“What Cats Do” Book Tag

Time for a book tag because I want to put up a post today but I don’t feel like working on any of the book reviews that I have piled up. So, yes, something fun today, and it’s the What Cats Do Book Tag, which was created by Kate at MeltingPotsandOtherCalamities.

There is a very handsome black cat residing in my house that I call Shadow Cat (because he follows us around like a shadow or an assassin — which I think he’s training to be) and the Jinster (because I think he has a wicked sense of humor), and I sometimes feature him on IG when I get bored while working from home. I’m pretty sure he’s tired of having me in the house by now.

I never thought the day would come when I’d have a pet in my house or find myself liking a cat, but 2020 was a year of shocking surprises, and the Jinster was one of them. Anyway, to the tag!

Purr — Cats do this when they’re happy or relaxed
What book makes you happy or relaxed?

Okay, so at first I didn’t know cats purr when they are happy or relaxed, so when the Jinster was still a kitten and he purred, I thought that was a warning I should heed by stopping what I was doing and quickly run away.

Witched Abroad by Terry Pratchett

I think the Discworld books will become ones I’ll turn to when I need a happy or comforting read. Last year, I read Witches Abroad while struggling with a reading slump, and it helped to get me back into the reading mood. It was such a fun read that plays with fairytale tropes. In it, the Ramtop witches — Granny Weatherwax, Nanny Ogg, and Magrat Garlick — go abroad to foreign parts to stop a girl from marrying a prince. They get into lots of shenanigans along the way.

Sleep
What book put you to sleep or was just boring?

Hmm… do cats sleep more as they get older? The Jinster used to run around a lot more last year than he does now. He was born about mid-summer. He’s still pretty energetic — or just bored from sleeping so much — and sometimes spends time galloping all over the house making it sound like we have more than just one cat in here.

Blythewood by Carol Goodman

It’s the first novel in a YA paranormal, historical fiction series about a girl who grew up poor and later learns she’s from a wealthy family that has a tradition of sending their young women to a boarding school in upstate New York where they are taught to protect the world from fairy creatures. The premise sounds interesting, but the beginning is slow. I fall asleep every time I pick it up. I ended up DNF’ing it.

Twitch while dreaming
Have you ever dreamt of a book you read?

I’ve yet to observe this in the Jinster, I think. He tends to wake up whenever I get close… but that could be because I start petting him.

Feed by Mira Grant

I have dreamt of what I read. It’s happened a couple times. I can’t remember the dreams or which story I dreamt about, but I think Mira Grant’s Feed was one of them. Mira Grant is a pseudonym for Seanan McGuire and Feed is a horror novel with zombies that reads more like a political thriller. It’s set after the zombie apocalypse has occurred and focuses on a blog news crew as they follow a presidential campaign trail. It’s a pretty good read.

Seems to play nice… until the claws are out
Which book had the biggest plot twist(s)?

The Jinster tends to play nice… except for those moments when he thinks your feet are the enemy and he should attack them… or he decides to go all Shadow Cat on us and hunkers down at the top of the stairs or behind walls waiting for us to draw closer and then jumps out, feigning an attack when we draw near. I swear he wants to be an assassin cat when he grows up.

Bridgerton

I just wanted to mention this show, lol! I’ve already started to rewatch it. I enjoyed it so much and am in love with all the colors and costumes and hairstyles in it. I went with the poster above because the queen is one of my favorite characters. I love how the actress portrays her. Anyway, lots of plot twists in Bridgerton that I didn’t see coming, especially who Whistledown is…

Cuddles
Which book character would you give a hug to?

The Jinster is a cuddle puff sometimes. He’s the most affectionate cat I know… or maybe he’s just a huge attention whore. He’ll block the computer screen or walk and abruptly stop in front us or just jump into whatever it is we’re working on just to get us to pet him.

Assassin’s Fate by RObin Hobb

I’d give Fitz a hug because he needs it. Also, I just wanted to mention a Robin Hobb book. They are great and you should give them a try if you don’t mind epic fantasy. Start with Assassin’s Apprentice.

Catnip
Which book gave you warm and fuzzy feels?

Hmm… I don’t think the Jinster has had catnip yet. He’s not my cat, btw. He’s my brother’s. I just pet, annoy, and play with him sometimes.

First Frost by Sarah Addison Allen

The last book that did that was First Frost, which is a very light fantasy novel (I guess) set in a quirky town in North Carolina and is about the women of the Waverley family, who are known for their garden that has a tree that bears prophetic fruit. It’s a sweet read.

Cat breeds
What are your favorite books?

I do wonder what breed the Jinster is. He is a black cat. That’s all I know. Is “black cat” a breed?

Hello Lighthouse by Sophie Blackall (illus.)

I have many favorite books, so I instead mentioned one that made my 2020 favorites list. Hello Lighthouse is a children’s historical fiction picture book about a lighthouse keeper. I learned quite a bit about lighthouses from it, and the illustrations are wonderful.

Getting the cat
How did you find your favorite book(s)?

I have no idea how my brother got the Jinster. He just popped up with a little black kitten one day and said he “got it from a friend.” And I responded with a suspicious “sure.”

Bookstore

The cover of Hello Lighthouse kept calling to me until I finally bought it.

Vet’s Office
Your least favorite book

A vet’s office sounds like a scary place to me. Too many animals in one spot that’s not a zoo.

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

I’m one of few who does not like this YA contemporary novel. The story, the characters, the dialogue… none of it worked for me, and I haven’t tried a John Green book since.

Being in places they shouldn’t
Least favorite cliché

Aha! Oh yes. The Jinster loves to surprise us by popping up in the oddest places at the most unlikely moments. I think it’s part of his Shadow Cat assassin training.

Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas

I decided to focus on a trope instead that I often see in YA fantasy and that’s the ever-present love triangle. I. Do. Not. Like. It. I decided to feature Throne of Glass for this category since it’s another story I didn’t like much and it has a love triangle.

Good, old cardboard box
Most underrated book series

It’s in the fall, I think, that I began noticing that the Jinster likes such things to settle himself in — cardboard boxes, large purses, a tidy stack of paper, cushions neatly placed on the sofa especially if they form little nooks. He just loves to place himself in close, cozy spots, often the ones we don’t want him in.

The Monstrumologist by Rick Yancey

It’s a YA paranoral, historical fiction quartet about a boy who serves as an assistant to a scientist who studies monsters. It’s so engrossing and well written. I wish it was talked about more.

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Well, that was quite long and chatty — couldn’t help myself.

Consider yourself tagged if you love cats or have a pet cat.

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