Guest book review by Peter J Wolf
There are, it seems to me, two approaches to writing a good adventure story. A writer can either draw the reader anxiously along toward an uncertain ending, or disclose the outcome up front and let the reader settle into the adventure itself. I don’t imagine either approach is easy, but the writer who gives away the ending, does, I think, take on some particularly daunting challenges. To do it well—to produce a page-turner—as Allan Goldstein has done with The Confessions of a Catnip Junkie, is therefore commendable.
Catnip Junkie is the story of two-year-old Doo Doo, a restless orange tabby whose curiosity takes him coast-to-coast and back again, told from the perspective of an older, much wiser cat. “I am two cats,” he says. “The Doo Doo who was born of this story and the Doo Doo who lived it, fourteen years ago.”
Perhaps it’s this dual role that makes Doo Doo such a charismatic narrator, his confessions so compelling. Speaking of which, I have a confession of my own: I was a little hesitant to delve into Catnip Junkie. Four-hundred pages of cat-speak? Really? (Confession #2: I do talk to my cats, and more often than not reply—a different voice for each of them—on their behalf. Still, I do my best to spare others.) Once I picked it up, though, I found the book difficult to put down—due, in no small part, to the numerous scrapes recounted by a feline protagonist once “full of lust, mostly wanderlust.”
“I have dreams of that used-to-be-me cat being trapped all the time. He was always plotting an escape, making an escape, escaping. I wonder, how could a cat get himself stuck so often? Fourteen years later that is still a marvel to me, even more than his whiskersbreadth escapes. He still brags about those, the cat-who-used-to-be-me thought he was pretty slick. He was, but he was also an idiot. I can see that now, but he couldn’t.”
But Catnip Junkie is surprisingly touching, too—more so, I suppose, for anybody who’s ever had a cat go missing. In the end, the need to be with his people proves more powerful than the catnip that lured him away. “Having loving humans,” confesses Doo Doo, is “like the late-morning sun on your back, a belly full of food, and a head floating in the bright clouds of nipland, only better.”
With motivation like that, it’s no wonder this hero’s journey is such a delight to settle into.
ENTER TO WIN!
One lucky reader is going to receive a copy of The Confessions of a Catnip Junkie. To enter, please leave a comment on this post. The winner will be chosen in a random drawing on September 29. One entry per person. This giveaway includes free shipping to addresses in the US and Canada.
September 22nd, 2010 at 6:10 pm
It’s definitely on my list of books to read…and Doo Doo looks just like our Henry…I look forward to the read.
September 22nd, 2010 at 6:13 pm
I often look into my cats eyes and wonder what they might be thinking and what they might like to say if I were clever enough to understand them. I guess I am not along in that respect. Looking forward to reading this one.
September 22nd, 2010 at 6:16 pm
Well, now, I’ll certainly read this one. Plus, it sounds suspiciously like THE perfect gift for all my ‘cat people’ friends……
September 22nd, 2010 at 6:42 pm
GREAT…ready to read. Send it my way:)
September 22nd, 2010 at 6:54 pm
Looks like a good book. Can’t wait to read it!
September 22nd, 2010 at 6:57 pm
this looks so good! I love novels about cats!
September 22nd, 2010 at 7:00 pm
Oh how exciting, what a beautiful story!
September 22nd, 2010 at 7:04 pm
Love to win this book..I love all cat books. susan Leech
September 22nd, 2010 at 7:06 pm
I’d love the chance to read this book. It sounds delightful.
September 22nd, 2010 at 7:11 pm
Were a four cat household, we have many voices. Moms been trying to wright our story for 4 yrs.Taz is our little book cover.Maybe someday but untill then will read others adventures.
September 22nd, 2010 at 7:14 pm
looks like a great read, i hope i win a free copy!
September 22nd, 2010 at 7:24 pm
Can’t wait to read this one. I must say, I love the cover!!
September 22nd, 2010 at 7:31 pm
sounds like a great read, would love to win it
September 22nd, 2010 at 7:34 pm
HAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!! Sounds awesome! What an honor to win and if we did, I would donate it to the gift table to raise money for the rescue kitties!
September 22nd, 2010 at 7:36 pm
I want this!!!
September 22nd, 2010 at 7:38 pm
A book I would like to read – too many dog-centric bestsellers – about time for the felines!
September 22nd, 2010 at 7:44 pm
I, too, wondered at first how good a book with a cat as narrator could be; however, this story sounds very interesting! I’d very much like to read it!
September 22nd, 2010 at 7:45 pm
Our fur mummy has lots of books and we like to lay on her tummy while she reads on the couch – Tiger, Kobe and Swoosh!
September 22nd, 2010 at 7:48 pm
Sounds like my cup of tea. If I don’t win a copy, I’ll be checking my public library.
September 22nd, 2010 at 7:50 pm
sounds like a fun read
September 22nd, 2010 at 7:52 pm
sounds lovely
September 22nd, 2010 at 8:05 pm
Wow, this sounds like a cool epic journey! I’m up for reading this. Earlier this year, I read White Fang by Jack London; highly recommend reading about the civilized world from a wolf’s perspective.
September 22nd, 2010 at 8:06 pm
How wonderful would this be on the coffee table?! The boys would love it!
September 22nd, 2010 at 8:16 pm
Sounds like a great read! I’m not sure if my cat will have the attention span to get through it, but I sure will!
September 22nd, 2010 at 8:31 pm
Looks like a fun book for any cat lover! Thanks for the chance!
September 22nd, 2010 at 8:37 pm
I LOVE TO READ, AND READING ABOUT MY FAVORITE CREATURES,
WILL BE SO MUCH FUN.
September 22nd, 2010 at 8:50 pm
There is nothing better than a good book…unless its a good book about CATS!!
September 22nd, 2010 at 8:57 pm
I’m curious to read what this cat has to say.
September 22nd, 2010 at 8:59 pm
I want to read this to Flip and Stinky.
September 22nd, 2010 at 9:46 pm
Just put this on the must read list – sounds marvelous!
September 22nd, 2010 at 9:56 pm
to neat a must read in my book
September 22nd, 2010 at 10:07 pm
I have a cat, a feral named Petey who adopted me, and moved right in to the house. He has turned up missing, 2 days now I call him every day, and look every day, maybe he will come home like the Catnip Junkie did, knowing I love him so..I miss him. But I keep looking, in the meantime, I could be reading the book to get me through until he returns! Love the title and told by a cat, even better!!
September 22nd, 2010 at 10:26 pm
Cats + books = awesomeness.
September 22nd, 2010 at 10:33 pm
sounds interesting! Would love to get a copy
September 22nd, 2010 at 10:56 pm
Delighted grin here. I converse with our cats all the time. Between nuance, context and body language (and don’t forget volume!) we understand each other rather well. So the concept of cat narrator – sounds like an enjoyable read.
September 22nd, 2010 at 11:28 pm
I LOVE orange tabbies and am owned by several. I’d like to see if they are as good at writing and storytelling as they are as general loving companions, LOL.
September 23rd, 2010 at 12:36 am
^. .^
= J =
September 23rd, 2010 at 3:40 am
Don’t have much time on my hands but this would a definate must read for me. Maybe it would give me some inside information for the cats at work(25) and my doll babies at home(25). I would love to win this.
September 23rd, 2010 at 3:56 am
I loved this book. Like Peter, I really wasn’t sure about reading an entire book in “cat speak,” and I certainly never expected a page turner. I couldn’t put this one down. Great review! (Don’t enter me in the contest).
September 23rd, 2010 at 4:07 am
My cat believes she wrote the book!
September 23rd, 2010 at 5:12 am
Now this is my kind of book! And my cats could add many chapters!
September 23rd, 2010 at 5:57 am
Always looking for a good story to share with the cats!
September 23rd, 2010 at 6:10 am
I love books about cats…..and my cats love catnip……the book would be perfect on my coffee table.
September 23rd, 2010 at 7:02 am
How awesome is this? I say pretty darn awesome!
September 23rd, 2010 at 7:23 am
Sounds like a great book. I will have to read it.
September 23rd, 2010 at 7:35 am
Sounds like a good book!! I have to read it!
September 23rd, 2010 at 7:38 am
Hmm..Should be a good read.
September 23rd, 2010 at 7:43 am
I can only imagine this book to be a great read. Your review was great. Thanks.
September 23rd, 2010 at 7:48 am
Sounds like a great read! And cover photo looks just like my daughter’s cat Five.
September 23rd, 2010 at 7:59 am
Sounds like a great read. After finishing the book, I will definitely have to share it with my animal-loving friends.