Sosuke Natsukawa: A Tale of a Cat Who Rescued Books from Neglect

RJ: It’s a beautiful story about how loss impacts us and coming to terms with the effect it has on our lives. It made me tear up in points it was quite triggering as it shows how people react to grief. It’s got a lovely ending and I’m happy for that. The cat saves him and he saves the cat. It’s not padded or stuffed with unnecessary things, everything has a purpose and it’s a good read.

United Kingdom on Dec 12, 2023

MikeD: This is second of my purchases of Japanese fiction (first The Boy & His Dog). A very refreshing read in today's antagonistic world. While a work of fantasy the parables ring true with today's reality.

United States on Dec 03, 2023

DragonCraft: Simple and fun

United States on Oct 30, 2023

Elena: trama abbastanza improbabile e Fantasy, non mi è piaciuto.

Italy on Oct 09, 2023

trupti shinde: Perfect read for someone who loves, lives and breathes books. It beautifully describes how books are more than just pages and words....

India on Sep 30, 2023

#EmptyNestReader: "When book lovers talk about books their faces seemed to light up."

Rintaro Satsuki had been raised by his grandfather, a man who loved books. Happily, Rintaro loved books too. Following his grandfather’s sudden death, Rintaro is left to care for his grandfather’s used book store. He thinks of himself as a “hikikomori” essentially an introvert, with no friends. To his surprise, a couple of students from school stop by to check on him and, more surprisingly, a talking cat appears at the store.

The cat “Tiger” is seeking Rintaro’s assistance in saving books that have been imprisoned and need to be rescued. Doubtful of the cat, yet impressed by his confident style, Rintaro agrees to try to help. "'Books have tremendous power’ was his grandfather’s mantra. There are timeless stories, powerful enough to have survived through the ages. Read lots of books like these—they’ll be like friends to you. They’ll inspire and support you. They teach us how to care about others. Empathy - that’s the power of books.”

A book about books, and a cat, what’s not to like? It’s like catnip for the soul. This book is similar to nearly every book that I...

United States on Sep 15, 2023

Somebody's Mother: This charming book, translated from Japanese, takes the reader on a quick adventure through many facets of the concept of why we love books. Although it is light and an easy read, it presents some important thoughts on the concept of books and reading and is therefore more than simply a book to entertain the reader.

The premise concerns a young man who is poised to sell his grandfather's used book shop after his grandfather passes. Our Hero is, as he constantly reminds us, a very ordinary person... but with the help of a magical cat, a charming friend-who-is-a-girl, and a classic hero's journey plot device, the story unfolds whereby Our Hero discovers more about books, and much about himself, by story's end.

The writing here is very crisp and simple. There's no attempt to impress the reader with flowery language or big words, it's just the simple telling of a tale... and therefore, a fast and easy read. But the adventures Our Hero experience provoke thoughtful responses in the reader, regarding the nature of books and what they mean to us.

My takeaway from this sweet fable was the idea that books have souls, if they are read and loved. As a reader, I have...

United States on Sep 12, 2023

JenniferT: This is a very sweet journey of self-discovery. After the death of Rintaro's grandfather, the orphan is left with a book shop and a decision to make about moving to live with his aunt. He's challenged to undertake fourth labyrinths by a talking ginger and white tabby to help save books, which ultimately lead to self understanding. Read this in one sitting, a very short easy read.

United Kingdom on Aug 22, 2023

Musings of a Middle-aged mum: The Cat who Saved Books was chosen by my Book Club, and it is a really sweet read.

Rintaro is a boy who lived with his grandfather and spent many hours in the bookshop, reading and helping the loyal customers. After the death of the grandfather, Rintaro turns inwards even more and even stops going to school, thinking nobody would miss him. A relative comes to help sort things out and prepares Rintaro for leaving the bookshop and going to live with her. Before Rintaro can close the shop and leave, he meets a talking cat who needs help with rescuing books from their current sad fates.

This is not the type of book I would have chosen myself, but it was really engaging. Even though I read it after translation to English, the translator kept some of the Japanese words, which helped the book remain in the setting it should. I liked the development of the character of Rintaro as the book progresses, and seeing how he deals with his grief. There are only a few characters in this book, and they all add something to the story. The ending, too, was fitting to the story and I came away very glad that I had read it.

I'd say this book is suitable for any age. I can imagine...

United Kingdom on Jan 10, 2023

Erica Friedman: A young man loses his grandfather and slips into depression meets a talking cat and embarks on a series of gentle quests to "save books."

This is a lovely bildungsroman has a sympathetic protagonist and his unusual sidekicks. The book is readable at any age, but the content is more appropriate for teens, tweens, and, of course adults, who love book and quests for self.

Fans of LeEngle will find many similarities, using literature instead of science. Two thumbs up for the translator, as subtle concepts had to be rendered here.

Sadly, the ebook does not contain illustrations, something I realized only when I read the Illustrator's notes.

United States on Jun 05, 2022