Waiting for Gertrude: A Graveyard Gothic by Bill Richardson
I had read this book before and enjoyed it very much, but this time my housemates shared the book with each other and us, the Bears, during their weekend Story-Time. Each of them has a book they read aloud to everyone. It's a fun thing to do, and a nice way to end a busy week -- and it serves as a way my bibliophile housemate can share her love of reading with everyone else. She never fails to select interesting, and very different books to share.
Waiting for Gertrude is a fantasy book, set in Paris' Père Lachaise Cemetery. The characters, with one exception, are cats. Many of those cats are "translations:" cats who are the re-embodiment of famous people buried in Père Lachaise Cemetery. From Alice B. Toklas to Isadora Duncan, from Oscar Wilde to Jim Morrison it's a veritable Who's Who of tourist stops in the Cemetery. The basic plot of the story is that Alice B. Toklas is waiting for her long-time love, Gertrude Stein to be translated to her four-foot form so that Miss Toklas' afterlife can be as complete as her previous life.
It's a fun book, full of interesting characters, who share some of the personalities of their two-legged forms, but are completely different at the same time. It's great for sharing, the grande finale is a great scene -- a frenzy of activity and emotion.
All in all, I highly recommend this book, and if you can share it aloud with people you love, so much the better. I would caution that you not partake in any of Miss Toklas' specialties while you read this book as you may overlook some of the best parts.
One Bear's Opinion: Five Cups of Cocoa with Marshmallows
Happy Reading Everyone,
Oliver
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