HORRIBLE book

While browsing the library catalog, I spotted an intersting title: The Cat Who Killed Lilian Jackson Braun, by Robert Kaplow. It was billed as a parody of The Cat Who........ books. Being a fan, I brought the slim volume home and prepared to be entertained and amused. Instead, I became thoroughly disgusted.

The book opens with the decapitated body of Lilian Jackson Braun being found in the toilet of a Greenwich Village gay bar and goes downhill from there. It is replete with smut, gratuitous sex scenes and bathroom "humor". In addition, the writing is terrible, employing asides and background explanations, which bear no relationship to the plot (such as it is).

Recurring cameos, by Philip Roth do nothing for the story. References to Dashiell Hammett, Arthur Conan Doyle, Harry Houdini, Mary Astor and The Honeymooners are disjointed and require great stretches of text, to semi-connect them.

Mr. Kaplow has produced a piece of prose which, shredded, would not be fit for my cats to eliminate on.

The above is solely the opinion of the writer.

Yikes! That's a title that would have intrigued me, too, and perhaps tempted me into a purchase. Now I'll know to resist the temptation! Thank you.

I have heard of the book and have no intention on buying it- just from the title.

Wow.... I would've bought that book too .... Thanks for the heads up Cindy .

Having a sometimes warped sense of humor, I appreciate a good spoof or parody but, this thing is just garbage.

I figured that I couldn't be the only one, who ran across this book and Lilian Jackson Braun fans should be forewarned.

I'd be surprized a book that sounds that poorly written would get published. I'm not though. The publishers probably thought the title would intrigue Braun and cat fans alike and therefore make a profit.

I hadn't heard of the story, but if I come across it I'll know it's not worth my time.

Originally posted by lovemypets
I'd be surprized a book that sounds that poorly written would get published. I'm not though.

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Don't be too surprised. Modern "Print On Demand" technology makes it possible for anyone with a manuscript on computer disk and $400 to spare to become "published" in book form.

The same technology allows the presses to be set up directly from the copy on the CD supplied by the author - eliminating the traditional Typesetting process and, at too many publishers, the Editor as well.

So when you see a book, and wonder "How did THAT get Published?" - here you have an increasingly likely answer.

i cant beleive that that book even got published, and it seeems to be more about things like bad humor rather cats!!!!!!!!!!

i read an article about that book, so i already knew i wasn't EVER going to read it, how do you think mrs. braun feels about this?? any opinions?? (being a fan, i am apalled, the book sounds disgusting)

Originally posted by ccdogmuffin
i read an article about that book, so i already knew i wasn't EVER going to read it, how do you think mrs. braun feels about this?? any opinions?? (being a fan, i am apalled, the book sounds disgusting)

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This thread was the first I was aware of it. I have to agree, it sounds perfectly appalling. For something that's apparently touted as a "spoof", it seems to be completely lacking in merit of any kind. Had it been done well, I could imagine Mrs Braun getting a kick out of it, but as it is I couldn't blame her for being highly offended. Somehow, though, I think the lady has sufficient class as a person, to rise above that, and not let it get to her. More power to her, if that's the case.