I thought it might be fun to write about how to read a difficult book. I mean a book that’s literally difficult to understand. I’m going to take Paradise Lost for my example but I think these ideas apply to most difficult literature. Reading Outside your Comfort Zone The thing about reading as a hobby…
Author: Adam Katz
Social Media and Writing (Caturday Questions)
So Human-Mom is getting the hang of posting on Instagram. And it turns out social media can be fun. It’s fun composing the post. It’s fun getting that first like, that first share. Little Cat isn’t convinced. It’s not just that he distrusts social media, though he certainly does that. It’s more that he thinks…
Thomas Jefferson: Accidental Novelist
I’ve often wanted to sit down and write an essay on what I call the accidental novel. What, you may ask… Well, it’s a book that was written as a work of nonfiction but that shows a different story than it tells. Read along with me for a moment and you’ll see. The accidental novel…
Passover (Caturday Questions)
It’s Passover, and Human-Mom is praying to God that how some day she will be set free from the tyranny of her feline tormentors always sitting on her forearms and swishing her face with their tails while she’s trying to write. They’re cute, though, so she has mixed feelings. Passover as Twice-Told Tale Little Cat…
Another Thor Story
It’s been less than a week since I returned from India. In five days, I should have been accosted at least three times by a tiny person with huge dark eyes. He should have hit me with his tiny fists and insisted: “Tell one Thor story!” I am referring of course to my nephew, Dr….
Textures (Caturday Questions)
Florida is not known for its winters, but Human-Mom did take to wearing her long sleeves when those nights started getting a bit chilly. Big Cat likes the feel of cotton under his paws. But Little Cat maintains he likes nuzzling against the bare forearm a bit better. The cats love their textures. Actually your…
Indian Food: A Love Story (Bangalore Letter #4)
Indian food is a topic worthy of an essay all unto itself. More than one essay, really. But I will try to give an overview rather than a dissertation. The caveat, of course, is that this is all based on my direct observation. For real authorities on Indian cooking, try Swasthi or Cooking at Home…
Charlotte Smith (Caturday Questions)
Folks, Little Cat is in a bit of a rut. There’s only so many times you can run away from Human-Mom and scare the living hell out of her. Or sit on her shoulder and lean out over whatever she’s trying to see. Everything gets old. Even the classics show their age eventually. The other…
India is… Too Big for One Article (Bangalore Letter #3)
I am here in India getting to know Anuja and her family and her country. Tall order. People back home in the United States are going through some serious stuff and I’m only able to call them or text them every so often because of the time difference. Ukraine is at war with Russia. Sri…
Potential (Caturday Questions)
Little Cat is 17 years old. Things have gotten to the point where he has considered retiring from his job of periodically running away from home and scaring the crap out of Human-Mom. It’s bittersweet. He’s very good at his job. And he obviously loves it. But like so many consummate professionals, he’ll probably retire…