Deric Longden (1936–2013)

This was a re-read for me, but there's nothing so nice as a couple of days of sweet reading with a Deric Longden book. My mum bought me my first Longden many years ago and I would thank her very heartily for the pleasure. Deric is a local man - he grew up in the same town as me, albeit rather before my time - and his books are peppered with Derbyshire places and the occasional phrase my grandparents throw out every once in a while.

But this book could be read and enjoyed by anyone. Provided show more you're a cat lover, that is. Deric lives with his registered-blind wife, the writer Aileen Armitage, and a veritable army of cats. Officially the line up for this book goes like this: Thermal (young white tom, has a pet sultana called Ralph), Tigger (saintly tortoiseshell who lives for her charity work amongst local strays), Arthur (old black cat who has seen it all) and Frink (small white turbocharged kitten). On top of that there are plenty of other felines - and even the occasional canine - dropping by from time to time to join the fun.

Deric Longden's gift is to make the most ordinary of days, the most uneventful of situations, into something worth telling, something amusing and insightful and brilliant: a foggy day, a walk to the shop, an afternoon in the study... Oh, and he talks to his cats. In fact, one of the most charming things about his books is the fact that he gives each cat a voice of their own. It sounds eccentric, it sounds ridiculous, but beneath his clever and capable pen it just WORKS.

I have read all of these books several times since I was given that first one ('The Cat who Came in from the Cold', where Thermal is introduced to the Longden family for the first time) - and I'll be keeping them to read again. I have a beloved kitty of my own (two, until recently) and I think Longden just perfectly captures what it is to live with a cat, all the humour and heartbreak and companionship and character quirks that make life with such a demanding little member of the family worthwhile. The bottom line? If you like cats, you'll love it! show less

Longden gets straight to the bottom of things from the start with what I consider to be one of the best openings I've ever read in a book. Longden's description of the 'unmistakable backside' of his mother barging its way into Marks and Spencers and her antics on the escalator with a pot of cherry yogurt left me in stitches!

You'll be charmed by this ageing protagonist as her philosophy and unique brand of wisdom unfold. Her cats, plants and 'addiction' to copious quantities of 'Buttercup show more Syrup' combined with her unique way of 'selling' her house to potential buyers (by pointing out all its faults) cannot fail to amuse.

This book highlights the difficulties of declining into dementia from the point of view of her loving son who is also coping with the tragic loss of his wife and the difficulties of having a new partner who is blind.

The TV film based on this book seriously missed the 'plot'. show less

My mum bought me this book, oh so long ago now, and I can safely say that it was one of the best gifts she could possibly have chosen.

This charming little tome drags the reader on a lovely journey of enlightenment and discovery, as writer Deric Longden comes to the wonderful realisation that he is, in fact, a Cat's Best Friend. It all begins when he spots his next door neighbour's new kitten sitting on an upturned bucket in the yard. When the day turns rainy and the little mite is still out show more in the cold, his heart melts and he brings it in to dry out and meet his wife, novelist Aileen Armitage, who is instantly smitten.

This new love affair culminates in the sneaky adopting of the kitten, and the story runs from there. Fears of sheepskin rugs, drunken misbehavior with spilt wine, climbing trees, a pet sultana called Ralph, and all sorts of other scrumptious quirks and mishaps ensue as Deric and his kitten bond, culminating in Aileen - who is almost blind - shutting him in the fridge with a pack of Danish bacon. The wonderful image of Deric thawing him out in a shrunken thermal vest in front of the fire earns him his name - Thermal.

Throughout the book, conversations with Aileen and conversations with his kitten entwine into a hilariously laugh-out-loud (yes, honestly - I'm not exaggerating) reading experience, only enhanced when yet more cats enter the equation - Tigger (the ladylike tortoiseshell), Arthur (the scruffy old man), Chico (a neighbour's cat) and Denton (the local bully) - and things really start to liven up.

This is an absolutely delightful book for all ages, and the author's unique way of bringing his furry charges to life in the most human sense will be recognised by cat lovers everywhere. More cat books follow this one - 'Enough to make a Cat Laugh' and the latest, 'Paws in the Proceedings', amongst others. A timeless collection to savour, cherish and pass on to your children. show less

Oh so much better than Dewey and really the example of HOW to write a book about your cat(s) that is not cloyingly sweet or meandering wildly off topic or ALL ABOUT YOU. Full of that dry Brittish humour that I really enjoy and the personality of the cats comes through; we don't get told how great they are, we see it.