The Cat Who Saved Books: A Novel

I liked it quite a bit, if you read a lot of manga, it kinda has that feel? It has a few troupes that are common, highschool kids, isekai-ish but , but it's not overwhelmingly so, if you're interested, but feel off put by that, finnish it anyways, it's a very cozy YA novel and if you're a book lover, i think you'd enjoy it alot! The writing reminds me of a short story written by Diana Wayne Jones called "What the cat told me" and has a similar brand of Whimsy. ( if you don't know who Diana Wayne Jones is, she is most famously known for the Land of Ingary series. The first book adapted into a beloved animated film.)

Disclosures: My suggestion is for readers to approach this book without reading the synopsis and basing one's interest on the book title itself - a special cat who saves books enlists the help of the bookshop's son! Trigger warnings: death of a parent, grief, internal struggles, personal loss, kidnapping, depression, alienation --------------------------- The Cat Who Saved Books is a story about a boy named Rintaro Natsuki, who has to deal with his grandfather's recent, unexpected death. Rintaro, a high school student, becomes a reclose (termed as hikikomori in the Japanese culture) with the loss and would seek solace in his grandfather's secondhand bookshop. The book revolves around how Rintaro meets a mysterious tabby cat named Tiger, who sought Rintaro's help to "save books" from their various demise. Through a series of trials called the Labyrinth, Rintaro finds his healing and comes out of his "slump." The writing is graphically fantastic and easy to relate to. Each line and sentence and action translated so well to an emotion appropriate in each scene, like grief, hesitation, and fear that would later transition to confidence, bravery, and happiness. These emotions signal a well-thought plot that enhances Rintaru's strengths that he didn't know existed until he started the Labyrinth. The descriptions of the places Tiger takes Rintaro to are worldly, whimsical, and captivating. The concept of these "adventures" reminds me of A Christmas Carol, where a visitor shows the main character how much potential they have within. In this case, the theme lovingly emphasizes the importance of books, concept, love of reading, AND doing nothing is unacceptable. The author wrote a unique world beyond the bookstore - each distinctly unique from the next. I enjoyed how the author made each villain believable. These villains were not the "bad guys" in their heads but instead "saviors" with slight flaws in their actions. At first, these minor flaws were enough to "convince" Rintaro but good thing Rintaro had the presence of mind to overcome these "half-truths" with his grandfather's passed-on teachings. My favorite part of the book is the last quest that Rintaro had to face because he had to dig deep within him to find the answer. He became brave and accepted his feelings and emotions, and the people around him were sending him. He knew what he needed to do to save everyone, not only the books. At that moment of enlightenment, Rintaro "came to his own." Overall, The Cat Who Saved Books is a must for anyone and everyone who loves cats, Japan, mystery, adventure, puzzles, and most especially, cats! It is a great coming-of-age book with a tragic loss to cope with and heal from. It is an easy read with many exciting and world-building places, scenes that invoke part of Japan's culture. There is an abundance of invaluable advice and timeless life lessons that can apply to anyone, so best to read this book slowly with pauses for "self-reflection" to appreciate it better. BECAUSE - it talked about the love of books, reading, life's philosophies, belonging, love, family, and friends. Because of all the above reasons, I firmly believe that:- 1. all readers will want this book in their library to pass on to the next generation AND 2. re-read it again for the timeless quality of the lessons.

love any story that celebrates the wonders of reading. great insight into our growing lack of readers!.