Sheldon's Diary

by Mary Ellen Quire

Ever wonder what your cat has been up to while you're away or sleeping cozily in your bed? Wonder no longer. All you have to do is find their diary, plop down on the couch, and read all about their secret adventures. Please be aware that you may have wished you took a sedative before you turned the first page.

Genres: Animals, Cats

250 pages, Paperback

First published November 17, 2015

About the author

Mary Ellen Quire is the author of Link Detonator and Detonator Time’s Up, penned under the name Mary E. Rose, and Dark Deliverance, her latest novel. She has penned several short stories published through small press such as Speculative Fiction Centre Horizons and Tabloid Purposes. Her newest works include Sheldon's Diary and Fairview. She resides in Kentucky with various animal squatters.

Reviews

[Madison C. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book as a gift, not knowing what to expect. As a kid, I always loved animal books written from a pet's point of view. Now that I'm older, I still have fond memories of them, but I'm so picky that I usually find ones written for adults to be either trying too hard or too fluffy. This one was refreshingly different. Written predominantly from Sir Sheldon's perspective, the story follows a cat's adventures-- cleverly divided up into separate missions, where he is assigned by friends to go find someone or solve some mystery. There are many side characters that pop in and out of the book, all with very distinct personalities. I thought the characterization was great. All of the animals seemed well-thought out. The writing was good and flowed well. Each diary entry was very short, which kept the pace going nicely (as fun as this book was, it might have started to drag on if it weren't divided into such short parts). The action was fast paced and there were many quirky, cute scenes. I enjoyed the plot, which while mostly cheerful and comical, even had a few serious moments.

I definitely enjoyed this book! It was a first-time read of the author for me, but I will for sure check out more of her novels in the future. This is a lighthearted, sweet story. It is unlike many other books out there. I would recommend it to all animal lovers (especially cat people) and anyone who is looking for something heartwarming, but not quite over the top about it. It was fun!

4/5 stars.

[Kelly Risser · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review, and I didn't know what it was about going into it. When I saw the subject matter, I was a little apprehensive. Stories told from an animal's point of view are often challenging for me. Because we don't really know what animals think, animal-voiced books are often either too human or too cutesy for my tastes. I am pleased to report that is not the case with Sheldon's Diary. The writing is smooth, the action well paced, and the story, told in short little vignettes, really moves along. I really enjoyed the voice that Ms. Quire created for Sheldon the cat. There are moments of humor and quirkiness, given that we are seeing things through a feline's eyes. If you love animals, this is a must read. Or if you enjoy an interesting point of view, unique narrators, and lighthearted adventures. Sheldon's Diary is a fun, fast read!

[Gabrielle Arrowsmith · Rating 4 out of 5]

*I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Sheldon's diary is the tale of Sheldon, a feline member of the Paws for the Imminent Cause (PIC) service to all animals in need. The diary is filed with fun, and fairly light-hearted short stories about young Sheldon's quests to help other animals--often requiring him to solve mysteries--and fulfill his duty. The novel also includes diary entries from Cheddar, another PIC feline. Toward the end of the book, the two team up to embark on their most dangerous mission yet.

Sheldon's diary included likable animal characters, mystery, some action, and humor. I would recommend it to adult animal lovers (especially those fond of cats) who enjoy interwoven humor and mystery.

[H.L. · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an incredibly cute book that makes you think of what life could really be like, as a cat. I think Quire did a beautiful job creating a world that could easily be what every cat lives like.

[Cindy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Charming, fun read.

[Double Decker Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sheldon's Diary by Mary Ellen Quire is a cute, enjoyable, read like no other. As a read I like to try new stories here and there and see as I don't read many animals books, as in the animals being the lead characters for the book; this one sound like a good try. It was a change. A change in a good way. It's a light read with a huge mystery. The leads in the story was easy to bond with as the have strong personalities. At times I would stop and think what the people in this story must think of their pet. There are so many point of views to think about in the story of what our pets think; and what there lifestyles are like as well. This is a story that's funny, an easy end of the summer read to bright up your day!