Spring is for Jogging and Kitty Blogging

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Misty the cat here again with my every two-month guest post, which gives Dave a break to search 24/7 for The Golden Bowl. That’s a Henry James novel as well as a circular dish I want for an elite food and drink experience.

Another novelist with the same last name, E.L. James, wrote Fifty Shades of Grey. I never read it, but, as you can see in the photo atop this post, I was recently amid five shades of gray — including the color of the not-golden bowl I’m eyeing that contains liquid that’s either milk or Wilkie Collins’ novel The Woman in White minus the woman. (Photo by my adult female human Laurel Cummins.)

What am I, Misty the cat, reading now? I just finished T is for Trespass as I continue to work my way through Sue Grafton’s alphabet mysteries starring private investigator Kinsey Millhone, whose last name rhymes with Milk-Bone. (Shout-out to my dog readers, including Snoopy the Easter Beagle.) As you might know, the late Grafton didn’t allow her book series to be adapted for the screen because she had formerly worked in that business and distrusted it. Heck, Hollywood even had nowhere-near-tall-enough Tom Cruise play Jack Reacher before the physically massive Alan Ritchson more appropriately got the role in the current TV iteration of Lee Child’s thrilling book series. Ritchson IS Reacher, which creates ID confusion for the actor at airports.

While I almost always read fiction, I’ve been periodically perusing Rebecca Romney’s nonfiction book Jane Austen’s Bookshelf — which Dave received as a December holiday present from his sister-in-law Sheila Cummins. (I, Misty the cat, was gifted a $700,000 Lamborghini by Dave…in my dreams.) Romney focuses on the 1700s-born female authors who inspired Austen and why some of those excellent/pioneering writers are barely known today. These authors include Frances Burney, Ann Radcliffe, Charlotte Lennox, Hannah More, Charlotte Smith, Elizabeth Inchbald, Hester Lynch Thrale Piozzi, and Maria Edgeworth. All of whom are also known for founding the crack law firm Burney, Radcliffe, Lennox, More, Smith, Inchbald, Piozzi, Edgeworth, and Dora the Explorer. I want that firm in my corner when I’m on trial for purchasing a Trump pardon with catnip crypto.

Besides T is for Trespass, other novels I had Dave borrow from the library last month were Pearl S. Buck’s Sons (The Good Earth sequel I just started reading), Daphne du Maurier’s Rebecca (which I’ll be rereading) and Jamaica Inn, and Peter May’s The Blackhouse. All will be mentioned in future posts, with credit at that time to those who recommended two of those books. I would’ve visited the library myself, but it’s hard for a cat to drag books home when they’re no longer printed on yarn.

Speaking of high-tech things like knitting, it has been suggested that I comment on Artificial Intelligence’s relation to literature — especially after the Shy Girl novel was recently pulled by a major publisher for reportedly including lots of AI-generated content. But I’m no AI expert, which contrasts with my deep knowledge of 14th-century automobiles. Curiously, Chaucer only featured one Lamborghini in The Canterbury Tales; maybe he was more into mass transit. Dave does periodically receive seemingly AI-generated emails offering marketing help for his books — for a not-small fee, of course. Dave looked in his wallet, consulted with George Washington and other notables pictured on American currency, and was advised to…get a roomier wallet. With a kitchen so those long-dead notables can eat.

In conclusion, I’ll mention that I’m now an older cat (10) who recently starting doing three things to keep myself healthier: eat a prescription diet, get a monthly arthritis shot, and read fiction by writers who had also been medical doctors — among them Khaled Hosseini, Arthur Conan Doyle, Mikhail Bulgakov, and Anton Chekhov. Anton even appeared on the TV series Scrubs.

As I fend off a lawsuit claiming Chekhov did NOT appear on Scrubs, Dave will reply to comments.

Misty the cat says: “My favorite comedy trios are The Marx Brothers and The Pine Cones.”

My and Dave’s comedic 2024 book — the part-factual/part-fictional/not-a-children’s-work Misty the Cat…Unleashed — is described and can be purchased on Amazon in paperback or on Kindle. It’s feline-narrated! (And Amazon reviews are welcome. šŸ™‚ )

This 90-second promo video for the book features a talking cat: šŸ™‚

Dave is also the author of a 2017 literary-trivia book…

…and a 2012 memoir that focuses on cartooning and more, including many encounters with celebrities.

In addition to this weekly blog, Dave writes the 2003-started/award-winning “Montclairvoyant” topical-humor column every Thursday for Montclair Local. The latest piece — about “No Kings” rallies and more — is here.

75 thoughts on “Spring is for Jogging and Kitty Blogging”

  1. Another stellar post, Misty. There is a certain elegance in a cat who reads widely and dreams extravagantlyā€”Lamborghinis included. I have read Rebecca and Jamaica Inn many times over. I never tire of Du Maurierā€™s writing, especially her earlier books. I think that I notice the shadows more, and perhaps understands them differently as I age!

    And serendipity came calling again. I am currently reading The Blackhouse. I chose to read it via audiobook to hear sound of the cadence of the Lewis voices. I find that the rhythm of a place is carried through speech as much as story. There is something about hearing a landscape that feels different from reading it.

    Here in Vancouver, we have a strong Scottish diaspora, and from time to time I attend Gaelic community gatherings. When I listen to The Blackhouse, I can hear echoes of those voices. The fragments of language, memory, and belonging carried across oceans. It reminds me how stories travel, not just through books, but through people.

    Thank you, as always, Misty for your thoughtful wanderings through literature (and kitchens, and libraries, and imagined automobiles). I look forward to your next selection, whether chosen by instinct, curiosity, or the subtle guidance of a well-read cat. P.S. Say hello to Dave for me!!!

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  3. Oh, Misty, Misty, Misty. So much fun to catch up with you, my favorite feline! I appreciate the giggles and chortles – so many as I read – but this quip made the dog lover, nestled deep within, smile, smile, smile:
    “Shout-out to my dog readers, including Snoopy the Easter Beagle.” How generous you are to give airtime to the Easter Beagle. Best of luck wrangling Dave to do your bidding. I’ll be cheering for you! šŸ˜œšŸ’šŸ˜œ

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  4. Misty…. Misha here.

    Resa’s hands (& brain) need to get back to the show, so let me just say before she splits … that white stuff in the bowl looks a lot like leftover cereal milk…delicious!

    Go for it! Bowl breaks, spoon flips and hits someone or you get caught, it won’t matter if you get the milk.

    Just lay on the cutest ever – “I thought that was for me” look, followed by the heartbreaking – “I’m so sorry and had no idea” look.

    That milk has got to be very tasty!

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    • Ha, Misha and Resa! šŸ˜‚Ā So funny! That’s a sound plan for getting to the white stuff — and of course cats would never “cry over spilled milk.” šŸ™‚ As I also mentioned in a reply to Chris Hall, Misty is a fan of almond milk, too. But he’s never written an article for “Beverage World” magazine. A future aspiration…

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  5. Hi Misty, always nice to see your latest post, and I know there are always interesting. What a pretty bowl as you peer up to see whatā€™s going onā€¦ more nice thoughts, I imagine. More good books I seeā€¦ and no dropping this time I hear, seems sensible, eh? Pleased that you have the proper food and stuff. Itā€™s very similar what that other catā€¦ you know, Luna, the one who also uses FB, well sheā€™s a bit older than you. Sprightly we would say. šŸˆšŸˆā€ā¬›

    So enjoy your lovely spring, you Misty and Dave too. See you soon! āœØ

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  6. Dear Misty!

    I hope the approach of spring will help your arthritis!

    Thank you for your lovely blog post. I have wanted to read ‘Rebecca’ ever since I saw the movie on Netflix and thought it was great!

    I haven’t read anything by Peter May, what is ‘The Blackhouse’ about? Is it a mystery?

    Thanks Misty,

    Enjoy the spring!

    Sharon šŸ˜ŗ

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  7. Not just a well-read cat, but one that can write really well. I love the associative style. And, since anything goes in this post and I’m lying awake thrown by what BBC World Service is reporting, I feel urged to recommend reading the capstone Library of America volume of Joan Didion’s essential writings. It’s difficult to imagine the voice of reason being represented stronger than in Didion’s writings. Read her. Read her.

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    • Thank you, Dingenom! Misty greatly appreciates the praise. šŸ™‚

      We’re definitely living in a time when listening to any news service is ultra-depressing. šŸ˜¦

      Joan Didion is a writer I somehow haven’t read much of over the years, though I know of several of her books.

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  8. Good to hear from you once more, Misty, and I’m glad to hear that you’re looking after your health. I’m glad to hear that you awakened Dave to the dangers of AI ‘writing’, and I’m sure you also pointed him in the direction of Audrey Driscoll’s blog on the subject. You’ve got a good list of books up there for him to read too, so wonderful that you’re keeping him on the straight and narrow. All the best to you and hope you’re enjoying a restful weekend. See you next time. šŸ™‚

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  9. So good to see you doing a post, Misty! We don’t like AI at all either, not in books and art. And, although as a visual artist I’d have been drawn in by the topic of color variation, I did not read Fifty Shades of Grey after I found out it wasn’t about that. Cool walk today!

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    • Thank you, Leah! I hear you; I also try to avoid AI whenever possible. And — ha! šŸ˜‚ — your “Fifty Shades of Grey” reference. Glad you enjoyed Misty’s walk of this morning! Strange how those three pine cones ended up right next to each other; I didn’t stage that. šŸ™‚

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  10. Hi Misty, you are a very entertaining writer. It must be because you are such a well read cat. Iā€™m glad to know Dave is reading Rebecca. I thought it was a wonderful gothic novel. In fact, I think it is my favourite gothic novel. I am reading The World According to harp. A strange book reminiscent for me of The Incredible Lightness of Being. It is unusual but sometimes I wonder why some books become so famous. Happy Easter šŸ£

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  11. Michael Crichton was an MD (Harvard) but never practiced. He decided to write The Andromeda Strain instead. He has written many books which have been made into movies.

    I would advise Misty to check the credentials of the Vets dispensing those meds and shots. Make sure they practice on a regular basis. I’ve heard that nurses practice giving shots on oranges.

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    • Thank you, Ada! I just looked online to see what kind of doctor Alexander McCall Smith is/was, and it seems he was a professor of medical law — which is close enough. šŸ™‚ Such a prolific author!

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  16. I thought I’d add to the list of doctors who are also writers. Two whose books I’ve read recently are Adam Kay (THIS IS GOING TO HURT, about his experiences as a junior doctor in a London hospital; it is painfully funny) and Abraham Verghese, who wrote two brilliant books that I loved, CUTTING FOR STONE and THE CONVENANT OF WATER. Medical doctors are protagonists in both of Verghese’s books.

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