Synopsis: Internet sensation Grumpy Cat’s epic feline frown has inspired legions of devoted fans. Celebrating the grouch in everyone, the Grumpy Cat book teaches the fine art of grumpiness and includes enough bad attitude to cast a dark cloud over the whole world. Featuring brand new as well as classic photos, and including grump-inspiring activities and games, Grumpy Cat delivers unmatched, hilarious grumpiness that puts any bad mood in perspective.

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A Grumpy Book, by Grumpy Cat 8.5

“I had fun once. It was awful”

I am Grumpy Cat. At least, based on what I’ve seen in this book, I’m a watered down version of Grumpy Cat. This would explain why my gf, likely exasperated with my cynical take on things, saw this book and immediately thought of me. Bowled over with laughter, she bought it for me and felt compelled to give it to me right away – as opposed to, say, waiting until Christmas or my birthday.

A part of her seemed concerned that I might take it the wrong way, but there’s no chance: I know that I’m not the easiest person in the world to be around. My blog is called The Critical Eye. I go by the moniker of The Thorn. I think it’s pretty clear to everyone, including me. Furthermore, one of my favourite childhood books is ‘How to be a Grouch’, by Oscar the Grouch. Really, she couldn’t possibly have been more on target.

Grumpy Cat became an internet sensation a little over a year ago, after the brother of owner Tabatha Bundesen posted a picture of it on Reddit. It elicited laughs galore and became a meme. It has since littered the information superhighway and graced the covers of The Wall Street Journal and New York magazine. I knew nothing of this before receiving the book, of course, but Grumpy Cat is a feline after my own coal-black heart.

And my friends’, it seems.

This book is more of a novelty item than anything else, featuring all sorts of grumpy quotables by GC, grumpy games, grumpy moments, demotivational posters and all sorts of twisted tutorials such as: Anatomy of a frown, Getting into a grumpy mood, How to be grumpy and In case of happiness. It had all of us in stitches; I’ve rarely seen adults bunching up over a mere book like my friends did with this one.

One of my favourite sections was this page called ‘Pop Quiz! Match the expression to the situation’, which consisted of vaguely similar pictures of Grumpy Cat followed by pictures of a birthday boy, kids playing with balloons in a field, a family, …etc. It was a quick reminder that my own face rarely ever expresses anything other but dismay or disapproval much of the time. We all giggled at this.

Some of my favourite Grumpy cats quotes are:

“You only live once… One time too many”

“I hate morning people. And mornings. And People”

“If you don’t have anything nice to say… Good.”

“What doesn’t kill you… isn’t working”

“They say your face uses more muscle to frown than to smile. I like to stay in shape.”

and

 “ABCDE… FU”

Anyway, all this to say that I owe my gf a great deal for introducing me to Grumpy Cat. I will no doubt spend the forseeable future showing this book to everyone I know, and I suspect that, come gift-giving time, a few friends will surely be getting Grumpy Cat-inspired goodies (“I got you a present. Check the litter box.”). Oh boy, are we going to have fun! I already have an idea… or two. Or none.

As for returning the favour for this backhanded present? Well, to quote Grumpy Cat: “I’d have the last laugh, but my face doesn’t make that shape.”