Review + Author Interview: The One-Of-A-Kind Cat by Ciye Cho (Non-fiction, Humour, 10E/10E, short 'n' sweet review)

A must read!

2015, 127 pages, Ebook, Review copy 

Summary from Ciye's website

THE ONE-OF-A-KIND CAT BOOK is a whimsical treat for cat lovers everywhere. Dive into its pages to meet Catalina the narcissistic movie star, Kit the steampunk genius, and Guillaume the macaron chef. Browse through letters, notes, and photos to learn about mystery cats from Svalbard and the Amazon. Follow a detective as he unravels the crimes of “Murder Kitties.” 

The OOAK Cat Book is a grown-up picture book full of modern themes: a shameless search for fame (or infamy), an obsession with true crime, and our constant need for adventure and kawaii cats. The felines here will guide you to places like Paris, Varanasi, Woodstock, and the Great Barrier Ree

Nayu's thoughts 

I've read Ciye's previous books including Luminaire (Young Adult, 10E/10E mermaid read) so was delighted to see Ciye's cat themed work. An incredible insight in different types of cats with colourful pictures and a variety of article formats eg magazine article, letters, postcards etc. That description doesn't do the book justice, as it is amazing! The vibrant colours used really brings out the specific nature of each cat. I love cats, and found the unique insight fit their heavily changeable nature. 

I haven't done this yet but it's going to be fun working out which cat is most like mine. I enjoy simply looking at the illustrations, which are gorgeous. I'd happily buy merchandise featuring these cats, if any is ever made. They are perfect for cat lovers! 

Find out more on Ciye's website, which currently includes a free copy of the book! You won't be disappointed, promise! Here's a trailer to convince you...

Interview with Ciye Cho

Nayu: As I was already a fan of Ciye's mermaid series, I jumped at the chance to review The One-Of-A-Kind Cat book, plus the chance to chat to Ciye about what is an incredible read. 

What inspired you to produce such an incredible book about cats? 

Ciye: I've always been fascinated by cats. Someone recently asked me, “Why do you think cats are such a force on the Internet?” I paused for a while, then said, “Maybe because we see so much of ourselves in them.” Admittedly, I was just ‘throwing that out there’ without much thought. But what if that’s true? What if cats are a reflection of our quirks, eccentricities, and individual traits? Hmm… maybe I’m overthinking this. But hey, who doesn’t like looking at pictures of cats? 

 

How did you decide on which colours to use for each section? 

The concept behind each piece is a big influence on my color choices. For example, I wanted tie-dye-inspired colors for the hippy cats (to channel a trippy ’60s vibe). To me, color is a great way to convey some visual whimsy. 

How did you decide on each section? 

Each section revolves around a unique cat (or set of cats), so the sections came naturally. In essence, the OOAK Cat Book is a kooky compilation. The 16 different sections document the lives of 33 cats. It’s not just a story about cats, or just artwork, it involves much more which makes it incredibly realistic (and amusing to read) 

What made you decide to produce it like this, instead of in a different format? 

I wanted to tell stories without “telling stories”. I didn’t want to start each chapter with a chunk of exposition (e.g. “Once upon a time, there was a cat named so-and-so…”). Instead, I wanted folks to read magazine articles, explore clues, and piece together adventures through letters. For example, instead of telling you that Catalina is a narcissistic diva, I thought it would be fun to show her in a magazine article. What better way to understand her than via the lens of celebrity? (By the way, you can check out Catalina on Twitter @CatalinaTheStar — last I heard, she was at the Star Wars premiere in Paris!) I also wanted to show glimpses of far-off lands, so I tried to not only flesh out cats—but also foreign lands like Varanasi and Svalbard. 

Are any of the cats covered modelled on your own? (I’m guessing you have/had some) 

I grew up around cats, and all of them were definitely one-of-a-kind. No two felines are truly alike, and that is a grand truth that I’ve always been aware of… Thank you for the questions, Jessica!

The One-of-a-Kind Cat Book is currently only available via www.ciyecats.com
 

Blog Spotlight #1 Medical themed posts on Dennis's Blog!

This is an illustration from the featured blog, Dennis's Blog

Today's review is a little different. It's not for a book, or for a product. It's for a fun blog, called Dennis's blog! It involves amusing medical themed posts written from the view of a 13 year old boy who does work experience at his father's practice in Wales, which launched 1st January 2016.

The posts by Dennis the teen are highly amusing, especially if you have a fair amount of experience within a doctor's surgery. Set in the 1980s, each post is almost entirely accurate in medical facts, although naturally a little artistic license is used. 

The blog illustrator is Amanda Summers, who has her own website here.

 The blog is aimed at students from Y7 to Y9, with the hope that students interested in studying medicine will enjoy the insights it provides. 

While the illustrations aren't 100% a style that I love, they fit the feel of the entertaining posts which had me smiling a lot. A range of medical issues are explored, some more common than others, in a voice that has me adding this to the extremely short list of blogs which I regularly read. On average one post is put up each week, with extras slotted in every now and then. Go check it out on Dennis's Blog!

Simon's Cat: Kitten Chaos by Simon Tofield (Humour, 10/10)

December 2011, Canongate Books 

240 pages, Hardback, 

Personal copy 

Content: dark humour 

Summary from the Simon's Cat website

Simon's Cat returns! But this time, he's got company.

Packed full from cover to cover, this new book is bursting with detailed new drawings and great new characters!

What will he see and who exactly will he meet?

Nayuleska's thoughts 

Simon's cat is a hilarious cat who gets into lots of mischief. In this book, the cat's life is upturned by a new kitten. When I first saw the title I misread it and thought it said 'kitchen'. There are some scenes in the kitchen, but a lot are outside it. Every page made me laugh. Some of the jokes are a bit grim, which make them even funnier (yes my sense of humour can be dark which surprises some people). The jealousy between the two cats is accurately portrayed, and it's sweet how the kitten tries to copy the older cat in this 10/10 read. 

For more info check out the Simon's Cat website. 

Suggested read 

For more humourous cartoons with dark humour try Return of the Bunny Suicides by Andy Riley.

99 Dead Snowmen by Tony De Saulles (Humour, 10/10)

October 2012, Headline 

128 pages, Hardback

Review copy 

Themes: dark humour (involving death), evil bunnies, many ways of dying, occasional adult humour 

Summary from Headline

Stan the Snowman does not have the best of luck. In fact, it seems like everyone is out to get him. Beset by enemies on all sides, he is viciously attacked by an extraordinary array of things - old ladies, robins, super models, rabbits, hot water bottles, daffodils, chocolate flakes, evil cannibal snowmen... 

Nayuleska's thoughts 

I can freak out easily over things, which is why people who know me find it strange that I have a dark sense of humour. 99 Dead Snowmen made me laugh a lot. I possibly shouldn't have read it while feeling ill as some of the ways Stan died made me feel more than a little queasy, but it really cheered me up. The ways he dies are really inventive - an awful lot of work has gone into this (Hopefully that doesn't sound condescending or anything since all books involve hard work). Some of the deaths I wasn't surprised at, while others I'd never have thought of. My favourite deaths involved the bunnies. I felt that the positive ending would help relieve any distressed readers as to what happens to Stan. 

Be sure to check out Tony's website. 

Suggested read 

Definitely try out Return of the Bunny Suicides by Andy Riley for more dark humour with my favourite animal. 

The Donut Diaries of Dermot Mulligan by Anthony McGowan (9 years +)

4th August 2011, Corgi Children's

304 pages, Paperback

Review copy 

Children's, 9 years +

School life for boys, bullying, food obsession, family life, friendship, lots of donuts, fear, courage, ingenuity, oodles of humour

Summary from R books
Dermot Milligan’s got problems. He’s overweight and hooked on donuts. He has a pushy, over-achieving mother, and a father who spends all his time hiding in the loo. His sisters, Ruby and Ella (known as Rubella) attack him relentlessly from the opposite directions of Chav and Goth. And now, he's being sent to a nutritionist, Doctor Morlock, who looks like a Dementor from Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.

This diary is Doc Morlock's idea. Not only does Dermot have to write down how many donuts he eats, but also - and this is the really rubbish part - he has to talk about HIS FEELINGS! But things are about to get even worse - he's being separated from his friends and sent to St Michael’s, a posh school where he just knows he's going to stick out like a sore thumb. A sore thumb with a weight problem . . .

Nayuleska's reasons for loving Dermot - he doesn't give in to the bullies. He finds a way to hold his head high once and for all. 

How evil/nasty is the enemy? 12 year old boys who think the rule the school are nasty pieces of work. Publicly humiliating Dermot was horrid to read. The revenge was as sweet as donuts (the iced kind). 

Are there lots of plot twists and surprises? I guessed the general direction of the story, but I really don't have much of a clue about boys growing up so there were lots of unexpected emotions and fun events. I try not to say certain books are for boys, but there were a few pages that was definitely boy humour. 

My favourite part was...when Durmot learnt a surprising truth about his family, which gave everything a different light. 


I give this 10/10 (I might not have entirely enjoyed the boy humour but it was well written, suited the style of the book which addresses serious issues with a smile)

You can find out more about Anthony on his website.

Suggested read 

For a view on life of a girl with OCD, check out Zelah Green: Who Says I'm a Freak? by Vanessa Curtis, strong humour among the life issues examined. 

Tales From Witch Way Wood: Crash 'N' Bang by Kaye Umansky (7 years +)

April 2011, Bloomsbury

224 pages, Paperback

Review copy 

Children's, 7 years +, humour

Trolls, wrongly identified leprehcorns, dragons, sulking celebrities, unfortunate circumstances, value of friendship, fashionable fairy, lots of humour, tissues are needed twice at the end 

Summary from BloomsburyFilth is Witch Sludgegooey’s Fiend, Arthur the Dragon is precise, meticulous and lives with his mum, and O’Brian is a Leprechaun who is often mistaken for a Pixie. These three very different characters have two things in common – the band they play in (The Witchway Rhythm Boys) and the music they play (Crash ’n’ Bang). But they don’t get a chance to play Crash ’n’ Bang a lot as nobody likes it very much. Until, that is, The Thing in the Moonmad T-shirt becomes their manager and sets their sights higher – on the forthcoming music competition The Battle of the Bands, where they face stiff opposition from some terrifying Skeletons, Trolls and Gnomes.

The narrative is set in Witchway Wood and features welcome appearances for Pongwiffy fans of characters such as Scott Sinister, Ali Pali, Lulu Lamarre and Witch Sludgegooey, as well as the Witchway Rhythm Boys themselves.
With appearances from a Fairy set on revenge, a Werewolf determined to join a band, and a loyal but not very talkative goldfish called Gareth, plus a lot of extremely loud Crash ’n’ Bang, this is a fast-talking, drumstick-rolling, high-octane magical extravaganza!

 Nayuleska's reasons for loving the band...they are a bunch of misfits with troubles, but they pull together and make the most of the situation 

Is there another character who deserves a mention? The fairy! She has attitude, few appearances but her outfits are highly fashionable and cute. 

How evil/nasty was the enemy? Don't make a fairy mad! Plus celebrities who don't like each other make an interesting read. 

Are there plenty of plot twists and surprises? Although it was clear the doom was set to continue for the band, how the event panned out was a surprise. I cried at the end which was very sweet and I hadn't seen it coming. 

My favourite part was...when the fairy appeared at thr competition, she has the best outfit ever! 

This fun unreservedly gets 10/10.

Be sure to check out more of Kaye's books on her website.

Suggested reads, 

For more adventures in Pongwiffy's world, check out the hilarious Pongwiffy and the Holiday of Doom

Return of the Bunny Suicides by Andy Riley

October 2004, Hodder & Stoughton 

96 pages, Paperback

Personal Copy 

Humour (dark) 

Lots of bunnies, intriguing ways of bunnies reaching premature death, not for faint stomached, lots of violence/gore.

Disclaimer: I am by no means making fun of the act of suicide. I have been affected by it in my life, and it is not my intention to hurt or offend anyone. I'm writing this review because I love this book. 

Summary from Hodder & Stoughton 

This is dark humour at its best - a collection of hilarious and outrageous cartoons which will appeal to anyone in touch with their evil side.

Nayuleska's reasons for loving the bunnies so much...they are such a determined bunch! More entertaining than lemmings. 

How nasty/evil is the enemy? The bunnies are their own worst enemy, who are geniuses at figuring out different ways to leave the world. 

Are there plenty of plot twists/surprises? Each page brings a new way for bunnies to say a final goodbye to the world. It is so funny! 

My favourite part in the book was...all of it. Maybe its the writer in me, but I love this book. I'm a bunny fan, and it made me laugh a lot. 

I so give this 10/10 for inventiveness. 

You can find out more about Andy and his bunnies on his website.

Suggested reads

Great news! There's a Suicidal Bunny App! (for itouch/ipad/iphone only) I'm uploading later today.  

For an equally hilarious, and less dark read, try The Rabbit Problem by Emily Gravett (and a lot of rabbits)