by JULIAN WORKER;
An Adventure Book Review by Erin the Cat Princess©
Hello, and welcome to my Saturday Book Review featuring Adventures in Fiction!
This week, for our adult followers and feline loving fans everywhere, we have the UTTER DELIGHT of reviewing a book by JULIAN WORKER, called DIARY OF A BUDDHIST CAT.
Julian also writes mystery adventures as well as travel books. Born in the UK, he has travelled to almost 100 countries across the globe. He currently lives and works in Vancouver, Canada.
This book features Freddie, a three ish year old black and white cat.
DIARY OF A BUDDHIST CAT, by JULIAN WORKER
Published by: MIRADOR PUBLISHING.
Paperback ISBN: 978 – 1 – 914965 – 14 -2
Cover price for Paperback £11.99, KINDLE £2.99
Pages 245.
Published: 19 September 2021
Age range: Upper YA and Adult.
Any Cats? Oh yes!
Category: Clean adult humour.
SPOILER ALERT?
No spoilers here.
Disclaimer.
We were lucky enough to see and down load for free this book on NetGalley, and only too happy to share this unsponsored review with you.
The plot
Freddie is a black and white cat determined to follow the Buddhist path. It was the only book on religion his previous human had. But when that human throws Freddie at the vet rather than pay the bill, Freddie’s life changes. Made well by the kindly vet, he is adopted into a new home with John and Mary, two loving, caring, and quite normal and educated humans. They had previously adopted Gemma, a feline with a grudge against humans in general, for their fascist jackboot ways. Her reason is that some humans took her kittens away from her when she most needed them for support. Now, she refuses to kowtow to their oppressive ways, despite John’s and Mary’s kindness.
Gemma and Freddie do not get on. The relationship is based on the severity of Gemma’s sneers, ranging from 1, being ‘Ignorant cat’, to 6, being ‘enemy of cat kind’. Needless to say, Freddie gets a lot of sneers in the 5 and 6 range.
Freddie, though, is very passive, as you would expect from a Buddhist. He seeks to find common ground and treat everyone, even Gemma, with respect and kindness, helping where he can to ease her suffering and pain.
Now, if you hadn’t surmised already, I need to mention that Freddie is an educated cat who likes to read books and experience life. So much so that he goes into his garden and befriends the resident crow family, and Rufus, the local squirrel. They introduce him to Holly, the hamster who’s cage sits inside on the next door window ledge.
Very soon, with the help of his new pals, he is off in pursuit of educating himself in the fine arts and philosophers of the human world. But true to his beliefs, he is helping his new friends fulfil their own academic, sightseeing and high-flying goals. And how does he do this, you may ask? Answer: By entering and borrowing from the next door library, of course! The antics and chaos that ensue are hilarious and priceless. All of which is unseen by his human companions, but not so their neighbour, Penny, who tries to film it all on her phone.
So, what did we think?
From a rather unassuming fun cover comes what I think is a small gem. Told in first person as a series of Freddie’s diary entries, this book will impart to the careful reader far more than at face value. It is a masterpiece of observation and insight into not only felines but humans too. More than this, an entertaining storyline sets this apart from far more mundane fictional works on feline and human relationships.
For me, this is what truly makes this a stand out tale and a tour de force of entertainment and insight. Actions have consequences, even more so when species mix. And here they unfold so well and funnily that it was impossible not to turn the page and laugh and giggle aloud.
A must-read for anyone seeking a more educated, tongue in cheek fun, and thought-provoking read. I’ll be delving more into the author’s other works (both fact and fiction), as the writing style is very appealing.
I also find that I want to know more about Freddie’s adventures. Whether we get to know more or not, I don’t know. But I bought the paperback and will re-read it periodically to remind myself of the balance of life and all such good things. And yes, we will also laugh unashamedly at what happened to Angela in the library, and to that poor, poor dog of Penny’s!
****** HOT OFF THE PRESS! ******
Julian has told me there WILL be a sequel!!! Get this one now and be ready for when the sequel arrives.
So . . . .
Crunch time.
We thoroughly recommend this book. And you don’t have to have a cat companion or be a budding Buddhist to like this story. Nor be a philosopher or connoisseur of, ahem, ‘fine art’ to appreciate the insight and humour woven carefully into the pages.
Want to buy a copy?
To get copy, please do head down your own karma filled path to enightment and spread the love at your local independent bookshop.
JULIAN WORKER’s web page can be found HERE. https://julianworkerwriter.blog/
MIRADOR Publishing’s web page can be found HERE. https://miradorpublishing.com/
If any authors, publishers wish us to review their books, please do get in touch. Details are listed on our book review page.
And now a picture of ME!
Till later!
ERin
Erin, you sure are ZEN!
That sounds like a fun book! We all need to giggle betimes! Esp in these days and years, now, of Covid-mess.
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We cats do a lot of Zen. But I do need to stop mousing to be a real Buddhist! This is true. A fun read helps loads. Well worth a buy on kiddle if you cant get the paperback.
ERin
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Mew mew mew ERin Purricness this soundss furry kewl. Do you reememburr ‘angel’ Purrince Siddhartha was a Buudhist man cat on his path to Enlitenment….beefore his life was cut short bye illness?
BellaSita Mum was going to help him rite his teechinss an then hee was gone….
Wee think this book will bee furabluss!
An to not go mousin an birdin meenss you are practicin AHIMSA~non-innjury to all life formss! 😉 Mee not furry Buudhist butt mee doess know Unkell’ss teechinss…. 😉
***nose rubss*** BellaDharma an (((huggiess))) BellaSita Mum
Pee S: Wee on Chaptur 3 of “Moon Over Soho” an it iss SO-O guud!!! Wee ADOOR Mistur Peter THE Magick Policeman! ❤
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Yes, we recall, and a very noble cat Prince Siddhartha was too, and still is.
Thanks for the explanation of what we are doing. It seems the best thing for cats and all uan ind too. Please do still write that book. The world needs more good books along the lines of Siddhartha’s and Freddie’s.
The Rivers of London series is awesome. Maybe you could both do a review of the books so far? I am sure folks would enjoy it and the books too.
Purrs
ERin
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Mee-yow wee not want to cut innto YORE book reeviewss ERin Purrincess an Missus H!! That wuud not bee rite…..
Howefurr if it iss OKay wee cuud reeview THE 2 bookss once BellaSita finishess #2 book?!
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Of course you can do book reviews! They are not mine to solely do. The more great books we all share the better reading options we all have 🙂 I shall look forwards with bated breath for the first of many great reviews from you both.
Purrs
ERin
PS there are 8 books in the series and all great fun 🙂
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I love the photo of you. I want to kiss that adoravble little nose. Happy Tuxie Day!! I hope you get extra treats. This book looks really good. XO
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Well worth a giggle and laugh. Plus one to re-read too as the meanings are quite relevant to humans 🙂
ERin
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We went right to Kindle and bought a copy. We have read all but the latest volume of “The Dalai Lama’s Cat” too.
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That is great, Mary, and thank you. I hope you wll find this as interesting as I did. I just couldnt help but laugh at a lot of the things that went on so innocently in Freddies eyes. We will review the sequel as and when it hits these shores. PLus we will be reading the Dalai Lama’s Cat, as a recommendation in the same sphere seems too good to miss. Plese do share how you get on with this book.
ERin
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That does sound like a good one that is so well thought out, plus a sequel coming too!
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I think you might enjoy the humour, and tthe relevance too.
ERin
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Adding this to my authors and creatives shares on FB and Twitter. This looks a lovely book.
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Thank you, I know you and the staff team will enjoy the depths of this book and humour too. 🙂
ERin
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You look so sweet and purretty Erin. Sounds like a good read. Hope you have a pawsum week. Big hugs
Luvs ya’
RaenaBelle and Zebby
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Thank you, you all too.
Purrs
ERin
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What a great review of a, as it sounds, marvellous book, Erin and your picture is so cute💗Pawkisses for a Happy Day🐾😽💞
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