Everything Here Is Mine: An Unhelpful Guide to Cat Behavior

by Nicole Hollander

No dedicated cat owner would deny that their pet is extraordinary--but what about extraterrestrial? Exposing the true origin of the feline species and its plan to rule the world, Everything Here Is Mine mixes witty observations, unhelpful advice and illustrations, all from nationally syndicated cartoonist Nicole Hollander.

Genres: Humor, Cats, Comics, Nonfiction, Animals, Graphic Novels

135 pages, Paperback

First published November 1, 1992

About the author

I am best known for writing and drawing the syndicated cartoon strip, SYLVIA, which appears daily and weekly in more than 30 newspapers across the country, including The Boston Globe, The Berkeley Daily Planet, Women’s e News Online and The Houston Chronicle (online). Sylvia strips appear on BadGirlChats as well. I am represented by the Tribune Media Services Syndicate.

I continue to write and draw Sylvia at Badgirlchats.com, a blog composed of original writing, comments and reactions to what's in the news.

I am currently teaching college courses at the Art Institute in graphic novel writing as well as storytelling and memoir workshops at Lillstreet Art Center in Chicago, but I still love speaking at events and book readings.

Reviews

[melydia · Rating 2 out of 5]

It seemed, at first glance, that I fit squarely into the target audience for this book. I like cats, I like comic strips, and I like humor. And it's not like my tastes are all that high-class: I still often find LOLcats funny. But this book, alas, is not particularly funny. I suppose I should have been somewhat cautious when I realized it was by the cartoonist behind Sylvia, which is often just a half-step away from actual humor. And thus it is with this book. Parts of it - such as the woman raised by cats or the mind games cats play - are almost funny, which is in some ways more disappointing than something that is all-out unfunny. And I think the worst part was that I could spot jokes I know other people would find funny. I could imagine certain friends of mine laughing at various lines, particularly if read out loud. So maybe I wasn't the target audience after all.

[Audrey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Sylvia. I have all her books and follow her in newspapers. She reminds me of me and lots of my friends.

[Valerie]

This is not one of my favorite Hollander books, and in some places it gets a bit silly. But it's good solid stuff, and an occasional vein of Hollander's sarcastic brilliance surfaces in the precisely right phrasing.

The credits and acknowledgements are (some of them) at the back rather than the front of the book, which is a tad confusing, so I thought I'd just draw attention to them.

[Shawna Troyer · Rating 4 out of 5]

This made me laugh. Being a cat owner... my first cat was an angel, but my current cat... this book shares all the comedic idiosyncrasies and craziness that is my life. Food sampling, upset if the owner stays out late, overnight, or brings guests home... the book made me laugh, all the while nodding my head in total agreement.

[Cheryl · Rating 2 out of 5]

I just finished reading Melydia's review of this book and I have to agree with it. Almost, but not quite, funny in the way that works for me. I did find the prose part funnier than the comics part. But it made for a decent time-killer when I couldn't sleep. And the cat liked the title, so that is something.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hollander certainly understands cat behavior--whether anything that you can suggest about cats is helpful is another question. At least this book will provide most of us with a few laughs while our furniture is being shredded.

[Ray Charbonneau · Rating 1 out of 5]

If a lightweight cat humor book is too stupid to finish, well...

[Christine · Rating 3 out of 5]

You have to love Nicole Hollander and cats...or you don't.

[mlady_rebecca · Rating 2 out of 5]

Seemed amusing back when I bought it. But now that I go to read it - not particularly. Basically only skimmed a few passages, but not for me.