Scratching the Surface
When Mary Shomon, the Thyroid Guide wrote me awhile back about the new book she had written, I was anxious to review it here. I knew if it could live up to its title, it would be a great book, and I wasn't disappointed a bit. This book spoofs of all those things we hold sacred: cats, the Internet, and societal icons, and does it with cunning use of puns and terrific graphics, starring several friends' cats.
The book starts with a no-nonsense introduction, making it clear to the human reader that the content is intended strictly for cats. It includes a blacked-out screen containing all the computer secrets of cats, with assurance that human eyes will not be able to read them, to which I can attest. The introduction closes with an exortation to never allow your human to know that you know.
No one is spared. The "Socks-Web" page, "Inside the White House with the First Cat", has a handy little "Bill 'N' Socks Excuse Generator. You can pick scandals you wish to avoid, such as "Slept with", "Peed on", or "Pawed", and the Excuse Generator creates a number of excuses such as "Don't remember", "Wasn't there", "The dog did it".
"Deepcat Chowdown" espouses "The Seven Spiritual Laws of Laziness", and the "Microfuzzy-'n'-soft" page has an hilarious catacature of the CEO with a mouse between his teeth. The "Opurrah" site lists this months selection from Opurrah's Book Club: "I know Why the Caged Bird Doesn't Sing, by Ourrah's idol, Meowya Angelou, and features "Shopaholicats and new treatment programs". There's a "Be all that you can be, if you really want to" page that exhorts you to join the "Cat-Navy". "Join the few, the proud, the slightly damp." You'll chuckle at the antics on WWW.GOODOLDCATS.COM, celebrating Redneck Cats, and get your fill of dirt from Joan Rivercat's Celebrity Gossip Site. "Richard Mittens' 'Squeal a Meal' offers help for paunchy cats at the "Fat Cat Weight Loss Centers" page.
I spent a happy hour going through this book, but it's not the kind of book you'll read and put away. You find yourself hauling it out again and again, as each page is crammed full of humorous take-offs. You'll find something new each time you open it. Portions of the book can be previewed at its own site.
Scratching the Net: Web Sites for Cats
by Mary Shoman and Jon Mathis
Andrews McMeel Publishing
ISBN 0836268180
Order the Book
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