Sheila NortonCritiques

This is a lovely feelgood book that I just loved.

If you love cats and Christmas, I think you will enjoy this.

Highly recommended.

A nice read. Easy story to get into and well rounded characters. Perfect for a lazy weekend.

Recently separated, Nicola moves back in with her mother, starts as a teaching assistant at the local primary school, gets a puppy and joins a group of dog walkers. Her five year old daughter struggles adjusting to the new school, while Nicola struggles adjusting to having shared custody; the dog walkers investigate missing cats and then embark upon a mission to save the local park from being sold to developers; new friends are made along the way.

This was very low-angst and, once I realised the sort of story it was, kind of predictable. I can recognise the appeal of this brand of realism, but personally would have preferred more humour or more emotional complexity. I’d also have liked more about Nicola’s job, or the trials and joys of training a puppy -- were Nicola a colleague of mine, it’d be easy to find things in common, topics we could discuss.

But, as a fictional character, her story wasn’t quite what I was looking for.½

This was a delightful Christmas and animal story. It takes place in a small village in England where life is a lot slower and the people need to depend upon one another. I really enjoyed this story and it made me smile often. The story is told by Olvier, the pub cat to a young kitten Charlie. It is really the story of 2 couples and a recluse, his daughter and her nurse. Of course there are many other characters involved, but they all revolve around the others.

Oliver is a cat who lives with George, who owns a pub. One night the pub, above which Oliver and George live, catches on fire. Oliver wakes George and they get out alive. George ends up in London with his sister who has allergies. Oliver is found by Daniel who fosters Oliver with his girlfriend, Nicky and the neighbours Sarah and Martin. This occurs because Daniel and Nicky can not afford to feed Oliver but Sarah and Martin can. They also have two girls who fall in love with Oliver, Grace and Rose.

As I mentioned, it's written in first person point of view from Oliver's perspective ... he is telling a kitten about how he "saved" Christmas last year. Oliver speaks Cat, but can understand what humans are saying, which allows him to help the humans. Because Oliver is telling the story his terminology is cute, kids are human kittens, human hands and feet are referred to as paws and dogs on leashes are strapped. Oliver is extremely likable. Though he really misses George, his goal is to help people and that's exactly what he does. Some of his assistance is hissing at a bully and scaring him off, reacting like Lassie and meowing to get people to follow him in order to meet someone or see something, to just plain cheering up a sick little girl.

I would recommend this book to anyone who likes animal stories, Christmas stories or just stories with happy endings. I think anyone from middle grades and up, including adults would enjoy this book.

I received a copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

What a delightful story told by the cat himself! The story opens with Oliver, the pub cat, awakening his owner when the pub is afire. He becomes separated from his owner during the confusion that follows. The pub was attached to the village hall which hosted most of the village's large gatherings and meetings. Oliver ends up in a tree, trying to avoid a fox. He is rescued by a man. He ends up living with a couple of families until his owner George can return to the village when the pub is rebuilt and back in business. In the meantime, he finds ways to meet many of the needs of persons with whom he comes in contact around the Christmas season. I think it would make a great read aloud book in December for a family with that tradition. This is a story even the kids would enjoy!½

I can’t say enough good things about this charming and delightful tale. Told by Oliver, the cat who did more than just save Christmas in his little village, this story is pure enchantment from beginning to end. Though Oliver may be endowed with more than just normal cat smarts, he is a gentle and caring creature and not at all proud. Having had a rough start in life, he is quite affectionate if a bit cautious. He lives at the village pub with George, but that peaceful life is interrupted by a devastating fire. Now in temporary foster care and shared by two families, Oliver is soon ensconced in the affairs of many of the villagers. It has been said (too many times, I fear, and I am sorry to repeat it), that it takes a village to raise a child. In this case, it takes a cat to save a village. In telling his story to a much younger kitten, we learn all about Oliver’s life, his bravery, and his cleverness. A wonderful tale wonderfully told, this story is for all who love cats and Christmas, or just are fond of a heartwarming tale.

This book was jointly reviewed for MCT by book club member Jan G. and her daughter Samatha G.

I normally read from within the Crime/Mystery/Thriller genres, but chose this book as it was one I felt my daughter and I could both read, enjoy and review. This is our joint review of Oliver, the Cat Who Saved Christmas – from a 46 year old’s point of view and a 12 year old’s.

Reviewed by Jan G.

This delightful story made me feel like the cat who got the cream!

When Oliver’s home is taken by fire, his life changes completely. But he discovers that the fire at the pub has changed life for the whole village, not just him. He wants to help and sets about doing so in his own special way.

This heart-warming tale of a little cat made me laugh out loud numerous times and smile frequently. The story is told by Oliver himself in a manner that felt believable (considering it was a cat telling a story!) The human characters, as well as the animals, are well crafted and described. There is a fine attention to detail and nice cat-descriptions (such as children described as human kittens, hands being paws etc.) that anyone who has ever had a cat will enjoy and appreciate. But it’s not just a book for cat lovers, all who enjoy the company of animals will enjoy Oliver. The pace of the book is very good, padding along smoothly and evenly, just like a cat, to its ultimate conclusion.

Will Oliver save Christmas? Can a cat really do that? Well, I suggest you read this charming book and find out. I can honestly say I’m sure you won’t be disappointed.
***
Reviewed by Samantha G.
5 of 5*
This is the story of a cat who was introduced to us humans more and more as the book goes on, and although he didn’t really understand half of what was going on, he solved everyone else’s problems. The book is written in the point of view of a cat, adored by the public, telling a story to you. It certainly seems that way until you realise it’s actually a kitten he’s talking to. As the story goes on we learn more about Oliver, the kitten, the other cats, and all the human inhabitants. This book makes you laugh a lot with things like ‘Us cats don’t get the respect we deserve sometimes’, and Oliver adds little comments all over the book that made me smile.

In the end, you’re left with a feeling of satisfaction when everything comes together, and you no longer wonder in every turn of the page… How does that cat save Christmas?!

Al parecer Sheila Norton (u Olivia Ryan) escribe desde una perspectiva feminista, aunque, si he de juzgar por esta novela, no de un modo reivindicativo ni estúpido. Es coherente y se me antoja real. Parece que se le encuadra en algo que se llama Chick lit que viene a ser un género de la novela romántica, que actualmente está en auge, escrito y dirigido para mujeres jóvenes, especialmente solteras, que trabajan y están entre los veinte y los treinta años.

¿Qué pasa con Ally? Es divertido tanto por lo que le pasa a Ally como por la actitud del resto de personajes hacia ella. Creo que Sheila Norton prescinde del humor inglés (consciente o inconscientemente) para conseguir la sonrisa constante, buen humor que basa en fórmulas sutilmente utilizadas como los malentendidos y las presuposiciones que desencadenan la acción de la novela.

Allison, vive con sus dos hijas, mayores ya, Victoria y Lucy, y con un gato, Apple Pie; además cuida de una de sus «Cosas Preocupantes»: su madre. Su marido, Paul, vive con Lynnette, pero no se han divorciado todavía. Su hermana, Beverly, lleva su vida en Cornualles. Después están los jefes y las compañeras del trabajo… El dinero le viene justo para vivir, en el momento que surge un extra aparecen los problemas. Está a punto de cumplir los cincuenta y, por lo dicho, su vida y su trabajo parecen un desastre. Un día ya no puede más y decide ir al médico: ¡una baja de tres semanas por estrés laboral!...

Una colección de Alianza Editorial que me ha sorprendido y a un precio muy asequible. ¿Leeré algo más de ella? Posiblemente.

+INFO:
http://www.sheilanorton.co.uk/
http://www.oliviaryan.com/
http://oliviaryanblogspot.blogspot.com/

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Norton, Sheila. ¿Qué pasa con Ally? / Sheila Norton ; [traducción, Pilar de Vicente Servio]. -- Madrid : Alianza Editorial, D.L. 2009. -- 429 p. ; 20 cm. -- (Mujeres en la ciudad). -- Traducción de: The trouble with Ally. -- ISBN 978-84-206-4913-9 : 6,90 €

I. Vicente Servio, Pilar de, trad. II. Título. III. Serie

821.111-31"20"

I am ashamed to admit that I was attracted to this novel because I liked the cover art work, which just goes to show how important the cover art work is.
This would be classed as chick lit, however with the older main character this will appeal to an older audience.
The bulk of the action happens when the main character ally is on a road trip with her grown daughter and her ex-mother-in-law. This compresses the main people who have an effect on her life into a small group which makes the story simplified so easier to follow a complicated and normal life.

Lacklustre chick lit, Penny was more interesting than Michelle but just barely. Michelle was awfully casual about the disappearance of her boyfriend and very quick to move back home. Penny's dalliance was more believable but the plot points were all telegraphed well in advance. Some characters just didn't hang together properly and their motivations fairly inexplicable.

not a bad book not a very good book it was just a bit too predictable

Young empty-nester, Maddy, wins lottery and takes off to travel and have fun she missed in her youth. Hijinks and romance ensue.