Fe-Lines French Cat Poems through the Ages by Norman R Shapiro

Description:

The French have long had a love affair with the cat, expressed through centuries of poetry portraying the animal's wit and wonder. Norman R. Shapiro lionizes the felines' limitless allure in this one-of-a-kind collection. Spanning centuries and styles, he draws on she-cats and toms, and an honor roll of French poets, well known and lesser known, who have served as their devoted champions. He reveals the remarkable range of French cat poems, with most works presented here for the first time in English translation. Scrupulously devoted to evoking the meaning and music of the originals, Shapiro also respects the works' formal structures. Pairing his translations with Olga Pastuchiv's elegant illustrations, Fe-Lines guides the reader through the marvels and inscrutabilities of the Mystique feline.

My review:

The French aren’t the only ones that love cats, but this book shows how much their love affair with the cat is. I love cats and poetry. Hence, this was a natural read for me. I love this book and highly recommend it. Author Norman Shapiro translates the poems, and then provides the originals in the back of the book, making this volume ideal for those who read either or both English and French. Of course, this book is all about cats. The poems cover the modern and classic.

Overall, for anyone that adores poetry and/or cats, I highly recommend this book for you.

About the author:

Norman R. Shapiro, translator of French poetry and theater, is Distinguished Professor of Literary Translation at Wesleyan University. As Officier de l'Ordre des Arts et des Lettres de la République Française and member of the Academy of American Poets, he has published numerous award-winning collections, including The Complete Fables of Jean de La Fontaine. Olga Pastuchiv's art enlivens a number of volumes, among them her children's picture book Minas and the Fish.

Disclaimer: I received an ARC e-book copy from Net Galley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

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Thursday, October 8, 2015

5 Stars for Beautiful Old Dogs by Garry Gross...A Wonderful, beautiful book of senior dogs.

5 Stars for Beautiful Old Dogs by Garry Gross... A Wonderful, beautiful book of senior dogs.

Front Cover.

Gandhi once wisely said, “The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way that its animals are treated.” True, and if you look around the United States or any other country, you quickly see that no country is truly great since they treat their animals so poorly.

Front Page.

Warning: If you cry easily, be prepared to read this book slowly. I had to because some of the stories are sad, while others are so beautiful they made me cry too, which made it difficult to read all in one sitting.

First Photo.

This compilation of color photos of beautiful old dogs and selection of essays written by different dog owners is a heartwarming and heart wrenching read. Essays were contributed by Anna Quidlen, Doris Day, Ally Sheedy, Dean Koontz and more. Garry Gross, a noted fashion photographer and the photographer of this book believed in senior dogs and wanted to focus his photography skills on them bringing awareness to these patient and loving, loyal animals that are often overlooked at shelters in favor of younger dogs. They’re often abandoned by their families in favor of a younger dog. Shameful and terrible but sadly true. Mr. Gross did a wonderful job here. If you’re a fan of photography in general, a dog lover, a senior dog lover, you will love this book. Beautiful Old Dogs is “A Loving Tribute to Our Senior Best Friends.”

Another Photo.

I currently have five pet children, three of which are seniors, two are dogs. Over the years I’ve had the privilege of caring for many senior animals until death did us part. I once adopted a six month old full grown puppy over a dozen tiny newborn pups because she was it for me. I once adopted a seven year old huskie/shepherd mix that had spent most of his life in the shelter. I love older dogs and I truly believe that senior pets are to be admired, not discarded like an old shoe. Older dogs are mature, loyal, patient and full of wisdom that is to be admired. And the photos in this book bring that out in each dog.

Back Cover.

About the Author:

DAVID TABATSKY is a writer, editor, teacher and performing artist. He is the also the founder of Write for Life, dedicated to presenting writing and communication workshops in cancer centers around the country for patients, caregivers and medical staff. He teaches writing at The Cooper Union and circus arts and theatre in New York City public schools. Garry Gross (1937-2010) was a professional photographer, well-known for his portraits of dogs.

Inside Cover.