A quirky parable about the power of books and how we should identify and funnel that power. The novel is targeted at adults even though the central character is a talking cat called Tiger. A clever cat though. Unfortunately, only a select few people can see him.

The story is told from the perspective of a boy whose grandfather has died. He struggles to come to terms with this event as his grandfather was his carer so his life will be changed completely and plans are that he goes to live with his aunt. His grandfather was also the owner of a small second-hand bookshop, which now becomes the boy's.

The cat's role is to take the boy to three labyrinths to discuss the variations interpretations of the power and value of books. It is a thought provoking read although, if targeted at adults as the publishers claim, the discussions could have had more depth and took on a more philosophical debate. Interesting nonetheless, the novel can be enjoyed by younger readers. The boy's journey sees him increase in confidence and gives his life focus and purpose.

I didn't quite get the tingle of the fantasy worlds as they were described but perhaps some of the magic is lost in translation. However, this is a lovely and original book well worth reading.

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Combining two of my favourite things, cats and books, “The Cat Who Saved Books” by Sosuke Natsukawa was a pleasant surprise indeed.
After the death of his grandfather, the owner of a secondhand bookshop, Rintaro Natsuki is preparing to shut shop and move away when a tabby cat called Tiger enters the shop, and pulls Rintaro away on a quest to rescue “imprisoned” books. Tiger is such a wonderful character, who doesn’t love a talking cat with an attitude?
Throughout their adventures, the unlikely duo meet many weird and wonderful characters. Tiger has deemed each of these characters to have imprisoned, harmed or treated books badly and therefore should be corrected, and the books rescued.

Author Sosuke Natsukawa, a Japanese doctor, has really captured my imagination and my heart with this story.
It is simply but beautifully written, initially, Rintaro is a bit of a confused and lost soul, often repeating “Grandpa, this is messed up” to himself as he tries to come to terms with his grandfather’s passing, but by the end of the story he gains strength and purpose. The wonderful (yet sassy) Tiger is a catalyst for Rintaro’s growth as a person. Their friendship is such a simple yet lovable dynamic.
Overall, “The Cat Who Saved Books” is a beautiful story that I’ll be recommending to friends and fellow book lovers for years to come.

Magical.

Philosophical.

Joyful.

Wonderful.

A book for true book lovers. It reminded me somewhat of The Little Prince which is one of my favourite books, and The Cat Who Saved Books, has also captured a piece of my heart.

Heart-warming and life affirming. Simply gorgeous.

I love weird and whimsical books and I love books about books - this combined both.
If you are a bibliophile, this will appeal.
Teen Rintaro Natsuki inherits a bookshop from his grandfather and he is visited by a talking cat who convinces him to help him save books. Then the unlikely duo get up to all sorts of hijinks, saving books that have been mistreated. There are some satirical moments (like when the duo meets a publishing drone who literally just wants to publish terrible but popular books) and some darker moments which prevent the book from being too fluffy or without substance. Overall, a charming read.

A charming and whimsical adventure, in which our teenage loner Rintaro inherits his grandfather's secondhand bookstore. As is only natural, one day he finds a talking cat who asks him for his help in solving book dilemmas: the man who hoards books but never reads them; the man who, in trying to condense books to their essence, is ultimately destroying them; the publishing house which is changing books and bookselling into bland nothingness....

Perfect for booklovers, this is a gentle and heart-warming tale, with a nice little romance thrown in. Wonderful.

(With thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC of this title.)

If ever there was a combination of words put together that spoke to my soul, then this is it. This is the second Japanese novel I’ve read and they are just magical. There is a style and a flow to the writing that you just don’t get with writers from other cultures.

After Rintaro Natusuki’s grandfather passes away he is very much alone. Apart from a few nosy classmates and a shop full of books that is. Rintaro’s life is turned upside down when in comes a talking tabby cat named Tiger and requests that Rintaro help him set imprisoned books free. The main theme of the story is what a love of books really means. Rintaro discovers his truth after adventures in three very different labyrinths.

“A book that sits of a shelf is nothing but a bundle of paper. Unless it is opened, a book possessing great power or an epic story is a mere scrap of paper. But a book that has been cherished and loved, filled with human thoughts, has been endowed with a soul.”

The author has produced a fabulous story that hits on a lot of different themes, but ultimately it’s about escapism and the joy that books can bring. I think it also highlights that books and the love of books is different for everyone. That doesn’t mean that one way is wrong or right.

Ultimately, this is a fabulous story that humanises books. It is really a refreshing, reaffirming book. I have no other words, than you must read it.

High school student Rintaro’s grandfather has passed away, leaving him alone to look after his beloved second hand bookshop. One day a talking cat named Tiger appears in the shop, and recruits Rintaro on his quest to save all the unwanted books in the world. Together they embark on a journey, visiting different labyrinths on their quest to rescue books.

Lots of bookworm related lessons are unravelled here, to do with enjoying reading and books and also addressing wider topics such as grief.
I love books about books, and/or set in bookshops so this was really the perfect read for me. Add in a talking cat and it really should have been my favourite book of the year! I wanted to love it more than I actually did though.
I think I’ll have to take the advice given within this story and reread it at a later time, taking my time and not speed reading, to properly enjoy and take it in more. It’s beautifully written but sometimes when you’re not in the right frame of mind, you miss things you would love if you focussed more.

I really enjoyed this book, it was a really heartwarming and fun read. Well written with good flow well-developed characters. Highly recommended.

"It's not true that the more you read, the more you see of the world. No matter how much knowledge you cram into your head, unless you think with your own mind, walk with your own feet, the knowledge you acquire will never be anything more than empty and borrowed."

Sosuke Natsukawa has written a sweet and charming book that will appeal to readers of all ages.

Rintaro Natsuki is a reclusive adolescent boy who lives with his grandfather in their second-hand bookshop. When the old man dies, Rintaro is faced with moving away, but then has a surprising encounter with a sassy talking cat, who encourages the boy to accompany him into a series of labyrinths, all of them populated by people who are in some way mistreating books.

As he successfully navigates his way through each of the labyrinths, Rintaro gains in confidence and begins to find his own voice. By the end of the story, he is able to determine his future and not have decisions made for him.

Rintaro has a persistent and straight-talking female friend, Sayo, who enables him to become less introverted and this also helps him grow as a person.

I loved how this story used books as a metaphor for how people behave, and in particular how they enable us to have empathy for others. One quote is that 'reading a book is a lot like climbing a mountain' - it may take a while but the effort is rewarded by the sense of achievement.

The book has been translated from Japanese and is quite simple in its language, yet is profound at the same time. There are a lot of insights that are shed on reading and the way in which books can almost be taken for granted. We are all custodians of books and need to treat them well. The author realises this and the book, therefore, acts a kind of modern-day parable.

I was sent an advance review copy of this book by Pan Macmillan, in return for an honest appraisal.

This book was as strange as it was good! I love the idea of a talking cat that teaches us lessons - and uses books to do that. It takes the reader on quests to discover the true meaning of books and reading, and what that looks like for each of us individually. As an avid reader I was upset by the challenges that Rintaro faced and was rooting for him to overcome them. A great short read and a must for all book lovers ❤

I've picked this as one of our store picks for Christmas as I love it so much. I love cats, I love books, I love the world of reading - what wasn't to love! It's a bit whacky, but that made it even more endearing!

This is a short and quick read about a boy who has to save books with a mysterious tabby cat after the death of his grandfather and taking over the bookstore.

Rintaro is lonely after the death of his beloved grandfather, and as a isolated young man he has suddenly become even more alone. His only solace is his grandfathers book shop he has taken over until he has to move to his aunts.
One day at the depth of his despondency a cat enters the shop and sends him on three book saving missions which forces Rintaro to engage with people around him and to channel his deep ingrained love of books.
This is a lovely story and written with a beautiful musicality but I was left underwhelmed and confused. I’m certain I missed some of the messages and morals within the story that could have made this story so much richer. I am also failing to understand the representation of a talking cat, probably Rintaro’s grandfather but it felt a bit random and unclear to me.

This is such a heart-warming story of a cat who saves books! Rintaro Natsuki is about to close the second-hand bookstore he inherited from his beloved Grandfather. Then, a talking cat named Tiger appears with an unusual request. The cat demands Rintaro help in saving books with him. He explains that the world is full of lonely books left unread and unloved, and Tiger and Rintaro must liberate them from their neglectful owners.

Whilst saving the books is the main story. The plot and focus itself is more about Rintaro connecting with his Grandfather on a whole other level since his passing. This is a book which talks about the difficulties of losing someone close and learning how to live again without them.

This may be lovely for middle graders, but it is definitely not a good book for adults. Although I think the translation is excellent, the story is dull and only appropriate for children.

I've read a few books recently that feature cats as major characters and for a non-cat person, I've really enjoyed the perspective and often wry humour they bring. That was the main reason for requesting this book and although it wasn't my favourite in this very niche genre, I still enjoyed the heartwarming tale and lingering feelings it left on my heart.

When Rintaro's grandfather passes away, he feels even more lost in his lonely world. His only refuge is the tiny bookshop his grandfather leaves behind, a place where Rintaro can escape into books and feel most at home. His quiet and unadventurous existence is soon punctured by the arrival of a tabby cat who recruits Rintaro for three important book-saving missions. His success will change his whole outlook on life and lead him towards a final mission, but one he must face alone.

I liked how this book brought certain elements to life that many bookworms possibly don't take into account, such as the notion of books becoming 'forgotten' due to no longer being popular, the question of whether quality over quantity matters when it comes to how many books we read over a certain period of time, and whether readers should re-read books or only ever discover something new. It definitely left food for thought that I think many bookworms will appreciate.

I found the pacing of this one a little slow and didn't connect with the characters the same way I have in previous similar books. The tabby didn't play as big a role as I would have liked and I also just wasn't a fan of the way it turned up, set a mission, and then left Rintaro to fight the battle.

Overall, I liked the story and the questions it raised but there was something missing for me that meant it didn't quite hit the mark.

Deceptively simple, this entertaining story about a quest to save books by a young man and a talking cat is a thought-provoking read. Translated from its original Japanese, it's a lyrical book with cleverly written characters. It covers a myriad of themes from grief, loneliness, the power of literature and the importance of helping others. The quests are vividly written and immerse the reader in the adventures. It has a wide, reading appeal and its messages resonate.

I received a copy of this book from Pan Macmillan - Picador via NetGalley in return for an honest review.

I absolutely loved this book! Simple, but stunningly written this is possibly one of my top ten books of 2021. Perfect for fans of if cats dissappeared fromt the world

What a beautiful Cover The Cat Who Saved Books by Sosuke Natsukawa is. I think this is why I chose to read it as I fell in love with the cover! Yes I know Don't judge a book by its cover!!!! Smack my Bum - I did!!!!

The Cat Who Saved Books is translated from Japanese, The translator was Louise Heal Kawai.

Rintaro Natuki was a lonely student at his local high school and was very close to his grandfather who just loved books and owned a secondhand bookstore. Rintaro grandfather died and he inherited his grandfathers Bookstore. To Rintaro surprise, one day a cat appears named Tiger and all of a sudden the cat started to talk! Tiger appears with an unusual request. The cat asks for—or rather, demands—the teenager’s help in saving books with him. This sends both of them on an amazing journey where they enter lots of different labyrinth's to set new and old books free. They both have many adventures together and meet different people on their way.

This book was a big surprise and I loved it. its a quirky, fun and touching story for cat-loving bookworms and who wants a fun book to read,

I highly recommend this book

Big Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan the publisher for the e-ARC of this book

Nope, couldn’t get on with this one. Sassy talking cats just don’t do it for me. So twee, so irritating. A nice enough meditation on the importance of books and a pleasant enough little fable about friendship and tolerance - but oh that cat…..