Kittycat Magazine Issue 1 January/February 2014 | Page 55

Book Review The Dalai Lama’s Cat Reviewed by Patsy Smyth This was definitely my favourite book of 2013. This award winning book has acquired over 158000 likes on Facebook; a 4 ½ star review by Good Reads; a 5 star review by Barnes and Noble. It’s been written from the cat’s viewpoint, with David Michie the translator and transcriber and is full of drama, cuteness and fun; from her dramatic and almost catastrophic start after being dumped as a tiny kitten unable to care for herself, into a rubbish bin, to her rescue, to becoming the Dalai Lama’s cat. In the process, she succeeds in changing the lives of some people around her, from the man in the street, to those in the upper echelons of life, using up a couple of her 9 lives in the process! At times I was moved to anger, at others to tears and in the end my heart felt warm & fuzzy. I didn’t want the book to end, so look out for a review on “The Art of Purring”, a follow up book in 2014. I found this delightful book via Facebook where I was given a chance to read the first three pages. That was all I needed to get me hooked. I immediately ordered 2 copies from Exclusive Books – 1 for me and 1 for my Mom’s birthday. She loved it as much as I did. My Dad is the next to read it. I have no doubt that you will enjoy it as much as we did. It will be a great stocking filler for the cat lover. The title may give some the impression that it is a “preachy” book. This is far from the case. It does give some interesting insights into the Buddhist belief, but in no way is it a form of proselytising. I don’t want to give too much away, as I’d hate to diminish your enjoyment of the book. Suffice to say, I’d give it 10 out of 10 purrs. We are focused on health and disease /parasite control. We promote sterilization. We offer 5 star boarding (all proceeds go to welfare animals) Tel: 011 447 5275 Banking details: FNB Melrose Arch (254405) • Account no: 62068805418 www.kittyshelter.co.za Kittycat Issue 1 January/February 2014 52