The Cat Who Came Back for Christmas- How a Cat Brought a Family the Gift of Love

by Julia Romp

When a stray cat started visiting her garden, the last thing Julia needed was another addition to her household. For Julia already had her hands full with her son George, who suffered from autism. Quiet and withdrawn, ten-year-old George appeared lost in his own world, upset by the slightest change in his routine and unable to make friends with other children.

But George wasn’t scared by the little black-and-white visitor; instead his face lit up at the sight of him and before long George was inseparable from his new friend Ben. It was the miracle Julia had been hoping for; George began to play with Ben and create stories about their adventures together, excitedly recounting them at tea-time. For Julia, it was a magical way to communicate with her son, and Ben had made it possible. That’s why when Ben went missing Julia knew she had to do everything in her power to bring him home…

Captivating, uplifting and geniunely touching, A Friend Like Ben is a remarkable true story of the extraordinary devotion and empathy between a little boy and his cat, and a mother's determination to make her son happy again.

"You see, Ben's not just a cat - he is George's window onto the world, the key to the door which unlocks him. Call me daft, but Ben is like my second son, so I had to find him when he went missing. Because if not, I was more scared than I can say that I would never see the light in George's eyes again. There was only one way to make sure it came back: I had to bring Ben home." ~ Julia

Genres: Nonfiction, Animals, Cats, Christmas, Memoir, Autistic Spectrum Disorder, Biography

288 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2010

Reviews

[Diane in Australia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really loved this book. Julia, a single mum, has an autistic son, George. Life's a struggle, but she is doing her best, her very best. When a stray cat starts visiting their garden, George is captivated by him. But the cat is very sickly, and eventually Julia is able to catch him, and get him to a vet. And so the story unfolds ....

Julia isn't a professional writer, and those of you who are picky about such failings, may find small faults with her style. I didn't. Nothing could have dimmed the love I felt pouring out of those pages. Her love for George, her herculean efforts to help him in any way she could, matched my own devotion to my daughter. Then when Ben went missing, and she spent many days/nights looking for him, again, I was reminded of myself. I, too, would have done the same. The lengths she went to were astounding to many folks ... probably folks who don't have a beloved only child, and a beloved only cat (that is missing). I totally, and completely, understood.

The book has a happy ending, as I'm sure you've already surmised from the blurb, but the story Julia tells to get us to that happy ending will pluck your heartstrings over, and over.

So, if you're not a mum (or dad), if you've never had to go to the lengths of the earth for a child (or pet), you may not be enthralled by this book. But if you do fit that description, you should love this book.

5 Stars = Exceptional. It made a significant impact.

[Cheryl · Rating 5 out of 5]

Julia Romp is a young single mother whose son, George was diagnosed with autism. For years Julia faced the challenges associated with George’s severe autistic issues. She was determined to advocate for him and give him a happy life despite whatever barriers they faced.

There were days that were so difficult that Julia wondered how she could ever help George. He could not show emotion or affection, hardly slept, and did not speak to anyone. Julia was thankful for the support of her loving family but, ultimately, George’s care was in her hands.

However, Julia and George’s lives were changed forever when they discovered a stray cat in their garden. After many days of coaxing, Julia was able to lure the kitten into a carrier and took him to a veterinarian. She had no intention of keeping it, but she ultimately gave in and adopted the cat they named Ben.

In this heartfelt and inspiring true story, Ben with his adorable antics and seemingly intuitive sense of George’s special needs, is able to slowly draw Ben out of his shell. But when Ben suddenly disappears, George’s condition deteriorates. Julia never gave up on either George or Ben. Her love, patience, understanding, perseverance, and determination were awe inspiring.

This remarkable book will pull at your heartstrings. It is well worth reading.

[Betsy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not nearly as precious as the title and cover would make one think. This is a matter-of-fact and remarkable story about the struggles of a young, single mom who was both devoted to and exhausted by her autistic son. A stray cat and the boy fall in love with each other at first sight. The cat, known as Ben or Baboo, teaches the author's son to express love, helps him set his imagination free, and becomes the cornerstone of the family.

[LORI CASWELL · Rating 4 out of 5]

George was a handful at first, crying for hours on end, never sleeping. Julia tried everything to please her son. He then grew to be withdrawn and quiet, in his own little world. George was finally diagnosed as autistic and even with a diagnosis things didn't get any easier. Until one day a small black and white stray cat appeared in their garden and George's face just lit up. He named the kitty Ben and George started to open up to his mother. He was like a different little boy. Until one day when Ben disappeared.

Dollycas's Thoughts
This was a very heartwarming story. Animals can have a profound effect in people no matter what they may be facing.

As a mom with several cats in residence this is very clear to me and when one disappears it can break your heart. This happened to at our house twice this year. Back in the summer heat my cat Sherlock got outside and was missing for about a week. When he came back he was very sick and dehydrated. That was when we were receiving record high temperatures. Today he still has little wombles but he is back at my side every day. I missed him so much.

Then about 6 weeks ago my daughter's cat Watson went out exploring. He did this a lot and was always waiting on the porch the next morning. But not this time. He has still not come home and we have posted notices, call the vets in the area and the humane society's and posted online at missing pet sites. Last week we were sent a picture on Facebook and we were sure it was our Watson. My daughter rushed to pick him up. When she arrived she knew it wasn't him but the people didn't want this cat so she bought him home. She calls him Watson 2.0. He has not taken Watson's place but he has healed her heart a bit. After reading this story I am still holding out hope the our Watson will make his way home to us. What better time than Christmas.

Julia goes way beyond anything we did. She never gave up and answered every call and kept searching. My only question I had was how George blamed his mother totally for Ben's disappearance when the cat was in his father's care at the time. His father was not a constant figure in his life so maybe he didn't feel he could last out at him the same way as his mom. There is still so much we don't know about autism but Julia gives us an inside look.

Looking for a stocking stuffer for cat lover, this book would make a great gift. You might want to include a small box of tissues.

[George Ilsley · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book suffers from over-zealous (and misleading) marketing. The first title was simply A Friend Like Ben, but then was rebranded as The Cat Who Came Home for Xmas.

The problem, as other reviewers have noted, is that the majority of the book is a family story about the author and her son. We hear way too much about the author‘s work as a community organizer—which even in her own telling makes her seem obsessed and over the top.

The book itself (on the back cover) tells us the son has autism. However it takes 50 pages of repetitive detail before we reach that revelation in the text. (In the early 2000s I thought awareness of autism was much more prevalent). These 50 pages could have been a page and a half . . . Unless the book was being promoted as being about the challenges of raising an autistic child.

My low rating reflects my disappointment at the deceptive marketing, as well as having to endure poor writing (a ghost writer is also credited).

[Vilija · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ok, sure, I noticed the adorable kitten on the cover first. The second thing to catch my eye, though, was an endorsement by Temple Grandin, who I very much admire. The Cat Who... is a wonderful, if poorly titled, read about a boy with autism who learns to open up because of adopting a cat. The title is a misfit because it makes it sound as if the book is focused on one particular event, which is not the case--the title is the book's climax. I thoroughly recommend this book for those who are interested in learning about those who have autism, those who love cats, and those who are like myself, and are fascinated by both! You won't regret it.

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I can't believe I finally finished this book. I started reading it during last year's Christmas season, but then I kind of forgot about it. I don't understand why, because I really liked this book. It's a great read to entertain yourself with on cold winter evenings. Ah yes: a blanket, a cup of tea, some snow falling outside, and this book on your lap. Perfect. Or should I say, 'purrrrfect?'
I can't say I always understood Julia's choices, but I must say I admire her courage and willpower. She didn't give up on that cat. That says a lot about a person.

Also, this story reminds me of a cat I used to have: Socks. He was a stray that we took in on a cold winter night. He was black, like Ben, and he had a white mustache and white paws(hence the name). We lured him in with some corned beef and fed him, kept him warm. He didn't like other people very much, but he loved us. And we loved him right back. One day, he was just gone, like smoke. When he didn't come back after a couple of months I thought he was dead. The next winter, I hear a faint 'meow' at the front door and I thought I must have imagined it, until I heard it again. When I opened the door I couldn't believe my eyes: Socks was back! He was much bigger and skinnier, but is was definitely him. He came back all on his own. Maybe Christmas miracles involving cats aren't as rare than I thought :)

[Diane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Julia Romp's nine year old son George is autistic, and despite all of her efforts, Julia found it impossible to get through to her son. One day a stray black and white kitten appeared in their garden, he was in bad shape. When George saw the small kitten his face lit up with excitement. Julia began to feed the kitten, setting up a carrier with blanket in the garden shed and checked on the cat daily, hoping to cage it and take it to the vet. Eventually, her plan worked and, "Ben" the kitten came home to live with the two of them. A special bond between George and the kitten occurred. George was still a boy with autism, who faced daily challenges, but with Ben constantly by his side, George immediately connected with the cat, and the cat seemed to sense how much George needed him as well. With Ben always close by, George began to smile more, emerge from his shell and communicate more when they were together.

Three years after Ben arrived, mother and son went on vacation to Egypt, while they were away, Ben disappeared. George blamed his mother for the cat's disappearance, and George soon began to digress. Julia vowed to never stop searching for Ben. Through flyers, ads and internet posts, Julia tried everything she could think of to find Ben. She received numerous leads, including many prank calls, but she followed up desperate to bring Ben home, and to bring a smile back to her son's face. Eventually, just before Christmas, three month's after Ben's disappearance, a call from some (70) miles away came, and Ben and George were reunited.

I had a little problem with the writing style as the story really did not seem to flow that well. And, while, it is not really a Christmas story, it is a story that will appeal to most cat lovers, as well as families who are raising an autistic child. It's a heartwarming, tender story that will especially touch readers who have ever had a special bond with their pet.

[Cheryl · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great story of how a small cat brought an autistic boy out of his shell and helped him to communicate with his family! Very touching!

[Kat V · Rating 2 out of 5]

Worried this is going to be ableist. Let’s see. A lot of this is unnecessary and not about the cat. Also this definitely falls under the “my kid has autism omg my life is so hard” category. Entire first part of the book doesn’t even mention the cat. This is just a story about her boring life marketed through using her autistic child and a cat. 2 stars

[Helen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an interesting story about the way a cat joined a family. The cat helped the child, with Autism, to express himself and his emotions, for the first time, effectively. When the cat ran away it was heartbreaking, but, through the Mother's efforts, the cat came back home in time for Christmas.

[Donald · Rating 4 out of 5]

First off, ignore the cute kitten in the Santa hat.
Ben, the cat in the book, is a stray adult cat from the very first appearance.
It's sad that the publishers have to sell this book with a false cutesy kitten, but I suppose needs must.
Most of this book isn't even about Ben, it's about Julia Romp and her experience of raising her severely autistic son George. George wasn't like other babies and would scream, never sleep, never interact but Julia was constantly told "he'd grow out of it". It wasn't until very late in his primary school life that George was finally assessed and recognised as autistic.
We probably all think we know about Autism, and the signs thanks to it being a bit of a trendy illness nowadays, but it wasn't back then and Julia's struggles are hard to read about.
Her life changed with a scabby old pregnant stray, who turned out to not be pregnant (or female) and to have a nasty cyst instead.
She had tried pets with George before but the budgie had to be given away, the bunny soon lost his interest. . .so she doubted the scratching scabby kitty would even be worth bothering about and had determined she'd done her bit by taking it to the vet. End of story.
The vet however simply asked that she might like to visit him as he was so sad in his cage.
She did, and George started to talk to the cat, which then purred and rubbed up against the bars.
Her shut off son was talking and relating, obviously she now had a cat to adopt.
Ben(Baboo) came to live with George and Julia, and became George's best friend. George could now talk to his mother & she to him, using Ben and their special high pitched 'cat voices'. Ben became more than a cat, he was her second son and George's window onto the world.
George settles down, manages to interact more with his surroundings, people and family. He even manages to settle in at school, even managing the transition from primary to a special needs Secondary without too much fuss, all thanks to Ben.
Then the unthinkable happens, Ben goes missing. George starts to revert to the inward looking boy he was, only interacting to scream hate at his mother.
Julia has to find Ben, to bring him home to restore her son.
I confess to getting teary eyed when Ben is found. My own cat went missing and know how awful it is, luckily I never had to deal with as much as Julia did, as well as her son, the nasty messages, the stream of dead cats and disappointment. My cat was found thanks to my posters around town and know how caring people can be but to have to deal with an autistic child who blames you for it on top of the stress of losing/searching must have been awful.

[Saar The Book owl · Rating 4 out of 5]

2nd review:
This is the Dutch translation of The Cat Who Came Back for Christmas- How a Cat Brought a Family the Gift of Love
Some animals, like cats, horses and dogs, has a 6th sense, when it comes to emotions, problems in life, mental illnesses, handicaps...There used to be a time when people didn't believe such 'stories', but gladly more and more events in life prove that wrong. So is the story about Ben: a black and white cat, who made life easier to cope with for George, who is autistic. His mother Julia does whatever needed to break the autistic walls that surrounds George, but she is unable to. Then comes in Ben, a lost stray cat, who does the unthinkable: George interacts, shows emotions, talks,...Ben connected with George on a manner that his mother couldn't. Then, Ben goes missing (and I'm sure that he got abducted) and George turns inside himself again, even worse by blaming his mother for it. Julia moves heaven and earth to find Ben and finally she does, 100 kilometres away from his home. The reunion between Ben, Julia and George brought me to tears. The story gives an insight from a mother what struggle it can be to have a child who is autistic: her own struggle, but also George's and sometimes the hard reactions from strangers. Julia has to be admired for her perseverance and love. She never gave up her search for Ben. This can be seen as a Christmas story, but it's just more than that: it shows us how animals can make that extra connection with people who are unable to connect with other people.

1st review:
The cover and the title is a bit mis leading. First you think this book is about Christmas and a cat who is found on this day. In fact it's a heartwarming story about this litle cat who means the world to an autistic boy. When this litle kitten got lost, the boy lost his fragile connection with his mother and the world.

[Lily (Night Owl Book Cafe) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Courtesy of Penguin Group Plume through Netgalley in exchange of an honest review.

A heart-touching book that let's us take a peak in to Julia Romp's life as a single young mother and her son. Julia always knew that George was different, but no one would listen to her for years when she said that George had problems, in fact, most insisted that he would eventually grow out of it. That day never came and after ten years George was finally looked into seriously and was diagnosed with autism. Thought now that Julia knew what George had it didn't make life simpler, but it made moving forward and teaching him correctly easier.

George has always been withdrawn and lost to the world. So when Julia encounters a stray that captures the little boys attention and heart, Ben the cat makes a big mark on their little world. Bonding with Ben had opened up George in a way that Julia didn't believe was possible, and with that they had made big progress and even gave Julia a chance to connect and communicate with George. When Ben accidentally goes missing, George regresses and all his progress goes backward and Julia finds herself on a mission to find the missing cat and bring her family back together.

Touching, lovely story that welcomes us into the private world of the author and really makes you feel connected. It had me smiling, shedding tears and at times giggling. A dynamic range of emotions that make this book such a wonderful read for the holiday or honestly any time of the year. Ben is an adorable little cat who was really attached to George, and spent every waking moment either following George around or playing with him. Julia becomes a character in her own to connect with, a strong independent woman who wanted and did everything she could best for her son.

[Portia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I studiously avoid books about animals that were written "In Loving Memory." So, I can highly recommend The Cat Who Came Back for Christmas- How a Cat Brought a Family the Gift of Love because Ben is still dancing with his human friends in London.

The story is a typical "The Animal Saved Me/My Friend/My Child/The Neighborhood But Got Lost and We All Panicked." In this story, the human saved is a little boy diagnosed with autism. I more than accept the ability animals have to heal and help those of us who aren't perfect and who are falling apart because of that imperfection, so Ben The Cat's ability to help young George didn't change any of my opinions. What kept me reading was George's story, as told by his mother, Julia. She had me right in there with her fighting for more and better care for her very special child.

Ben did not cure George, but he did a lot to prove that there are depths that can be reached in this special young man that should be acknowledged and respected, and that we should think twice before we give up.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I bought this book because I'm a sucker for animal stories, it was until I started reading it that I realised the author is from Hounslow and lives in Isleworth (which is my home town) - I think in a way that helped my enjoyment of the book more, because even though she doesn't mention specific locations by name I think I made some pretty accurate guesses about which council estates she was talking about! Not to mention the Hounslow animal welfare society she now helps out at is where my mum and I adopted our own black and white cat from in around 1998.

Aside from that the way Julia writes as the mother of an autistic child, gives a unique perspective on the life of someone who has a widely misunderstood disability. I'm really not a child friendly person and usually don't enjoy reading about them - I wouldn't have read this book at all if it
hadn't included a cat, but I enjoyed it none the less.

The book was well written and easy to identify with, even if you don't come from a similar lifestyle to the writer.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Julia Romp tells us of her life with her autistic son, George, before autism became the buzzword it is now. No one would listen when she told them that George had problems. They would just say "he will grow out of it". Fortunately she had all kinds of support from her 3 siblings and her parents. Life was very tough because Julia could go almost nowhere without George in tow and then there were a great many stares as George's behaviors grew more and more out of control. When, a stray kitten entered their lives George responded immediately. George and Ben the kitty were almost glued at the hip. George began to speak to Ben when he would rarely speak to even his own mother. George's conversations with Ben became Julia's lifeline with George. Until the day Ben disappeared. George immediately went back into his protective cocoon as Julia, heartbroken, looked for Ben.

A heart wrenching story at times but an amazing one too as we see both George and Julia grow into the world that they live in.

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

I will say this book was not at all what I expected, but I am so glad I decided to buy it and give it a chance. The books about a lady and her son who has autism and when she's about to lose hope that her son will ever be able to show 'love', they find a cat named Ben- and a beautiful friendship between a boy and a cat grows. It shows that there are some very wonderful people in this world that accept people for who they are and will do anything to help, and some people that really need to take a look at how they are. Since this is a true story, I hope the man who lived in the same neighborhood as Julia and her son reads this and realized how cruel he really was. I will admit that I teared up when Ben 'went missing' and a few times through the searches and I cried again when they found him. I know we will never know what happened, and neither will they, but it's amazing how cats will end up in the strangest places. I would recommend this to any cat lover, or person who believes animals do make a difference

[Paige · Rating 4 out of 5]

Once you read the title you assume that the book is a Christmas book. Heck even the library stuck a sticker on it that said Christmas, but I'm here to tell you that is not the case. This book is not a Christmas feeling, hallmark loving, book. Now after saying that, this book was amazing.

It shows the struggles of the family of someone on the Spectrum. I liked the inside view that I was able to get by reading this book. The one thing that I another thing I loved about it was that you should never judge a person on looks alone without knowing them.

I recommend this books to anyone that is a pet lover, and is looking for a quick read. [BUT not for Christmas because this is not a Christmas feel good book]

[Annie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a wonderful book. Ben the cat is an amazing cat more like a dog I think. The bond between George who has severe autism and Ben is really amazing. It was painful to watch the mother and George when Ben was missing. I only hope George gets another kitten to ease the pain when Ben passes on. This book really makes you appreciate the magic of animals. And to open our eyes to what kind of person George is behind his autism.

[Ina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hoe moedig kan een moeder niet zijn voor haar autistisch zoontje George. En hoe een kat het leven van dat jongetje zodanig kan veranderen van een gesloten kind tot een speels, goedlachse en meer affectieve jongen. Maar dan verdwijnt de kat en de jongen sluit zich terug af. Alles wordt eraan gedaan Ben terug te vinden. Voor mij krijgt dit boek 5 sterren.

[Chelsea may Simpson xx · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was very hard to get into the book but as I started to get more Into the book I really enjoyed it and towards the end I couldn’t put the book down. It was nice to see how a cat can help a little boy out and how much love people have for cats xxx

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved this book it's definitely one of my new favourites!
The connection between George (autistic boy) and his new best friend (stray cat) Baboo is so adorable the words just jump out of the book at you and hit you straight in the heart.
I loved how true and real Julia kept the struggles of having an autistic son, she was brave in sharing her true thoughts and not sugar coating some of the hardest times in her life.




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The ending was very hard to read and I found myself skim reading the last few chapters to get to 'the' part...
The reason I skipped some chapters was because of the horrible details of deceased cats - I just couldn't keep reading that sorry... Otherwise it would of been 5/5!

[Belinda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wat een huisdier voor verschil kan maken. Julia krijgt een zoon als alleenstaand moeder. Dat was niet de bedoeling maar het gebeurde. Ze was net zoals haar Vader taxichauffeur maar omdat haar zoon zo veel zorg nodig had is ze ermee gestopt. Ze krijgt grijze haren van alle problemen waarmee ze met haar zoon tegenaan loopt. Op school gaat het in het totaal niet en het duurt totdat ze in een flat woont dat iemand eens vraagt: "Is er wat met jou zoon?" Dat is de eerste keer dat iemand ernaar vraagt. Tot dan loopt Julia tegen dichte deuren. Uiteindelijk wordt het duidelijk dat George autistisch is. Ondanks dat het een hele opluchting is dat het duidelijk is geeft het nog geen gebruiksaanwijzing voor George. Het is loodzwaar voor alleenstaand moeder Julia. Tot dat er een zwervertje komt. Julia denkt dat het een zwanger zwervertje is en na een aantal weken kan ze "haar" vangen om haar naar de dieren arts te brengen. Vooral in de hoop dat de rechtmatige eigenaar of een adoptie gezin voor het katje gaat zorgen. Groot is dan ook de verbazing als de dierenarts meld dat hij (geen zij en geen kittens) opgehaald kan worden. Het bleek een abses te zijn en het katje was een mannetje. Julia gaat met George kijken en op het moment dat George het zwervertje ziet begint hij gelijk tegen het katje te praten. Baboe.... Julia valt bijna om. Haar niet pratende zoon spreekt "Kats" met het zwervertje. Hij geeft al gelijk een naam Baboe of Ben.
Julia kan totaal niet bedenken wat voor goede invloed Ben allemaal op George gaat hebben.
Duidelijk voorbeeld van een onverwachte en prachtige wending van een moeilijke situatie. Een waargebeurd verhaal.

[Ari · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s a well-known fact that having a pet can be very healing, but author Julia Romp didn’t know just how true that was until a cat named Ben entered her life. Julia’s son, George, is autistic, although he wasn’t formally diagnosed until he was nearly ten-years-old. Julia just knew that George was different from other children, and although she yearned to be able to be closer to him, he was unable to make the emotional connection she craved. Then a stray cat came along who profoundly changed their mother/son relationship and ultimately, their lives. Much of the book deals with...(read the rest of the review HERE

[Margaret · Rating 4 out of 5]

I bought this book at Target of all places. A total impluse buy, just because the cat on the cover looked like mine. It turned out to be a good decision because this is the best cat book that I have ever read! I can hardly believe that it was the author's first book! Julia Romp was a single mom raising a son with ausbergers and having a hard time connecting with him, when a stray cat turned up in their shed. Her son, George, instantly connected with the cat who they named Ben, and little by little Ben helped George connect with his mum. An AMAZING read!

[Anna · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked up this book because of the cute kitten on the cover and I also wanted to read a Christmas book. This book was not what I expected at all. It's a memoir about a single mom and the struggles she goes through with her autistic son and how their lives changed for the better when Ben comes into their lives. I am so happy that they were reunited with Ben, even though it took 3 months. It was a Christmas miracle!

[Priscilla · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lovely story. Especially George's dialogue rang so true for me, and I'm so glad that was shared in this book. Sadly, the writing and structuring of the book itself left much to be desired for me. Loads of repetitious thoughts and overwriting which made the story feel like it wasn't cared for enough by the editor. Still, an honest portrayal of autism like this is always a good thing. And it is really interesting to see a mother talk about it so openly.

[Kirsti · Rating 5 out of 5]

A highly emotional book! I've read quite a few books where animals help children to express themselves to their desperate parents, and Ben or Baboo as he's called, was no different. But it was when Ben went missing that the story really takes a turn for the worst, with all the progress George has made falling away. A really good book, and really well written too. Highly recommended!

[Tineke · Rating 3 out of 5]

An entertaining book which could have done with a bit of editing, but the parts that could have been edited or deleted do not distract from the story and don´t really confuse, so the story keeps being enjoyable and interesting. A quick read.