El gato que amaba los libros

The Cat Who... #1

by Sōsuke Natsukawa, Marta Morros Serret (Translator)

From the number one best-selling author in Japan comes a celebration of books, cats, and the people who love them, infused with the heartwarming spirit of The Guest Cat and The Travelling Cat Chronicles.

Bookish high school student Rintaro Natsuki is about to close the secondhand bookstore he inherited from his beloved bookworm grandfather. Then, a talking cat appears with an unusual request. The feline asks for — or rather, demands — the teenager’s help in saving books with him. The world is full of lonely books left unread and unloved, and the cat and Rintaro must liberate them from their neglectful owners.

Their mission sends this odd couple on an amazing journey, where they enter different mazes to set books free. Through their travels, the cat and Rintaro meet a man who leaves his books to perish on a bookshelf, an unwitting book torturer who cuts the pages of books into snippets to help people speed read, and a publishing drone who only wants to create best sellers. Their adventures culminate in one final, unforgettable challenge — the last maze that awaits leads Rintaro down a realm only the bravest dare enter....

An enthralling tale of books, first love, fantasy, and an unusual friendship with a talking cat, The Cat Who Saved Books is a story for those for whom books are so much more than words on paper.

Translated from the Japanese by Louise Heal Kawai.

"Cats, books, young love, and adventure: catnip for a variety of readers!" (Kirkus)

Listening Length: 5 hours and 7 minutes

Genres: Fantasy, Fiction, Magical Realism, Japan, Books About Books, Cats, Japanese Literature

253 pages, Paperback

First published February 5, 2017

About the author

Kanji Name: 夏川草介.

Reviews

[Debbie W. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Why I chose to read this book:
1. I love cats and books;
2. I saw it rated and reviewed highly by GR friends; and,
3. my hold became available through my local library.

Positives:
1. I liked the overall message - the love of reading and the love of books! Tiger, a talking tabby cat, sends MC high school student, Rintaro, on various adventures to save books; and,
2. Rintaro's (now deceased) grandfather's wise words about the trials and rewards of reading were heartfelt and thought-provoking.

Niggles:
1. Like I said, I love cats, but Tiger was not very likeable at all! He's downright nasty!;
2. the title is very misleading! I would have liked for Tiger to play a much larger role in the adventures! Instead, he occasionally seemed clueless in these situations, or he leaves Rintaro to fend for himself. Essentially, Tiger takes Rintaro to a new dimension and that's pretty well it for him;
3. I never got the impression that the missions were "dangerous", even though Rintaro was warned that they would be so. Rintaro didn't say or do too much to miraculously convince the wrongdoer to change his ways of handling books; and,
4. perhaps wording was lost in translation, but some phrasing sounded awkward to me.

Overall, this story contains a wonderful message about respecting books and reading, but it just didn't move me like I hoped it would.

[s.penkevich [hiatus-will return-miss you all] · Rating 4 out of 5]

‘Books have tremendous power. But take care. It’s the book that holds the power, not you.’

I love books. I suspect you do, too, seeing as you are here on goodreads reading about books, and I love that for you. ‘Books keep me going,’ admits the shy, young and recently orphaned protagonist in The Cat Who Saved Books, a lovely little novel sure to warm the hearts of bookworms by Sōsuke Natsukawa, and I can confess to the same. And not simply because they are my livelihood, working days in the public library and evenings in a charming, little independent bookstore (I often joke with locals you can’t get a book in this town without going through me), but there have been many times books have quite literally given me the emotional strength to keep going. To keep learning, to keep thinking, to keep believing it’s worth dancing through the absurdity of life and enjoying the beautiful moments. So while the worst I could say about this book is it can be a bit over sentimental and idealistic, it is a sentiment worth getting soppy over and an ideal worth striving for and I spent a few days blissfully exploring the labyrinth along with the characters in their quest to protect the love of books. When teenage Rintaro’s guardian and grandfather passes, he is left alone as proprietor of their second-hand bookstore, something he soon must leave behind to live with a distant aunt. Suddenly Tiger, a magical cat on a mission, appears to whisk Rintaro away on adventures to save books and, in turn, learn he has a strength inside he never knew. Wonderfully translated by Louise Heal Kawai, this is a joy to read and also makes for an excellent reading list with all the nods to older literature, most of which are Western classics. The Cat Who Saved Books is an endlessly charming read, as empowering as it is entertaining while reminding us there are many ways to love reading and that books are worth protecting.

‘Human beings don’t live alone, and a book is a way to show them that.’

This is a breeze of a read, in both the sense that you can be turning pages hardly noticing the passing of time and that it is like an idyllic breeze blowing over your bibliophile being. In many ways I could see this being sort of like The Alchemist but for book-love, with the way it is pretty endlessly quotable along the life-affirming plotline. I was wary going into it for this reason, as I wasn’t big on Alchemist (wrote about it here) but ended up really enjoying this (it was a birthday gift from my 3 year old, who loves the cover with its lovely art by Yuko Shimizu and would grab it off the shelf and carry around every time she came to see me at the bookstore…a place she definitely assumes is just an extension of her own home and I like to cultivate that). It does tip towards idealism, though many of the “opponents” that Rintaro must face in the various labyrinths do confront him with harsh opinions based in reality that he has to overcome. And he also must learn to overcome himself in ways. Described as a hikikomori—which roughly translates to extreme social withdrawal—we experience Rintaro try to become more of a person in the world, aided not only by his adventures with Tiger but the support from Sayo, the class president who has taken it upon herself to give Rintaro a much needed push.

‘Don’t give in to loneliness. You aren’t alone. ’

The charm of the characters really help this book sink in. They are a bit generic at times—the shy bookish boy, the overachiever girl, the athlete with an inflated ego—but they really mesh well and drive the story all the same. Tiger the cat is a delight in all his blunt, no-nonsense ways, though unfortunately he is a bit under utilized. Still, they all makes for a rather pleasing read as they come together to support one another. For Rintaro, we see he must accept ‘books can't live your life for you’ and, like the dreamer in White Nights by Fyodor Dostoevsky, must put himself out into the world to truly live.

‘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.’

Books are an excellent tool, but without experiencing life as well as books, we just become ‘an old encyclopaedia, his head stuffed with out-of-date information,’ wasting away on the shelf of our own lives without the lessons being of use to anyone.

‘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 mere scraps of paper. But a book that has been cherished and loved, filled with human thoughts, has been endowed with a soul.’

Throughout the book, Rintaro must navigate different labyrinths each with their own book-villain minotaur at the center (one can argue there is a larger, overall labyrinth of himself he is also questing through), though we see how in each the person does truly believe they are doing what is right. We have a publisher that only sells cookie-cutter bestsellers, a man who tries to condense every book to a single sentence to save people time, or a man who keeps books locked away as an aesthetic. ‘Your feelings about a book don’t determine its value,’ he is told, such as when the publisher states ‘in our society it is the banknote that is the arbiter of value.’ The difficulty is there is a lot of truth to what they tell him, but Rinato must remember ‘logic and reason are never the best weapons in an irrational world.’ What matters is loving books. Sure, the average book published today sells less than 300 print copies over its lifetime and 64% of the US sales comes from the Big 5 publishers, but to a book lover, does that make a little known, indie published book that truly touched their heart any less of an impact on them? No. And that’s what matters most. Also, as Ursula K. Le Guin said in her National Book Foundation awards speech we need to ‘know the difference between production of a market commodity and the practice of an art.’

There were times this book gets a bit overly precious about books, but the heart is in the right place. Love books the way you love books. Dog ear and underline to your hearts content if that makes you happy despite what the haters say (I personally do it a lot, I think books look all cool and punk and loved that way), make art from your books, keep them in a special place, give them away, collect as many editions of your favorite, have way more than you’ll ever read (or even intend to read), just do you. And there are many ways to enjoy them and I’m not into gatekeeping reading. Don’t let anyone make you feel less of a reader for what you enjoy. Only like graphic novels, GREAT, they are just as valid. Prefer audiobooks? Just as valid as well, listen until your heart is content. Like to read only for easy pleasure? ENJOY! Read only YA books despite being an adult? Dive right in. Only like fantasy? Have a magical time. Only read the classics? Do it up! If a book, any book (that isn’t like…pro genocide or something, I gotta draw a line somewhere) makes you happy, that is what counts. There is some great stuff in here about difficult books though, which the grandfather compares to climbing a mountain:

‘“Reading isn’t only for pleasure or entertainment. Sometimes you need to examine the same lines deeply, read the same sentences over again. Sometimes you sit there, head in hands, only progressing at a painstakingly slow pace. And the result of all this hard work and careful study is that suddenly you’re there and your field of vision expands. It’s like finding a great view at the end of a long climbing trail.’

Which is all very lovely. I’m reminded of Roberto Bolaño writing about wrestling with the great, dense classics ‘when the great masters struggle against that something, that something that terrifies us all, that something that cows us and spurs us on, amid blood and mortal wounds and stench,’ but that its all worth it because ‘reading is pleasure and happiness to be alive or sadness to be alive and above all it's knowledge and questions. (from 2666).

‘What's important is the ability to have empathy for another human being--to be able to feel their pain, to walk alongside them in their suffering.’

Though perhaps the biggest power of books is the way it helps us see outside ourselves, to learn and understand not just about the world but each other. There are many studies showing that reading helps grow empathy, part of the reason it is important to read to children to foster empathy and grow emotional intelligence. ‘I think the power of books is that - that they teach us to care about others,’ Rinato discovered, ‘it's a power that gives people courage and also supports them in turn…Empathy - that's the power of books.’ Which is a beautiful sentiment, one that I’d like to just let sit there and flourish. ‘A cherished book will always have a soul. It will come to its reader’s aid in times of crisis,’ Tiger says, and I like to believe this is true.

‘Even if you try to destroy a book, it doesn’t disappear that easily. Right now, in places all over the world, people have connections to books.’

This is why it is important to protect books. In the US where I am, this is becoming a serious issue with book challenges and bans occurring at rapidly rising rates. In 2022 there were 1,269 challenges against 2,571 different books (I wrote about this extensively here). But we can overcome the hateful (it also reminds us that those wishing to destroy books often truly believe they are doing it for honorable reasons), especially seeing as just 11 people are responsible for 60% of challenges in the US. So protect books, friends. Support your libraries and bookstores. And of course I was going to love a book about a little bookstore that could--I spend all my time in one. I’m writing this from the store right now.


‘In the same way that music is made up of more than notes, books are more than just words.’

So, bookworms everywhere, if you are ready to dive into a magical adventure about the love of books, The Cat Who Saved Books is for you. While it can be a bit sentimental and cliched at times, it has such a heart and love for the printed word that you can’t help but fall in love with it. A fun and quick read that filled me with joy.

3.75/5

‘Books are filled with human thoughts and feelings. People suffering, people who are sad or happy, laughing with joy. By reading their words and their stories, by experiencing them together, we learn about the hearts and minds of other people besides ourselves. Thanks to books, it’s possible to learn not only about the people around us every day, but people living in totally different worlds.’

[emma · Rating 3 out of 5]

my happiness means having a constant supply of japanese lit fic about cats.

this one is basically a retelling of the little prince, except the little prince is a talking cat and the pilot is a depressing high schooler whose grandpa just died and the closest thing to a rose is a brown-nosing student council president our mournful pilot develops a crush on and the life lessons are all reading-specific, as in this teenager who just inherited a used bookstore thinks he is the single authority on what it means to love books.

it was pretty charmless and annoying, in other words. but readable.

bottom line: no one has the right to determine what is and isn't reading! and if anyone does it should be me.

[Liong · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a story about books, a cat, friendship, a relationship, a grandfather, an aunt, fantasy, and a bookstore. 😸😹😺😻

Quotes that I like in this book...

"Books have made me the man I am today"

"You're finished after reading them once? You don't want to re-read....?"

"Books can't live your life for you. The reader who forgets to walk on his own two feet is like an old encyclopedia, his head stuffed with out-of-date information. Unless someone else opens it up, it's nothing but a useless antique."

"Books teach us how to care for others."

"Empathy - that's the power of books."

Sometimes I choose to read something difficult.

"If you find a book easy to read, that means it's all stuff that you already know. "That's why it's easy. If you find it difficult, then that's proof it's something brand new."

Reading this book taught me a lot, and I'm grateful to live in a world where we have the freedom to read whatever we choose. ✌

[Henk · Rating 4 out of 5]

Happy publication day!
Showing a clear love for books and standing for ideals, this almost fairytale like book was genuinely uplifting and endearing
Books can't live your life for you. The reader who forgets to walk on his own two feet is like an old encyclopaedia, his head stuffed with out-of-date information. Unless someone else opens it up, it's nothing but a useless antique.

Rintaro Natsuke, the protagonist of The Cat Who Saved Books inherits a bookshop when his grandfather dies. From here things turn magical, with a talking cat, and four labyrinths filled with books to crack. The book reminded me of Ready Player One with the going through a portal on a quite videogame like quest. Also Studio Ghibli's work definitely comes to mind, and I feel the bookshop that features in this book is closer to the Cemetery of Forgotten Books from The Shadow of the Wind in feel than the original depiction in that novel.

The quests offer moral lessons to Rintaro on the relationship one can have with books. Not too get lost into books, or see them just as a means to status (books as decoration) and knowledge of others. To see and live in the world, instead of isolate oneself. Too not use ultra speedreading of summaries but see the value of reading difficult books. The risk of atomizing of research on texts. That the publishing industry should love books instead of sales targets, and return to old classics instead of what sells easily. And the general importance of joy in reading.

Meanwhile there is a budding relationship with a class president and a growing confidence in Rintaro.
The gap between idealism and reality is not seriously examined, in many ways this feels quite a YA book, but nonetheless I definitely felt this novel worked well and that Sōsuke Natsukawa, while plain, was effective in conveying a genuine love of books.

[Veronica ⭐️ · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really thought I would love this book about a boy and a talking cat and how together they were going to save book, however it fell flat for me.

After his grandfather's passing, introvert Rintaro skips school and hides away in his grandfather's secondhand bookstore immersing himself in his favourite books. A talking tabby cat appears and asks for his help to save all books by completing three quests.
On each quest Rintaro must stop someone from doing what is perceived as mistreating books, by debating his views. He draws on ideals taught by his grandfather to complete these quests of words and principles.

I found the quests quite boring and the problems encountered not really that monumental. Maybe I'm missing the big picture but for me it was marred by airs of superiority. If we don't read classics, over and over, we don't love books?

There were some wonderful quotes about books teaching us compassion and empathy and how through books we can learn about other people and other places.
I enjoyed Rintaro's growth, through the quests he gained confidence and started to think about his own life differently and believe in himself.

Faultlessly translated by Louise Heal Kawai the words flowed effortlessly.

I am certain this philosophical Japanese fantasy will be loved by many. Just not me!
I received my copy from the publisher

[Magrat Ajostiernos · Rating 4 out of 5]

Una especie de fábula sencilla y bonita que nos hace replantearnos nuestra manera de entender los libros y la lectura.
Por su ligereza es perfecta para leer entre lecturas más sesudas, aunque consigue dejar su poso.
Muy del estilo de Momo, El principito o Alicia en el país de las Maravillas, aunque creo que esta tiene menos pretensiones que aquellas.
El gato es lo mejor del mundo.

[jaime ⭐️ · Rating 5 out of 5]

i fucking love books

[Neila · Rating 2 out of 5]

I find it hard to pinpoint exactly what I did not like about this book. I’m sad to admit it but I found it quite boring. I’m not sure whether it’s the story itself that did not carry enough weight or that the writing seems like each word is dragged out but it made me uninterested in picking it back up once I had put it down. Things are repeated over and over again, such as almost having a whole re-introduction of the cat, each time it was mentioned. Also the constant repetition of the characteristics of the very few protagonists, as if we had time to forget that one is a hermit and the other is bubbly and full of life, could have been forgotten in 200 pages… For such a short story, it manages to drag on and only be repetitive which is rarely a good sign.

The cat is a bully and although I usually enjoy a slightly mean and sassy protagonist, this cat was just plain rude. I love the personification of animals but this one did not work for me.

The lessons learned by our main protagonists were just not deep enough and slightly boring, supposing to be heart-warming conclusions but their lack of depth render them flat and meaningless. Even for a book lover, I didn’t really see much of the love for books except in thrown out big statements such as book have souls and books are people’s feelings and thoughts. Needless to say, didn’t have much feelings towards this book except a deep boredom which I guess is a thought and feeling so maybe the author was right about that one.


Which brings me to my last point and maybe a reason that can partly explain my previously mentioned issues. I’m a bit confused as to why does it read so middle grade… I don’t think it is advertised as a children’s book so that’s a bit confusing. Either the marketing wasn’t done right or the translation got some things wrong because it’s way too childish and lacking depth for an adult novel and way too reflective and lacking the whimsical element to be a children’s novel. I’m utterly confused as to the targeted audience, and therefore, couldn’t appreciate it at all. Maybe, if I went into it having different expectations I would have given it a better rating but more likely I wouldn’t have picked it up at all….

[Lisa of Troy · Rating 5 out of 5]

The runner at the park kept coming back to hear more of the story!

Rintaro is a high school teenager going through a tough time – his grandfather has just passed away – and Rintaro has to grapple with finding his way after losing his main caregiver, a gaping wound in his heart. At the center of Rintaro’s universe is Natsuki Books, the old bookshop that his grandfather owned. One day, Rintaro meets a talking cat who sets him on a magical quest.

When I read this aloud, I did a British accent for the cat, and I did Japanese accents for some of the other characters.

This book is a little over-the-top cutesy, but I had fun (and apparently so did the other people at the park).

The Green Light at the End of the Dock (How much I spent):
Softcover Text – $18.99 at The Strand Kiosk in Central Park

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[Katie Lumsden · Rating 5 out of 5]

A real joy to real - fun, delightful, bizarre and heartwarming. Definitely a book for booklovers.

[Magdalena Miękińska (getbooky) · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5

[Jamie · Rating 2 out of 5]

“Healing” fiction irritates me so much, which I think is the exact opposite of what's supposed to happen but whatever. It's so preachy and smug and saccharine and weird and just not my type of literature at all, but sometimes a reading challenge throws a “book that is considered healing fiction” prompt at me and so I pick the shortest one I can find and suck it up. I initially thought I might enjoy this one, seeing as how the words “cat” and “books” both appear in the title (two of my favorite topics!), but … nope. I almost certainly would have DNF'd it at the start of the third chapter if it wouldn't have meant that I'd have to read another (likely longer) book for the prompt instead. This novel made no sense whatsoever. Who was the cat? Where did he come from? Why was he so intent on saving books? Who was the woman at the end of the final labyrinth? What was the point of the entire thing? I finished this book at 2 a.m. and was so annoyed that I couldn't fall asleep. And then when I finally did fall asleep, my dog immediately woke me up to go outside and so then I fumed about it some more until I fell asleep again.

So, yeah, not my thing. 2.25 stars, rounded down.

[Alex.andthebooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

To była naprawdę ciepła i cudowna historia o miłości do książek. Prawdopodobnie nie każdy pokocha, ale ja polubiłam na pewno!

[George Prew · Rating 1 out of 5]

Preachy, patronising, paternalistic, and just plain smug. The author's love for books is everywhere evident, but unfortunately so is his belief that there is a particular way to enjoy them, and that other ways are wrong and hurt the books, ignoring, for example, neurodivergence, differences in taste, and personal preference.

The characters are largely likeable broad-strokes types, which is a reasonable choice - This is a fantasy story and it lends itself well to archetypes and stylisation. Where this is more detrimental is when it comes to the adversaries of each story. The book is based on a set of debates with a series of strawmen for problems which do not seem to exist. Classics are not disappearing, they are easier to access now than they ever have been! It is difficult to take the book's claim that few bookshops stock Complete Works of Shakespeare seriously, and digests and abridged versions of books have been around for millennia, but they have never supplanted the originals. The Cat Who Saved Books is left saving them from a melodramatic clutch of non-issues.

There is admittedly some lovely prose, and Louise Heal Kawai and Yoko Tanji each deserve praise for, in the former case, providing a translation which flows and sounds natural, and, in the latter, producing a beautiful cover. They cannot, however, make up for the book's fundamental flaws. It aims to be an ode to books and book enthusiasts, and just hits elitism. It implores the inhabitants of this modern, (apparently) book-hating world to show some empathy and I am just left thinking: you first.

[Jenna ❤ ❀ ❤ · Rating 4 out of 5]

It looked like your average ginger tabby—a rather large, plump cat."

And with that sentence in The Cat Who Saved Books, my beautiful ginger cat Chloe hissed at the Kindle and leapt from my lap, where she had been reading along with me.

"I am crushed that you would read such rubbish, such lies!" she cried. She turned from me and began licking her tail, acting as though I had ceased to exist.

After a few minutes in which I spent not reading but trying to placate my now only slightly overweight cat (who has been on a strict diet for the last two years after reaching an unhealthy weight), she finally stopped licking and sniffed, "Well, I suppose there is some truth to that statement".

Now, you might be thinking, That's silly, cats don't read or speak English! Ok yes, I lied about Chloe reading. She doesn't read.. but she does speak.

Ok, maybe not in English, but she speaks in Felinese so it's not a complete lie. And maybe you think it's impossible for a human to understand their language, but if you live with a cat long enough, you start to discern between the meows and moans with all their various pitches and intonations.

There's the adorable purring meow where Kitty looks sweetly at you with half closed eyes and whiskers forward, where she's telling you she loves you and is so happy you live with her and feed her and generally be her slave.

Then there's the insistent higher pitched meow that is repeated every few seconds that says, I demand you bring me food or clean the poo in my litter box. Now.

And when that gets ignored, there's the terrible moaning, groaning caterwaul that sounds like a twelve hundred pound cow giving birth. This last is often in the middle of the night and it is your no longer adorable Kitty telling you she is dying of hunger and she can't believe you would treat her so abominably and lie in bed trying to sleep when she is suffering so horribly. Or maybe just needs some attention.

Cats say many more things than this, but these are the three you will most often hear.

Now, if you've been reading this far, it probably means you enjoy reading about cats and reading in general. If that is indeed the case, then you might also enjoy reading The Cat Who Saved Books.

It's a quick read about a talking ginger tabby who enlists the help of a teen boy whose grandfather has just died. The two set off to save books from monstrous people who are destroying them for various reasons.

The Cat Who Saved Books is whimsical, magical, and charming. It pays homage to books and those who love reading them. It's uplifting and sweet, a sort of modern fairy tale. Not my usual type of book but because there's a talking ginger cat, I couldn't resist. Recommend to book lovers and cat lovers and the lovers of both.

And before I go, I should admit I also lied about Chloe sitting on my lap. She never has, probably never will, not to read nor to cuddle. It's only in my imagination that she's a lap cat.

But I love her nonetheless.

[Rodrigo Unda · Rating 3 out of 5]

¿Leí este libro solo porque tenía un gato en su portada? Sí.


Es una historia muy sencilla que nos habla de lo poderosos que son los libros. Sus diversas formas de ser maestros y guías, sin olvidar las conexiones que nos permiten generar con otras personas.

Rintaro hereda la librería de su abuelo recién fallecido. Y ha tomado la decisión de cerrarla para siempre, hasta que un gato aparece para cambiarle la vida.

La empatía y el duelo son los grandes pilares de esta novela.

Se me fue muy rápido porque cada laberinto que recorremos es entretenido. Además, ¡HAY UN GATO QUE HABLAAAA!

Claro, tiene sus detallitos. La trama no tiene un gran desarrollo, sus personajes femeninos no están bien construidos y su aporte a la historia es mínimo. Y la librería, me hubiera gustado que fuera otro personaje de esta historia, pero también quedó reducido a unas cuantas descripciones.

Lo más relevante de este libro son sus frases sobre los mismos libros.

Yo disfruto mucho leer cómo otros perciben la lectura, es por eso que me gustó esta novela, escrita por un autor japonés.

[Repellent Boy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rintaro Natsuki es un joven introvertido al que le cuesta relacionarse. Cada día más encerrado en su propio mundo, pasa el tiempo en la librería de segunda mano que regenta junto con su abuelo. Entre libros Rintaro se encuentra seguro, a través de ellos viaja y descubre otros mundos, pero siempre desde la seguridad que le aporta la destartalada librería donde pasa la mayor parte de su vida. De pronto, su abuelo fallece, y Rintaro se encuentra solo ante un mundo que le obliga a abrirse poco a poco ante él. Un día un gato llamado Tora, aparecerá por la tienda y le pedirá su ayuda, y este será el inicio de un viaje mágico y muy especial.

No sé si ha influido mucho o poco el hecho de que llevaba una racha malísima en lecturas y, prácticamente las cuatro últimas lecturas me han parecidos un tostón, pero el caso es que “El gato que amaba los libros” ha llegado a mis manos justo en el momento que más lo necesitaba. Me ha sacado de esta racha, ¡y de qué manera! Si tuviera que definirlo diría que es como si metemos en una cazuela una pizquita de “El principito”, unos granitos de “El castillo ambulante" y unas gotitas de “Alicia en el país de las maravillas”, sumándole a todo esto un toque tierno a lo Kazumi Yumoto, con una narración cómoda y relajada, pero preciosa como solo los japoneses saben hacer, y añadiéndole, además, gatos que hablan y un amor por los libros que se palpa en cada página. Si mezclamos todo esto y lo calentamos a fuego lento nos encontramos con “El gato que amaba los libros”.

Es una de esas historias que se vuelve muy especial para mí, demuestra que un libro no tiene que ser complejo o enrevesado para llegarte, para emocionarte. Es un libro muy sencillo, con una narración sencilla y directa y con un toque juvenil, pero que guarda mucha verdad en sus palabras. Es de esos libros que prácticamente puedes subrayar entero, porque todo él en sí mismo es una gran cita. Y es que el libro de Sosuke Natsukawa es una increíble oda a los libros, al amor que los lectores sentimos por ellos, a lo que nos enseña y como crecemos a través de ellos, ayudándonos a desarrollar la más valiosa de las cualidades humanas: la empatía.

Creo que tiene muchas reflexiones super interesantes, expresadas de una manera muy sencilla, pero que transmiten mensajes muy directos. Por ejemplo, habla de esta época en la parece que hay como una capa de postureo en relación a todo lo que tenga que ver con los libros, donde prima más los adornos bonitos que se le añaden a estos o la cantidad de lecturas, más que la calidad de estas (calidad para cada gusto personal, nunca verdades absolutas, nunca pedantería). Todo lo que se le añada a un libro está estupendo, pero lo principal, lo esencial, es el contenido del libro en sí mismo, lo que te transmite, lo que te hace sentir.

Es un libro que promete ternura y da ternura. He tenido sentimientos muy similares a los que tuve cuando conocí a Kazumi Yumoto, ese punto de superación ante la pérdida, de resiliencia, pero nunca plasmado desde un punto de vista dramático, al contrario. Es de esos libros que te aportan felicidad al leerlos, que te dan un poquito de alegría y es algo que yo valoro tremendamente. No os esperéis un libro complejo, porque no lo lees, no es un libro presuntuoso, que pretenda ir de muchas cosas, pero si es un libro con el que cualquier lector que ame realmente la lectura puede sentirse identificado, no solo con ese amor, sino también con ese joven que se siente más comprendido y seguro entre libros, que en la calle entre personas.

[Darla · Rating 4 out of 5]

A book about a bookstore and a talking orange tabby named Tiger? Sign me up! This is a relatively short read that ponders the power of books. Why do we read books? Does the one who reads the most wins? Can we save time by providing one sentence or paragraph synopses? Should only the most popular books be published?

Rintaro Natsuki is seventeen and has embraced being a hikiomori. That's your new vocabulary word for the day in case you are looking. His grandfather, the owner and proprietor of Natsuki Books has recently died. Rintaro is going to have to leave the store behind and go live with an aunt. Before he can close down the business, Tiger comes to visit and takes him on four adventures. Each time Rintaro enters a different labyrinth and is exposed to a way that books are being misused, misunderstood, or mistreated. During their trips Tiger always refers to Rintaro as Mr. Proprietor and allows one other person to join them -- Sayo, a classmate who has been bringing Rintaro his homework and encouraging him to come back to school. The two students begin to bond over books and the labyrinth. One of the most exciting trips occurs on Christmas Eve making this a good holiday read. I enjoyed this book, but not as much as others that have been translated from Japanese. This one seemed a bit awkwardly worded at times. It is still worth a read to remind us of the treasure to be found in even the oldest of books.

Thank you to HarperVia and Edelweiss+ for a DRC in exchange for an honest review.

[Mohadese · Rating 3 out of 5]

☆ ۳ ستاره‌ی طلایی ☆
¤ این ریویو طولانیه اما ارزش خوندن داره!

اگه شما هم مثل من عادت به خوندن کتابای کلاسیک ندارید، موقع خوندن این کتاب یه کاغذ و قلم کنار دست‌تون بذارید!
"گربه‌ای که کتاب‌ها را نجات داد" داستان رینتارو ناتسوکی، پسر درونگراییه که پدربزرگش رو از دست داده و حالا وارث یه کتابفروشیه.
اما یه‌روز با یه گربه‌ی سخنگو آشنا می‌شه که رینتارو رو مجبور می‌کنه همراه هم کتاب‌ها رو نجات بدن!
داستان خیلی ساده‌ست برای همین بهش سه ستاره دادم، اما سه تا ستاره‌ی طلایی چون به نظرم حرف‌های زیادی برای گفتن داشت و بر هر کتاب‌خون و کتابفروشی واجبه این کتاب رو بخونن چون در واقع کل کتاب و چالش‌های رینتارو در واقع نقدی بر نگاه جامعه به کتاب، وضعیت کتاب‌خون‌ها، کتابفروش‌ها و ناشرهاست.

به‌طور کلی داستان چهاربخش داره:

۱. زندانی کننده‌ی کتاب‌ها
▪︎ بخشی از صفحه ۴۲
- این کتاب‌ها برای من مهمن‌. من عاشق کتاب‌هام. چه چیزی توی محافظت از گنجینه‌ت طبیعی نیست؟
+ چون شما دارین باهاشون مثل اشیای موزه رفتار می‌کنین و قفل خیلی بزرگی مثل اون بهشون زدین. اونها کتاب‌های شما هستن، اما حتی نمی‌تونین بهشون دست بزنین.
- بهشون دست بزنم؟ چرا بخوام همچین کاری بکنم؟ من که قبلا خوندمشون.
+ کار شما بعد از یه‌بار خوندنشون تموم می‌شه؟ نمی‌خواین اونها رو بازخونی کنین؟
- بازخونی‌شون کنم؟ مگه تو احمقی؟
.
.
.
+ پس هیچ‌وقت کتاب‌ها رو بازخونی نمی‌کنین؟
- ... دنیا پر از کتابه، موافقی؟ امکان نداره بشه تعداد کتاب‌هایی رو شمرد که تا الان وجود داشته‌ن و همچنان دارن نوشته می‌شن. اینکه فرصت پیدا بکنی همون کتاب‌ها رو دوباره از اول بخونی، خب، باورنکردنیه.
... ارزش کسی که بیست‌هزار تا کتاب خونده، خیلی بیشتر از کسیه که فقط ده‌هزارتا خونده. خب، وقتی هنوز کلی کتاب وجود داره که لازمه خونده بشن، چرا باید یه کتاب رو بازخونی کنم؟

• خب! این بخش رو که خوندم خیلی عذاب وجدان گرفتم. به دو دلیل اول این‌که توی یکی دوسال اخیر کتاب‌خونه‌م پر شده از کتابایی که هنوز نخوندمشون و اصلا نمی‌دونم کی فرصت می‌کنم بخونم ولی بازم دارم کتابای جدید می‌گیرم.
دوم این‌که خیلی وقته هیچ کتابی رو بازخوانی نکردم، فکر کنم بیشتر از ده ساله :) [ اگه از کیم جیانگ فاکتور بگیریم که مجبور شدم بخونمش :)) ]
من کتابا رو بازخوانی نمی‌کنم چون وقتش رو ندارم، چون کلی کتاب هست که باید بخونم چون انگار فضای مجازی و تازه‌های چاپ ناشرا وسوسه‌م می‌کنه تا کتابای جدیدی بخرم و یه ولع سیری ناپذیر دارم.
احساس می‌کنم خوندن دوباره یک کتاب وقتم رو می‌گیره فقط.
اما همین من وقتی ۱۰_۱۱ ساله بودم هزار بار مجموعه جودی دمدمی رو خونده بود. یا وقتی ۱۲ ساله بودم توی یکسال سه دفعه مجموعه دلتورا رو خوندم!
من کلمه به کلمه این کتابا رو حفظ بودم و هربار از خوندنشون هیجان‌زده می‌شدم.
واقعا چی به سرم اومده؟!
بخش اول در مورد جمع‌کنندگان کتابه و بعد افرادی که مدعی‌ن عاشق کتاب خوندن هستن اما کتابا فقط وسایل تزئینی براشون که باهاش پز بدن...

۲. سلاخ کتاب‌ها
▪︎ بخشی از صفحه ۸۴
"این روزها، یه کتاب به صرف اینکه عمیق یا سخته ارزشمند در نظر گرفته نمی‌شه. مردم می‌خوان از شاهکارها به شکلی ساده، لذت‌بخش و طبق مد روز لذت ببرن، یه جوری که انگار اون کتاب‌ها یه مجموعه دانلود شدنی از آهنگ‌های کریسمس هستن. اگه یه شاهکار با نیازهای زمونه منطبق نشه، نمی‌تونه زنده بمونه و به همین خاطره که من این قیچی رو به کار می‌برم تا زندگی چنین کتاب هایی رو حفظ کنم..."

• این بخش به نقد تندخوانی و مینی‌بوک‌ها می‌پردازه.
شاید توی کل این سه سال که من کتابفروشی آنلاینم رو راه انداختم سر جمع ۱۰ نفر از من آثار شکسپیر رو به صورت تک‌جلد خریده باشن.
اما بیش‌تر از ۱۰۰ نفر مجموعه آثار خلاصه‌شده‌ش رو خریدن.
از جمله خودم :) [shame on me]
من اصلا با آثار کلاسیک کنار نمیام برای همین وقتی دیدم یه نشر برای نوجوونا آثار شکسپیر رو خلاصه کرده و مصور هم هست سریع جذبش شدم که بالاخره می‌تونم ساده شده‌ش رو بخونم.
هدفم این بود که صرفا ببینم شکسپیر چی می‌گه و وقتی توی کتابای دیگه ارجاع یا اقتباس از داستانای شکسپیر رو می‌بینم بفهمم قضیه چی بوده.
و وقتی توی کتابفروشیم معرفیش کردم، حدود سه ماه پرفروش‌ترین کتاب بود.
راه‌حل رینتارو برای چالش این بخش واقعا یه تلنگر بزرگ بود برای من :)
خلاصه که وقت کم نیست، نه دنبال تندخوانی باشید و نه مینی‌بوک‌ها و خلاصه‌های کتابا.
ولی خدایی خوندن آثار شکسپیر به صورت خلاصه بد نبود :)) به هرحال از یه جایی آدم باید شروع کنه بعد قوی کنه خودش رو دیگه. (این خیلی جای بحث داره نمی‌خوام بهونه الکی بیارم.)

۳. فروشنده‌ی کتاب‌ها
▪︎ بخشی از صفحه ۱۶۲ و ۱۶۱
" ما اینجا، در شرکت انتشاراتی شماره یک جهان، کتاب‌ها رو برای آگاه کردن یا درس دادن به مردم چاپ نمی‌کنیم؛ ما کتاب‌هایی رو منتشر می‌کنیم که جامعه می‌خواد. ما به مسائلی مثل پیام‌هایی که باید ابلاغ بشن، یا فلسفه‌ای که باید به دست نسل بعدی برسه هیچ اهمیتی نمی‌دیم. به واقعیت ناخوشایند یا حقایق سخت اصلا اهمیت نمی‌دیم. جامعه به چنین مسائلی علاقه نداره. لازم نیست ناشرها نگران این باشن که باید چه چیزی رو به گوش دنیا برسونن؛ اونها باید این رو بفهمن که دنیا می‌خواد چه چیزی رو بشنوه."
.
.
.
" اما شما دارین طوری با کتاب‌ها رفتار می‌کنین که انگار هیچی نیستن جز کاغذپاره. اگه نگرش افرادی که کتاب‌ها رو تولید می‌کنن این‌جوری باشه، پس چیزی به دست افراد کتاب‌خون نمی‌رسه. شمار افرادی که کتاب می‌خونن همین‌جوری هم داره کم می‌شه..."

• و اما این بخش!
این فصل نقدی بر ناشرها و در وهله‌ی بعد کتابفروش‌ها بود.
نقدی بر دنیایی که کتاب توش یه کالا شده، و همه دنبال پرفروش‌هان. کتاب‌هایی که وایرال نشه عملا جایی تو دنیای امروز نداره...
و کم‌کم کتاب‌ها ارزش‌شون رو از دست می‌دن چون مردم دنبال این نیستن که ببینن اون کتاب چه حرفی برای گفتن داره، بلکه دنبال چیزهایین که می‌خوان بشنون.

۴. بخش چهارم بیشتر به خود رینتارو می‌پردازه و ذهن ما رو به چالش می‌کشه که چرا کتاب می‌خونیم و هدف‌مون چیه؟!

به‌طور کلی از خوندنش لذت بردم،
کم حجم بود اما خیلی برای من قابل تامل بود. :)

[Diane S ☔ · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 The second of four books about books I'll read this month. Rintaro and his grandfather run a musty, old bookstore. A store that cherishes older books and their authors. When his grandfather dies, Rintaro is left alone and is now going to live with an aunt he doesn't really know. Rintaro is a hikikomori, a shut in, he seldom goes to school, his life, the bookstore that he must now leave. Until a talking cat appears, a tabby named Tiger, who claims he needs Rintaro's help to save some misused books.

So now the fable, adventure begins as the cat leads Rintaro through three different labyrinths, meeting different people, all whom use books in a less than ideal fashion. Another book using a mythical journey to highlight the importance of books and what they mean to readers. In the process of saving books, Rintaro will learn about himself.

"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."

As I gaze at all my unread books on my shelves, lol!

A feel good story that takes place during the weeks leading up to Christmas.

[Cecily · Rating 1 out of 5]

I love books as physical objects and as emotional, and intellectual entities. The serendipity of second-hand bookshops is a delight. I enjoy speculative fiction, and like cats.

Rintaro Natsuki is a shy, bookish orphan, raised by his grandfather in a second-hand bookshop. A talking cat asks for his help to rescue books from a series of alternative-reality labyrinths.

So why only 1*?
In this story, the President of World’s Best Books says:
“Sell books that sell… We don’t publish books to inform or teach people. We print the books that society wants.”
This feels as if it was created to appeal to booklovers using a checklist, rather than understanding that a good story is always more than the sum of its parts, and has to have gaps to let the magic (not necessarily in the plot itself) happen.

It is firmly YA (but not labelled as such), with high-school protagonists who are awkward the opposite sex, and think 50-year-olds are really old. It's told in simplistic language with largish, well-spaced print. They encounter three baddies (The Imprisoner of Books, The Mutilator of Books, and The Seller of Books) before reaching the boss level (a gaming term feels apt). It’s explicitly intended to teach the gap between idealism and reality (with a talking cat!). I think it would work much better as a graphic novel and video game.

The worldbuilding doesn’t make sense, none of the labyrinths are remotely like labyrinths (just long corridors, paths, staircases), and I’m not keen on the helpless girl trope. I didn’t enjoy it enough to excuse any of that.

Annoyances

I don’t want to hate on a book others have loved, but I want a record for myself, hence spoiler tags.

The writing is often banal, heavy-handed, and clichéd.
• “The cat’s response was very Zen.”
• “Rintaro thought furiously. He thought and thought.”

Anomalies:
• How are walls covered in bookshelves dazzling white? (First “labyrinth”)
• The Mutilator wants to create extreme summaries for people who lack time to read whole books (Faust as a two-minute read), but this was published in 2021, when it was already easy to get summaries of anything online and listen to audiobooks while busy with other things.
• There is nothing feline about the cat. Tiger could just as well be a dog, fairy, or hippo.
• Owls are associated with wisdom more than cats are. I guess a cat is more marketable. Or maybe that's my European angle on a book from another culture.
• The ability to see Tiger is eventually revealed not to be supernatural but possible only for those who have true compassion. The trouble is, Rintaro sees the cat from the start, but is told - by the cat - that he’s only gaining compassion in the final mission.

Amusingly odd:
• “His daily routine was regular, unchanging, like a river flowing steadily to the sea.”
• “‘I love it when it snows like this. It’s so exciting.’ Rintaro’s aunt always spoke spontaneously like this.”

Sentimental tosh:
• “Books teach us how to care about others.” They can, but not necessarily, nor exclusively.
• “Empathy - that’s the power of books.” Ditto.


Plus ça change, plus c'est la même ĉhose

“What you have discovered is a recipe not for memory, but for reminder. And it is no true wisdom that you offer your disciples, but only its semblance, for by telling them of many things without teaching them you will make them seem to know much, while for the most part they know nothing, and as men filled, not with wisdom, but with the conceit of wisdom, they will be a burden to their fellows.”
This is not referring to the internet, but Plato describing Socrates’ fears of widespread literacy!

See instead

For an amusing, profound, but still YA paean to literature:
• Walter Moers’ The City of Dreaming Books, which I reviewed HERE.

For a mysterious labyrinth of bookshelves:
• Jorge Luis Borges’ The Library of Babel, which I reviewed HERE.

For meaningful exploration of the power of books:
• Ali Smith’s Public Library and Other Stories, which I reviewed HERE.
and
• Carol Atherton’s Reading Lessons, which I reviewed HERE.

[Sujoya - theoverbookedbibliophile · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5⭐️

High school student Rintaro Natsuki is grieving over the loss of his grandfather who was his only close family. Rintaro is described and also refers to himself as hikikomori (a Japanese term referring to people who shut themselves away from society, rarely venturing outside to school or work). He believes that he has no true friends , his loneliness being compounded by the death of his grandfather and the impending sale of his grandfather’s second hand bookstore, Natsuki Books, before he has to move to a different town with a distant aunt . He stops attending school , spending all his time in the bookstore, his only visitors being his class president Sayo Yuzuki who visits him to deliver his schoolwork and Ryota Akiba who is senior to him in school and shares Rintaro’s love for books and the bookstore.

Enter Tiger, the talking tabby, a “ginger tabby; a rather large, plump cat with an orange and yellow striped coat”, who takes him into a mystical world of labyrinths on a mission to rescue books from entities who mistreat them. Rintaro’s love for books and the wisdom shared by his late grandfather play a huge role in not only saving books from the hands of those who would distort their meaning and threaten their very existence but also in bringing about a change in the attitude and perceptions that were at the very root of the problem . Rintoru’s journey is not just about rescuing books but also coming to terms with his own situation and the loss of his grandfather, in the process opening up to the people and the world around him.

“Books are filled with human thoughts and feelings. People suffering, people who are sad or happy, laughing with joy. By reading their words and their stories, by experiencing them together, we learn about the hearts and minds of other people besides ourselves. Thanks to books, it’s possible to learn not only about the people around us every day, but people living in totally different worlds.”

With humor and emotion the author explores themes of loss, friendship and the power of books and literature in enhancing one’s life experiences. The Cat Who Saved Books by Sosuke Natsukawa, (translated by Louise Heal Kawai) is a charming story with an interesting premise. I am particularly fond of stories based in libraries or bookstores. Add a talking cat and magical realism to the mix and I just had to read this book. But somehow, this book did not live up to my expectations. In the author’s depiction of Rintaro’s adventures he is seen to encounter situations that are related to topics that us readers enjoy debating on such as hoarding versus actual reading, quantity versus quality of books read, reading abridged/condensed editions, an overall diminished interest in reading and so on. I do not agree that these can be considered or interpreted as mistreatment of books rendering them in need of rescue and that is where this story lost some of its initial appeal. I feel this book is better suited for a younger audience and maybe the translator was trying too hard but I felt that some passages could have been shorter and the tone less preachy. But yes, like Rintaro I do love reading and believe in the profound impact of books on our lives .While I totally agree that books are precious and should be preserved with love and respect, I feel that passing judgment on whether, when, how and what people read might not be the best way to express that sentiment. This is an entertaining story that does have its appeal, but I’m probably not the right audience for it.

[Reading_ Tamishly · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don't know if it's the translation or the writing which I find a little flat for me. It just couldn't hold my attention for long. For such a short book and a really easy read, I was just thinking about getting over the book soon and I was really getting impatient when I reached half the book.

Overall, I enjoyed the bookish talk and discussions as well as the unexpected characters and events that were happening in the entire story.

A short read. Pick it up if you want to read something short but different.

[Caro the Helmet Lady · Rating 3 out of 5]

Absolutely gorgeous cover! I'm going to put this art on my desktop! (update: the art is by Yuko Shimizu)



The story, well, it was okay, I guess? a light read, with a bit of simple adventure and book magic. This is definitely book for teens and for younger teens to that. It's just not for me... So if you're like 12 y.o. and love books and talking cats - this is something you'll love too.

[Scottsdale Public Library · Rating 4 out of 5]

Books, fantastical adventures, friendship of both the human and animal kind—The Cat Who Saved Books has it all! First, it is important to note that this book is an English translation from Japanese, so it does not read like your average contemporary fantasy. For me, that is precisely what made it interesting to read—a bit of a diversion from the ordinary.

Reclusive high school student, Rintaro Natsuki, has been living with his grandfather since he was a child. After Grandfather dies, Rintaro stops going to school and is going to close the secondhand bookstore that he ran with his grandfather—until he is visited by a mysterious cat who asks him to help him on a few missions to save books from people who are abusive, neglectful, or otherwise mistreating the books. Through the journeys, Rintaro finds confidence in himself as well as a rejuvenated love for books and their importance.

The Cat Who Saved Books is a pretty quick read, a diversion from the usual, and recommended for book lovers! - Diana F.

[Sarah-Hope · Rating 2 out of 5]

I so wanted to love this book. The cover is charming. The idea of a talking cat and a boy working together to rescue books is charming.

Well, I liked it, but I didn't love it. It does have charm, and I think a large body of readers will enjoy it. However, it reminded me too much of The Little Prince or Jonathan Livingston Seagull—one of those books that's supposed to reveal cosmic truths, but just doesn't seem all that cosmic.

I would gladly pay for a book offering a collection of the illustrator's charming work, but the story, not so much.

I received a free electronic review copy of this title from the publisher via NetGalley; the opinions are my own.

[Brooke (B for Books) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Books are for Empathy.

Sosuke was a critic and satirist. He is making a critique about book consumption in the modern world. We meet characters who prefer quantity and transactional value to quality. And so the mission to save books ensues. And it's a real moral dilemma. Are books for entertainment, education, or something else? Because those who are editing books to make them more palatable and faster to consume believe they are the ethical superiority. And they have some fair points. People are busy so if we make the classics short they will be more accessible and then people can consume more books and therefore be better people, right?

Wrong! Well, mostly, and theoretically. Consuming a story more quickly is not sufficient. Books are a way to slow down and really connect with other people. It is not logic, it is connection. Connecting genuinely with characters increases perspective irl. Empathy is so rare in the today's world that books are all some people have. It can be a sole refuge for the lost and broken. People need books. Certainly the mental health system and our governments are not going help. In fact, these institutions often work against people, not for. So, go cat, save the books! This conversation is all happening within the story, not outside of it; so it is a gentle reminder of the purpose of books in the modern world.

This book has its place historically as well as currently. I would love to see more translations of this come out addressing more of the humor that surely is there and being missed. Translating Sosuke is an incredible task. Many of these passages actually read like Japanese parables to me. There is so much wisdom here. I find this a must-read for sensitive souls who look beyond logic.

5/5 💫

[sAmAnE · Rating 4 out of 5]

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کتاب‌ها سرشار از افکار و احساسات انسانی هستن. انسان‌هایی که رنج می‌کشن، انسان‌هایی که ناراحت یا خوشحالن، یا از لذت و شادی می‌خندن. ما با خوندن حرف‌های اون‌ها و داستان‌هاشون و تجربه کردنشون با همدیگه، درباره‌ی قلب و ذهن آدم‌هایی جز خودمون چیز یاد می‌گیریم. به لطف کتاب‌ها، نه تنها درباره‌ی انسان‌هایی که هر روز دوروبرمون هستن، که درباره‌ی مردمی که توی نقاط کاملا متفاوتی از دنیا زندگی می‌کنن می‌تونیم مطالبی یاد بگیریم.
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کتاب‌ها می‌تونن به ما آگاهی، دانایی و چشم‌اندازی به دنیا بدن و خیلی چیزهای دیگه. لذت یادگرفتن موضوعی که قبلا نمی‌دونستی و دیدن مسائل به شیوه‌ی کاملا جدید، هیجان‌انگیزه؛ اما یه جورهایی اعتقاد داشتم اون‌ها چیزی بهمون می‌دن که مهم‌تر از این حرف‌هاست.
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کتاب‌ها روح دارن. کتابی که بهش عشق ورزیده شده همیشه روح داره و در مواقع بحرانی، به کمک خواننده‌ش می‌آد.
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اگر به کتاب‌هایی که درباره‌ی کتاب‌ها نوشته شدن علاقه دارید، این کتاب میتونه یکی از گزینه‌های خوب باشه. کتابی کم‌حجم و خوش‌خوان از پسری دبیرستانی به نام رینتارو که به تازگی پدربزرگش را از دست داده است. پدربزرگ او صاحب یک مغازه‌ی کتاب‌فروشیه که کتاب‌های دست دوم را می‌فروخت. رینتارو پسری گوشه‌گیر و منزویه که سعی می‌کند با شرایط به وجود آمده غم خود را تا حدی با کتاب‌ها تسکین دهد.
ژانر کتاب فانتزی و رئالیسم جادوییه و حضور یک گربه‌ی سخن‌گو که به کمک رینتارو می‌آید، قصه را زیباتر می‌کند. این‌دو درصدد نجات کتاب‌هایی هستند که گرفتار کسانی شده‌اند که می‌خواهند به نحوی آن‌ها را از بین ببرند. گربه از طریق سه هزارتو رینتارو را هدایت می‌کند تا با افراد مختلف ملاقات کند.
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هنگام خواندن داستان سوال‌هایی در مورد کتاب‌ها ذهن ما را درگیر خواهد کرد...
این‌که آیا کتاب‌ها روح دارند؟ آیا خواندن کتاب‌ها به ما می‌آموزد که به دیگران بیشتر توجه کنیم؟ آیا کتاب‌ها نقطه‌ی اتصال افکار میان انسان‌هاست؟ آیا کتاب‌ها باعث ایجاد دوستی و تحکیم روابط میشه؟ کمیت کتاب‌ها مهم است یا کیفیت آن‌ها؟ آیا کتابی در کتابخانه‌ی ما وجود دارد که ارزش چندین‌بار خواندن را داشته باشد؟ آیا به واسطه‌ی کتاب‌ها می شود دیگران را شناخت؟ و ...
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کتاب در حیطه‌ی عشق به کتاب‌هاست و ادای احترام به تمام کسانی‌که کتاب می‌خوانند و عاشق خواندن هستند. در مورد اثرگذاری و قدرت کتاب‌ها در زندگی ماست.
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کتاب‌های موجود در قفسه‌ها چیزی جز بسته‌های کاغذ نیستند، مگر این‌که توسط یک خواننده باز و خوانده شوند.
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عنوان و طرح جلد کتاب عالی و جذاب بود و می‌تونه هر کرم کتابی را به خودش جذب کنند.

[Rodrigo · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pues me ha gustado, es un libro que se sale un poco de lo que suelo leer, pero la lectura ha sido fácil y amena. Un libro que nos intenta transmitir que los libros son algo mas de páginas escritas, que tienen un valor intrínseco, que tienen ALMA.
Sinopsis: Un homenaje a las librerías, a los libros y a todos aquellos que los aman.
La epopeya de Rintaro, el joven heredero de una entrañable librería de viejo, y de Tora (muy bien el gato), un sabio e ingenioso gato atigrado. Su emocionante misión consiste nada más y nada menos que en salvar los libros que están en peligro (las pruebas o viaje que emprende son 3 laberintos en cuyo final se encuentran distintos personajes, relacionados de una manera con los libros, que ellos creen que de manera positiva y Rintaro les hace ver que no, que realmente no aman los libros) y extender así el amor por estos objetos, bellos e inigualables, que son parte imprescindible de nuestra vida.
6/10