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Letters of Note: Cats
An irresistible new volume of affectionate missives about our feline companions from Charles Dickens, James Joyce, Anne Frank, Elizabeth Taylor, and more, from the author of the bestselling Letters of Note collections
T. S. Eliot types a rhyming birthday party invitation to all Jellicle cats for his four-year-old godson. Ernest Hemingway catalogs all of his feline friends to an ex-wife. Jack Kerouac's mother grieves at the death of the family cat. Jack Lemmon winkingly suggests to Walter Matthau that they go in on a cat ranch in Mexico. This utterly charming collection offers a warm and friendly look at the place that cats occupy in our hearts and lives. These 30 letters capture the profound delight of having or observing a cat, and they reveal a keen insight into feline nature as well as our own.
T. S. Eliot types a rhyming birthday party invitation to all Jellicle cats for his four-year-old godson. Ernest Hemingway catalogs all of his feline friends to an ex-wife. Jack Kerouac's mother grieves at the death of the family cat. Jack Lemmon winkingly suggests to Walter Matthau that they go in on a cat ranch in Mexico. This utterly charming collection offers a warm and friendly look at the place that cats occupy in our hearts and lives. These 30 letters capture the profound delight of having or observing a cat, and they reveal a keen insight into feline nature as well as our own.
144 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 6, 2020
23 people are currently reading
420 people want to read
About the author
Shaun Usher
47 books301 followersShaun Usher is a writer, editor, and compulsive collector of remarkable words. He is the author of Letters of Note, an international bestseller that began life as a blog and grew into a celebrated series of books and inspired the live stage show Letters Live, which he has co-produced since 2013. He has published 16 books so far, covering everything from love and grief to music, dogs, and outer space, and in October 2025 will release his 17th, Diaries of Note: 366 Lives, One Day at a Time, a curated journey through a year’s worth of diary entries from history. He lives in Manchester with his wife, Karina, and their three children.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 73 reviews
June 11, 2025
If you like reading letters and you also like cats, this book is for you.
It would probably be boring to read all the letters one after the other, so it would be better to read some of the letters with your cat every night !😺
It would probably be boring to read all the letters one after the other, so it would be better to read some of the letters with your cat every night !😺
October 29, 2021
Lovely collection of letters about cats. Favourites:
Ester Krumbachová's Cats, cats, cats of mine
Rachel Carson's My precious little companion is gone
Guy Davenport's You killed my cat
Elizabeth Taylor's I see you, my beauty boy
Ester Krumbachová's Cats, cats, cats of mine
Rachel Carson's My precious little companion is gone
Guy Davenport's You killed my cat
Elizabeth Taylor's I see you, my beauty boy
April 2, 2020
The letters read by Stephen Fry are, of course, a great delight.
September 6, 2020
Some really good and funny letters in there, and others that were a bit more bizarre and not respectful enough of the cats I felt.
November 11, 2024
I am a card-carrying cat lady. This was a lovely selection of letters regarding cats. 😍
October 12, 2022
Ευχάριστο!!!
April 7, 2025
A cute, quick and fun read about cats!
Read
April 3, 2021oh wow so this is the first book i managed to finish in twenty twenty one
April 15, 2020
Thank you to Penguin for giving me a digital galley of this book in exchange for feedback.
I've seen the "Letters of Note" web site, mostly when other people have share a link to some specific interesting letter. It's a gathering of interesting, wise, amusing, or horrifying letters, often but not always from people of historical or literary significance.
Now, Penguin is releasing small collections of interesting letters focused on specific topics. I can see on the "Letters of Note" web site that this series, in addition to the "Cats" book that I read, will include "Love," "War," "Music," "Mothers," and "Art." It's a great idea, and they'll make charming gifts, for the right readers.
This collection had letters from writers, scientists, and historically important people, and most of those letters told a story about the writer's cat, or a cat the writer knows. Some of them were funny, some terribly sad, and one made me cringe.
Cat lovers might love this - or, on the other hand, they might NOT love it, since one of the reasons a person writes a letter about their cat is that the cat has passed away, and not all cat lovers love reading those stories. So, cat lovers, you know yourself well enough to know if this book is right for you or not, and friends and relatives of cat lovers, if your friend or relative is a little sensitive to tragic animal stories, this might not be an awesome gift for that specific person.
Still, it's well done, and I"d certainly consider picking up one of the other books in the series. I suppose "War" also has tragic stories. Maybe "Music" would be safe?
I've seen the "Letters of Note" web site, mostly when other people have share a link to some specific interesting letter. It's a gathering of interesting, wise, amusing, or horrifying letters, often but not always from people of historical or literary significance.
Now, Penguin is releasing small collections of interesting letters focused on specific topics. I can see on the "Letters of Note" web site that this series, in addition to the "Cats" book that I read, will include "Love," "War," "Music," "Mothers," and "Art." It's a great idea, and they'll make charming gifts, for the right readers.
This collection had letters from writers, scientists, and historically important people, and most of those letters told a story about the writer's cat, or a cat the writer knows. Some of them were funny, some terribly sad, and one made me cringe.
Cat lovers might love this - or, on the other hand, they might NOT love it, since one of the reasons a person writes a letter about their cat is that the cat has passed away, and not all cat lovers love reading those stories. So, cat lovers, you know yourself well enough to know if this book is right for you or not, and friends and relatives of cat lovers, if your friend or relative is a little sensitive to tragic animal stories, this might not be an awesome gift for that specific person.
Still, it's well done, and I"d certainly consider picking up one of the other books in the series. I suppose "War" also has tragic stories. Maybe "Music" would be safe?
October 20, 2021
Κάποια γράμματα βρίσκονταν στη συλλογή για να την συμπληρώσουν. Κάποια όμως ήταν υπέροχα. Τα περισσότερα -ή έτσι το θυμάμαι εγώ- αναφέρονται στην απώλεια και τη μεγάλη βαθειά θλίψη όταν χάνεις τον καλύτερο σου φίλο. O Τζακ Κέρουακ συνέκρινε το χαμό του γάτου του με το θάνατο του αδελφού του. Νιώθω. Ο Τόμας Γκρέι (1747) γράφει κατά παραγγελία ένα ποίημα στον Οράτιο Γουλπόουλ για την Σελίνα που έχασε τη ζωή της σε ένα ατύχημα. O Νίκολα Τέσλα γράφει για τον ηλεκτρισμό στη γούνα του γάτου του όταν ήταν παιδί. Και φυσικά ο Guy Davenport πλήρωσε για να δημοσιευτεί στην δημοφιλή εφημερίδα της πόλης του ένα γράμμα προς τους οδηγούς της με τίτλο "Σκοτώσατε τη Γάτα μου".
Απαραίτητο ανάγνωσμα ή άκουσμα στη συγκεκριμένη περίπτωση για όλους τους γατόφιλους. Η ερμηνείες πολύ σημαντικών ηθοποιών είναι δευτερεύουσες σε σχέση με το περιεχόμενο.
Απαραίτητο ανάγνωσμα ή άκουσμα στη συγκεκριμένη περίπτωση για όλους τους γατόφιλους. Η ερμηνείες πολύ σημαντικών ηθοποιών είναι δευτερεύουσες σε σχέση με το περιεχόμενο.
December 31, 2021
I enjoy those collections of letters but I don't think that I ever will rate one more than 3 stars because of my different enjoyment of each individual letter.
My personal favourite in this book was letter number 03 "The Cat Ranch". The dark humor in this paticular one is right up my alley.
My personal favourite in this book was letter number 03 "The Cat Ranch". The dark humor in this paticular one is right up my alley.
July 24, 2023
As a lover of letter writing, history, literature, and of course, cats, I found this book delightful, especially “The Cat Is Not a Simple Equation,” “A Pile of 5000 Cats and Kittens,” and “He is Not Forgiving Cat.”
December 26, 2021
A delightful, thought provoking little book.
June 18, 2022
4.5*
This is a charming little collection from a variety of different notable figures about their cats. The collection opens with Nikola Tesla, a surprisingly adept wordsmith, talking about how the first time he discovered electricity, he'd been three years old and petting his childhood pet when a static discharge left him mesmorized, leading to a lifelong fascination with electricity, to the benefit of the world: "Is nature a gigantic cat? If so, who strokes its back? It can only be God, I concluded. Here I was, only three years old and already philosophizing" he says.
The book ends with a letter from John Cheever, updating a friend about his menace of a cat, and the letters in between range from funny and charming to heartbreaking.
I take some issue with the organization (IMO, Ester Krumbachova's letter to her cats would have been a more poignant ending than Cheever's letter), and with the inclusion of some letters (Dickens' while funny, is not something a lover of cat necessarily wants to read, and Ayn Rand's letter seems entirely pointless as an inclusion), but I loved this book, and devoured it in only two days between appointments at work (I actually read half of it sitting in the waiting room of my doctor's office haha).
Overall, a purrfect birthday present.
This is a charming little collection from a variety of different notable figures about their cats. The collection opens with Nikola Tesla, a surprisingly adept wordsmith, talking about how the first time he discovered electricity, he'd been three years old and petting his childhood pet when a static discharge left him mesmorized, leading to a lifelong fascination with electricity, to the benefit of the world: "Is nature a gigantic cat? If so, who strokes its back? It can only be God, I concluded. Here I was, only three years old and already philosophizing" he says.
The book ends with a letter from John Cheever, updating a friend about his menace of a cat, and the letters in between range from funny and charming to heartbreaking.
I take some issue with the organization (IMO, Ester Krumbachova's letter to her cats would have been a more poignant ending than Cheever's letter), and with the inclusion of some letters (Dickens' while funny, is not something a lover of cat necessarily wants to read, and Ayn Rand's letter seems entirely pointless as an inclusion), but I loved this book, and devoured it in only two days between appointments at work (I actually read half of it sitting in the waiting room of my doctor's office haha).
Overall, a purrfect birthday present.
December 23, 2023
As an avid snail-mailer I loved this compilation of letters written throughout the century about cats.
The audio version is especially fun to listen to with eg Benedict Cumberbatch, Stephen Fry and Mark Strong reading the letters.
The audio version is especially fun to listen to with eg Benedict Cumberbatch, Stephen Fry and Mark Strong reading the letters.
January 10, 2025
As with most compilations, I enjoyed some of the letters in this collection more than others. Some of the letters were quite sad and melancholy over the loss of a beloved cat and I think I would have liked a bit more lightheartedness to the letters though I am still glad to have read this one.
October 21, 2020
As a cat mama, this book was so fun for me! Filled with letters from cat owners & lovers like Nikola Tesla, Florence Nightingale, & Anne Frank, this is a super quick read that will make you smile, laugh, and maybe even tear up.
Thank you Penguin Books for my gifted copy 🖤
Thank you Penguin Books for my gifted copy 🖤
June 18, 2019
Many times you see these books and consider them to be mostly humorous. While there is some humor here, I would say the overriding quality is a glimpse into the very personal side of someone conversation with a friend.
The fact that the letters contain elements of people talking about their cat(s) just shows are the cats are a large part of their personal life. Sometimes the letters or filled with love, or dealing with the natural behavior, or just down right orneriness of the cat.
The letters span a wide variety of times, and the people are famous writers, scientists etc... Worth the read as it’s not just about cats, but shows many sides of people. Not a super long book but one that can be read bit by bit... letter by letter.
The fact that the letters contain elements of people talking about their cat(s) just shows are the cats are a large part of their personal life. Sometimes the letters or filled with love, or dealing with the natural behavior, or just down right orneriness of the cat.
The letters span a wide variety of times, and the people are famous writers, scientists etc... Worth the read as it’s not just about cats, but shows many sides of people. Not a super long book but one that can be read bit by bit... letter by letter.
January 28, 2021
I bought this book as a stocking stuffer for my wife. We've got a cat.
It seems like it would be a fun, quick read -- 27 letters that include at least some mention of cats that were written by famous people (Nikola Tesla, Ayn Rand, Elizabeth Taylor, Jack Lemmon, Anne Frank, Charles Dickens, Adlai Stevenson and others).
Trouble is that very few of the letters are in any way interesting.
When we give Fraidy a type of food that she doesn't like, she will paw around the bowl, trying to bury it (as if it's in a litterbox). I got the same feeling with this book.
It seems like it would be a fun, quick read -- 27 letters that include at least some mention of cats that were written by famous people (Nikola Tesla, Ayn Rand, Elizabeth Taylor, Jack Lemmon, Anne Frank, Charles Dickens, Adlai Stevenson and others).
Trouble is that very few of the letters are in any way interesting.
When we give Fraidy a type of food that she doesn't like, she will paw around the bowl, trying to bury it (as if it's in a litterbox). I got the same feeling with this book.
February 8, 2021
Why is it books with cats always make me cry? This book where too many of the letters are written upon the loss of a beloved cat was difficult to get through at times. The letter Cats, cats, cats of mine by Ester Krumbachova to her cats was eloquently written and particularly moving. Anyone who has ever loved a cat will identify with the gamut of emotions she takes the reader through, from tears to smiles.
January 2, 2021
27 letters to or about cats, a mixture of the funny, heart warming and saddening. All a testimony to the importance of cats to many people’s lives.
Each letter is relatively short, with a prelude for context to each. A quick read, perhaps best enjoyed in the company of your own feline friend.
Each letter is relatively short, with a prelude for context to each. A quick read, perhaps best enjoyed in the company of your own feline friend.
February 3, 2022
I LOVE CATS (it's an understatement) but this is a poor compilation.
The letter "Cats, Cats, Cats of Mine" by Ester Krumbachova to her cats was really beautiful, heartwarming and moving. If you have/love cats, do read it.
The letter "Cats, Cats, Cats of Mine" by Ester Krumbachova to her cats was really beautiful, heartwarming and moving. If you have/love cats, do read it.
July 20, 2021
Como soy muy amante de los gatos me resultó muy entretenido y mas el transportarme a través de las cartas a otras épocas con las aventuras felinas.
August 20, 2022
In July, I had lost one of my beloved tuxedo cat. Her name is Lucy, named after I love Lucy show but have the complete opposite personality of the bashful and gregarious, lady protagonist. Sometimes, I barely noticed her waiting patiently next to my feet as I hunched away in front of my computer, half-awake working. Even when she was hungry, she would wait in front of the refrigerator silently with not a single mewl or meow escaping from her. She have three other brothers and sister and whenever it was snack time, Lucy was the only one who would line up and wait until everyone was done eating before shyly approaching me to have small timid bites.
But somehow her silent presence was loud enough that when she passed away, I fell sick for over three weeks, grieving over the sudden loss. It felt like my heart was ripped into tiny little pieces and living was too unbearable.
I don't particularly believe in higher power or anything similar in that regards, but I hope that she wasn't alone or in too much pain when she walked into that life. Most importantly, I hope she knows that she was loved.
Not many people would understand the weight that these feline brought to us in their limited time.
"Get over it. It's just an animal/pet" they would say whenever we told them about our loss.
This is the first book I read in order to heal and it give me some comfort in knowing that humans has always formed this kind intimate relationships between our lovable felines, one that crossed the boundaries of languages.
My support goes to everyone who once was lucky enough to experience the love and of course, with love always come loss, the loss of owning cats.
We all discovered the incommunicable within ourselves, we found each other and we loved each other.
And that was enough.
But somehow her silent presence was loud enough that when she passed away, I fell sick for over three weeks, grieving over the sudden loss. It felt like my heart was ripped into tiny little pieces and living was too unbearable.
I don't particularly believe in higher power or anything similar in that regards, but I hope that she wasn't alone or in too much pain when she walked into that life. Most importantly, I hope she knows that she was loved.
Not many people would understand the weight that these feline brought to us in their limited time.
"Get over it. It's just an animal/pet" they would say whenever we told them about our loss.
This is the first book I read in order to heal and it give me some comfort in knowing that humans has always formed this kind intimate relationships between our lovable felines, one that crossed the boundaries of languages.
My support goes to everyone who once was lucky enough to experience the love and of course, with love always come loss, the loss of owning cats.
We all discovered the incommunicable within ourselves, we found each other and we loved each other.
And that was enough.
Read
December 31, 2020Шон Ъшър - "Бележити писма за котки", изд. "Прозорец" 2020, прев. Диляна Георгиева
През тази година прочетох някои много хубави книги.
Истинската изненада обаче беше именно тази - "Бележити писма за котки".
Не знам дали ви се е случвало да решите да прочетете книга само заради заглавието. Защото при мен се случи именно това. Прочетох заглавието, видях корицата... и си казах: "Трябва да имам тази книга".
Тя представлява именно това, което е написано в заглавието. Сбор от 27 писма на прочути личности, обединени от едно - "котешката тема". Някои от тези писма са сериозни, други - по-скоро странни, трети - шеговити, четвърти - тъжни или трогателни. Но ги обединяват обичта към котките, хубавите спомени за рано /а понякога и не толкова рано/ отишлите си любими котки. Писма като "Да не би природата да е една грамадна котка?" и "Колко жалко, че толкова хубави котки са глухи" внасят и донякъде "научен елемент". Някои писма са закачливи - като например "Пърхащото ми сърце", други, като "Котешко ранчо", честно казано, ме ядосаха. Но най-силната обединяваща "нишка" между тези писма е любовта - на моменти направо бликаща - и признателността към котките. За това, че ги има. За това, че са такива, каквито са. И че ни отделят от времето си.
Много ми хареса това, че личностите, чиито писма са включени тук, са наистина най-различни - учени и писатели, поети, политици, артисти и архитекти. Лично за мен най-затрогващи бяха писмата на Рейчъл Карсън и Естер Крумбахова - всъщност на първо място трябваше да посоча това на Естер, защото то е единственото, което е наистина "адресирано" до котките, а те не са просто тема. Книгата е едно малко бижу и е не само чудесен подарък за всички, които обичат котките, а и истински урок по човечност.
Струва си да се прочете!
През тази година прочетох някои много хубави книги.
Истинската изненада обаче беше именно тази - "Бележити писма за котки".
Не знам дали ви се е случвало да решите да прочетете книга само заради заглавието. Защото при мен се случи именно това. Прочетох заглавието, видях корицата... и си казах: "Трябва да имам тази книга".
Тя представлява именно това, което е написано в заглавието. Сбор от 27 писма на прочути личности, обединени от едно - "котешката тема". Някои от тези писма са сериозни, други - по-скоро странни, трети - шеговити, четвърти - тъжни или трогателни. Но ги обединяват обичта към котките, хубавите спомени за рано /а понякога и не толкова рано/ отишлите си любими котки. Писма като "Да не би природата да е една грамадна котка?" и "Колко жалко, че толкова хубави котки са глухи" внасят и донякъде "научен елемент". Някои писма са закачливи - като например "Пърхащото ми сърце", други, като "Котешко ранчо", честно казано, ме ядосаха. Но най-силната обединяваща "нишка" между тези писма е любовта - на моменти направо бликаща - и признателността към котките. За това, че ги има. За това, че са такива, каквито са. И че ни отделят от времето си.
Много ми хареса това, че личностите, чиито писма са включени тук, са наистина най-различни - учени и писатели, поети, политици, артисти и архитекти. Лично за мен най-затрогващи бяха писмата на Рейчъл Карсън и Естер Крумбахова - всъщност на първо място трябваше да посоча това на Естер, защото то е единственото, което е наистина "адресирано" до котките, а те не са просто тема. Книгата е едно малко бижу и е не само чудесен подарък за всички, които обичат котките, а и истински урок по човечност.
Струва си да се прочете!
October 21, 2020
Thank you Penguin Books for the gifted copy of Letters of Note: Cats. This endearing collection of twenty-seven letters compiled by Shaun Usher shows how cats have played a larger role than we may know in some lives of historical figures of note.
It may seem like this compilation is nothing more than fleeting comments about the cats in their homes, their lives, their yards (as Charles Dickens wrote in his letter) but it truly is so much more. It’s an insight into these iconic lives as if it’s a snippet of their most private phone calls to their loved ones. The letters can be read to peer into the minds of significant historical figures, artists and idols that you never could have seen outside of this intrusive and intimate medium of a personal letter.
It’s funny how a compilation of letters written by other people can turn the tables and have you thinking about the things or pets that have had an affect on you and the way you think and act. For Nikola Tesla aka the “Father of Electricty” his childhood cat drew attention to the electric shocks his coat of fur could produce. For Elizabeth Taylor her cat was the one sole comfort in times of distress. For Anne Frank a cat brought her entertainment and relieved her from the cold chains of grief for just a moment in her time of hiding. These letters could be considered insignificant slivers of time in their lives, but can bring so much insight to the way we can understand their emotions and minds. This compilation really makes you appreciate a written letter as truly being a form of art and an invaluable moment in history, and like Usher said himself, “the letter lives and, like literature, it always will.”
It may seem like this compilation is nothing more than fleeting comments about the cats in their homes, their lives, their yards (as Charles Dickens wrote in his letter) but it truly is so much more. It’s an insight into these iconic lives as if it’s a snippet of their most private phone calls to their loved ones. The letters can be read to peer into the minds of significant historical figures, artists and idols that you never could have seen outside of this intrusive and intimate medium of a personal letter.
It’s funny how a compilation of letters written by other people can turn the tables and have you thinking about the things or pets that have had an affect on you and the way you think and act. For Nikola Tesla aka the “Father of Electricty” his childhood cat drew attention to the electric shocks his coat of fur could produce. For Elizabeth Taylor her cat was the one sole comfort in times of distress. For Anne Frank a cat brought her entertainment and relieved her from the cold chains of grief for just a moment in her time of hiding. These letters could be considered insignificant slivers of time in their lives, but can bring so much insight to the way we can understand their emotions and minds. This compilation really makes you appreciate a written letter as truly being a form of art and an invaluable moment in history, and like Usher said himself, “the letter lives and, like literature, it always will.”
April 5, 2022
Various/Cannongate Books (2020) LETTERS OF NOTE: CATS (AUDIOBOOK)
BorrowBox - Cannongate Books Ltd
⭐️⭐️⭐️ 3 out of 5 stars
BorrowBox writes, "In Letters of Note: Cats, Shaun Usher collects together the most engaging missives that celebrate, eulogise, rail against and analyse the idiosyncratic ways of our feline companions. A star-studded cast of readers brings the letters to life, with contributions from Sanjeev Bhaskar, Louise Brealey, Simon Callow, Benedict Cumberbatch, Adrian Edmondson, Stephen Fry, Neil Gaiman, Danny Huston, Toby Jones, Ferdinand Kingsley, Helen McCrory, Natascha McElhone, Stephen Mangan, Miriam Margolyes, Clarke Peters, Juliet Stevenson, Mark Strong and Meera Syal. The collection features letters by Nikola Tesla, Elizabeth Taylor, Anne Frank, Raymond Chandler, John Cheever, Rachel Carson, Jack Lemmon and many more. Letters of Note: Cats also includes audio exclusive bonus content drawn from recordings made at performances of Letters Live, the live events series produced by Canongate in partnership with SunnyMarch and Shaun Usher. Listen to Toby Jones reading John Cheever’s letter to Susie Herbst and an ensemble cast reading a flurry of letters to the Guardian on the hotly contested topic of ‘cats vs dogs’."
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One for cat enthusiasts. Not sure that those who are indifferent or worse about cats will get this one, let alone enjoy it as much as I did. I ❤️ Cats! Especially my own.
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#LettersOfNote #Cats #CannongateBooks #Book #Books #Read #Reads #Reading #Review #Reviews #BookReview #BookReviews #GoodReads #Audiobook #Audiobooks #BorrowBox
BorrowBox - Cannongate Books Ltd
⭐️⭐️⭐️ 3 out of 5 stars
BorrowBox writes, "In Letters of Note: Cats, Shaun Usher collects together the most engaging missives that celebrate, eulogise, rail against and analyse the idiosyncratic ways of our feline companions. A star-studded cast of readers brings the letters to life, with contributions from Sanjeev Bhaskar, Louise Brealey, Simon Callow, Benedict Cumberbatch, Adrian Edmondson, Stephen Fry, Neil Gaiman, Danny Huston, Toby Jones, Ferdinand Kingsley, Helen McCrory, Natascha McElhone, Stephen Mangan, Miriam Margolyes, Clarke Peters, Juliet Stevenson, Mark Strong and Meera Syal. The collection features letters by Nikola Tesla, Elizabeth Taylor, Anne Frank, Raymond Chandler, John Cheever, Rachel Carson, Jack Lemmon and many more. Letters of Note: Cats also includes audio exclusive bonus content drawn from recordings made at performances of Letters Live, the live events series produced by Canongate in partnership with SunnyMarch and Shaun Usher. Listen to Toby Jones reading John Cheever’s letter to Susie Herbst and an ensemble cast reading a flurry of letters to the Guardian on the hotly contested topic of ‘cats vs dogs’."
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One for cat enthusiasts. Not sure that those who are indifferent or worse about cats will get this one, let alone enjoy it as much as I did. I ❤️ Cats! Especially my own.
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March 15, 2023
A lovely little book of various letters all about cats, from well-known names in history!
I felt that the book started strong and ended strong, with the opening letter being from Nikola Tesla talking about how his cat's interaction with static helped spark his love for the subject of electricity!
The letters are hit or miss as is expected, but each one is so vastly different in context, tone, and meaning, that you can't help but appreciate both the stories and the fact that someone went to the effort to write and post a whole letter simply about their pet cat(s). Each story emphasises how much character our little feline friends have, and how they can change our lives for the better through even the briefest of interactions.
This is all coming from someone who has never actually had a pet cat, but has interacted with a few in their lifetime. So if this is what I think, then an actual cat owner will surely appreciate this book even more.
My personal favourite letters are:
Letter 1: 'Is Nature a Gigantic Cat?' by Nikola Tesla
Letter 21: 'A Pity Such Fine Cats Should Be Deaf' by Charles Darwin
Letter 22: 'Am I Really Writing It At All?' by Raymond Chandler
Letter 23: 'Cats, Cats, Cat Of Mine' by Ester Krumbachovà
and Letter 27: 'He Is Not A Forgiving Cat' by John Cheever
I felt that the book started strong and ended strong, with the opening letter being from Nikola Tesla talking about how his cat's interaction with static helped spark his love for the subject of electricity!
The letters are hit or miss as is expected, but each one is so vastly different in context, tone, and meaning, that you can't help but appreciate both the stories and the fact that someone went to the effort to write and post a whole letter simply about their pet cat(s). Each story emphasises how much character our little feline friends have, and how they can change our lives for the better through even the briefest of interactions.
This is all coming from someone who has never actually had a pet cat, but has interacted with a few in their lifetime. So if this is what I think, then an actual cat owner will surely appreciate this book even more.
My personal favourite letters are:
Letter 1: 'Is Nature a Gigantic Cat?' by Nikola Tesla
Letter 21: 'A Pity Such Fine Cats Should Be Deaf' by Charles Darwin
Letter 22: 'Am I Really Writing It At All?' by Raymond Chandler
Letter 23: 'Cats, Cats, Cat Of Mine' by Ester Krumbachovà
and Letter 27: 'He Is Not A Forgiving Cat' by John Cheever
August 9, 2024
Letters of Note: Cats, compiled by Shaun Usher, is a delightful anthology that celebrates our feline companions through an array of affectionate letters. Featuring missives from a diverse roster of contributors including Charles Dickens, Anne Frank, Raymond Chandler, and Elizabeth Taylor, this collection offers a charming glimpse into how cats have touched the lives of notable figures.
I owned the physical book but decided to listen to the audiobook while reading along. The narration, featuring contributions from a range of celebrities, added an extra layer of enjoyment to the experience. Miriam Margolyes, in particular, stood out with her engaging delivery, bringing an added warmth to the collection.
The letters in this anthology introduce readers to a variety of cats, from the beloved and revered to those who are less celebrated—and some who are quite famous. While the book itself doesn’t delve into anything particularly groundbreaking, it provides an entertaining and affectionate exploration of our relationship with cats.
For anyone who shares their life with a feline friend, Letters of Note: Cats offers a heartwarming and enjoyable read, celebrating the unique and often whimsical place that cats hold in our lives.
I owned the physical book but decided to listen to the audiobook while reading along. The narration, featuring contributions from a range of celebrities, added an extra layer of enjoyment to the experience. Miriam Margolyes, in particular, stood out with her engaging delivery, bringing an added warmth to the collection.
The letters in this anthology introduce readers to a variety of cats, from the beloved and revered to those who are less celebrated—and some who are quite famous. While the book itself doesn’t delve into anything particularly groundbreaking, it provides an entertaining and affectionate exploration of our relationship with cats.
For anyone who shares their life with a feline friend, Letters of Note: Cats offers a heartwarming and enjoyable read, celebrating the unique and often whimsical place that cats hold in our lives.
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