Cat Among the Pigeons

by David Muirhead

Another batch of David Muirhead s take on unrespectable creatures. Each account offers a mix of accurate information, mythology, anecdotal tales and folklore along with a dollop of humour to build a quirky and captivating portrait. Different from the standard animal CVs, these light-hearted, funny and illuminating accounts reveal the softer sides of the animals and their almost-human frailties. Delightful, humorous pen-and-ink sketches accompany many of the stories. This anthology will appeal to anyone interested in humour and the natural world, no matter their age or level of knowledge.

Genres: Nonfiction, Animals

164 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 1, 2018

About the author

Lives in Cape Town, South Africa.

Reviews

[Jamie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cat Among the Pigeons is an informative and entertaining look at some of Africa's most interesting creatures. I have to admit that I initially picked up this book only due to a reading challenge and my desire to finish the Hercule Poirot novels this year (I needed “two books with the same title” and there's a Poirot novel of the same name), but it ended up being a tremendously enjoyable read. Each chapter is a few pages long and discusses a different African animal, from the sleek and speedy cheetah to the presumably foul-smelling dung beetle. Muirhead writes about these creatures in a humorous manner, but it's obvious that he has a deep respect for the continent's wildlife. If you've ever wondered about the day-to-day life of a pangolin or whether Egyptian geese are as unpleasant as their Canadian cousins (spoiler alert: they are), this book is a must-read. 4.25 stars, rounded down.

[Pamela Kramer · Rating 5 out of 5]

For anyone who has been to Africa or who aspires to travel there, this book will delight and entertain. The writing is exquisite and brilliant. You'll laugh, cringe, and learn. Read the full review at: . PamelaKramer.com

[Nerine Dorman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cat among the Pigeons by David Muirhead is the quirky, fun kind of book that I'd happily gift to my dad to read. Muirhead's collection of short, humous musings about assorted species such as killer whale, caracal, elephant, gorilla, gemsbok, and rain frog, among many, offers readers a dip into a veritable bestiary of African beasties.

While this book isn't going to have the kind of meat to its bones that will satisfy a serious armchair conservationist, it's still the kind of read that combines facts with myth, and serves up a dish that is both entertaining and informative.

Muirhead's writing is light, fun and easy to get into – and as he suggests, it's the kind of reading you can do before you go to bed, or even if you don't have a huge amount of time and are looking for a short piece to while away a minute or three. Also, illustrator Patricia de Villiers's art provided a quirky counterpoint to the text.

[Annarella · Rating 5 out of 5]

A delightful read, well written and full of humour.
I loved the stories and the great pictures.
It was an engrossing and entertaining read with a lot of food for thought.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Edelweiss for this ARC, all opinions are mine.

[Ashutosh SHUKLA · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really well researched and well written, felt like the author went and lived with each of the animals mentioned in the book. It could be a great piece of heritage for the next generation, due to the kind of information provided and the way it has been presented.
Must read

[Brandon Van · Rating 4 out of 5]

Muirhead manages to weave fact and legend into an incredibly well written, amusing and informative book on animals.