushioning of animal love. (Note: I do agree with most of Rita Mae Brown’s political views; my dislike of the book has nothing to do with that.)
I read the first half and skimmed the last 50%. It was longer than it needed to be, and was clunky, listing facts and figures for pages. What really got to me was when a rockfish was lecturing Sneaky Pie on the concerns of river pollution and global warming. For several paragraphs.
This shouldn’t be billed as fiction, but should instead be noted as Rita Mae Brown’s political manifesto.
It also shouldn’t be listed as part of the Mrs. Murphy series.
The blending of fictional and real characters was confusing. Mrs. Murphy and Harry didn’t figure in the books, but Pewter and Tucker did, but so did Tally, who doesn’t feature in any of the fictional books since she’s real (like how Sneaky Pie is real) and the human in the book was meant to be Rita Mae herself. It was a very weird blend.
Do not recommend unless you feel like reading a political manifesto with a slight cushioning of animal love. (Note: I do agree with most of Rita Mae Brown’s political views; my dislike of the book has nothing to do with that.)
January 20, 2023
This should’ve been published as a stand-alone, not as part of the Mrs. Murphy series! Except for Tucker & Pewter, there are no characters from the series! The animal antics were the best part. I especially enjoyed the episode with the 2 horses that got out of the pasture. The idea of an intelligent animal for president is an interesting one. 😊 I was not clear whether she wanted to be president of the humans too, or just over the animals. But as any politician knows, numbers make people’s eyes glaze over! Besides wondering how she would pay for her ideas with no income tax, I also wonder about reconciling “not wanting animals slaughtered” yet talking about how much money the cattle industry (e.g.) brings into the economy—when the cattle do that by BEING slaughtered! 🤷🏼♀️
Anyway, I knew going in, from others’ comments, that this one was very political, but I was curious. “Now back to our regularly scheduled program.” (I hope.)
Anyway, I knew going in, from others’ comments, that this one was very political, but I was curious. “Now back to our regularly scheduled program.” (I hope.)
December 19, 2019
This book started out with a few laugh out loud moments, but the rest of it was a platform for the author's politican agenda told from the POV of domestic animals and wildlife. Not that I disagree with the opinion expressed, but it was so thinly disguised as to be ridiculous. The novel was also full of statistics and dollar amounts related to topics such as what humans spend on equestian sports, pets, and fishing. This could have continued to be an amusing novel, but it fell flat after a few clever jokes.
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