Tuesday, September 1, 2015

Review: The Dalai Lama's Cat and The Power of Meow & A Contest


If you're a regular reader of this blog you know that I do very few book reviews and that I'm a huge fan of David Michie's The Dalai Lama's Cat books. Newly released is the third book in the series, The Dalai Lama's Cat and The Power of Meow. 

We return to the Dalai Lama's Monastery in the Himalayas, and pick up with the same cast of characters, led by the narrator, The Dalai Lama's Cat, otherwise known as HHC (His Holiness' Cat), although she is sometimes called by other names including Rinpoche. The Dalai Lama calls her his Little Snow Lion. We return to all of the familiar places, including the Himalaya Book Cafe where she is a regular and has her own special place. This time around a new public health inspector wants to have HHC banned from the Cafe. The nerve!  

It's truly hard to stop turning pages in each of the books and this is no exception. We are once again drawn into the world surrounding The Dalai Lama as seen through the eyes and experiences of his exquisite cat. A Himalayan, of course.
Author David Michie and Princess Wussik, his muse for the book

While we learn more about each of the characters we've come to know so well, this book offers something more. Through HHC we learn how to meditate. Meditation has been medically proven to lower blood pressure, reduce stress. You don't have to be a Buddhist to practice mindful meditation.  As someone who can't seem to turn her mind off and thought she'd never be able to meditate, it was comforting to discover the ways in which to clear one's mind. Yes, you might say that a little cat taught me. Suddenly, the books I'd read on the topic seemed irrelevant. This book made it seem so much easier and more logical. A nice bonus for the reader.

Michie is definitely a pet lover whose was raised with a Siamese cat, purchased by his parents as a present for his older brother when David was born to avoid sibling rivalry. He has had animals of all kinds. That affinity for animals shines through in his writing.

I highly recommend The Dalai Lama's Cat and The Power of Meow. It could be read alone but you will truly enjoy the full experience if you read The Dalai Lama's Cat, and The Dalai Lama's Cat and The Art of Purring first. 

I'm happy to say that The Dalai Lama's Cat has been optioned for a movie. Will there be a fourth book? Only time will tell. Personally, I'll be meditating about it.
Author David Michie

The Dalai Lama's Cat and The Power of Meow by David Michie is published by Hay House for $15.99 wherever books are sold.

I have a surprise for you. Hay House will send a copy of the The Dalai Lama's Cat and The Power of Meow to one lucky winner. You must be a resident of the U.S. To enter, just leave a message.  You have until this Friday at noon EDT when the winner will be drawn and notified. The winner will be named in a subsequent blog post.

NOTE: I received no compensation for this review, only a review copy of the book. I can assure you that I've read every word and the opinions expressed in this review are mine.

10 comments:

Unknown said...

I'd love to win this book! I liked the first two so much that I read them through twice. :)

Frank Incremona said...

Before I was diagnosed with cancer, my cat, Tribble would crawl on top of me, lay down then start purring like a motor boat . . . It was very relaxing and therapeutic; my blood pressure dropped . . . and after the diagnosis and surgery he was right there, next to me, supplying me with the same purring therapy.

Ilil Arbel said...

This looks like a wonderful book, and what a beautiful cat! I will certainly read it!

Unknown said...

Looks like a very unique cat book. Cats do have magical powers. Thanks for the story Darlene.

Rescuegal said...

I love "The Dalai Lama's Cat"--such a wonderfully fun read. I am currently reading "The Dalai Lama's Cat and the Art of Purring." Even though I am not very far into it, I can tell it has the same readability, charm and can't put the book down characteristics Michie's "The Dalai Lama's Cat"has. Needless to say, I am thrilled to know there is now a third book in this series. Winning the book would be wonderful, though I am going to read it however I acquire it. Thanks for the review Darlene.

Vet Changes World said...

Loved the other books and would love a chance to win the new one!

Layla Morgan Wilde ( Cat Wisdom 101) said...

I'm late commenting and sharing but just want to say how much I adore this series. Nice pic of David with his beloved late Princess Wussik.

Chartreux said...

Thank you for your wonderful blog, Darlene. I am excited there is a third book in this great series.

Darlene said...

Thanks to everyone who entered by leaving a comment. The Winner was chosen and notified on Friday and it was put on the following post yesterday. The winner was Sue Werkheiser.

I hope to have more book contests every so often. If publishers are willing, so am I. I don't do many reviews on this blog.

Layla, I love that picture. The late Princess Wussik was his muse for the series.

Nancy, you are going to love the third book. I don't want to give anything away except to say that you're going to love it! :-)

He doesn't know if there will be a fourth but I'm praying for one!

Officine Creative Ansaldo said...

Thhanks for this