Book Review: Dewey - The Small-Town Library Cat Who Touched the World by Vicki Myron

Dewey The Small-Town Library Cat Who Touched the World is a true story about an abandoned, tiny, bedraggled, nearly frozen kitten in the night drop box of the Spencer Public Library which grew up to be an inspiration to the townsfolk.

I just finished reading it yesterday and I must say, I really loved this book even though the ending made me cry.

Imagine, me a grown woman, sitting on a bench at a public clinic waiting for my mum's turn to pick up her hypertension prescription, weeping openly as I came to page #258. I just couldn't stop the tears from rolling down my cheeks when I read that Dewey was about to die.

A little girl who sat on another bench to my left walked over to me and sat down next to me. She kept looking up into my face as I sniveled away. I couldn't help it. I tried to control myself but the tears refused to stop.

Thoughts of how one day Blackie has to go, too, careened into my mind. Followed by thoughts of losing my loved ones one day as age & death claimed them. I cried for Dewey, I cried for Blackie who is still alive, and I cried for living human beings......extremely silly, isn't it?

Anyway, I am glad Vicki Myron and her friends thought to publish some of Dewey's videos in their website. Check out this handsome, inspiring orange cat here - http://www.deweyreadmorebooks.com/deweyvideos.php

Book Review: Hoax by Robert K. Tanenbaum

If you've never read Robert Tanenbaum's 16th book, HOAX, don't bother. This novel has the dubious honour of being the worst book I've ever read. To call it crap would be too kind to it.

I have heard of Robert Tanenbaum's books, and they are supposed to be really good. So, a few months ago, when I saw Hoax at a book warehouse sale, I grabbed it.

And boy, have I regretted that purchase. Three quarters of Hoax is devoted to rehashing after rehashing of Butch Karp, a New York Assistant District Attorney, and his wife's personal history that has no bearings on the plot, and the retelling of events from the different characters' viewpoint that has no relevance to the story, nor do they move the plot along. It's amateurishly-written, something you might expect a Secondary Three (Grade 9) student to write.

When I finally finished the book, I went on the internet to see if it was just me, or if others felt the same. What I found surprised me.

It appears that Robert Tanenbaum is not the real writer of the previous 15 books. The real writer was his cousin, Michael Gruber, who has since split from the partnership and branched out on his own. The general consensus was that either the real Robert Tanenbaum can't write, or the new writer hired to replace Michael Gruber can't.

No wonder it was such a torturous read. If you want to punish your enemies, make them read Hoax!!