I liked this book. It had a Little Prince quality that was very charming. I suppose I’m too invested, as a librarian and former bookstore clerk, to feel that the commentary on the nature of books and reading were news to me. It’s a lovely ode to books, nonetheless. ( )

This one was a bit of a miss for me. Magical realism isn't my typical genre and sometimes I struggle with it - I think I expected this book to be even more magical and less grounded. But I gave it a shot because "a cat who helps a teen save books from unworthy owners" was so intriguing. And I did enjoy the plot, even if I felt like I wasn't being grabbed by the characters or setting. The book does get a little philosophical about the love of books and why books matter - I agree with the overall take, but I definitely was feeling lost during the discussions about readers and how they treat their books. I don't know, this just wasn't it for me - I'll be passing it on to someone who will hopefully enjoy it more. ( )

2.5/5

High school student Rintaro Natsuki is grieving over the loss of his grandfather who was his only close family. Rintaro is described and also refers to himself as hikikomori (a Japanese term referring to people who shut themselves away from society, rarely venturing outside to school or work). He believes that he has no true friends , his loneliness being compounded by the death of his grandfather and the impending sale of his grandfather’s second hand bookstore, Natsuki Books, before he has to move to a different town with a distant aunt . He stops attending school , spending all his time in the bookstore, his only visitors being his class president Sayo Yuzuki who visits him to deliver his schoolwork and Ryota Akiba who is senior to him in school and shares Rintaro’s love for books and the bookstore.

Enter Tiger ,the talking tabby, a “ginger tabby; a rather large, plump cat with an orange and yellow striped coat”, who takes him into a mystical world of labyrinths on a mission to rescue books from entities who mistreat them . Rintaro’s love for books and the wisdom shared by his late grandfather play a huge role in not only saving books from the hands of those who would distort their meaning and threaten their very existence but also in bringing about a change in the attitude and perceptions that were at the very root of the problem . Rintoru’s journey is not just about rescuing books but also coming to terms with his own situation and the loss of his grandfather , in the process opening up to the people and the world around him.

“Books are filled with human thoughts and feelings. People suffering, people who are sad or happy, laughing with joy. By reading their words and their stories, by experiencing them together, we learn about the hearts and minds of other people besides ourselves. Thanks to books, it’s possible to learn not only about the people around us every day, but people living in totally different worlds.”

With humor and emotion the author explores themes of loss , friendship and the power of books and literature in enhancing one’s life experiences. The Cat Who Saved Books by Sosuke Natsukawa, (translated by Louise Heal Kawai) is a charming story with an interesting premise. I am particularly fond of stories based in libraries or bookstores .Add a talking cat and magical realism to the mix and I just had to read this book. But somehow, this book did not live up to my expectations. In the author’s depiction of Rintaro’s adventures he is seen to encounter situations that are related to topics that us readers enjoy debating on such as hoarding versus actual reading , quantity versus quality of books read, reading abridged/condensed editions, an overall diminished interest in reading and so on. I do not agree that these can be considered or interpreted as mistreatment of books rendering them in need of rescue and that is where this story lost some of its initial appeal. I feel this book is better suited for a younger audience and maybe the translator was trying too hard but I felt that some passages could have been shorter and the tone less preachy. But yes, like Rintaro I do love reading and believe in the profound impact of books on our lives .While I totally agree that books are precious and should be preserved with love and respect, I feel that passing judgment on whether, when , how and what people read might not be the best way to express that sentiment . This is an entertaining story that does have its appeal but I’m probably not the right audience for it. ( )

Me gustó mucho esta lectura, una gran fábula respecto a los libros y como nos relacionamos con ellos. Sin duda la recomiendo. ( )

A lovely story of growing up. Rintaro is an awkward boy facing some hard choices since the death of his grandfather. The cat presents him with puzzles that point out the decisions he needs to make and the best paths. Gentle but absorbing. Love the characters, especially the cat. ( )