Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats (1939)

Nice edition but I prefer the one with the Gorey illustrations. ( )

When looking through lists of poetry books trying to decide which to read for my book challenge I knew I couldn't pass this one. Cats the Musical, and this book, are my wifes' favourite and she named my cat after Mr Mistoffelees.

It was an amusing little book with fun, kitty stories though was a touch racist in parts. After reading certain poems I watched YouTube clips of the Cats version and found they never quite fit what I had in my head. The tempo of the poems in the book is quite fast which obviously wouldn't always work in a musical.

I will now sit down with my wife and watch the whole musical to see how it all connects. A quick, entertaining read. ( )

Z said this was hilarious . . . He's a sucker for Gorey illustrations, too. I was surprised by the racism in a few of the poems, especially considering they were published in the 1930s. ( )

Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats by T.S. Eliot is the most charming little book of poetry I've ever read. Roni directed me to it when we were in Adams Avenue Books for which I am VERY grateful. I read the poems aloud to my husband, which added to the pleasure because they are better when read aloud and because the pleasure was shared. Besides the charming poems, the book also is filled with charming drawings. Such a win-win. Here's a stanza from one of my favorites: "Skimbleshanks: the Railway Cat". If you read it aloud you will discover that it has the rhythm of an old steam train leaving the station.
You may say that by and large it is Skimble who's in charge
Of the Sleeping Car Express.
From the driver to the guards to the bagmen playing cards
He will supervise them all, more or less.
Down the corridor he paces and examines all the faces
Of the travellers in the First and in the Third.
He establishes control by a regular patrol
And he'd know at once if anything occurred.
He will watch you without winking and he sees what you are thinking
And it's certain that he doesn't approve
Of hilarity and riot, so the folk are very quiet
When Skimble is about and on the move. ( )

I was surprised that the poems are very similar to the songs in the musical Cats. The poems are funny and the illustrations are good and match the poems. ( )