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Abby Hargreaves

Staff Writer

Abby Hargreaves is a New Hampshire native living and working as a Children’s Librarian in Washington, D.C. She fulfills the gamut of the librarian stereotype with a love of cats, coffee, and crocheting (and likes a good run of alliteration). Her MLIS degree enjoys the company of a BA in English from Hollins University, making Abby an advocate of women's universities. Her favorite color is yellow.

Cats and books. There’s no doubt that cats are the ideal reading companion. Before all you dog people protest, hear me out: You don’t have to interrupt your reading to take them for a walk, they will quietly sit by your side or on your lap while you get lost in a book, and they (probably) won’t try to steal your reading snack from you (unless it’s bacon or prosciutto—my cat loves bacon and prosciutto…and potato chips). You can give them great literary names and rest assured that writers are a friend to felines. And while you cuddle up with your favorite kitty, check out this list of 100 must-read books with cats in them.

 

Wow, what a stately beauty.

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Here it is my August book wrap up! Read three books and audio-booked two. The absolute standout for me was Normal People//Sally Rooney, I adored it. Here are my kitty ratings for the month… 📖 Silence of the Girls//Pat Barker 😻😻😻😻😻/5… 🎧 The Search for the Green River Killer//Carlton Smith & Thomas Guillen 😻😻😻😻/5… 📖 Under the Banner of Heaven//Jon Krakauer 😻😻😻😻/5… 📖 Normal People//Sally Rooney 😻😻😻😻😻/5… 🎧 Becoming//Michelle Obama 😻😻😻😻😻/5… . . . #bookstagram #bookwrapup #augustreads #bookstagramreadsaugust #readingisbetterwithpets #booksandcats #booksandplants #readingaddict #myreads #bookaddiction #monthinreview #bookcommunity #booksofinstagram

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Incredible.

 

What a specimen.

https://www.instagram.com/p/B2CHGd_oqJE/

Talk about a #KodakMoment.

 

Consider me dead.

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I am currently reading #sarahdessen #alongfortheride, its been 2 weeks since I started reading it and haven't yet finish it, juggling work and personal obligations, preparing school cards, preparing for school activities, doing my motherly duties and attending to needs of both my hubster and my son. Talking 'bout exhaustion. When the time came that I had a time now to go back to my solace, and that is reading, another beautiful creature made me pause. How can you ignore this cuteness? I can finally say that my love for books and cats are definitely in the same degree!💕 #catsofinstagram #cats_of_world #catstagram #catsandbooks #bookstagram #bookish #booksbooksbooks #currentlyreading

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Om nom nom. Books are food for your brain.

https://www.instagram.com/p/B2BW3ZioaDq/

 

Just “paws”-ing to read.

 

Ugh. I can’t.

If you haven’t read Penguin Problems, take this cat’s recommendation to heart.

A loaf on a stack.

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Mine! #calicocatsofinstagram #calicocat #catsandbooks

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You can always count on a cat to judge you for, well, everything.

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Playing it by ear⁣ ⁣ Unexpectedly grabbed this book to listen to in August and what a phenomenal choice. I’m still processing and working through my thoughts a couple of weeks later though. Perhaps an edit will happen at some point when I can adequately describe my feelings. There is a lot to unpack in this one. ⁣ ⁣ This was released Oct 2016 and there are certainly conflicting reviews…I cannot say I’m surprised due to the topic. The author, Jodi Picoult, is transparent in her trepidation and shares in a special closing at the end . She tells about the events that led to her desire to write such a book. Her extensive research efforts may not be enough for some but with every book that is ever published not everyone will like it. Intertwining race, prejudices, truth, innocence, ethics Jodi tells an extremely powerful story. ⁣ ⁣ Although I’m not a fan of the ending it’s a fantastic listen that I 💯% recommend! I couldn’t stop until I finished. It is emotional, powerful, and thought provoking. I actually finished listening to this one in 3 days! ⁣ ⁣ #book #books #bookshelf #bookstagram #nashvillereads #bookclub #bookish #smallgreatthings #read #reading #goodreads #bookworm #audiobooks #audiobookstagram #winning #readersareleaders #cats #cats_of_instagram #catsandbooks

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Even the little ones can’t be trusted to keep their opinions to themselves.

Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens, nice big old book stacks all tied up with ribbons…

Whiskey whiskers.

Talk about meta.

I spy toe beans!

Subtle, beautiful, cat-and-book portraiture.

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“It’s a good day to have a good day.” 💛 . My morning didn’t start off as planned but sometimes things happen and I can’t stop thinking about how sad I am for this long weekend to be over. Going back to the office is probably the worst thing I can think about right now so I’m going to be laying down for the rest of the day, watching Youtube and hopefully reading a few chapters of my current book. . Hope you’re having a relaxing day/night and if you have any positive thoughts to get be out of this funk, I’d appreciate it ♡ . . . #bookstagram #booknerd #bookworm #booksofinstagram #bookstagrammer #bookshelves #bookish #catsandbooks #bookish #bookshelf #bibliophile #instabooks #igreads #reader #catsofinstagram #instareads #bookcommunity #bookaholic

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Stunning. Just, stunning.

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I’ve just started reading White Is For Witching by Helen Oyeyemi and, wow! I’m only 34 pages in but I’ve already come to the conclusion that the house is definitely spooky, the atmosphere is already tense, and narrators are unreliable. I’ve seen comparisons of this book to those by Shirley Jackson and I can see where they came from. There is a decidedly gothic flavour to the novel as well as the unreliable narrator that is reminiscent of some of Jackson’s stories, but Helen Oyeyemi has a voice of her own and does not lean on previous works to establish the tone of the novel. I cannot wait to read further and see what happens to all the characters! PS. Mystique is also intrigued by the book, more so with the delightful corners that present perfect chin scratching opportunities, but still interested. #book #books #bookstagram #bookstoread #bookreview #bookrecommendation #bookish #bookworm #booknerd #read #reader #reading #epicreads #bookriot #booksandcats #catsandbooks #cats #cats_of_instagram #catsofinstagram #novel #gothic #gothicnovel #gothichorrornovel #readersgonnaread #newbook

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“So, are you going to feed me now, or…?”

Sleepy kitty.

https://www.instagram.com/p/B16Z1MUgLoJ/

If it fits, kitty sits.

Do books make any more sense upside down?

https://www.instagram.com/p/B2R3ZJqA_U8/

For all the murderinos.

This guy’s human says he reads by “osmeowsis.” How impressive!

Sometimes, cats just don’t care.

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At what point do you decide the book your currently reading is a DNF? I started reading ‘The Western Wind’ a few days ago but so far I’m just not feeling it. The writing style is a little hard and not what I’m used to, which I’m not sure is helping, but I’m also still trying to piece together the ultimate direction of it. I’m not that far in, so for me it’s too soon to DNF and I hate doing it (which is why I rarely ever do) but life is too short and there are too many books out there to continue with one your not enjoying. Right? However, sometimes the perseverance can really pay off, like it did for me with ‘Black Leopard, Red Wolf’. So I’ll carry on…for the time being at least.

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LOOK. AT. THIS.

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#zerofucksgiven #catsandbooks

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Understated. Quiet. Perfection.

I just want to boop his little nose!

I love when my cats and books come in multiples.

https://www.instagram.com/p/B2Pnuh_IQHv/

Look at the incredible show of balance.

I just love cats and books.

Small cat, big books.

Outdoor reading!

This kitty is a bit of a scaredy cat when it comes to horror.

https://www.instagram.com/p/B2NmduBglFk/

Loving these Halloween vibes.

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Hallo zusammen! 🐉 . . Heute habe ich eine ganz besondere Geschichte für euch. Ich las dieses Buch vor ein paar Jahren und ich muss leider sagen, dass es heute vergriffen ist. In Englisch könnt ihr es aber noch kriegen, oder vielleicht findet ihr es ja in einem Antiquariat. 🤗 . . Die Handlung dreht sich um das junge Mädchen Evie, das erst seit Kurzem, bei ihren neuen Adoptiveltern lebt. Mit viel Überwindung erzählt sie ihnen von ihrer gebrochenen Rippe, die sie ihrer schlimmen Vergangenheit zuzuschreiben hat. Aus dem in einer Operation entfernten Knochen, schnitzt sie sich einen kleinen Drachen als Glücksbringer, der eines Nachts mit ihr zu sprechen beginnt… 🐲 . . Obwohl es schon lange her ist, dass ich dieses Buch gelesen habe, hallt es immer noch in mir nach. Die Geschichte erschütterte mich, strahlte aber auch viel Positives aus. Sollte euch das Buch also irgendwo noch begegnen, zögert nicht lange und greift zu! 🥰 . . Habt ihr auch schon Bücher gelesen, an die ihr noch bis heute denken müsst? 🙃 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . #herbstwolkengestöber #dienachtgehörtdemdrachen #alexiacasale #carlsenverlag #minouempfiehlt #cats #catsofinstagram #catsandbooks #blackcat #cutecat #katze #bücherkatze #germanbookstagram #instabook #bookstagram #books #bibliophile #leseempfehlung #bücherliebe #buchempfehlung #bookworm #bücherwurm #bücher #buchtipp #buch #buchblogger #booklife #reading #lesen #lesefieber

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This is no time for dominoes, kitty!

https://www.instagram.com/p/B2Mc7hRgjG8/

What a beauty.

I couldn’t bribe my cat to pose like this.

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Boek 191 van 2019: Als katten van de wereld verdwijnen van Genki Kawamura. . De naamloze hoofdpersoon is een dertiger die zojuist te horen heeft gekregen dat hij nog maar een paar dagen te leven heeft. Wanneer hij 's ochtends zijn ogen opent zit de duivel in een felgeel Hawaii-shirt in zijn kamer en doet een voorstel: Je kunt je leven rekken, maar dan zul je iedere dag een voorwerp van de wereld moeten laten verdwijnen. . Hiermee lijkt het verhaal in eerste instantie een aanklacht te zijn tegen de consumptiemaatschappij en het daarbij behorende materialisme. Toch ligt de focus meer op het ethische dilemma wat hieruit voortvloeit (Kan dit zomaar?) en op de emotionele waarde en de herinneringen die onlosmakelijk aan de betreffende voorwerpen verbonden zijn. Welke dingen zijn nu écht belangrijk in het leven? . "Pas nadat je iets kwijtraakt besef je hoe waardevol het was." . Het verhaal kent een eenvoudige, sobere schrijfstijl en is gecombineerd met een flinke dosis humor en Japanse 'weirdness'. De overpeinzingen en herinneringen van de hoofdpersoon zijn niet per se origineel, maar weten wel de juiste snaar van weemoed te raken. 'Als katten van de wereld verdwijnen' is een ingetogen verhaal over leven en dood en over datgene wat voor jou het leven de moeite waard maakt. Als je genoten hebt van 'Reisverslag van een kat' van Hiro Arikawa en 'De kat' van Takashi Hiraide dan denk ik dat je dit boek ook zult kunnen waarderen! 🐱 . Dankjewel @uitgeverij_meulenhoff voor het toesturen van dit recensie-exemplaar! 🙃 . #read #reading #reader #books #bookworm #bookstagram #booksniffer #nerdygirl #instabooks #bibliophile #booksandcoffee #readmore #booksof2019 #igbooks #igreads #summer #monday #catsandbooks #catstagram #introvert #fiction #literaryfiction #novella #alskattenvandewereldverdwijnen #ifcatsdisappearedfromtheworld #genkikawamura #meulenhoff #boekenwurm #boeken #lezen

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This is a stellar example in cats and books photography.

I feel like I need to pet this cat.

Here’s a cat-sic. A classic. Catsic. Get it? Huh?

Ebooks and a cat!

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Endlich kann ich wieder ein Buch zur Hand nehmen und da es nur regnet und so richtiges düsteres Herbstwetter 🌧️⛈️☔den Tag bestimmt, musste ich einfach ein düsteres Buch von meinem #sub wählen…und wie kann es anders sein auch ich bin auf #chriscarter Bücher aufmerksam geworden. Der #kruzifixkiller ist Band 1 der Serie und der Anfang lässt einem vor Schreck, schon mal die Gesichtszüge entgleiten!!!! 🙀🙀🙀🙀 . #cats #catsofinstagram #catsandbooks #ilovecats #katzen #katzenundbücher #katzenliebe❤️ #katzenliebe #katzenaufinstagram #ichliebekatzen #bücher #bücherliebe #currentlyreading #lesen #leseliebe #bücherwurm #katzenfan #ichliebelesen #ichliebebücher #bookstagram #booksofinstagram #bookstagramer #katzenfreunde #katzenleben #katzenliebhaberin #katzegram #katzeglücklich

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Ebooks and a little cat!

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𝐌𝐨𝐦: 𝐈’𝐦 𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐨𝐰𝐧, 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐠𝐨 𝐬𝐨𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐳𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐧𝐞𝐰 𝐤𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐧?! 𝐌𝐞: 𝐨𝐡 𝐨𝐟 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐞! 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 & 𝐤𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐲 𝐬𝐧𝐮𝐠𝐠𝐥𝐞𝐬?! 𝐏𝐞𝐫𝐟𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐨𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲. 𝐌𝐞: 𝐈’𝐯𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝟐 𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐬 𝐜𝐚𝐭, 𝐥𝐚𝐲 𝐨𝐟𝐟! 😩 #tryingtoread #caturday #kitten #catsandbooks #bookish #ebook #kindle #cats #cutecats #swipeleft #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #kittensofinstagram #reader #readersofinstagram #catbookclub

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Another beautiful specimen.

This is basically my dream life: cats and books and doughnuts.

https://www.instagram.com/p/B2HunM_g8T4/

Follow #catsandbooks on Instagram for more breathtaking photos of the best reading companion.