Kitty Cornered

January 2, 2012
Journalist Tarte (Enslaved by Ducks) and his wife, Linda, already live with a menagerie of cats, rabbits, and birds. When new cat Frannie—a “wild child from the woods”—arrives, things are taken to a “whole new level of catdom.” Loosely arranged according to the chronology of Frannie’s entry into the family, the chapters in this loving but tedious book are essentially a series of vignettes about several of the household’s most prominent animals: Moobie, a sweet, aging cat who has a cancer scare; Lucy, a cat so grumpy that she “was a strong argument against ever taking in another living creature”; a group of unpleasant chickens; and an affectionate duck named Victor. The narrator is chatty and affable, up early in the morning to chop fruit for the birds, attentively holding one cat’s water bowl “like a sommelier with a dish for her to sample.” Nevertheless, the lack of tension causes the story to drag. Though the circumstances of this household are unique and offer opportunities for chagrin and slapstick, the book’s narrow scope will appeal only to the most devoted readers of pet narratives. Agent: Jeff Kleinman, Folio Literary Management.

March 1, 2012
A cat owner chronicles his feline-dominated household. A journalist by day, Tarte (Fowl Weather, 2007, etc.) has also entertained animal lovers for years with humorous tales from the veritable zoo of animals with whom he and his wife, Linda, share their Michigan home. Here the author depicts the six feline buddies who deign to cohabitate with him. Before the narrative begins, an illustrated map of the "Ground Floor of a House Overrun by Cats" and cast list including the six "Cats of Characters" suggest the playful tone to follow. Although as a pet owner Tarte demonstrates an uncommon enthusiasm for animals (his household also includes parrots, rabbits, geese, ducks and parakeets) and rare openness to helping any in distress, his journalistic objectivity and self-deprecating introspection lend heartwarming humor to this account of cat-inspired chaos. Though some of the hyperbolic, unnecessarily dramatic descriptions may take some getting used to, Tarte's more contemplative passages contain real insight into both human and feline behavior. Particularly moving is the author's self-assessment of his dynamic relation with his cats, as he depicts each with the care typically reserved for a beloved. Explaining his affinity for animals in general, Tarte writes: "I loved their attentiveness, the grace with which they dealt with problems, their tenacity, and just about every other attribute they had that I lacked." But what also helps normalize this tale is the author's humor in realizing when his and his wife's behavior exceeded normal pet-owner behavior. A funny, pleasing read for cat lovers of any age.

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March 15, 2012
With more than 50 geese, ducks, parrots, doves, and rabbits running around the place, Tarte's Michigan property more closely resembles a petting zoo than a suburban home. And if one would assume that the addition, one by one, of six cats would hardly make a dent in such a menagerie, well, then, one would be wrong. From lachrymose Lucy to moribund Moobie to feral Frannie, Tarte quickly learned that life with six cats is not all catnip and cream. As he endearingly portrays each cat's distinctive personality, recalls its heart-wrenching history, and recounts episodes of reality-TV-worthy feline shenanigans, Tarte also realistically conveys the challenges of integrating each new animal into an already overwhelmed household. Delivered with infectious whimsy, considerable self-deprecation, and admirable patience, Tarte's empathetic chronicle recalls the anxious episodes that helped put any moments of relative tranquility into hard-won perspective. Any human who has shared a life with one animal, let alone many, will immediately recognize the infinite joy and inherent frustration found in such a communal enterprise.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2012, American Library Association.)