Something that could be fun but done badly.
2 stars
I ended up getting this book in a weird Humble Bundle collection, so it wasn't something I totally purchased for myself by choice. I wouldn't have bought it for myself at all, honestly; I love cats, I love history, and I would love cat history! But this was boring and less informative than I was hoping for.
Some 'chapters' have less depth than some essays written by my less-inspired seventh grade students, which I find frustrating. I think contextualising the cat into the history in which it was being talked about would make things more interesting; focusing on some of the cats with more depth would've been far better, also talking about their owners (when applicable).
For example, a common thread that was in the book was that cats were used as micers/ratters on ships, in museums, and theatres. Focusing on this element would've been better because it would've shown …
I ended up getting this book in a weird Humble Bundle collection, so it wasn't something I totally purchased for myself by choice. I wouldn't have bought it for myself at all, honestly; I love cats, I love history, and I would love cat history! But this was boring and less informative than I was hoping for.
Some 'chapters' have less depth than some essays written by my less-inspired seventh grade students, which I find frustrating. I think contextualising the cat into the history in which it was being talked about would make things more interesting; focusing on some of the cats with more depth would've been far better, also talking about their owners (when applicable).
For example, a common thread that was in the book was that cats were used as micers/ratters on ships, in museums, and theatres. Focusing on this element would've been better because it would've shown a deeper relationship between cats and humans, how this has impacted environments (positively and negatively), etc. Fewer cats mentioned but more focus on a theme of those cats would've been far better.