[MPOV] The Cat Who Saved Books

My rating: 3/5

Goodreads rating: 3.72/5
Published: February 5th, 2017
Author: Sosuke Natsukawa

Translator: Louise Heal Kawai
Genre: Magical realism, fantasy fiction, Japanese young adult

The Cat Who Saved Books is a heart-warming story about finding courage, caring for others – and the tremendous power of books.

Grandpa used to say it all the time: 'books have tremendous power'. But what is that power really?

Natsuki Books was a tiny second-hand bookshop on the edge of town. Inside, towering shelves reached the ceiling, every one crammed full of wonderful books. Rintaro Natsuki loved this space that his grandfather had created. He spent many happy hours there, reading whatever he liked. It was the perfect refuge for a boy who tended to be something of a recluse.

After the death of his grandfather, Rintaro is devastated and alone. It seems he will have to close the shop. Then, a talking tabby cat called Tiger appears and asks Rintaro for help. The cat needs a book lover to join him on a mission. This odd couple will go on three magical adventures to save books from people who have imprisoned, mistreated and betrayed them. Finally, there is one last rescue that Rintaro must attempt alone . . .

Sosuke Natsukawa's international bestseller, translated from Japanese by Louise Heal Kawai, is a story for those for whom books are so much more than words on paper.

A magical realism about a boy who inherits a bookshop after his grandfather passed away. A quiet person who keeps to himself, Rintaro felt lost and has been moping around ever since. Even his classmate, Sayo, was not able to get him out of the bookshop until one day, a talking cat appears out of nowhere and asked for his help to save some books. The adventures Rintaro experienced with the cat finally sets him free and he is able to decide for his future.

There are timeless stories, powerful enough to have survived through the ages. Read lots of books like this - they'll be like friends to you. They'll inspire and support you.

This is one journey that I have somewhat enjoyed and yet felt a little underwhelmed. I can empathize with Rintaro, being a bookworm myself and yet wished the adventure he embarked on were more engaging, more challenging and more exciting. It did relate to every bookworm's weakness such as book hoarding and speed reading which was so spot on! As it was translated from Japanese, maybe that is why it was not as livelier as it should be. 

A book that sits on 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.

This book is suitable for young adult book lovers as the magical realism is akin to a children's fairytale with a simple, straightforward book related adventure. I can imagine it being adapted to the big screen whilst reading it. If you like John Connolly's The Book of Lost Things, then this book is for you.

A shoutout to Revitalize Books, an online book rental shop, where I can rent books instead of buying and hoarding more books LOL! It sure helps on saving more space at home and definitely pocket friendly saving more $$$!

Books teach us how to care about others.