Josie Lynn Books: Imagine the Possibilities

Category: Josie’s Lists

Pigeonholed

My Pandemic Project

I have a question for you. How did you spend your time during the pandemic?

If you’re like me, I’m sure you had lots of big plans that didn’t exactly come to fruition. I won’t take you down my list of failed endeavors (…the hiking that didn’t happen, the sourdough bread that didn’t rise…) but I did manage to do a whole lot of binge-watching (does watching Endeavour count as a successful endeavor?) and a lot of bird-watching.

If you’re picturing me crouching in a park with a pair of binoculars, a field guide, and khakis, let me stop you right there. I did some of my best bird-watching from the driver’s seat of my car. Since so many people (at least at the start of the pandemic) were working from home, traffic on my usually insane commute was practically nonexistent, so I had a lot more time to reflect on different things as I drove to work. The things that tended to catch my eye more than anything else were the city’s pigeons.

More than just catch my eye, though, they really captured my imagination. I thought back to a friend of mine who had moved to California from New York and used to contemptuously call them “rats with wings.” I always thought that was unfair and a little harsh. The more I watched them and thought about them, the more an idea began to reveal itself to me. Was it a Great Idea? You’ll have to ask Walter Pigeon. What I know for sure is that it became a book.

Here’s how I describe it: Walter Pigeon is concerned about the bad rap he and his fellow pigeons have received and is determined to do something about it. A humorous and heartfelt satire about thinking outside the box.

Here’s what other people are saying about it…

“Clever and humorously imaginative, with embedded words of wisdom.”—Kirkus Reviews

You can read the full review here.

And if you care to check it out, it’s available on Amazon.

As always, thanks for stopping by. I really do appreciate it.

November 13, 2023
Everything’s coming up roses!
I recently heard someone (on TV) use the expression, “In the weeds,” which was an idiom I had never heard before. Based on the context, I thought I had a pretty good idea what was meant, but I decided to look it up. It got me thinking about a post I wrote ages ago about horse idioms…so I tried to compile a list of idioms that involve plants (weeds, flowers, grass, and trees)…Here’s what blossomed:
1. In the weeds – to be so busy/behind schedule/overwhelmed that it would be impossible to catch up.
2. Down the garden path – to mislead someone.
3. Nip in the bud – to stop something before it has a chance to get started.
4. Pushing up daisies – a euphemism for dead (and buried).
5. Stop and smell the roses – take time to enjoy the simple, beautiful things.
6. The grass is always greener in someone else’s backyard – the tendency to romanticize what we do not have.
7. Babe in the woods – a person who is out of his/her depth.
8. Out of the woods – to survive a dangerous or difficult situation.
9. Cream of the crop – the best part of a group.
10. Out on a limb – to be in a dangerous or weak position without any support.
11. Branch out – to try something new.
12. Beat around the bush – the opposite of getting to the point.
13. Can’t see the forest for the trees – to be so bogged down by details, you miss the big picture.
14. Come out smelling like a rose – to come out of a potentially bad situation unscathed (kind of like, “the proof of the pudding is in the eating”). It reminds me of one of my favorite phrases/song titles, “Everything’s coming up roses,” which I’ve adapted to “Everything’s coming up Josie!”
15. Money doesn’t grow on trees – a reminder that money is hard to come by and once spent, it will not regenerate itself.
16. Barking up the wrong tree – to be wrong about someone or something.
17. Fresh as a daisy – fresh, energetic. Warning: do not use this idiom or your writing will be anything but…
18. Gilding the lily – to decorate something that is already decorative.
19. Make hay while the sun shines – to take advantage of favorable conditions to get a job done (in other words, “there’s no time like the present”).
20. Make like a tree and get out of here (I mean, make like a tree and leave) – okay, so this one isn’t strictly an idiom…it’s more like a bad pun…courtesy of Biff from Back to the Future, and I think this one is pretty self-explanatory.
Can you add any fun, colorful, flora expressions to the list? I’d love to hear your thoughts!
February 7, 2019
Where the Sidewalk Ends
Yes we’ll walk with a walk that is measured and slow,
And we’ll go where the chalk-white arrows go,
For the children, they mark, and the children, they know
The place where the sidewalk ends.

Shel Silverstein

In my latest book, I’m the Greatest Star, my protagonist, Star Franklin recites the poem Where the Sidewalk Ends in front of her sixth grade class.

This poem got me thinking about a few things. Like…what other things do children know that we adults seem to have forgotten?…which leads me to my latest blog post…

I’ve been thinking a lot about chalkboard art because…well…it’s everywhere these days. The other day, I was reading a tutorial about how to create great chalkboard art and I learned that it’s important to “season” the chalkboard before you begin by rubbing a piece of chalk across the board and then gently erasing it. Ideally, this will leave a little bit of chalk dust behind on the surface, a faint chalky residue (and then you can go about creating your masterpiece).

Sometimes I think we forget the beauty of something in its pristine condition. So little in today’s world is pristine anymore. Most everything is fairly used up. Everything else seems to be recycled, and if it’s not, it’s seasoned and distressed to give the appearance of not being new.

This makes me think about childhood—a time when just about everything is new, when there is magic afoot—not the Harry Potter type of magic—but the magic of discovery. That magical time when you are finding things out for the very first time, when you are not too embarrassed or too ashamed to not know something before everyone else, and when you feel free to be yourself and have the audacity to think you’re good enough because the world of advertising hasn’t started its campaign to convince you otherwise.

I’m talking about that early state of existence when you truly are a blank slate, before you get seasoned and distressed (being a blank slate is something chalkboard art is apparently not about).

Thinking back to childhood made me want to try to remember some of the things children seem to know, but grownups have forgotten. So, I made a list. Oh…how I love making lists…
1. It’s important to look down. Little things, like ants and snails and lady bugs and tiny flowers growing in the grass, are important, too. These are masterpieces in miniature, but as adults, we tend to pass over them, thinking such things are beneath our notice. Little kids are good at stooping down.
2. It’s also important to look up. Look up, for instance, at the daytime sky. What do you see? Fluffy white sheep moving across a beautiful blue meadow. Ah, the power of seeing what’s not there. At night, it’s the Man in the Moon. He’s up there, really. I’ve seen him watching over me. It’s good to believe in something bigger than yourself. It’s good to realize you’re not the center of the universe. It’s also good to find role models. Look up to them. It’s all about elevation. If you run with turkeys, you can’t soar with eagles.
3. Keep wonder alive. Ask things like ‘what if?’ and ‘how?’ These are powerful words that keep you from getting too comfortable with the mundane, boring, or ordinary. Sometimes it pays to color outside the lines. Open things up. Find out how they’re put together. Learn what makes them tick.
4. Ask, “Can I play?” It’s a simple, direct question. There are no politics involved, no hidden agendas. Just a plain request that lets people know what you want and need. You might get your feelings hurt, but at least you’ll know you have them. Wearing your heart on your sleeve is more fashionable than a chip on your shoulder. Be proactive, not reactive.
5. Sometimes the answer is no. If one group says you can’t play with them on the monkey bars, go ask the group playing four square. Maybe you’ll like that game better anyway. Rejection is not always a bad thing. Oftentimes, it’s not even personal. Maybe it’s completely random (…like only four people can play four square and you’re person number five).
6. Sometimes the answer is yes. You’ll never know if you don’t ask. The Rolling Stones said, “You can’t always get what you want.” But sometimes you do. When you think about it, your odds are pretty even.
7. Speaking of asking, ask the big questions because they matter. Aside from taking things apart, that’s how you find out stuff. Kids know ignorance isn’t anything akin to bliss. And by the way, ask “unqualified” questions. Don’t ask “quick questions” or apologize for “stupid questions.” When I was a kid, my father used to say, “The only stupid question is the one you didn’t ask.” So, ask away. Dr. Seuss said, “Sometimes the questions are complicated, and the answers are simple.” If you don’t ask, you won’t know.
8. Get lost in the moment. That’s what moments are for. Stare blankly into space. Dream (dreams are good). Brainstorm (also good). Take a moment to forget about schedules, forget time. It’s arbitrary anyway and takes no prisoners as it marches along.
9. Open your eyes, they are the windows to the soul after all. Take things in. Explore this beautiful world that we’re fortunate to live in. When you see something amazing, say, “Wow!!!”
10. Know when it’s time to cover your eyes. The first time I saw a Jurassic Park movie in the theater, I heard a little kid in one of the rows behind me say, “Tell me when the scary part’s over.” When the scary monsters are on the screen, look away. Don’t watch train wrecks. Remember that there are some things you can’t un-see. Some things are going to give you nightmares. Every self-respecting kid knows that nightmares are not good things.
Now it’s your turn. What are some of the things you remember that you forgot? I’d love to hear your thoughts.
August 18, 2018
My Favorite Movies…about writers

Vintage writer’s desktop with typewriter and flying sheets, creativity and inspiration concept

So, my literary kitty, Lily, already blogged about her love of movies, just one of the many things we have in common.

Today, I thought I’d share a list of my favorite movies about writers. There’s no shortage of movies about writers, probably because movies are written by writers and we tend to think that we are a fascinating bunch whose lives must be chronicled.

So, without further ado…

1. To Walk Invisible

The remarkable story of the Brontë sisters’ path to publishing. Take courage, indie authors.

2. Romancing the Stone

This movie was a childhood favorite and was also on Lily’s list. Hopeful romantic, romance novelist, Joan Wilder is thrust into a scenario that may well be taken from the pages of one of her novels…it’s art imitating life imitating art…who says movies about writers must be boring?

3. Saving Mr. Banks

I love this movie—even though ironically, I’ve never been a Mary Poppins fan (sorry Mrs. Travers!)—because it has one of my favorite lines explaining what we as writers do. Tom Hanks, as Walt Disney says: “George Banks and all he stands for will be saved. Maybe not in life, but in imagination. Because that’s what we storytellers do. We restore order with imagination. We instill hope again and again and again.” Word!

4. Miss Potter

This biopic about Beatrix Potter is inspiration for writers to believe in their work. Go against the establishment, self-publish (sort of), and draw amazing pictures of impossibly cute woodland animals with adorable names like Flopsy, Mopsy, and Cotton-tail.

5. Jane Austen Regrets

I think this choice is fairly self-explanatory, if you’ve read any of my previous posts. If not, let’s just say, I’m fairly obsessed with Jane Austen.

6. You’ve Got Mail

I will be blogging about this more in the future (as in, somewhere down the road, not in the far off, dystopian sense of the word). I love this movie so much that it deserves its own post. It’s about writers, books, children’s books, and bookstores…and bookstore owners. And it has Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan who are my favorite Rom-Com duo, possibly after Doris Day and, say…anyone.

7. Throw Momma from the Train

I had to re-visit this movie. It’s the one that got everything started for me. And it’s the second movie on this list that has Danny DeVito in its cast.

8. Breakfast at Tiffany’s

I’ll admit that this movie has some glaring flaws and missteps that I am willing to forgive (for instances, the whole Mickey Rooney character). But despite its flaws, I fell in love with this movie. The writer in this one is George Peppard, who plays Holly’s ultimate love interest, Paul Varjak (“That’s V-A-R-J-A-K.”)

9. Genius

A fascinating movie about the creative process that gives us a peek into what that looks like for the editor. It chronicles the relationship between writer, Thomas Wolfe and editor, Maxwell Perkins, two very different men, one with a genius for writing, another with a genius for friendship.

10. Finding Neverland

I like this beautifully filmed movie for its dreamy quality. It’s the story of how J.M. Barrie befriends a family of young boys who inspires him to write Peter Pan, and who just so happens to be related to Daphne du Maurier, author of a little book called Rebecca, among other things.

September 3, 2017
Whatchamacallit…Part One

Meerkat Misidentified

I’m somewhat ashamed to admit that the first time I ever saw a meerkat was in The Lion King. Shocking…but true.

What’s this called?

In fact, the first time I saw The Lion King I had no idea what Timon was. Embarrassingly enough, I thought he was a poorly executed rat, but then someone kindly explained to me that he was a meerkat. And at first, I thought they were saying he was just a cat, or simply a cat, but then they patiently explained that there is an entire species of animals called meerkats that are not related to cats…or rats, but to mongooses, which I was familiar with because of Rikki-Tikki-Tavi. So having that all cleared up, I still didn’t exactly appreciate meerkats because the cartoon version still resembled a rat that walked around on its hind legs (as cartoon mammals are prone to do regardless of how they get around in real life, e.g., Mickey, Minnie, Pluto, Bugs, and Remy from Ratatouille, to name but a few), and because the name still sounded to me like someone was trying to disparage my beloved cats, the way someone might dismiss another’s suitability, saying, “He’s a mere child…”

Then I saw a nature show on PBS about meerkats and I realized that they are much cuter and much more charming in the flesh. Unfortunately, this program was about a family of these endearing little critters who were on a collision course with destiny, in the form of (1). a famine (gasp), (2). the debilitating effects of inbreeding (wait…what?), (3). lions (boo), and (4). jackals (hiss). I cried…and wondered how it was that people who make these nature documentaries can sit there filming while living creatures are being brutalized right in front of them…and now, with the advent of camera phones, it all begins to make sense…

Getting Closer to the Point

But I’m not here to talk about what an adorable little, upright, ground-dwelling animal is called. I’m here to talk about what a group of adorable little, upright, ground-dwelling animals is called.

And that leads me to the real, actual purpose of today’s post. Do you ever wonder about the specific name for a certain animal group?

Two common, slightly generic group designations are herd or flock, as in a herd of cattle, giraffes, zebras, antelopes, elephants, etc… or a flock of sheep, goats, ducks (birds, in general), camels, etc. It’s also interesting to note that these words also refer to the action of gathering animals or people together (as in Corgis were bred to herd cattle) or to the action of animals or people moving together as a group (as in They flocked to the Apple Store to buy the latest iPhone).

A few more common group designations are school, pride, and pod. Who hasn’t heard of a school of fish or a pride of lions? And the term pod can refer to groups of sea mammals, like seals, walruses, and whales, and even to sea-faring birds, like pelicans.

But some group designations are slightly more obscure. Which brings me back to the aforementioned meerkats. A recent trip to the zoo revealed that a group of meerkats is called a mob. Who knew? Not to be mistaken for a flash mob, but rather a mere mob (so don’t go envisioning a planned spontaneous assemblage of meerkats getting down to Rachel Platten’s Stand by You. That would be cute…but it’s not going to happen).

Some group designations are fun and alliterative like a gaggle of geese, the aforementioned mob of meerkats, or the aptly named pandemonium of parrots. And if you’ve ever seen a flock of wild parrots, then you know exactly what I mean! Other group designations conjure up pretty amazing mental images: an army of frogs, a flutter of butterflies, a gang of elks (“…if they say blades, I say blades. If they say guns, I say guns…”). Or how about this one that we may have learned from Sting’s All This Time, which memorably mentions a murder of crows, leading me to wonder, who comes up with these words?!

Ah…words. Gotta love ’em…or at any rate, use ’em!

Happy writing!

October 7, 2016
A Horse is a Horse (of course, of course)
As a writer, I love a good turn of phrase. Or as Jason Mraz says (sings), “I’m all about them words.” I am too. All about them. Words.

As a person, I love horses. I’ve loved them since my big sister brought home the Billy and Blaze books from the school library when she was in first grade. I’ve never ridden a horse. I’ve never actually spent much time around them. In fact, the one time I had the opportunity, I chickened out because the horse was big and had teeth and I was only five. I stood by the sidelines and watched my dad take a turn around the corral. I wish I had been braver, but if wishes were horses…

I find it curious that there are so many figures of speech, proverbs, similes, metaphors, etc. that involve horses, but hold your horses, I’ll get to that in a minute.

Wild horses won’t drag it from me

I remember reading this phrase in Anne of Green Gables and falling in love with it. It’s dramatic, noble and at the same time, full of romanticism, this idea that you could keep a confidence despite the temptation to blab.

Wild horses make me think of the untamed West and the line from Oklahoma that says about cowboys, “they ride for days on end with just a pony for a friend…” I love the idea of wild horses as found in books like Misty of Chincoteague and the My Friend Flicka books—wild, beautiful and free.

Of course, when I think of wild horses in connection with dragging, I must admit that the idea of drawing and quartering tends to pop into my mind, but I quickly dismiss it because, well, that whole notion is just gruesome. Still, the idea of someone having the mental stamina, courage, bravery, and strength of character to not give up a confidence despite the threat of bodily harm is inspiring.

If wishes were horses beggars would ride

This phrase makes me think of what I like to think were simpler, more innocent times. I supposed there’s no way of knowing whether or not bygone times really were simpler, no real way to compare without access to a time machine…and time machines only exist in books and movies, right? Right? But it makes me feel good to think times were simpler and better when people rode horses.

I like the idea that a mode of transportation could be loyal to you. Cars certainly are not loyal; they break down and give out at the most inopportune moments—on freeways, for example—leaving you stranded and having to call a tow truck and pay a mechanic potentially terrifying amounts of money to get them fixed. While it is true that horses had the tendency to die (when they got old or when they were shot because they broke their leg), at least, in books and movies, they did so heroically, after fighting the odds.

Another reason I like this expression so much is it takes me back to the magic of childhood when you believed in the possibility of being granted wishes…like in the case of Aladdin or even in the Biblical tale of King Solomon, who was wise enough to ask for more wisdom which enabled him to…well, let’s just say it was a very clever way of wishing for more wishes.

More horsin’ around

Here are a few more expressions and/or figures of speech featuring horses:
- A horse of a different color – made famous by The Wizard of Oz
- Don’t look a gift horse in the mouth – (unless you happen to live in Troy and receive a mysterious giant one!)
- All the king’s horses and all the king’s men – from Humpty Dumpty fame
- You can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make him drink
- Get off your high horse
- Eat like a horse
- Beat a dead horse
Now I’m going to change horses midstream and list some of my favorite childhood books about horses. Feel free to chime in with your favorites. I’m open to suggestions and I’m not above reading children’s literature as an adult.
1. My Friend Flicka
2. Thunderhead
3. Green Grass of Wyoming
4. The Black Stallion
5. Black Beauty
6. Misty of Chincoteague
7. Billy and Blaze
8. The Absolutely Perfect Horse
9. The Little House Books
10. (YOUR CHOICE)
July 21, 2016
Top 5 Botched Proposals
You don’t know love when you see it. You’ve tricked something out with your imagination that you think love, and you expect the real thing to look like that.

Anne of the Island

I have a book (Maxwell Parker, Love Doctor) that is coming out this month. How’s that for a plug?

It’s the second book in the Maxwell Parker Chronicles, a series for young readers starring my irrepressible heroine, Maxwell Parker, who sees herself as an amateur detective. However, in the second installment, she’s not sniffing out crime, she’s sniffing out love. It’s a natural progression.

The course of true love never did run smooth. . .

Love always seems to start off as a bit of a mystery for many of our favorite couples in literature. We seem to love the intrigue. Perhaps it gives us hope to see that so many of the great love stories didn’t start off so great after all. There were false starts, foul-ups, misunderstandings…and poorly executed proposals, yet they always (almost always) end up in a happy ever after. On the way there, we need the conflict and the tension.

Today, I thought I’d focus on how so many of my favorite period pieces involve love gone wrong, proposals gone south, and hapless gentlemen in cravats mistakenly thinking—assuming—that their offer of marriage will be accepted simply because it was offered (and we all know what happens when you assume). While many women back in the day were grateful for and eagerly accepted any offer that came along (usually the first…Charlotte Lucas comes to mind), some of our favorite ladies in literature decided to make their men grovel just a bit longer and ultimately come back with an offer that was a bit more earnest, a tad less entitled, with all of the arrogant assumptions pitched out of the window.

In honor of my upcoming love-themed book, I’ve composed a list of a few of my favorite botched proposals and awkward refusals from a few of my favorite movies:
1. North and South
Margaret Hale’s first shot at love comes in the form of Henry Lennox, a well-connected lawyer. He lazily assumes that she is fishing for a proposal of marriage, because she mentions the word wedding in his presence. He is overly confident that she, the daughter of a poor parson, will jump at the chance to be his wife. Margaret is fiercely independent and has to set him straight and send him packing.

Next she attracts the attention of the wealthy mill owner, John Thornton. He proposes to her, also confident that she will jump at the chance to improve her financial situation. She has to assure him that his ungentlemanly behavior has not impressed her. She also states that she has not yet learned how to graciously turn down proposals, and he quips back with, Oh… so I guess I’m not the first man whose heart you’ve had the privilege of breaking (or something to that effect). When it comes to biting sarcasm, John Thornton and Elizabeth Hale are on equal footing.

After Mr. Thornton, Mr. Bell, a friend of her father, admits that he’s interested in her as a wife/companion/nurse. As attractive as that particular offer may be, Margaret is able to graciously spurn his advances as well. She’s learning.

And finally, John Thornton gets it right. Margaret meets him halfway, and the movie ends the way we all knew it was destined to end the first time our two leads had their first encounter.
1. Pride and Prejudice
First, poor Elizabeth Bennet has to deal with the ridiculous Mr. Collins’ offer, which included some very flattering reasons he has decided to enter into matrimony (to set the right example and as a way to kiss up to his boss), a bribe (if you marry me, I won’t turn you and your mother and sisters out on your ears when your daddy dies and I inherit your estate), and a thinly veiled insult (I wanted to marry your prettier older sister but a little bird told me she’s already spoken for).

Then she has to face Mr. Darcy’s quite rude admission: I find you and your family disgustingly beneath me, yet I have been hypnotized by your eyes. I love you in spite of myself. Please, put me out of my misery. That Darcy sure did know how to sweet-talk a girl. He should have just carried a miniature painting of his estate in his coat pocket.

Being a self-respecting regency woman, Elizabeth had to turn this tempting offer down, and she did so in style. Darcy was chastened—to say the least—and later returns with a much more satisfying proposal, one that was worthy of the woman he was wooing.
1. Little Women
How could Teddy (Laurie) have been so blind? How did he not pick up on any of the many signals that Jo tried to send that she was not looking for a proposal? She never wanted to move him out of the friend category. Why did he think he could change her mind?

Here’s is a hint for wannabe suitors: When the girl says, “No, Teddy, please don’t,” now is not the time to stubbornly plow ahead. Now is the time to regroup and reassess the relationship.

Also, using the line “Everyone’s expecting it” generally never works because she will then counter it with the reasonable-sounding, “Then we’d be doing it for all the wrong reasons.” And there’s no way you can answer that.

You have to give Laurie an A for effort, though. His failed proposal and subsequent heartbreak is one of the most touching moments in all love stories.

On a side note, does anyone else love that Laurie grew up to be Batman? (Or am I confusing real-life with fiction again? Oh well, it happens).
1. Far From the Madding Crowd
Shepherd Gabriel Oak’s first clumsy attempt to court Bathsheba Everdene was something of a “Me, Tarzan…you, Jane,” caveman approach. Although, I have to say, I sort of melted at the sight of the baby lamb and when he said, “I love you far more than common!” I mean, come on…who says that?

Over time, he learns to refine his approach and Bathsheba learns to genuinely love him, and somehow I feel that their relationship, more than any other in literature, is one that is based on mutual affection and respect. (Never mind the fact that between Gabriel Oak’s first and final proposal, Bathsheba mischievously toys with the affections of a middle-aged bachelor gentleman farmer who lives nearby and drives him to the point of homicidal mania or that she succumbs to the advances of a gold-digging, pretty boy, love child of a noble and almost loses her fortune to him!) The salient point is that in the end, things worked out for Bathsheba and Gabriel.
1. Anne of Avonlea (Anne, the Sequel)
Like Laurie, Gilbert misread all of the signs and projected his feelings on to Anne. Sort of. The truth was, Anne did love Gilbert, but she wasn’t ready to admit it to herself just yet. His profession of love was premature, her protestation against love was as ridiculous as it was futile.

Anne goes on to attract the attention (in the movie…not the book) of a rich widower, Morgan Harris, who gives Anne the proposal of her dreams, forcing her to wake up and smell the wholesome sea air and realize that she’s meant to stay in Avonlea and live blithe-fully ever after with Gilbert.

Fortunately for them (and for us), Gilbert got what alluded Laurie: a second chance and, for him, the second time was the charm.

In the Anne books, Anne is subjected to a whole series of proposals gone wrong from all manner and form of suitor (suitable and otherwise), which leaves us amused and her traumatized and primed for Gilbert’s second, final, and ultimately successful attempt. And Anne learns something we all do well to remember:

“Perhaps, after all, romance did not come into one’s life with pomp and blare, like a gay knight riding down; perhaps it crept to one’s side like an old friend through quiet ways; perhaps it revealed itself in seeming prose, until some sudden shaft of illumination flung athwart its pages betrayed the rhythm and the music, perhaps . . . perhaps . . . love unfolded naturally out of a beautiful friendship, as a golden-hearted rose slipping from its green sheath.”

Lucy Maud Montgomery
July 15, 2016
Lily’s Favorite Movie Cats
kitten in a film on a white background

Josie, my owner/person/friend, has alerted you all to the fact that I am indeed a literary kitty. What you may not know is that I am also a movie buff. It’s true. I love movies. And it’s a good thing that Josie and I have the same taste in movies, because I haven’t figured out how to subliminally suggest movies for her to rent and/or watch.

She and I love making lists, and she left her computer on, presumably so I can contribute to ~~the~~ our blog…it’s been a long time…and I know you’ve missed me.

So, here’s a list of my most favorite and least favorite felines in film.

Drumroll, please.
1. Cat—Breakfast at Tiffany’s
Most of you probably know that his name was simply Cat since poor, troubled, sad, confused, lost Holly refused to name him or claim him until the very end of the movie when she realized that she loved Paul and that it was okay to need people and to belong to them. Prior to that pivotal moment in the rain, she said, “I’m like cat here, a no-name slob. We belong to nobody, and nobody belongs to us.”

And kudos to the cat playing Cat, because he was willing to get soaking wet for art. And I tell you, he looked so miserable, you really felt his misery. Seriously, he deserved an Oscar.

I’ve always maintained that a cat is a girl’s best friend (a dog is a man’s best friend, yeah, yeah, whatever). Well, this next one proves my theory.
1. Mel—While You Were Sleeping
Lucy, our heroine, loves her cat Mel. She lets him sit on the table and eat with her. She even shares his milk. Remember the scene where she dunks her cookie in his milk? That grossed out many of you humans, but it warmed many a feline heart. When Lucy describes her life to an unconscious Peter, she says, “…not like I’m complaining or anything, because I have a cat, I have an apartment, sole possession of the remote control.”

She lists having a cat right up there with sole possession of the remote. That’s major, people.

As a side note, there is another character in While You Were Sleeping—a cat named Fluffy. She, however, is a bit player, mainly used as a plot device (to get Lucy and Jack to the apartment at the same time so they can meet and fall in love). All we really know about Fluffy is that she lives in a high-rise apartment that is filled with white furniture. She’s the stereotypical, spoiled Persian cat.

These next two cats prove what those of us in the know have known all along: cats are a writer’s muse.
1. Romeo—Romancing the Stone
When romance writer/hopeful romantic, Joan Wilder, finishes her novel, she celebrates with her cat, Romeo. Without him, we are to understand, she wouldn’t be what she is.
1. Italics—Runaway Bride
Likewise, columnist, Ike Graham, relies on his cat, Italics, for inspiration. That is the main theme of the movie, in case you didn’t realize. That whole bit about him falling for Julia Roberts is just the subplot.
1. Figaro—Pinocchio
Josie tells me I look like this cartoon cat. Maybe that’s why I like him so much.
1. Mittens—Bolt
Josie also thinks this kitty looks like me. I suppose if I hadn’t found Josie, I’d have turned out like Mittens.
1. Sassy—Homeward Bound
Another strong female lead, and by the way, a cat’s worse nightmare…being lost…out there.
1. Oliver—Oliver & Company
Oliver is a plucky orphan and my mother’s heart goes out to him. Besides that, he’s adorable.
1. Puss in Boots—Shrek 2
I have to admit, I love the accent. Okay, I have a slight, irrational crush on him. He’s a bit two-dimensional, but what man is perfect?
1. Rufus—The Rescuers
He may have been a bit tattered and weather-beaten, but he had heart, and that’s all that really matters.

This was by no means meant to be an exhaustive list; just my particular favorites.

The following is a list of movie cats that I don’t like. Most should be self-explanatory, but in the interest of transparency, I’ve endeavored to provide a brief explanation for each one.
1. Duchess—Babe
This is taking the stereotype of the spoiled house cat to an uncomfortable level.
1. Any of the cats in Cats & Dogs, but especially that little gray one
What’s not far-fetched about the movie: the idea that cats would be smart enough to mastermind an evil plot. What is far-fetched about the movie: that cats would be evil enough to do so. This movie was clearly written by someone (a dog) who has a beef against cats. Boo!
1. Lucifer—Cinderella
The name alone is reason enough to dislike the character. But he’s just mean without cause.
1. The two Siamese cats—Lady and the Tramp
Scary little monsters. They’re almost as creepy as Flotsam and Jetsam.

Well folks, that’s all I have for you today. My paws are tired from all of this typing. Look for me again soon.

ttfn,

Lily
January 7, 2016
Lily’s Favorite Books

I’m suffering from a slight case of writer’s block, so I defer to my computer literate and otherwise literate kitty, Lily, who will treat you to a list of her favorite books…drum roll, please!

1. Alice‘s Adventures in Wonderland – by Lewis Carroll

I’ll bet you’re thinking I like this book because of the Cheshire Cat. Wrong! It’s Alice’s relationship with Dinah that sings to me. Everyone’s so over the moon about dog being man’s best friend. Well, this book proves that cat is a girl’s best friend.

2. The Cat in the Hat – by Dr. Seuss

Let me begin by stating emphatically that chaos will not ensue if you open your door to a cat! That being said, this book is an enjoyable escape.

3. The Fire Cat – by Esther Averill

That Pickles is a cool cat! I kind of had a huge crush on him when I was younger.

4. It’s Like This, Cat – by Emily Neville

This was a favorite of mine for the few months I was a teenager. Man, I could really dig it!

5. Jenny and the Cat Club (Originally Titled The Cat Club or the Life and Times of Jenny Linsky) – by Esther Averill

Jenny really appeals to me…she’s cute and shy, but plucky. Kind of like me!

6. Millions of Cats – by Wanda Gag

This is a classic. I remember this being read to me when I was a kitten.

7. Mouse Soup – by Arnold Lobel

Delectable, tasteful tale of a ~~succulent~~ clever, little mouse.

8. Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats – by T.S. Eliot

Mr. Eliot revealed some of our secrets, but I forgive him. He made our species a household name. Well, it already was, but you know what I mean…

9. The Rescuers – by Margery Sharp

Yummy little story about Miss Bianca and Bernard. Although I do think the characterizations of cats are unnecessarily harsh.

10. Stuart Little – by E.B. White

For some reason this book makes me think of snack-time!

11. The Tale of Despereaux: Being the Story of a Mouse, a Princess, Some Soup and a Spool of Thread – by Kate DiCamillo

Delicious…I mean, a very engrossing book. Stimulating…intellectually, that is.

12. The Tale of Tom Kitten – by Beatrix Potter

There are some benighted souls out there who believe Miss Potter only wrote books about rabbits and bunnies. While those books are tasty, this one’s a real treat.

Lily’s note: My list of favorite books is shorter than Josie’s, but I am also much shorter than Josie. And for the record, I HATE the Clifford books, so no books of that kind are on my list!

Josie’s note: Some of the above-listed titles may reflect a bias on the part of our feline blogger. From my perspective, there is nothing wrong with the Clifford books, except for the fact that they feature a DOG…and Lily isn‘t too fond of dogs (more on that later). Also, I am sorry to say that it appears that she tends to read the books about mice the way you or I might read a cookbook. I apologize for any statements that may offend dog or rodent lovers.

Credit for picture of Dinah:Alice finds the Red Queen/Sir John Tenniel/Wood-engraving by Dalziel/Illustration for the eleventh chapter of Lewis Carroll’s Through the Looking Glass (1865)/www.victorianweb.org

September 4, 2014
A few of my favorite…books (Childhood edition)

Here is a random yet somewhat related thought: I like making lists, especially to-do lists. Then I like crossing items off the list and keeping the lists as proof that I have actually accomplished something.

The following is a list of my top twenty, all-time favorite books, specifically, a list of my favorite books that I read as a child/young adult. To quote Kathleen Kelly in You’ve Got Mail, “When you read a book as a child, it becomes a part of your identity in a way that no other reading in your whole life does.”

Note: There are way more than twenty books listed, because a lot of the favorites are series…I tend to think of a series as one book with several volumes, but that’s just me…

Harry Connick Jr. has his Songs I Heard album…this is my Books I Read list.

Feel free to weigh in when you’re finished reading. Are any of your favorites on the list? I know everyone has different tastes, but I’d like to know what you think (specifically about your favorite books/generally…oh, about everything).

Btw, the list is in alphabetical order, just because it’s more diplomatic that way.

1. Anastasia Krupnik by Lois Lowry

I loved how quirky and odd Anastasia was. I think I may have developed my love for lists after reading this book.

2. The Anne of Green Gables books by Lucy Maud Montgomery

Anne and Gilbert are the stuff dreams are made of. I found some kindred spirits when I found these books.

3. The Betsy-Tacy books by Maud Hart Lovelace

A trip back to yesteryear when life was “kinder and gentler.” There’s a Besty-Tacy book for all ages, and I’ve read them all…not in order, however, because my local library did not have a copy of Betsy Was a Junior. My favorites are Heaven to Betsy and Betsy’s Wedding.

4. The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger

Teen angst at its finest.

5. Charlotte’s Web by E. B. White

Talking animals. A spider using vocabulary to save a pig’s life. What’s not to love?

6. Cheaper by the Dozen & Belles on Their Toes by Frank B. Gilbreth and Ernestine Gilbreth Carey

The first book was required reading in junior high; the second was a necessary must.

7. Harriet the Spy by Louise Fitzhugh

Welcome to the wacky weird world of Harriet M. Welsch, everyone’s favorite under-age spy.

8. Honestly, Katie John (series) by Mary Calhoun

I loved the Katie John books. My favorite is probably Katie John and Heathcliff. I discovered Wuthering Heights by reading this book, which is a Good Thing.

9. The Island of the Blue Dolphins by Scott O’Dell

This book made me cry. It also made me wonder how I would have fared had I been left to fend for myself on an Island with no one but a dog for company.

10. The Little House books by Laura Ingalls Wilder

Once again, I was a sucker for a book about a family of girls. I loved following Laura’s adventures, from helping her father keep the family alive to meeting and falling in love with Almanzo. Being a pioneer wasn’t for the faint of heart. (As an adult, I realize that these books are problematic. But I included them because some of the thoughts expressed by seemingly good people provide insight into the feelings and attitudes that allowed people to commit injustices without a twinge of conscience. And perhaps therein lies their value.)

11. A Little Princess by Frances Eliza Hodgson Burnett

This was probably my favorite book as a child. I liked it much more than The Secret Garden.

12. Little Women by Louisa May Alcott

I come from a family of four girls, so this book will always have a special place in my heart. I remember sobbing uncontrollably when Jo turned Laurie down and wishing that I could have a best friend like him.
P.S. Are you starting to detect a theme…how many of these books have “little” in the title?

13. Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH by Robert C. O’Brien

The rats in this books are smarter than most people, and Mrs. Frisby is a brave little mouse who will stop at nothing to save her sick little boy. Who would have thought you could feel compassion for rats and mice? I honestly can’t pass a cage of rats in a pet store without thinking of them.

14. My Friend Flicka (series) by Mary O’Hara

These books were a favorite of my mom’s when she was a child and she passed the love on to me. I love the daydreaming Kenneth, and watching him grow up and fall in love was to die for.

15. The Nancy Drew books by Carolyn Keene

A girl detective? Need I say more? I loved the yellow hardback books. When I was a kid, they tried to update Nancy, they made her modern and paperback, but nothing’s as good as the original.

16. Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farms by Kate Douglas Wiggin

I read this before I read Anne of Green Gables and loved it. When I finally got around to Anne, at first I thought Anne was a poor imitation. The books stand on their own, and I’m a fan of both.

17. Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry & Let the Circle be Unbroken by Mildred D. Taylor

These books took me to the rural, Jim Crow south. Not I place I’d like to live, but learning what life was like back then was informative.

18. A Separate Peace by John Knowles

Another book that was required reading, with shades of Dead Poets Society.

19. The Shoe books by Noel Streatfeild

I especially loved Skating Shoes, but I also like the fact that Movie Shoes picked up the Ballet Shoes story.

20. We Interrupt This Semester for an Important Bulletin by Ellen Conford

I loved this book, and its precursor, Dear Lovey Hart, I Am Desperate. Even though these books took place in the distant past, I found them timeless.

my childhood-favorites shelf:

May 22, 2014

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