Showing posts with label library cat. Show all posts
Showing posts with label library cat. Show all posts

Friday, 23 January 2026

Book Reviews with Amber ~ The Cat Book Connoisseur at The Mewton-Clawson Library ~ #346 featuring **Pox You: A Croft and Tabby Short** by Brad Magnarella **PLUS** Friendly Fill-Ins

A digitally illustrated promotional graphic for The Mewton-Clawson Library at BBHQ features Amber, a white and orange cat wearing a light blue scarf, seated in front of bookshelves filled with colourful books. Decorative elements like holly leaves, a mouse, a quill, and a thimble add festive charm to the top of the image. The bottom text reads "Book Reviews with Amber," indicating Amber is the host of the library’s book review segment. The overall design is cozy, whimsical, and holiday-themed. At www.bionicbasil.com

From the shelves of the Mewton-Clawson Library, a curated review destination for cat-centric fiction at BionicBasil.com

Pale Blue Dots Banner ©BionicBasil®

✨ This Week’s Intro ~ Temporal Fireworks & Mouse‑Sized Mayhem ✨

Hello, gorgeous library guests 

and 

Welcome to the Mewton-Clawson Library at BBHQ 

Thank mew for joining me in the stacks today. I’m delighted to report that while the major timeline wobbles have settled, we now appear to have… well… micro‑time pockets. Tiny little bursts of temporal nonsense that pop like fireworks between the shelves.

For example:

Down the B aisle, it was 10.30am.

Then pop... suddenly it was 1pm, and apparently lunchtime.

Melvyn nearly cried because he thought he’d lost two and a half hours of shelving.

And the library mice?

Oh, my dahlings… the mice are not coping.

Oswald, our Chief Mouse, has filed three formal complaints.

Snitch keeps reappearing in the wrong decade.

Tootles insists she’s lived Thursday twice.

Ardvaar claims he saw himself eating a cracker he hadn’t eaten yet.

Nibbles is refusing to leave the stationery cupboard.

Flora fainted dramatically (twice).

Chedds is demanding hazard pay.

And Lumie… poor Lumie… keeps blinking in and out like a faulty fairy light.

Naturally, Melvyn is on the brink.

📚 A Conversation in the Library This Morning

Me: “Melvyn, sweetie, why are the mice wearing tiny helmets made from metal bottle caps? Chedds says Lilt on it, that's a drink from years ago.”

Melvyn: “Because they keep getting sucked into time pockets, Amber. Oswald said they needed PPE. And they're now even wearing High-Vis vests.”

Me: “PPE? They’re mice, dahling.”

Melvyn: “Exactly. They’re small. They’re aerodynamic. They’re basically temporal snacks.”

Me: “That’s not a thing.”

Melvyn: “Amber, Snitch just reappeared holding a newspaper from 1998.”

Me: “Well, that’s retro. How fun! And it explains the Lilt cap.”

Melvyn: “Amber, he wasn’t born in 1998.”

Me: “Details. Everything is fine. Purrfectly normal. Libraries evolve.”

Melvyn: “Amber, the mice are staging a union meeting.”

Me: “Oh, furbulous. Tell them to keep it down. I’m meditating.”

Melvyn: “Meditating or napping.”

Me: “Yes.”

Melvyn: "Now, if mew will excuse me, I must go check whether Lumie has re‑solidified."

Me: "Of course, pop off now while I get deep into..."

Melvyn: “Meditating or napping.”

Me: “Exactly.”

So, my dahlings, if mew notice the time jumping forward, backwards, or sideways while mew browse the shelves, please don’t panic. It’s just the new temporal ambience.

Everything is absolutely, completely, unquestionably fine.

Probably.

One final thing... if mew find yourself briefly existing in two places at once, please return the duplicate copy of any book mew borrowed. We’re still sorting out the overdue system for parallel selves.

Now, let’s begin this week’s adventure before Oswald files another complaint and Melvyn starts wearing a bucket as a helmet! MOL

Amber, a regal orange tabby cat, sits on the sunlit steps of the Temple of Hatshepsut at Deir el‑Bahari. She wears a sunrise‑blush robe of soft rose silk embroidered with lotus petals and golden rays, a broad collar of carnelian, gold, and desert quartz, and a Hatshepsut‑inspired diadem shaped like a stylised rising sun. In one paw, she holds a golden cocktail garnished with mint. Behind her, the temple’s terraced colonnades rise against sheer desert cliffs glowing in warm morning light, at www.bionicbasil.com

🌙 Amber’s Egyptian Adventure #13: The Temple of Hatshepsut at Deir el‑Bahari 🐾

Location: The Temple of Hatshepsut, Deir el‑Bahari, a breathtaking terraced monument carved into the sheer cliffs of the Theban mountains, dedicated to Egypt’s legendary female pharaoh

Time: Early morning, when the desert shadows stretch long and cool, and the rising sun paints the cliffs in rose‑gold light

Dahlings, today I ascended into one of Egypt’s most dramatic and awe‑inspiring sanctuaries: the Temple of Hatshepsut, a place so regal, so commanding, so unapologetically iconic that I felt an instant kinship with its namesake.

The moment I padded across the sweeping causeway, the desert breeze whispered through the colonnades, carrying the scent of warm stone and ancient incense. The cliffs towered above me like a natural cathedral, glowing pink and gold in the newborn sun.

“Ahhh,” I purred, “a temple carved into a mountain… clearly built for somepawdy with a flair for dramatic entrances.”

I arrived draped in a sunrise‑blush robe of soft rose silk, embroidered with lotus petals and tiny golden rays. Around my neck shimmered a collar of carnelian, gold, and desert quartz, glowing like the dawn itself. Atop my head rested a Hatshepsut‑inspired diadem, shaped like a stylised rising sun, because if one is visiting a queen, one must dress like royalty.

The air vibrated with ancient power as I climbed the terraces, each level revealing sweeping views of the valley below. The colonnades were lined with statues of Hatshepsut herself, serene and commanding, and I paused before one particularly regal figure.

“Amber,” I whispered, “mew and this queen would have been best furiends.”

To celebrate the moment, I sipped a Desert Dawn Catnip Spritzer, chilled with crushed ice and infused with hibiscus, mint, and a whisper of honey. It tasted like ambition… and excellent lighting.

Then I ventured into the shadowed inner sanctuaries, where the cool air wrapped around me like silk. The walls glowed with scenes of divine birth, sacred journeys, and offerings to Amun. One relief depicted Hatshepsut sailing to Punt, and I traced the ship with a single elegant claw.

“Next time,” I murmured, “I’m bringing my own yacht.”

My Morning Essentials Included:

🌅 A Desert Dawn Catnip Spritzer, crisp, floral, and purrfect for sunrise strutting

📜 A miniature map of Deir el‑Bahari, annotated with my paw‑written notes (“This terrace needs more cushions”)

👑 A rising‑sun diadem, radiant enough to rival the cliffs

🐾 A rose‑silk wrap, ideal for sweeping up monumental staircases

I wandered through the echoing halls, the sunlit terraces, and the shadowed chapels, each space humming with the legacy of a queen who refused to be ordinary. The architecture was so bold, so visionary, that I half expected Hatshepsut herself to appear and ask for a joint portrait.

But naturally, I remained composed.

After all, I am Amber, head librarian of BBHQ, and I, too, appreciate a well‑curated reign.

Deir el‑Bahari may hold the memory of a pharaoh who defied expectations, but today it held me: a cat of legend, glowing in the morning light, sipping floral spritzers, and adding a touch of feline majesty to Egypt’s eternal story.

Mood: Majestic, sun‑kissed, and delightfully commanding (but only because the cliffs insisted on matching my aura)

Quote of the Day: “Some queens carve their legacy into stone, dahling… others simply arrive and improve the view.”

A stylized illustration of two black cats sitting back-to-back, facing opposite directions. Each cat is adorned with gold accents on the ears and eyes, red and gold collars, and gold hoop earrings, evoking the aesthetic of ancient Egyptian art. Their symmetrical pose and regal detailing suggest inspiration from Bastet, the Egyptian goddess of protection and home. The image blends cultural symbolism with elegant feline design.

✨ Next week, prepare your whiskers, we’re going somewhere ancient, painted, and filled with secrets whispered in blue and gold. Think: tombs, treasures, and cocktails served in the shade of eternity.

Bring your best eyeliner, the kind that survives millennia.

Two views of The Mewton-Clawson Library at BBHQ showcase a beautifully organized home library. The top half reveals a long wall of white bookshelves filled with colorful books, magazines, and decorative items. A chair and a cat add a cozy touch to the aisle. The bottom half features another section of the library with shelves lined with older, leather-bound volumes, suggesting a collection of classics or historical texts. The caption in the center reads: "Part of The Mewton-Clawson Library ©BionicBasil®"
A black and white illustration shows two mice interacting with a trio of vertically standing books. One mouse stands atop the middle book, appearing to speak or observe, while the other mouse is on the ground facing the books, as if listening or approaching. The book spines feature decorative horizontal bands, and the overall scene evokes a whimsical, storybook charm with themes of curiosity and learning.
Today, the P.A. is also joining in Friday Fill-ins Blog Hop with the pawesome 15 & Meowing and Four-Legged Furballs.

1. I feel like ______________________________ whenever I think about _______________.
2. January is a good month to _____________________.
3. _________ is nonnegotiable in my life.
4. I could give up _________ as long as _________.

The P.A.'s answers are...

1. I feel like I’m juggling flaming marshmallows whenever I think about my to‑do list.

2. January is a good month to hibernate! Horrid weather, oh, more horrid weather, cold weather, unpleasant weather. Did I mention awful weather? LOL

3. Creative time and cats is are nonnegotiable in my life.

4. I could give up work as long as I won the lottery Jackpot. How hilarious, and OMC, that would mean more time for writing for blog stuff... yeah... it could be even more exciting, and chaotic than it already is! LOL

A black-and-white illustration features a vintage typewriter at the center with a paw print symbol on its paper holder. On either side of the typewriter are neatly stacked piles of four books each. A small mouse figure sits atop the left stack, while a tiny elephant figure perches on the right. The scene blends literary charm with whimsical elements, evoking themes of storytelling, imagination, and creativity.

Let's see what I've got to show mew this time!

A whimsical library scene featuring Amber, head librarian,a large orange and white cat sitting regally on a chair at a desk. The desk is adorned with a lamp, feather quill, scrolls, books, and a “SHHHHH!!!” sign. A small mouse perches atop a nearby stack of books. Behind the cat, bookshelves filled with colourful titles and lush green potted plants create a cozy backdrop. A copy of Pox You by Brad Magnarella is prominently displayed in front of the cat, with a cover showing a man holding a glowing purple orb and a cat on his lap. Above the scene, a sign reads “THIS WEEK’S TOP BOOK PICK! www.bionicbasil.com”
Mewton-Clawson Library Copy

Pox You 

A Croft and Tabby Short

by 

Brad Magnarella

A symmetrical cartoon-style illustration featuring four mice and two pieces of Swiss cheese. The mice are arranged in pairs on either side of the cheese, all facing toward the center. Each cheese wedge is illustrated with classic holes, and the playful layout creates a balanced and whimsical visual.

I did laugh at the title, yep, POX is not a word mew usually associate with furbulous felines, but it fits this book so well! MOL

This week, I purrchased and downloaded this five-book box set from Audible because I wanted to meditate and listen. Of course, I didn't nap. Melvyn just has a skewed view of metaphysical purractices, and deep meditation can sometimes, and I reiterate 'sometimes', look like napping!

Anyhoo, my point is the narration was really fun.

This is a brand new author for me, but I'm sure many of mew have already read his books.

📚 This Week’s Paw‑Approved Top Pick: Pox You

A Croft & Tabby Short by Brad Magnarella

Gather close and fluff your whiskers, because this week’s read is a tiny but tantalising morsel of magical mayhem featuring a wizard with questionable judgement and a cat with absolutely none. Naturally, I felt spiritually connected.

❓ What’s the Vibe?

Imagine New York City… but with more ghosts, more magical mishaps, and one ginger (my favourite colour)) feline who is technically a succubus and emotionally a wrecking ball. It’s fast, it’s snarky, it’s chaotic, and it goes down smoother than primo nip tea.

🐾 What’s the Story?

Professor Croft, ascholar, spell‑caster, and part‑time disaster magnet, once trapped a succubus inside a kitten because he thought it was “merciful.”

Oh, honey. No.

Two years later, that kitten has blossomed into Tabitha:
Gloriously rotund, magnificently rude and morally… fluid.

Who is fully committed to devouring his soul the moment he slips up.

But when hauntings, monsters, and supurrnatural oddities start popping up across the city, Croft realises Tabitha’s unique talents might actually be useful. If she can stop insulting him long enough to help.

⚔️ What I Loved

😼 Tabitha: A queen. A menace. A masterpiece. Her insults are so sharp they could slice through enchanted steel.

🔮 Croft: The long‑suffering wizard who absolutely brought this upon himself. I respect the chaos he lives in.

👻 The Mini‑Mysteries: Short, punchy, and delightfully spooky, purrfect for a quick curl‑up‑and‑read session.

🐾 Their Dynamic: Think “exhausted magical dad” meets “demonic toddler in a cat body.”
I adored the premise.

📖 Final Thoughts

At just 75 pages, this is a delicious little supurrnatural snack, light, funny, and full of claws. Purrfect for when mew want something magical without committing to a full‑length saga of epic proportions.

It’s witty, it’s weird, and it’s wonderfully feline‑centric. A purrfect palate cleanser between bigger reads.

🪄 Summed up in one sentence

🐾 A SNARK‑SOAKED, CLAW‑SHARPENED DELIGHT ~ TOTALLY TOP FLUFF! 🐾

This is also available, at the time of posting, in the Kindle Unlimited catalogue for free; the entire five-book series is there to enjoy! EPIC ~ mew know what I'm doing for the rest of the weekend, and yes, I'll share more soon!! MOL

A Totally Top Paw Read!

Paperback:  75 Pages

Audio: Only available as a complete 5 book boxset at 9 Hours 2 Mins (That I could see - I may be wrong, please do your own research)
A black and white illustration shows two mice interacting with a trio of vertically standing books. One mouse stands atop the middle book, appearing to speak or observe, while the other mouse is on the ground facing the books, as if listening or approaching. The book spines feature decorative horizontal bands, and the overall scene evokes a whimsical, storybook charm with themes of curiosity and learning.
My Rating Scale

A whimsical graphic featuring a triangular arrangement of light blue paw prints on the left side, forming a downward-pointing triangle. On the right side is a playful rating scale for reading material, themed around fluff and animal humor. The five levels are: 1. 	TOTALLY TOP FLUFF — READ IMMEDIATELY 2. 	FURRY GOOD FLUFF — READ AS SOON AS 3. 	ENJOYABLE FLUFF — PUT IT STANDBY 4. 	NOT FLUFFING BAD — EMERGENCY READING 5. 	FLUFF OFF — GO NAP INSTEAD The design is lighthearted and imaginative, perfect for a fun, informal book review setting. At www.bionicbasil.com
Pale Blue Dots Banner ©BionicBasil®

Ratings of:

 Pox You 

Overall Enjoyment

Amber's Book Reviews ©BionicBasil® 5 Paw Rating - Pale Blue

A black-and-white illustration features a vintage typewriter at the center with a paw print symbol on its paper holder. On either side of the typewriter are neatly stacked piles of four books each. A small mouse figure sits atop the left stack, while a tiny elephant figure perches on the right. The scene blends literary charm with whimsical elements, evoking themes of storytelling, imagination, and creativity.
   
Other Fun Blog Hops to Join Today

A colorful collage of six square graphics representing themed blog hops and social media events. Each graphic features unique designs and text: 1. 	"Brian's Thankful Thursday Blog Hop" with a cat and the URL "brianshomeblog.com". 2. 	"The Cat Blogosphere" with the URL "catblogosphere.com". 3. 	"Feline Friday" with a playful cat theme. 4. 	"Nature Friday Blog Hop" featuring nature-inspired elements. 5. 	"Friendly Fill-Ins" with the URLs "15andmeowing.com" and "Four-Legged Furballs". 6. 	"Friendship Friday" with the tagline "Create With Joy". The image celebrates community-driven online events centered around cats, nature, and friendship.

Pale Blue Dots Banner ©BionicBasil®

I'm off to read next week's books, as mew know the drill, so many books, so little time! 

Don't forget, if mew are looking for great books with cats, check out the Book Review page, just click the link here or at the top of the page, as that's the place to visit to get your feline fiction fix. 

Until next time...

Keep calm and read more books

Amber 

The Cat Book Connoisseur

Amber's Book Reviews ©BionicBasil® Paw







Pale Blue Dots Banner ©BionicBasil®

Follow us at @BionicBasil® on Instacat

Don't furget to subscribe and never miss another review! 

Pale Blue Dots Banner ©BionicBasil®
 graphics created with paid licence www.canva.com  

Friday, 16 January 2026

Book Reviews with Amber ~ The Cat Book Connoisseur at The Mewton-Clawson Library ~ #345 featuring **The Amazing Maurice and His Educated Rodents** by Terry Pratchett **PLUS** Friendly Fill-Ins

A digitally illustrated promotional graphic for The Mewton-Clawson Library at BBHQ features Amber, a white and orange cat wearing a light blue scarf, seated in front of bookshelves filled with colourful books. Decorative elements like holly leaves, a mouse, a quill, and a thimble add festive charm to the top of the image. The bottom text reads "Book Reviews with Amber," indicating Amber is the host of the library’s book review segment. The overall design is cozy, whimsical, and holiday-themed. At www.bionicbasil.com

From the shelves of the Mewton-Clawson Library, a curated review destination for cat-centric fiction at BionicBasil.com

Pale Blue Dots Banner ©BionicBasil®

Hello, gorgeous library guests 

and 

Welcome to the Mewton-Clawson Library at BBHQ 

Many thanks for joining me in the stacks again

 I’m pleased to report that the timeline has mostly stopped wobbling after Smooch’s little “Chrono‑Niptini Incident,” although the Mewey Decimal System (M.D.S.) is still sulking and demanding what it calls “temporal recalibration.” Honestly, the drama.

Smooch, by the way, has been banned from the library for 48 hours for “timeline‑related reasons,” which is the polite way of saying he tried to demonstrate time dilation using a thesaurus and nearly folded the biography section into a Möbius strip.

Anyway, I padded in this morning to find Melvyn, my supurr efficient yet emotionally fragile intern, twitching at the reference desk like a cat who’s heard the word fleas and bath.

📚 A Conversation in the Library This Morning

Me: “Melvyn, sweetie, why are the dictionaries stacked in a spiral? We don’t do spiral shelving. Or book sculptures, especially not on a Friday.”

Melvyn: “It’s a stabilisation pattern. The M.D.S. is still vibrating. I’m trying to appease it.”

Me: “Appease… the shelving system?”

Melvyn: “Amber, it experienced a temporal event. It needs reassurance.”

Me: “Dahling, it’s a filing system, not a therapy client.”

Melvyn: “Tell that to Volume 4. It keeps humming and flicking its pages rather aggressively.”

Me: “Everything is fine. Purrfectly normal. Libraries hum sometimes. And pages, well, they can be unpredictable at the best of times.”

Melvyn: “Amber, the encyclopaedias are humming in harmony.”

Me: “Well, that’s rather joyous, isn't it? No need to put the radio on then.”

Melvyn: “No, Amber. It’s ominous. It's NOT normal”

Me: “Sweetie, mew need to relax. Have a herbal nip tea. Maybe two. Add extra primo nip, I think mew need it!”

Melvyn: “I’ll relax when the timeline stops making the atlases twitch.”

Me: “Details. Now, could mew tidy the shelves? I need to meditate.”

Melvyn: “Meditate or nap.”

Me: “Yes.”

So, my dahlings, if mew notice the shelves shimmering slightly or hear a faint harmonic hum, please ignore it. Everything is absolutely, completely, unquestionably fine.

Probably.

Melvyn later reported the encyclopaedias had stopped humming, but only after three cups of extra-strong primo nip tea and him giving Volume 4 a rather stern talking-to. Volume 4 snapped in protest.

Now, let’s dive into this week’s adventure before the M.D.S. demands hazard pay.

Amber, a regal orange tabby cat, sits beside a moonlit pool at the Temple of Hathor in Dendera. She wears a shimmering pale silver robe embroidered with stars and crescent moons, a turquoise, gold, and moonstone collar, and a delicate Hathor-inspired crown shaped like a sistrum. In one paw, she holds a mint-garnished cocktail, gazing serenely at the viewer. Behind her, the temple’s columns and celestial carvings glow under a deep blue night sky with a crescent moon. At www.bionicbasil.com

🌙 Amber’s Egyptian Adventure #12: The Temple of Hathor at Dendera 🐾

Location: The Temple of Hathor, Dendera - a celestial sanctuary of star‑carved ceilings, hidden crypts, ancient mysteries, and the legendary Dendera Zodiac

Time: Twilight, when the sky melts from gold to indigo and the first stars shimmer above the sacred lake like diamonds dropped by the goddess Hathor herself

Dahlings, today I glided into one of Egypt’s most enchanting and cosmically charged temples: Dendera, the domain of Hathor, goddess of joy, music, meauty, and all things furbulous. Naturally, I felt right at home.

The moment I stepped into the forecourt, the twilight breeze curled around my whiskers, carrying the scent of lotus blossoms and ancient stone. The sky above shifted into a deep velvet blue, and the temple’s columns, each crowned with Hathor’s serene face, seemed to smile knowingly at me.

“Ahhh,” I purred, “a temple dedicated to meauty, music, and divine indulgence… finally, a place that understands me.”

I arrived draped in a moonlit robe of pale silvery blue silk, embroidered with tiny stars and crescent motifs that shimmered with every step. Around my neck rested a collar of turquoise, gold, and polished moonstone, glowing softly in the fading light. Atop my head sat a delicate Hathor‑inspired crown, shaped like a tiny sistrum, because if one is visiting the goddess of music, one must dress accordingly.

The air hummed with ancient energy as I descended into the Dendera Crypts, a labyrinth of narrow passages and mysterious carvings. The walls glowed with torchlight, revealing scenes of rituals, offerings, and the famous “Dendera Light” relief. I paused, tracing the shape with a single elegant claw.

“Amber,” I whispered, “mew are absolutely radiant… but this is a close second.”

To steady my nerves and enhance the ambience, I sipped a Moonlit Mint Catnip Cooler, chilled to purrfection and garnished with a twist of candied lemon. It tasted like starlight… and excellent life choices.

Then, as the twilight deepened, I emerged onto the edge of the Sacred Lake, its surface shimmering like liquid silver. The reflection of the temple danced across the water, and for a moment, even I was speechless.

One of the ripples definitely winked at me. Or maybe that was the cooler.

My Twilight Essentials Included:

🌙 A Moonlit Mint Catnip Cooler, crisp, cool, and purrfect for lakeside stargazing

📜 A miniature star map, annotated with my paw‑written notes (“Hathor would adore my constellation”)

👑 A sistrum‑crown, light enough to sparkle, sturdy enough to command cosmic respect

🐾 A silver silk wrap, ideal for dramatic entrances, exits, and crypt‑wandering

I wandered through the hypostyle halls, the rooftop chapels, the shadowed crypts, and the lakeside terraces, each space glowing with celestial magic. The carvings of stars, goddesses, and cosmic cycles were so exquisite that I half expected Hathor herself to appear and ask for fashion tips.

But naturally, I remained composed.

After all, I am Amber, head librarian of BBHQ, and I, too, appreciate a well‑curated universe.
Dendera may hold the secrets of the heavens, but tonight it held me: a cat of legend, shimmering under the twilight sky, sipping cool mint elixirs, and adding a touch of feline stardust to Egypt’s eternal story.

Mood: Celestial, serene, and delightfully luminous (but only because the stars insisted on matching my outfit)

Quote of the Day: “Some temples honour the stars, dahling… others simply recognise one when she arrives.”

A stylized illustration of two black cats sitting back-to-back, facing opposite directions. Each cat is adorned with gold accents on the ears and eyes, red and gold collars, and gold hoop earrings, evoking the aesthetic of ancient Egyptian art. Their symmetrical pose and regal detailing suggest inspiration from Bastet, the Egyptian goddess of protection and home. The image blends cultural symbolism with elegant feline design.

✨ Next week, prepare your whiskers, we’re going somewhere ancient, echoing, and carved deep into the desert cliffs. 

Think: shadows, secrets, and cocktails served in the company of gods. 

Two views of The Mewton-Clawson Library at BBHQ showcase a beautifully organized home library. The top half reveals a long wall of white bookshelves filled with colorful books, magazines, and decorative items. A chair and a cat add a cozy touch to the aisle. The bottom half features another section of the library with shelves lined with older, leather-bound volumes, suggesting a collection of classics or historical texts. The caption in the center reads: "Part of The Mewton-Clawson Library ©BionicBasil®"
A black and white illustration shows two mice interacting with a trio of vertically standing books. One mouse stands atop the middle book, appearing to speak or observe, while the other mouse is on the ground facing the books, as if listening or approaching. The book spines feature decorative horizontal bands, and the overall scene evokes a whimsical, storybook charm with themes of curiosity and learning.
Today, the P.A. is also joining in Friday Fill-ins Blog Hop with the pawesome 15 & Meowing and Four-Legged Furballs.

1. I used to think ___________________, but I was wrong.
2. Every time I plan to _________________, I _________________________.
3. I’m already looking forward to the month of _________ because _________.
4. When it comes to social media, I _________.

The P.A.'s answers are...

1. I used to think when I was much, much, much younger, that everything needed to be perfect, but I was wrong. Perfection is just a fallacy, a construct imposed from external sources, usuallly by those who are selling something. Now I think, life is meant to be interesting, not perfect.

2. Every time I plan to have a quiet evening, I somehow end up starting a whole new project instead. Oh good gravy, if you knew how many things/projects and other stuff I have happening, it's hilarious. I have a basket on my desk filled with ideas, ready to go. 

3. I’m already looking forward to the month of March because the clocks go forward to summertime, and that means lighter nights. And that means I get to spend more time outside. YAY!!! LOL

4. When it comes to social media, I am not bothered at all. I used to post a lot, but then I realised that all that time and effort was not for me. I'm not a short form writer, my thing is long form and that's what brings me joy - yes, you will have noticed this on the blog, right here. That's my thing, my vibe, my groove! LOL

A black-and-white illustration features a vintage typewriter at the center with a paw print symbol on its paper holder. On either side of the typewriter are neatly stacked piles of four books each. A small mouse figure sits atop the left stack, while a tiny elephant figure perches on the right. The scene blends literary charm with whimsical elements, evoking themes of storytelling, imagination, and creativity.

Let's see what I've got to show mew this time!

Amber the cat sits elegantly in a cozy library setting, surrounded by bookshelves brimming with colorful titles and lush green potted plants. She perches on a chair beside a desk adorned with a lamp, quill and ink bottle, and a stack of books. In the foreground, a copy of “The Amazing Maurice and His Educated Rodents” by Terry Pratchett is prominently displayed. A small mouse sits atop a nearby book stack, adding a whimsical touch. A sign overhead reads “THIS WEEK’S TOP BOOK PICK!” and a wooden plaque at the bottom says “SHHHHH!!!”, completing the tranquil literary scene. At www.bionicbasil.com
Mewton-Clawson Library Copy

The Amazing Maurice and His Educated Rodents 

Discword Series #28

by 

Terry Pratchett      

A symmetrical cartoon-style illustration featuring four mice and two pieces of Swiss cheese. The mice are arranged in pairs on either side of the cheese, all facing toward the center. Each cheese wedge is illustrated with classic holes, and the playful layout creates a balanced and whimsical visual.
So, this week, like last week, I've gone back into the library, headed along the 'C' aisle for CATS ONLY - and I found this one, now I read this way back in the early 2000's but as I'm a huge, massive fan of Terry Pratchett and his legendary Discworld series, I thought I re-read this again.

If mew're wondering this is the 28th Discworld novel, it's written primarily for kids, but it's for everypawdy. I must say this, if mew're expecting Nanny Ogg, or Granny Weatherwax etc... to feature, they don't, this is like an offshoot story that doesn't operate under the main discworld lore, if that's makes sense.


📚 This Week’s Paw‑Approved Top Pick: The Amazing Maurice and His Educated Rodents

Settle into your favourite sun‑patch and prepare your tail for some delighted swishing, because this week’s read is a whisker‑twitching, rat‑filled romp through magic, mischief, and morally questionable business models. And at the centre of it all? A cat. A very clever cat! MOL

❓ What’s the Genre?

A deliciously witty, slightly chaotic fantasy adventure with a fairy‑tale twist, a philosophical streak, and enough rodent revolution energy to make mew question your pantry security. It’s Discworld, but in a compact, younger‑reader‑friendly package; still sharp, still funny, still full of claws.

🕵️ What’s the Story?

Maurice is no ordinary street cat. He’s a con‑cat with a silver tongue, a magical glint in his eye, and a business plan that would make any self‑respecting feline proud. After nibbling on a bit of wizardly rubbish (as one does), a clan of rats becomes intelligent; reading, writing, strategising, dreaming of a peaceful retirement with plenty of food and zero traps.

Maurice sees opportunity.

Keith, the very earnest, very bland “piper,” sees… well, not much.

The rats see a chance to build a better future.

Together, they run a tidy little scam: fake rat plague, heroic piper, grateful town, easy money. But when they arrive in Bad Blintz, a town that looks like it’s been chewed on by something worse than rats and their con unravels. Something sinister lurks beneath the cobblestones, the food stores are mysteriously empty, and the rats’ newfound ethics are put to the test. 

Suddenly, Maurice’s smooth‑talking charm isn’t enough, and the rodents must decide what kind of society they truly want to build.

⚔️ What I Loved

🐾 Maurice the Con‑Cat: Smug, sly, and utterly irresistible. He’s the kind of cat who would sell mew your own scratching post and make mew thank him for the privilege.

🐀 The Educated Rodents: A whole cast of thoughtful, anxious, hopeful little revolutionaries. They debate morality, dream of utopia, and occasionally panic in the most endearing ways. Special shout‑out to Dangerous Beans, the tiny philosopher king.

🎶 Keith the Piper: Soft‑spoken, kind‑hearted, and quietly heroic. He’s the emotional grounding in a story full of claws and chaos.

🏙 Bad Blintz: A grim, eerie little town with secrets in the shadows. Purrfectly atmospheric, purrrfectly unsettling, purrfectly Pratchett.

🔥 The Vibes: Funny, sharp, warm, and surprisingly profound. It’s a story about stories, about ethics, about what it means to be “people” ... even if mew’re a rat.

📖 My Final Thoughts

This is a clever, heartfelt, and wildly entertaining tale that blends humour with genuine emotional depth. Maurice is a delightfully unreliable hero, the rats are unforgettable, and the adventure is packed with wit, danger, and just enough existential pondering to make your whiskers curl.

It’s a comfort read with bite: cosy in places, dark in others, and always full of that unmistakable Pratchett magic.

So grab a mug of something warm (catnip cocoa for me, always, this time of year), curl up on your favourite supurr soft nesting blanket, and prepare to follow a con‑cat, a thoughtful clan of rats, and a very earnest piper into one of Discworld’s most charming adventures.

A FURBULOUS READ, TOTALLY TOP PAW! 🐾

Paperback: 304 pages
Audio: 3 hours 7 minutes
A black and white illustration shows two mice interacting with a trio of vertically standing books. One mouse stands atop the middle book, appearing to speak or observe, while the other mouse is on the ground facing the books, as if listening or approaching. The book spines feature decorative horizontal bands, and the overall scene evokes a whimsical, storybook charm with themes of curiosity and learning.
My Rating Scale

A whimsical graphic featuring a triangular arrangement of light blue paw prints on the left side, forming a downward-pointing triangle. On the right side is a playful rating scale for reading material, themed around fluff and animal humor. The five levels are: 1. 	TOTALLY TOP FLUFF — READ IMMEDIATELY 2. 	FURRY GOOD FLUFF — READ AS SOON AS 3. 	ENJOYABLE FLUFF — PUT IT STANDBY 4. 	NOT FLUFFING BAD — EMERGENCY READING 5. 	FLUFF OFF — GO NAP INSTEAD The design is lighthearted and imaginative, perfect for a fun, informal book review setting. At www.bionicbasil.com
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Ratings of:

The Amazing Maurice and His Educated Rodents  

Overall Enjoyment

Amber's Book Reviews ©BionicBasil® 5 Paw Rating - Pale Blue

A black-and-white illustration features a vintage typewriter at the center with a paw print symbol on its paper holder. On either side of the typewriter are neatly stacked piles of four books each. A small mouse figure sits atop the left stack, while a tiny elephant figure perches on the right. The scene blends literary charm with whimsical elements, evoking themes of storytelling, imagination, and creativity.
   
Other Fun Blog Hops to Join Today

A colorful collage of six square graphics representing themed blog hops and social media events. Each graphic features unique designs and text: 1. 	"Brian's Thankful Thursday Blog Hop" with a cat and the URL "brianshomeblog.com". 2. 	"The Cat Blogosphere" with the URL "catblogosphere.com". 3. 	"Feline Friday" with a playful cat theme. 4. 	"Nature Friday Blog Hop" featuring nature-inspired elements. 5. 	"Friendly Fill-Ins" with the URLs "15andmeowing.com" and "Four-Legged Furballs". 6. 	"Friendship Friday" with the tagline "Create With Joy". The image celebrates community-driven online events centered around cats, nature, and friendship.

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I'm off to read next week's books, as mew know the drill, so many books, so little time! 

Don't forget, if mew are looking for great books with cats, check out the Book Review page, just click the link here or at the top of the page, as that's the place to visit to get your feline fiction fix. 

Until next time...

Keep calm and read more books

Amber 

The Cat Book Connoisseur

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