Usha’s Book Picks
The most handsome, rascally, and adorable member of our team is Usha. He loves books. He was found as a four-week old kitten in a park on Ollie, Iowa. At the time, his name was Princess Piggy because it was believed he was female and it was noted that he loved food like nobody’s business. He also loved being carried and had a royal air.
He came home with MFA program director Nynke Passi in October ‘13. When the vet informed us that Usha was a male, he became known as Mr. Usha. The vet also said that he was not sure if Usha would survive. Usha was smaller than a fist and his tail stood straight up like a pencil, pointing heavenward. He was a literary cat from the start, seeking out books and paper, computers and writers’ laps as his places to snuggle and sleep. He made it through and has enjoyed a literary, restful, yet adventurous life ever since. Once in a while he is joined in his literary ventures by his brother, Mishu, our second little adoptee, who has less of a literary inclination.
Usha does many things with a mysterious air and has won himself an online following with his charms. Once he threw up Nynke’s husband’s wedding ring; the back story was never explained. He has traveled to Colorado in the front seat of a car, sat in on MIU classes, been an unofficial TA, reminding students to self-care and stay chill in Covid times. He’s fallen into a pan of soup and managed to unscrew cabinet hinges like a true engineer. He loves knocking piles of books off the couch and falling asleep on top, hoarding his loot. He nuzzles pages, sniffs covers, and has his favorites. He likes playing with pens and also strongly favors keyboards, journals, and any kind of paper. Clearly, he is a literary cat.
Below we’ll post some of Usha’s latest book loves, and below that a story of Usha’s life in pictures for anyone who loves him. We know Usha’s literary tastes are impeccable, and we hope that you will be inspired by his choices, as we are!
What Usha Loves Right Now
Usha’s Story in Pictures
