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By Redford & Nikita

Translated by Jen Quigley, Sales Associate, and Betsy DeJesu, Publicity Manager

Welcome to round two. Last week you met Redford and Nikita. Two brave souls attempting to bridge the gap between dogs and cats. As our two volunteers continue to explore their common love of literature, we are quickly learning that the written word does more than just spark conversation for your book club.

Redford: Nikita!!!! Nikita, Nikita. (Redford lies down and licks his paws). Thanks for agreeing to meet with me again. Last time I ate your catnip so…. (Redford knocks over his food bowl…but it is empty…sigh).

Nikita: Hello, Redford. Nice to…see you again. I was told that I should say that I’m excited to be here and to discuss all things literary. So there, I said it. Are you…listening to me?

Redford: Wait, what? Squirrel! (Panting)

Nikita: That sounds about right.

Redford: Okay, sorry I’m ready now. Let’s start off with the question on everyone’s mind. Number one book that tickles your whiskers.

Nikita: Just one? Well, for the sake of this interview, I suppose I could choose just one…I’ll say the most recent book to make my whiskers shake was The House at Riverton by Kate Morton. It’s the story of an elderly lady, who served as a maid to an aristocratic family in England in the years before, during, and after World War I. She was the same age as the family’s two youngest daughters, and she kept some of their darkest secrets, including the truth about what really happened the night the man both sisters loved killed himself. The book vividly recreates the whole flapper, high society generation that took over post-World War I. And there is a mystery to boot. If there had been a cat in the book, then it would have been perfect.

Redford: Coolness! Now let’s talk character. Right now, you and I are living the dream. Taking naps, chasing squirrels, pawing at things…Tell me Miss Nikita, if you had to do it all over again which literary character would you choose to live as? Person, cat, dog, jellyfish…be honest.

Nikita: Jordan from The Great Gatsby. But with less cheating at golf.

Redford: When did you first discover your love of books?

Nikita: From a very young age. When I wasn’t chasing feathers on the end of a string or trying to hide in closets, I always had a book in my paws. Reading is fundamental, people!

Redford: Author you’d like to share a yarn ball with?

Nikita: I’ll stick with the flapper theme and say F. Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald. They knew how to have a good time.

Redford: How do you feel about…Squirrel! Did you see it? Right there…he just…(Panting). How do you feel about those books with no pages? I think my person call them eReaders?

Nikita: They would be easier for me, I suppose, since I don’t have thumbs, and it’s hard to flip through pages without them. But I do love to curl up and take a nap on a good book. Nothing beats sleeping on warm paper.

Redford: Cool, cool. I still want to be an astronaut when I grow up…

Nikita: Of course you do.

Redford: Word of day?

Nikita: Felis cattus.

Redford: Thanks Nikita. I’d like to think that over the past two weeks you and I have brought closure to the mindless battle between cats and pups…well at least when it comes to paper…Pl

By Nikita & Redford

Translated by Jen Quigley, Sales Associate, and Betsy DeJesu, Publicity Manager

Though the 2010 World Cup has drawn to a close, there is a very important lesson we can glean from that spectacular, month-long, global soccer match. And not just that vuvuzelas are very ear-splittingly loud. Instead, the World Cup has shown us that despite our many differences—of geography, culture, languages, time zones, and beers of choice—there are still certain things that can bring together even the most opposite of peoples.

In that spirit of unity, then, we wanted to foster a partnership between two of the world’s most, shall we say, unfriendly beings. We’re not talking about Team Jacob vs. Team Edward or the Yankees vs. Red Sox vendetta. We’re talking about the real deal. That’s right. Dogs and cats.

Though typically considered enemies and many times relegated to different parts of the yard, we are here today to take the first steps to bridge the gap between our species. Representing for canines will be Redford, and weighing in for the feline perspective will be Nikita. Redford and Nikita have agreed to meet on neutral territory to open up a dialogue and see if they can find some common ground for their people to run around on.

Nikita: Hello, Redford. Thank you for agreeing to this meeting. Please disregard the copious amounts of catnip I have sprinkled on the floor. It keeps me grounded during situations like this.

Redford: (Silence…Redford looks up from eating catnip off the floor). Bone. Cat. Squirrel. (more chewing).

Nikita: Let’s start. I figured that since we are both big readers, we could discuss our love of the written word.

Redford: I like book. Smells good. Tastes even better. Squirrel!!! (Redford takes off and returns several moments later out of breathe.) I like book. (Panting….)

Nikita: Great. First question: What recent book, in your opinion, deserves two paws up and a tail wag?

Redford: Garth Stein, The Art of Racing in the Rain. Paws down. Stein took it to another level with this one. Intellectual pups, race cars, rain puddles and a bunch of tail wagging moments between person and dog. Truly an empowering moment for any young canine after reading this book. I mean, it’s our job to take care of our people and any person, cat or dog that thinks otherwise can duke it out with Mr. Stein.

Nikita: Who is your favorite character in literary fiction and why? It’s okay if it is a human. Or a cat. No one will judge.

Redford: Does the squirrel sitting outside that window count….

Nikita: What was your favorite book when you were a puppy?

Redford: That monkey, George. I like him. Yellow Hat. Hugs. Monkey.

Nikita: Blog vs. print?

Redford: Bone. Wait, what? Oh sorry. My little legs prevent me from reaching the computer screen. Print. Read it. Eat it. Pee on it. Enjoy it.

Nikita: Steampunk or YA fiction?

Redford: When I grow up I’m going to be an astronaut. (Redford lies down to lick his paws and scrounges for catnip crumbs,)

Nikita: Thank you for your time, Redford. I hope thi

I strongly encourage you all to visit Shazam's blog and read the two posts from Sunday, 9/28.

Enough said.