A Window To My Soul

The Cat Who Saved Books – Sōsuke Natsukawa

Synopsis

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.

Review

I admit that I was quite scared to read this book, as much as it called me to read it. And the thing is that I love books, also cats, and the popularity of the book and people saying that it was not what one imagined, but in a good way, my expectations rose even though I tried with all my might to keep them under control. But, I mean, “A tribute to bookstores, books and all those who love them.”? I can’t control my expectations with that phrase.

When I finally decided to buy it, I started it right away.

Rating this book is difficult for me. The feeling I had when reading it’s the same as when I watch Studio Ghibli films. Unpopular opinion: I can’t enjoy them as much as most people and that makes me disappointed every time I see one.

It was the same with “The Cat Who Saved Books.” I didn’t know what to expect when I started reading it. As the story progressed, it caught me and convinced me that it would be an emotional journey, but suddenly it just ended, leaving me incomplete.

The book follows the life of Rintaro. A somewhat reclusive and book-loving young man who lived with his grandfather in a small second-hand bookstore.

Unfortunately, his grandfather dies and Rintaro becomes even more of a hermit, even stopping going to his school. However, a talking cat named Tora begins to appear in the bookstore and ask for help to rescue books in different mazes.

It is in these labyrinths where we can see Rintaro’s development, in addition to making some very interesting reflections about the books themselves.

To be honest, I enjoyed reading this story. It’s not a very long book and is quite easy to read. Furthermore, it is true that those of us who love books lead us to reflect, often even to suffer, about what is happening with books in history… and in reality.

I don’t give it 5 stars because I was left with this feeling of “having a taste for more” with the ending, but I do find it highly recommended and I would say that every book lover should read it.

I do think it is important to highlight that I believe that it’s not a book for people who do not genuinely love them, as it will not generate an emotional connection and, therefore, it will not leave any message.

Bye bye 💕

Author

Sōsuke Natsukawa (Kanji: 夏川草介) is a doctor and writer. With more than three million copies of his novels sold, he has been awarded the Japan Booksellers’ Prize and the Shogakukan Prize for Fiction.

The cat who saved books has confirmed him as a best-selling author in Japan and has become his letter of introduction to enthusiastic editors in more than thirty countries.