If you love books, physically as well as for the contents, you might want to pick up Sosuke Natsukawa’s The Cat Who Saved Books. If you’re like me, and appreciate all the little tidbits, I’d suggest you skip to the end of the book before reading it. Louise Heal Kawai, the translator, has a note that you might appreciate. The cover illustrator, Yuko Shimizu also has an amusing, interesting note. I’d check both of them out. And, if you’re wondering about the translation, don’t hesitate to pick up Kawai’s version. She brings beauty to her translation.
Rintaro Natsuki’s grandfather has died. He was the closest family member for the high school student. All he has left is a concerned aunt he doesn’t know, and Natsuki Books, his grandfather’s secondhand bookstore. But, the teenager who never fit it was in the habit of going to Natsuki Books, immersing himself in books, and voraciously reading anything he could find. His grandfather always reminded him that “Books have tremendous power”, but he also warned him it was important to be in the world, not shut away from it. At the moment, Rintaro only wants to shut himself away. He doesn’t want to pack up the bookstore and move away with his aunt.
Two of Rintaro’s classmates do stop to check on him. His class rep, Sayo, brings his homework, and Ryota Akiba, the brainiest boy in the senior class stops in because he loves books. But, it’s a talking cat that changes Rintaro’s life. Tiger the Tabby demands Rintaro’s help in rescuing books. One man reads 100 books a month, but doesn’t treasure them. He locks them away. One man chops books into little pieces to distill the important message. And, the third has a message that Rintaro finds difficult to fight.
The Cat Who Saved Books takes Rintaro on life-changing adventures. He grows, but Tiger worries that he only cares for books, and hasn’t learned the message of empathy. That will come.
I read several reviews of this book that highlighted the magic and a little romance between two teenagers. I think the reviewers missed the entire message of the book. As book banning escalates in this country, it’s even more important to value the contents and messages of books. At the same time, Natsukawa writes about Rintaro’s grandfather, a man who tried to teach the important messages of life. Don’t bully those weaker than you are. Don’t tell lies. Help out those in need. He said nowadays, the obvious is no longer obvious.
The Cat Who Saved Books has a great deal to say about our world. It’s not a teenage romance. It’s so much more.
The Cat Who Saved Books by Sosuke Natsukawa. Translated by Louise Heal Kawai. HarperVia, 2021. ISBN 9780063095724 (hardcover), 200p.
FTC Full Disclosure – Library book
It must be a great book. A few days ago, I attended a podcast about how cats are fluid! A woman who was a cat behaviorist had studied cats all her life. I am waiting for recorded video, waiting, waiting. I would love to send it to you if I ever recieve it.!
Thank you, Carolee!
I am intrigued. Just put it on hold at my library. Thanks.
I’ll be interested to see what you think, Libby.
I’ve had it on hold since your last post mentioning it, but I just want to read it for the story, not any Message.
I’m number 18 on 2 copies, so it may be a while unless people read quickly and return promptly.
I don’t understand why so many people finish a library book and then wait until it’s due to return it, when others are waiting. It’s especially irking with ebooks, which they don’t return at all, just let expire!
I know, Rick. I can understand with physical books because sometimes people only go to the library on a certain day of the week. I don’t understand, though, why they can’t return ebooks so the next person can read it.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book! I had to listen since it is not at my library. Next time I’ll know this author might be worth a full price book! I related to it remembering my own awkward teenage years, even though I have never met a talking cat. It reminded me of the journeys in both Lord of the Rings and the Narnia series. Good conquering evil and the growth of the characters through their difficulties. I do keep and reread books so the idea that they have a soul intrigues me. I found the difference in perspectives between east and west new and interesting also.. I can see an entire new genre of book opening.
I’m glad you liked the book,too, Jeannine. I think there are a number of us who went through those awkward teenage years. Did you get to listen to the translator’s note? I don’t know if they included that or not. I guess there are a number of male high school students in Japan who just stop going to school, and she said the Japanese government said there are even more of them because of COVID and the isolation.
Like you, I’m intrigued by the idea that books have souls. It is interesting.