Review of One of the Cats
Posted: 24 May 2022, 00:29
[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "One of the Cats" by Richard Mettler.]
Reading One of the Cats by Richard Mettler was dizzying. I should have been warned by this message on the cover: “PARENTAL GUIDANCE: You might not want your parents to read this.” The book consists of 27 vignettes from the first 40 years of the author’s life. He is now in his 70s. The book spanned the years from 1951 to 1991, which the author spent in the US, and included Woodstock, Vietnam War protests, the death of Elvis, and booze and drugs galore. However, the author liberally coated his shocking stories with humor that kept me glued to the pages. The incredible ending alone made the read worthwhile.
The author’s stories featured his escapades with his older brother, Burny, who was his best friend; anecdotes about his time as a rock and country musician and encounters with his show-biz friends; and even some paranormal stuff! The first-person narration was enlivened by witty dialogues, although some were sprinkled with profanity. The stories were christened with intriguing titles, and I am sure readers would be amused when they realize what the titles mean. Three of the more memorable titles were “Reaching the Peak,” “The Family Jewels,” and “And the Angels Approved.” My favorite stories were “Central Park” and the last one, “Route 70 Reality.” I chuckled when I read that the author’s after-hours joint in New York was named after his pet cat, Roscoe, who had "an incredible personality."
It was fun reading how some people dodged the draft, and I lapped up the juicy tidbits about celebrities like Cher, Nick Nolte, and Lenny Bruce. Chris Rock, the man of the hour, was also mentioned. The title of the book was a quote from jazz and bebop artist Dizzy Gillespie who said that the author was “one of the cats.” The author took great pride in that comment. (Merriam-Webster defines a cat as a player or devotee of jazz.) I am always for the underdog, so I relished reading about how the Pittsburgh Pirates bested the great New York Yankees in the 1960 World Series. My drug know-how was also improved much. I now know how “stoned” is different from “tripping” and what “reds” and “oranges” are. Let me see how I could put that knowledge to good use.
While the stories were standalone, I would have enjoyed the book better if the stories were arranged in chronological order. There were also several misspellings and other editing mishaps that hampered smooth reading. The author seemed to have particular trouble with names. These issues constrained me to rate the book 3 out of 4 stars.
I believe baby boomers will have a great time with the book. Considering the content, it is for a mature audience, but those who do not want to read about drug and alcohol abuse should not pick it up. Though it might not seem so, people who value family will like Richard Mettler’s story.
******
One of the Cats
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Reading One of the Cats by Richard Mettler was dizzying. I should have been warned by this message on the cover: “PARENTAL GUIDANCE: You might not want your parents to read this.” The book consists of 27 vignettes from the first 40 years of the author’s life. He is now in his 70s. The book spanned the years from 1951 to 1991, which the author spent in the US, and included Woodstock, Vietnam War protests, the death of Elvis, and booze and drugs galore. However, the author liberally coated his shocking stories with humor that kept me glued to the pages. The incredible ending alone made the read worthwhile.
The author’s stories featured his escapades with his older brother, Burny, who was his best friend; anecdotes about his time as a rock and country musician and encounters with his show-biz friends; and even some paranormal stuff! The first-person narration was enlivened by witty dialogues, although some were sprinkled with profanity. The stories were christened with intriguing titles, and I am sure readers would be amused when they realize what the titles mean. Three of the more memorable titles were “Reaching the Peak,” “The Family Jewels,” and “And the Angels Approved.” My favorite stories were “Central Park” and the last one, “Route 70 Reality.” I chuckled when I read that the author’s after-hours joint in New York was named after his pet cat, Roscoe, who had "an incredible personality."
It was fun reading how some people dodged the draft, and I lapped up the juicy tidbits about celebrities like Cher, Nick Nolte, and Lenny Bruce. Chris Rock, the man of the hour, was also mentioned. The title of the book was a quote from jazz and bebop artist Dizzy Gillespie who said that the author was “one of the cats.” The author took great pride in that comment. (Merriam-Webster defines a cat as a player or devotee of jazz.) I am always for the underdog, so I relished reading about how the Pittsburgh Pirates bested the great New York Yankees in the 1960 World Series. My drug know-how was also improved much. I now know how “stoned” is different from “tripping” and what “reds” and “oranges” are. Let me see how I could put that knowledge to good use.
While the stories were standalone, I would have enjoyed the book better if the stories were arranged in chronological order. There were also several misspellings and other editing mishaps that hampered smooth reading. The author seemed to have particular trouble with names. These issues constrained me to rate the book 3 out of 4 stars.
I believe baby boomers will have a great time with the book. Considering the content, it is for a mature audience, but those who do not want to read about drug and alcohol abuse should not pick it up. Though it might not seem so, people who value family will like Richard Mettler’s story.
******
One of the Cats
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
