cover image The Devious Book for Cats: A Parody

The Devious Book for Cats: A Parody

Fluffy, Bonkers. Villard Books, $16 (213pp) ISBN 978-0-345-50849-2

A GLEEFUL RIFF ON THE DANGEROUS BOOK FOR BOYS (AND ITS FOLLOWERS), THIS COLLECTION OF FELINE\x81FS-EYE-VIEW ESSAYS IS A MOSTLY WINNING EFFORT FROM PAST AND PRESENT STAFFERS OF PARODY NEWSPAPER THE ONION. LESS CRINGE-WORTHY THAN ITS PREDECESSOR, THE DANGEROUS BOOK FOR DOGS, GARDEN AND THE GANG FOCUS ON A LITANY OF CAT QUIRKS AND BEHAVIORS THAT SHOULD GIVE CAT OWNERS A NOD AND CHUCKLE ON PRACTICALLY EVERY PAGE. INCLUDING A FIELD GUIDE TO CARDBOARD BOXES, PROFILES OF FAMOUS FELINES LIKE GARFIELD (\x81GTHE TEN TON GORILLA IN THE COMICS ROOM\x81H), THE THREE WAVES OF FELINISM AND AN ILLUSTRATED GUIDE TO NAPPING POSITIONS, THE BOOK LENDS ITSELF TO CASUAL PERUSAL, THOUGH CAT FANCIERS WILL LIKELY CONSUME IT IN ONE SITTING. LIKE LISTENING IN ON CAT-TO-CAT COMMUNICATIONS, READERS ARE TREATED TO TACTICS FOR \x81GGETTING AWAY WITH IT,\x81H EXPLANATIONS OF \x81GWHAT\x81FS IN THERE?\x81H AND THE \x81GLEGEND OF THE CRAZY CAT LADY\x81H (A CAT\x81FS CAMPFIRE SCARE STORY). ROUNDED OUT WITH ORIGINAL LARKS LIKE A TV GUIDE-STYLE PROGRAM SCHEDULE FOR THE WINDOW (\x81G4:00 P.M.: PARALLEL PARKING. WATCH AS SUSIE CROOK FAILS THE TEST AGAIN\x81H) THIS FUNNY COLLECTION BOASTS AN IMPRESSIVE HIT-TO-MISS RATIO WHILE MANAGING TO AVOID CUTE OVERLOAD.