by Greta Beigel
BOOK DESCRIPTION
With attention turning towards the holidays, notably Hanukkah--cat Ketzel, chief protagonist of the e-book "Mewsings: My Life as a Jewish Cat," is salivating, dreaming not only about those hot potato latkes, but also in anticipation of telling stories about her favorite time, Hanukkah, beginning at sundown Dec. 8th.
"Hanukkah, Haukkah, Festival of Lights
Each December we honor you over eight fun-filled nights.
'Twas not always so, Long ago... Ketzel begins, marveling at the many miracles of Hanukkah.
In the playful/educational "Mewsings" a much-loved cat called Ketzel pontificates in rhyme on what it takes to be a good Jew in these very modern times, and especially during the High Holidays. In the December essay "Hanukkah Nights/Lights," while dreaming of dreidels and latkes, Ketzel illuminates how over eight nights we kindle candles as sacred rite. Similarly comes spring and the advent of Passover, she listens attentively to the tale of the Hebrews' escape from slavery--and salivates over the gefilte fish to be served that Seder. Above all, each fall, Ketzel remains in awe of Rosh Hashanah and the Day of Atonement. Whether on travels to Iceland, New Zealand and the lovely Hawaii or merely at home reclining and idle, Ketzel in her musings accords her own Yiddishe Mamma a five-meow rating for goodness, mercy, and above all, fancy feasts.
AUTHOR BIO
Concert pianist-turned journalist Greta Beigel was raised in an Orthodox Jewish household in South Africa during the apartheid era. A piano prodigy she experienced a lonely childhood growing up in Johannesburg, and looking back, it would have been nice to have a cat for company--a fun-loving, clever kitty like Ketzel, narrator of "Mewsings"--whilst slaving away year after year at the keyboard. Greta was awarded an overseas piano scholarship from the University of South Africa and soon migrated to California where she morphed into a music journalist working for many years as a staff writer and arts editor at the Los Angeles Times. She's authored three e-books, and to her surprise, all have turned out to be Jewish themed. Greta likes writing about pets and remains a member of the Cat Writers' Assn.
REVIEWS
Red Adept Reviews on August 11, 2011.
At the very least, "Mewsings: My Life as a Jewish Cat" has to be one of the quirkiest books I've read. Consider that:
1. It's written by a female calico cat named Ketzel.
2. Ketzel is an Orthodox Jewish cat who's fluent in Yiddish.
3. It's a collection of poems, or at least, rhyming lines.
Mewsings was actually a mostly humorous, sometimes poignant, look at the world from a cat's point of view. .....
At the very least, "Mewsings: My Life as a Jewish Cat" has to be one of the quirkiest books I've read. Consider that:
1. It's written by a female calico cat named Ketzel.
2. Ketzel is an Orthodox Jewish cat who's fluent in Yiddish.
3. It's a collection of poems, or at least, rhyming lines.
Mewsings was actually a mostly humorous, sometimes poignant, look at the world from a cat's point of view. .....
"There were a few Yiddish words that my Kindle's built-in dictionary didn't recognize, but the author included a useful glossary at the end of the book.."
OTHER WORKS
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