John Boswell (4) (1945–)

From Amazon:

Most of us are having just the opposite: a nutcrackin’ nightmare of anger, hurt feelings, evil in-laws, and carbs beyond counting. A time when grudges grow and gasses pass. A time of maxed-out credit cards and a ham that the vegetarians are ready to hurl through the frosty window.

It’s that holidays that we celebrate here. Evil little brothers, pregnant tattooed sisters, horny dogs, and cross-dressing dads–they’re all here, ready to spread their Christmas cheer. So show more untangle the lights, spill some eggnog, and gather ‘round the place where happier families would have a piano. Now prepare to enjoy all the carols you love–with new lyrics you’ll love even more. “O Holy Fight,” “Silent Wife,” and “Grandpa Fell” (the ballad of Gramps and his bourbon, set to the tune of “Jingle Bells”). Yes, all your old favorites are here, with words that express, at last, the true sentiments of the season.

My Thoughts:

The songs in this book are really funny, but... I'm sure that many people will find it to be a welcome ice-breaker during family gatherings due to some profanity and other issues expressed in the lyrics. It's certainly not suitable for kids. In fact, I'm not sure I would share it with the adults in my family at Christmas or at any other time. While some people might like this kind of humor, it's disappointing to see the use of profanity in a book connected to Christmas. A gifted author can always find and choose unique words to achieve their goals; they don't have to resort to profanity to make a statement or get a laugh. show less

Have you ever wondered what “meow” means? Chances are, it's French for something. This little book is packed with all of the answers and necessary translations that you will ever need to know in order to live with your cat (because aren't all cats French?). This little gem contains English phrases and French translations regarding every aspect of cat politics, from appropriate items you must agree to furnish for playtime (read the fine print!) to names they will and will not answer to. show more

You simply must have a copy of this book in your collection, if you are owned by at least one cat... but having two copies of this book is highly suggested, because this book holds within it all of the secrets of the cat, and we know how plausible it would be to find ourselves in immediate need of this book and to discover that its conveniently tucked beneath the sleeping cat... show less

This book takes the form of a normal phrasebook as intended for cats. Or at least what humans would expect a cat to say in various situations. It is a light and quick read and the French itself is accurte and useful, but knowing some French is useful, as a few of the "translations" are jokes in themselves.

Mon dieu! Un petit livre pour des chats! Maintenant il peut miauler en deux langues! Aucune paix pour l'homme.

French for Cats. My husband teaches French to the 8th Grade. While on a trip to Manhattan, I stopped in a shop at Rockerfeller Center. I found this little book and about fell over laughing, since we are both working on French, him teaching and me learning, and we have cats. Buy a copy of this book and stuff it into your jacket pocket until you need to pass some time with a smile on your face. If you like cats or want to brush-up on your French you'll find this colorfully illustrated book a show more delight. The sentences may be cute and silly, but they are in proper French, with proper sentence structure, and simple enough to provide useful grammatical tools and vocabulary. show less