Mostly, in this household, I am pretty relaxed about Gail's choices. When I was younger, I used to worry about the shelves devoted to travel in far away lands, and fear that I could at any time be abandoned should my owner be suddenly inspired to go for a short walk in the Hindu Kush, or take a notion to run with the reindeer in Arctic Russia or to cycle full tilt from Europe to India.
But I have come to understand that these days she enjoys the comforts of home and dog, and is not quite so adventurous as her book collection might have you believe.
Likewise, one might get concerned about the wide range of popular science titles found on our shelves, after all, history shows that those with an interest in scientific experimentation have often turned to their pets as involuntary participants in their researches. Think Pavlov, Schrödinger* etc. But I am pleased to say that in practice Gail's inclination is for geology, which is an observational and not an experimental science.
Of course there is any amount of fiction in our household library, but thank goodness not too much evidence of any interest in gruesome crime novels or disturbing fantasy material.
Incidentally, I have been a little anxious about the obsession that Angus (owner of the delightful Bob and Sophie) has with biographies of US presidents. However, having PONdered long and hard on this issue, I have concluded that there is little to worry about here, given that so many presidents seem either to genuinely adore their own pups, or at least to find it politically expedient to to pretend they do.
I digress.
All this preamble is in order that you understand I do not lightly criticise Gail's literary choices, nor do I make a fuss where none is warranted.
But really. There comes a time when one has to take a stand.
Like when you notice the look of delight fluttering across on your owner's face as she reads a book about the joys of life with a pet rook.
Yes you read that right, a rook (confusingly called Chicken). Oh, and a magpie, a cockatiel and a sun conure too. All in living in the same house, in quite a posh area of ABERDEEN.
Has no-one seen Hitchcock's 'The Birds'?
Oh this is all so horribly close to home. In my very own city, there lives this woman, Esther Woolfson, who promotes the dangerous idea that birds, in particular those of the family Corvidae, can be intelligent, affectionate and rewarding pets. And Gail seems to find the concept quite intriguing.
I've even overheard her enthusing about the book, 'Corvus' to several of her friends, twittering on about how it has changed the way she thinks about our feathered 'friends'.
I really am most concerned. Perhaps some of you might like to suggest more suitable reading material.
Preferably something that reasserts the supremacy of the dog as pet of choice for the discerning animal lover.
*Yes I do know that Schrödinger's was only a thought experiment. But I also know that the thought is father to the deed....
