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The Minack Chronicles
Somewhere a Cat is Waiting
Other work by the author includes "A Gull on The Roof", "A Cat in The Window", "A Drake at The Door", "A Donkey in the Meadow" and "The Way to Minack".
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First published January 1, 1976
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
July 17, 2025
The cover-cat on this edition is Monty, a HUGE ginger tom, and the first section of the book is a memoir of the life of the author, his wife Jeannie, and Monty. Most of their 16 years together is spent in Cornwall, where they built a successful, but unlucrative, fresh-flower business, and had, well, a pretty good life with Monty, who was quite a character. Cats live short lives compared to humans, but Monty's was a good one.
Their second cat was Lama, a small black stray and the cover-cat on the edition I'm reading, likely the first US hc edition., and I've just started that. Fully up to my expectations, so far, of a cat memoir.
I stalled somewhere after this, the book came due, and I was in no particular hurry to get back to it. I didn't have any specific complaints -- just the usual business of "so many books, so little time."
Reread in late 2022, and I'm upping the rating to 4+ stars. Author Derek Tangye (1912-1996) could certainly spin a tale, and his cat stories were just great. Per his Wikibio, he "lived in Cornwall for nearly fifty years. He wrote nineteen books which became known as The Minack Chronicles, about his simple life on a clifftop daffodil farm called Dorminack . . . at St Buryan in the far west of Cornwall with his wife Jeannie." Highly recommended, especially for cat-lovers.
Their second cat was Lama, a small black stray and the cover-cat on the edition I'm reading, likely the first US hc edition., and I've just started that. Fully up to my expectations, so far, of a cat memoir.
I stalled somewhere after this, the book came due, and I was in no particular hurry to get back to it. I didn't have any specific complaints -- just the usual business of "so many books, so little time."
Reread in late 2022, and I'm upping the rating to 4+ stars. Author Derek Tangye (1912-1996) could certainly spin a tale, and his cat stories were just great. Per his Wikibio, he "lived in Cornwall for nearly fifty years. He wrote nineteen books which became known as The Minack Chronicles, about his simple life on a clifftop daffodil farm called Dorminack . . . at St Buryan in the far west of Cornwall with his wife Jeannie." Highly recommended, especially for cat-lovers.
February 14, 2013
Derek Tangye’s autobiographical tales of his life in Minack with his wife Jeannie and their menagerie of cats, birds and donkeys is the ultimate escapist novel, made all the better by the fact that it all happened in real life. Mr and Mrs Tangye abandoned their high-flying City jobs (Derek at MI5 and Jeannie as PR exec for the Savoy Hotel) to live the rural dream on the Cornish Coast. Starting up a small flower growing farm (back in the days when running such a business was possible) we follow the Tangyes in their simple life and, most importantly, chart their relationship with their feline friends; Monty, Lama, Ambrose and Oliver. (And Derek’s personal transformation from cat-skeptic to cat-lover.)
Don’t be fooled. You don’t need to be a crazy-cat lady to appreciate the charm of this novel, and it really isn’t as twee as the cover might suggest. The real beauty of this book comes in the couples’ complete rejection of the money-orientated attitude and lifestyle so many (read: too many) people revolve their lives around. Although veering onto the slightly smug side of things at times (and who can blame them), Somewhere a cat is waiting is just so wonderfully simple. What could be more beautiful than living among and appreciating nature, animals and all the other more important things in life. Aaaah it makes me want to own a croft and start knitting…or basket weaving and planting sunflowers….
Next time you’re feeling blue and at odds with that shallow world out there, pick up a Tangye. You can’t go wrong.
http://relishreads.wordpress.com/2013...
Don’t be fooled. You don’t need to be a crazy-cat lady to appreciate the charm of this novel, and it really isn’t as twee as the cover might suggest. The real beauty of this book comes in the couples’ complete rejection of the money-orientated attitude and lifestyle so many (read: too many) people revolve their lives around. Although veering onto the slightly smug side of things at times (and who can blame them), Somewhere a cat is waiting is just so wonderfully simple. What could be more beautiful than living among and appreciating nature, animals and all the other more important things in life. Aaaah it makes me want to own a croft and start knitting…or basket weaving and planting sunflowers….
Next time you’re feeling blue and at odds with that shallow world out there, pick up a Tangye. You can’t go wrong.
http://relishreads.wordpress.com/2013...
March 25, 2014
Derek Tangye wrote a wild book called Somewhere A Cat Is Waiting. In this book there was a family who had a deep compassionate love for cats. The main character moves away from his family to Manchester university, which is unfortunately a non cat friendly zone. Almost everyone loves their cat Monty and they display their love very well.
In this book the main couple rebel against living in town. They hate city life and much rather live out on a flower farm in Cornwall. This family is a huge lover for cats! That's why they have tons of cats roaming around on the flower farm. But the narrator (unknown name) is not very fond of cats, "I'm going to chuck this thing over Hammersmith Bridge on the way home"(18). Lois and Jeanine both totally disagreed and showed him that they truly need the cat at home, "We had mice in our cottage at mortlake"(18). He is convinced and takes the cat back to the cottage.
In this book the main couple rebel against living in town. They hate city life and much rather live out on a flower farm in Cornwall. This family is a huge lover for cats! That's why they have tons of cats roaming around on the flower farm. But the narrator (unknown name) is not very fond of cats, "I'm going to chuck this thing over Hammersmith Bridge on the way home"(18). Lois and Jeanine both totally disagreed and showed him that they truly need the cat at home, "We had mice in our cottage at mortlake"(18). He is convinced and takes the cat back to the cottage.
February 16, 2018
An uplifting read of a young couple, Derek and Jeannie, who chuck their jobs in the big city to make a life growing daffodils in Cornwall. As a young bride, Jeannie finds a way to convert her dog loving husband into a somewhat tolerant fellow by convincing him the little ginger colored kitten she wants to bring home will keep the mice population at bay. Of course, little Monty, attaches himself to the one least likely to appreciate his presence and a feline love affair begins. Through the years, cats come and go, other animals join the family and life carries on. A nice respite from today's world into one where people find joy and contentment in each other, their land, occupation and animals.
August 9, 2011
Delightful... made me want to read the unabridged originals... and get another cat! Charming, humorous, self-deprecating, and in places even beautiful. I can really relate to the Tanyes' desire for a simple, natural life but the occasional excursions into explicit social criticism are a bit of a downer (as well as being somewhat misguided) but that's a minor quibble. Monty, Lama and the rest steal the show! Big purr!
April 19, 2015
It's been years since I read — and re-read this book, but I still remember it fondly and with a tendency to tear up.
There's more here than a simple story of man-meets-woman, woman-has-cat, man-fights-losing-battle. It's a three-way love story, Derek's wooing of her and Monty, the ginger tom's wooing of him and the sea changes they wrought on each other's lives.
It's a good book. Even if you've never loved a ginger cat.
There's more here than a simple story of man-meets-woman, woman-has-cat, man-fights-losing-battle. It's a three-way love story, Derek's wooing of her and Monty, the ginger tom's wooing of him and the sea changes they wrought on each other's lives.
It's a good book. Even if you've never loved a ginger cat.
June 30, 2020
Give me a story about people and animals and I'll have one of two reactions; I'll cry or become enraged, the latter if the animal is mistreated. People familiar with my work know or at least assume I have an affinity to The Wild. Somewhere a Cat is Waiting is a book that made me weep from a few pages in through to its end.
At some point I purchased the entire Minack series. I remember attempting them and not being enthused, finally donating them to the library.
Except for Somewhere a Cat is Waiting. This one I kept. Perhaps I wasn't ready for the others when I read them. I'll have to look through our shelves, see if I can find them. Maybe I didn't donate them. Maybe some inner voice cautioned me to keep them knowing some day I would appreciate their wisdom and humor, probably knowing the day would come when I'd long for my own Minack.
Do you have animals in your life? Read this book.
At some point I purchased the entire Minack series. I remember attempting them and not being enthused, finally donating them to the library.
Except for Somewhere a Cat is Waiting. This one I kept. Perhaps I wasn't ready for the others when I read them. I'll have to look through our shelves, see if I can find them. Maybe I didn't donate them. Maybe some inner voice cautioned me to keep them knowing some day I would appreciate their wisdom and humor, probably knowing the day would come when I'd long for my own Minack.
Do you have animals in your life? Read this book.
August 13, 2020
This was an easy read although, being written by a mature writer, it does not indulge in short sentences, short words text speak and colloquialism. Derek Tangye came from what was a fairly privileged background and took up market gardening and living close to nature in Cornwall following the Second World War. A confirmed "dog person" he discovers first hand that there really are only soul persons and that animals, cats included, are thinking beings looking for love and happiness as we do. Bravo! He moves from cat hater to cat respecter (even cat lover, however reluctant) over the course of time and his portraits of the cats he knew and (dare I say) grew to love are intimate without being soppy. He loves them, claws and all! He also is a deep thinker and quite in tune with many of the thoughts of our time. I loved this, read it in two sittings and recommend it to animal lovers without reservation.
April 23, 2023
Just a cute non fiction about cats and the loves their humans shared with them. Some tear jerking moments but very heartwarming and overall well written. You'd think a story about a couple in the country with their cats would be boring but it was written in such a way that it really keeps you interested.
October 21, 2022
Absolutely lovely read. Thoroughly recommended for all cat lovers and even those that aren't.
August 21, 2024
I personally found the cat talk a bit over the top. Well written but guess it was to be expected
May 22, 2012
There is no startling plot just a calm peaceful life growing daffodils in Cornwall,their cats surrounding them with with love and peace. What is amazing however, is Derek's and Jeannie's love and affection for each other, that in my opinion is more fascinating than the narration about the cats.
March 16, 2009
Another one for those who love all things feline, if you like Deric Longden then you'll like this too.
January 5, 2011
I was a bit disappointed in this book -- it longer on maudlin sentiments about his cats and short of description of life on a farm in Cornwall. I'll try another & see what happens.
January 2, 2011
I love all the books written by Derek.
It is a long time since I read this book so would not wish to add more until I have re read it.
It is a long time since I read this book so would not wish to add more until I have re read it.
April 17, 2012
This is a charming book. Not a lot happens in it, but you really get the pace of life on their farm in Cornwall. Nice book to relax and read.
July 21, 2013
A heartwarming story of not only how cats can capture your affection and attention, but also a good lesson in the fulfillment of a simplified lifestyle.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews