Comments on things mean a lot: “What the Cat Told Me” by Diana Wynne Jones (and a...

Thanks to everyone who entered - I'll announce...

2010-08-10T09:07:44.149+01:00

Thanks to everyone who entered - I'll announce the winner later today!

Sounds wonderful.

2010-08-10T00:32:18.053+01:00

Sounds wonderful.

I've been interested in reading Fire & Hem...

2010-08-09T21:52:18.210+01:00

I've been interested in reading Fire & Hemlock since hearing about it over at Jenny's Books. I'm a singer of and listener to English traditional music, so I'd like to take a look at a novelistic version of Tam Lin after hearing the song for so long. Also, my girlfriend is always going on about how good Diana Wynne Jones is, and I've only read the Dalemark books, so it'd be good to get some more exposure.

I would love to win Fire and Hemlock because Diana...

2010-08-08T21:08:14.337+01:00

I would love to win Fire and Hemlock because Diana Wynne Jones is my favorite author and it's the only one of her books that I don't own and can't get from my local library. I read it a long time ago and loved how Polly and Tom bonded over books.

I am a huge cat lover but confess that I've ne...

2010-08-08T11:46:30.597+01:00

I am a huge cat lover but confess that I've never actually read a book about cats - might have to add this one to the list :)

Oh Ana, your post made me miss my cat so much more...

2010-08-07T16:49:03.023+01:00

Oh Ana, your post made me miss my cat so much more! I have to read this story by DWJ - I don't know if I have it, so thanks for putting it on my radar. I love her work, and can't imagine that I've missed this story by her! DWJ and cats!

Beautiful post, Ana! I loved the first lines of th...

2010-08-07T12:57:16.581+01:00

Beautiful post, Ana! I loved the first lines of the story! It made me remember a line from Rudyard Kipling's 'Jungle Book', where Bagheera, the Panther asks Mowgli to rub under his jaw. Panthers are also cats, aren't they :)

This short story sounds fantastically awesome! Lov...

2010-08-07T06:25:27.936+01:00

This short story sounds fantastically awesome! Love the excerpt.

I was bummed when I learned Fire and Hemlock is ou...

2010-08-07T02:44:39.779+01:00

I was bummed when I learned Fire and Hemlock is out of print too. I tried to search my libraries but they don't have it. I want to read it because it's your and Jenny's favorite DWJ (also your top favorite books for my Best Books project!). Would love to be entered into the giveaway. Cross fingers! :)

OK, how do I not know about DWJ? HOW? Ok, am going...

2010-08-06T20:16:51.144+01:00

OK, how do I not know about DWJ? HOW? Ok, am going to the library this weekend to recify this situation.

Those first sentences of "What the Cat Told M...

2010-08-06T17:59:00.027+01:00

Those first sentences of "What the Cat Told Me" *are* really wonderful. I'm not even that fond of cats, but that's great. (OK, I guess I'm pretty fond of cats, but less fond of cats than I am of dogs or rabbits.) It reminds me, too, of the cat-related parts of Dogsbody, which I just read - that same compelling representation of "our idea of catness," as you put it.

Please enter me in the giveaway - I'm reading (and loving!) Fire and Hemlock right now - but it's a library copy. I'm just up to the start of the "where now?" section and seem to be annoying my boyfriend slightly by the fact that all I want to do in my free time right now is read this book. (On the train in the morning? Reading. At home post-work? Reading. Sitting in the park half-listening to a band I am not familiar with? Reading.)

Uhm, but wasn't Nikola Tesla a guy? *is confus...

2010-08-06T16:10:25.518+01:00

Uhm, but wasn't Nikola Tesla a guy? *is confused*.

Love the beginning. If a cat could talk, s/he would say exactly that. "I came in here because I knew you were good at stroking": hehehehehehehe. Love, love, love the picture of the black cat. It looks a bit like mine. So black and cuddly. *squishes kitty* *kitty desperately tries to escape from her clutches*. Lol.

I've loved DWJ since I was in middle school, b...

2010-08-06T15:33:35.081+01:00

I've loved DWJ since I was in middle school, but I haven't read Fire & Hemlock yet. Please enter me in the drawing. And you've also inspired me to start Unexpected Magic as well. I have so many more of her books I want to read and every recommendation makes me rethink my to-read list. Thanks for the posting!

Oh I HAVE to read this book! I love books, I love ...

2010-08-06T09:08:48.680+01:00

Oh I HAVE to read this book! I love books, I love cats - it's perfect!

The photo of the black cat you posted is what my cat The Boof looks like - so cute!

I'd love to be entered to win a book you loved. Thanks for the comp, Nymeth x

After reading the comments I realised that the fac...

2010-08-06T07:50:09.081+01:00

After reading the comments I realised that the fact that I asked why you want to read it kind of implies I'm excluding people who have read it but don't own it - which I totally didn't mean to! You're all welcome to enter of course!

What the Cat Told Me was excellent, and I really e...

2010-08-06T07:31:29.106+01:00

What the Cat Told Me was excellent, and I really enjoyed reading it a lot. The Cat is an excellent character, and the narration is top notch.

I've never really thought about the idea that the characters just keep going, but I think now that I've read it, I agree with it.

I would be interested in Fire and Hemlock, because I've never had the chance to read it before, and I love DWJ.

Oh, this sounds like a magical little read. Reall...

2010-08-06T04:31:19.410+01:00

Oh, this sounds like a magical little read. Really, I can definitely see that passing through a cats mind when arranging themselves just so. I think something similar happens with my dogs. LOL.
Thanks for sharing a look at this title...happy reading!

(Not an entry. ^_^)

I'd love the chance to win the book and finall...

2010-08-06T04:31:08.843+01:00

I'd love the chance to win the book and finally give DWJ a try. I'm really looking forward to reading her.

What the cat told me is a tale I want to hear! Als...

2010-08-06T02:31:31.447+01:00

What the cat told me is a tale I want to hear!
Also I want to reread Fire and Hemlock, which I got out of the library because, as everyone now knows, it's impossible to find a copy, even at places like Alibris or the used book shops in the nearest big town (I've tried).

I would like to read it because I've never rea...

2010-08-06T02:25:25.373+01:00

I would like to read it because I've never read any of her work. After reading this post I went to amazon and looked up more of her books, and they look like a lot of fun.

I am stopping on by from Jenny's Books, and sh...

2010-08-06T01:58:53.153+01:00

I am stopping on by from Jenny's Books, and she had posted about this giveaway! Great site, and I will be following!

Yes, please enter me in this giveaway chance!! I haven't read this book before, but I remember it being out in the stores as a kid and I never did pick it up!

I love DWJ - I could read Howl's over and over...

2010-08-06T01:38:06.663+01:00

I love DWJ - I could read Howl's over and over again :) Obviously I need something new :)

Oh, and I forgot to say that I would love a chance...

2010-08-06T00:57:47.781+01:00

Oh, and I forgot to say that I would love a chance to read Fire and Hemlock because I am thinking this author sounds more and more amazing after each review I read :)

That first line sounds remarkably like my flatmate...

2010-08-06T00:06:48.838+01:00

That first line sounds remarkably like my flatmate's cats.

I've been interested in FIRE AND HEMLOCK since Jenny and Eva started tweeting incessantly about it a few weeks back, so I'd love to entered to win.

I am a cat person myself, and I think they are fas...

2010-08-05T23:00:16.775+01:00

I am a cat person myself, and I think they are fascinating and narcissistic little things. Stein gave us The Art of Racing in the Rain, narrated by a dog. I would like more of them narrated by cats. Not wild ones, like the Warriors series, but domesticated ones. I'd love to read this short story, but I know I'd be wanting more.