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Due 16 Sep 2023
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Mercury the cat tries to cheer up his grouchy old master Festus through elaborate plans to get him to go fishing.
User reviews
LibraryThing member AbigailAdams26
Festus and Mercury: Wishing to Go Fishing, 1991 American translation of Stackars Pettson.
This fifth entry in Sven Nordqvist's series of picture-books about the doings of an irascible old farmer named Pettson, and his faithful (and rather demanding) feline companion Findus (Festus and Mercury in
I enjoyed this story immensely, not least because it had that sharpness of character, that essential goodheartedness, hidden under a crusty, rather than a sweet exterior, that I have come to associate with these books. Sometimes, in moments of sadness or anger, we lose our patience, even with those we love, and that comes through loud and clear in Festus' anger at Mercury's continued attempts to cheer him up. Mercury's persistence, in the face of Festus' shouting, and then collapse into depression, is really quite poignant, and his deceptive methods (to which he later confesses) are quite amusing. That combination of poignancy and fun is irresistible, especially when the outcome is so very happy! The underlying messages - that sometimes all we need, to start feeling better, is to get going, and that thinking of others, rather than ourselves, will help in that process - are worked so seamlessly into the story, that there is not the slightest whiff of didacticism. Throw in some of Nordqvist's incredibly detailed illustrations - I've just noticed that there is a cast of little creatures looking on, in most scenes! How did I miss that, before? - and this is just a superb picture-book experience!
This fifth entry in Sven Nordqvist's series of picture-books about the doings of an irascible old farmer named Pettson, and his faithful (and rather demanding) feline companion Findus (Festus and Mercury in
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this translation), originally published in Swedish as Stackars Pettson, is as astute a portrait of the give and take, the ups and downs of friendship, as any I have seen in the world of children's literature. When Festus becomes lost in abstraction and gloom one rainy fall day, nothing Mercury does to try and snap him out of his bad mood - antics at the table, singing songs, playing a pretend game of fishing - seems to work. Finally, the determined cat hits upon the right strategy, using his human's concern for him (Mercury) to get him going...I enjoyed this story immensely, not least because it had that sharpness of character, that essential goodheartedness, hidden under a crusty, rather than a sweet exterior, that I have come to associate with these books. Sometimes, in moments of sadness or anger, we lose our patience, even with those we love, and that comes through loud and clear in Festus' anger at Mercury's continued attempts to cheer him up. Mercury's persistence, in the face of Festus' shouting, and then collapse into depression, is really quite poignant, and his deceptive methods (to which he later confesses) are quite amusing. That combination of poignancy and fun is irresistible, especially when the outcome is so very happy! The underlying messages - that sometimes all we need, to start feeling better, is to get going, and that thinking of others, rather than ourselves, will help in that process - are worked so seamlessly into the story, that there is not the slightest whiff of didacticism. Throw in some of Nordqvist's incredibly detailed illustrations - I've just noticed that there is a cast of little creatures looking on, in most scenes! How did I miss that, before? - and this is just a superb picture-book experience!
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LibraryThing member Cheryl_in_CC_NV
One can't hide in a blue funk for long if this talking feline friend is determined to cheer one up! I'd love a clever friend like that. I think....