Senior Book Break Topic: Animals
“Purring in the Light: Near Death Experiences of Cats” by Stephanie Samek, illustrated by Larry Ross
This is a selection of short stories written by a former advertising executive called the “Cat Lady of Madison Avenue” because of her work on campaigns for Sheba and Whiskas cat food. The humorous stories explain the nine lives and angel cats. These “Appuritions” and “Tails” are narrated by the cats themselves. Every story was so good that the reader loved this book!
“A Canticle for Leibowitz” by Walter M. Miller, Jr.
When the sizzling atomic rain had stopped, the world was back where it had started. One great tradition remained, however, salvaged from the ruins of a dead culture. The tradition that stated, “Don’t Rock the Ark.”
Therapy blessed Leibowitz, dead for 600 years, was up for sainthood. Only the records of the destroyed civilization remained. Monks spent their entire lives interpreting his work to reconstruct the world as it had been. Their interpretation was final until Brother Francis unearthed a document that threatened to start a holy war. The document read: “Pound pastrami, can kraut, six bagels – bring home.” It was a mystery that would cause intense speculation for the next thousand years.
“Distant Birds” by Karen Saunders
A New Zealander travels to Las Palomas, California to claim an inheritance from an aunt she never knew existed.
This ornithologist, Elizabeth, is more interested in birds than people and expects the lawyer handling the will to provide answers. The lawyer and others Elizabeth meets are a peculiar lot who speak fondly of her aunt, but no one answers her most pressing questions. Instead, tragic stories of the past teach her about her aunt’s profound compassion and wisdom. The reader loves this book written by a personal friend.
“Red” by TerryTempest Williams
Williams writes lyrically about the desert’s power and vulnerability, describing wonders that range from an ancient Puebloan sash of macaw feathers found in Canyonlands National Park to the desert tortoise. She examines the civil war being waged over the use of public lands and reminds us that the preservation of wilderness is not simply a political process but a spiritual one. The reader enjoyed the author’s point of view and beautiful descriptions of Utah.
“Cry of the Kalahari’“ by Mark and Delia Owens
With a change of clothes and binoculars, two Americans caught a plane to Africa, bought a used Land Rover and drove deep into the Kalahari desert. They lived for seven years in an area with no roads, no people and no source of water for thousands of square miles. They were among animals that had never seen humans. Lions, leopards, giraffes, and hyenas were regular visitors to their camp. They learned that lions communicate three ways. They signal moods with ears, eyebrows, lips, tail and posture. They roar in different ways and they communicate with scent making and smelling. Mark and Delia continually confronted drought, fires, storms and dangerous animals.
“The At of Racing in the Rain” by Garth Stein
A dog named Enzo tells us the story of life, love, family and loss. With a very human like soul, Enzo helps his human family through many hardships including sickness, death and an unfair custody battle. He always seems to know what is best and is often frustrated by his own lack of communication abilities.
Next Meeting of Book Break – October 13, 2026, 10:30 a.m. The topic is Family Relationships.