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3.7 AVERAGE
3.7 AVERAGE
The legend goes that Vicki and another library staff member found a young Dewey in the book return box nearly frozen to death. Dewey's home then became the library and all of small-town Spencer, Iowa. This is the story of Dewey, of course, but also of his owner Vicki, and the whole town.
I actively avoid books like these because the animal always dies at the end and I always turn into a sobbing mess. That's exactly what happened. But I had found the book for a dollar and thought my students would like it, but I wanted to preview it first. It's no Wesley the Owl, but it's a sweet story.
Dewey really was an extraordinary cat, and the story of how he became famous and influenced so many people is genuinely incredible. That part of the story, and the parts about his cat antics, were just what I was looking for in a heart-warming animal story.
I had several issues, though. Vicki would go on incredibly long tangents about Spencer and Iowa as well as her personal life and family. Honestly, I wasn't in it for that information. I was in it for Dewey. Part of those tangents served to set the stage and give background, but a good deal of it could have been shortened or cut out entirely. The transitions from one idea to the next were sometimes abrupt and jarring, which was also frustrating.
The writing was also repetitive. Vicki mentions several times how special Dewey was, how he belonged to her and loved her and belonged to the library and how he loved the people... But the real kicker was that these reptetions were contradictory. She would write how Dewey belonged to her and then say he belonged to the library. She would write how he didn't show favoritism but that she was his favorite and then say how her daughter was his favorite.
There's one (unnecessary) part where the town of Spencer is considering building a slaughter house. The community votes it down, in part, because it would bring in Hispanic immigrants to work the slaughterhouse. Vicki tries to smooth it over by saying that the residence of Spencer were not racist. I have never been to Spencer, but I do know that small, white towns positively ooze racism. You aren't racist but you don't want Hispanic immigrants? Immigrants who will bring in revenue and pay taxes and will take the jobs the white folks don't want? That sounds racist to me.
Those issues aside, it's a fast read, especially when you know when to skip a paragraph you've read two or three times previously thanks to the repetition.
My final verdict is that I will put this book in my middle school library with a warning sticker. There's one (or maybe two) swear words, and Vicki details her decision to get a double mastectomy, so it mentions the word "breasts" a few times (which totally freaks out 6th graders). I'd recommend this book to strong readers who don't get put off easily by the parts that have nothing to do with animals and are instead about adults and their little town.
I actively avoid books like these because the animal always dies at the end and I always turn into a sobbing mess. That's exactly what happened. But I had found the book for a dollar and thought my students would like it, but I wanted to preview it first. It's no Wesley the Owl, but it's a sweet story.
Dewey really was an extraordinary cat, and the story of how he became famous and influenced so many people is genuinely incredible. That part of the story, and the parts about his cat antics, were just what I was looking for in a heart-warming animal story.
I had several issues, though. Vicki would go on incredibly long tangents about Spencer and Iowa as well as her personal life and family. Honestly, I wasn't in it for that information. I was in it for Dewey. Part of those tangents served to set the stage and give background, but a good deal of it could have been shortened or cut out entirely. The transitions from one idea to the next were sometimes abrupt and jarring, which was also frustrating.
The writing was also repetitive. Vicki mentions several times how special Dewey was, how he belonged to her and loved her and belonged to the library and how he loved the people... But the real kicker was that these reptetions were contradictory. She would write how Dewey belonged to her and then say he belonged to the library. She would write how he didn't show favoritism but that she was his favorite and then say how her daughter was his favorite.
There's one (unnecessary) part where the town of Spencer is considering building a slaughter house. The community votes it down, in part, because it would bring in Hispanic immigrants to work the slaughterhouse. Vicki tries to smooth it over by saying that the residence of Spencer were not racist. I have never been to Spencer, but I do know that small, white towns positively ooze racism. You aren't racist but you don't want Hispanic immigrants? Immigrants who will bring in revenue and pay taxes and will take the jobs the white folks don't want? That sounds racist to me.
Those issues aside, it's a fast read, especially when you know when to skip a paragraph you've read two or three times previously thanks to the repetition.
My final verdict is that I will put this book in my middle school library with a warning sticker. There's one (or maybe two) swear words, and Vicki details her decision to get a double mastectomy, so it mentions the word "breasts" a few times (which totally freaks out 6th graders). I'd recommend this book to strong readers who don't get put off easily by the parts that have nothing to do with animals and are instead about adults and their little town.
My entire reason for purchasing this book was the adorable cat on the cover. But after reading the book, I found that it was much more than just a book about a cat. I'm sure many cats are rescued daily (or at least I certainly hope so), but this cat was rescued, and then turned around and rescued those he came in contact with. There were passages in this book that really helped me through some rough times and taught me some valuable lessons about life, love, and relationships. A definite must-read for cat lovers, but I'd recommend it to anyone.
I didn't read the whole thing. I started it, got the jist of it. It's a cute story, but I have too many books sitting on my shelf.
Feeling generous because I love cats and Dewey sounds like he was an amazing companion to the entire town. But found this book to be a little trying, overly sentimental, and a thinly disguised autobiography of the author and the late 20th-century farm crisis (which I probably would have found more interesting).
I really liked Dewey's story, and I disagree with some reviewers who claimed that there was nothing "special" about him. If the anecdotes strung together here are true, he does seem like a really remarkable cat. For one thing, the picture on the cover of this book really IS Dewey, taken by a small-town professional photographer. I was sure it was an artist's rendition; how many cats do you know who would sit so perfectly prim in an unknown situation while their photo was snatched?
However, I'm not sure a full-length book was the best way to tell the story. It felt like a book that was written because they thought it could sell more than because someone had a passion for writing it. I can respect the fact that the primary author, Vicki Myron, is not a writer, but a librarian--and it sounds like she's a very good one at that. But even with the assistance of a ghostwriter, this book was sort of painful to read at times. The chronology was confusing and certain phrases were repeated SO many times throughout the book that they lost all impact ("Dewey was just that kind of cat," or "Dewey may have belonged to Spencer, but he was MY cat.") The three different threads in the story--Vicki's life, Dewey's life, and what small-town Iowa is like--did not weave together smoothly. Sometimes it felt like Vicki got so caught up in the other two storylines that she'd have to periodically abruptly remind the reader that everything in the book was supposed to tie back to Dewey. Her own life story is pretty harrowing and worth a memoir in its own right, but it all felt like obligatory dumping so that we'd see how and where and why Dewey made such an impact.
Still, maybe it's a good thing that the book wasn't super well written, because that meant I didn't cry like a baby as I finished reading it in Barnes & Noble last weekend. I gave this book three stars despite my criticism because I related to all the "working-in-a-library" details and the small-town life ones as well (although Vicki did tend to overly romanticize small-town values--unless Spencer is a fortunate small town free of the vindictiveness, gossip, and pettiness that seems to run rampant in the small towns I've gornw up around). But most of all, I couldn't give it less than three stars because I really did love Dewey. I wish every library could have one.
However, I'm not sure a full-length book was the best way to tell the story. It felt like a book that was written because they thought it could sell more than because someone had a passion for writing it. I can respect the fact that the primary author, Vicki Myron, is not a writer, but a librarian--and it sounds like she's a very good one at that. But even with the assistance of a ghostwriter, this book was sort of painful to read at times. The chronology was confusing and certain phrases were repeated SO many times throughout the book that they lost all impact ("Dewey was just that kind of cat," or "Dewey may have belonged to Spencer, but he was MY cat.") The three different threads in the story--Vicki's life, Dewey's life, and what small-town Iowa is like--did not weave together smoothly. Sometimes it felt like Vicki got so caught up in the other two storylines that she'd have to periodically abruptly remind the reader that everything in the book was supposed to tie back to Dewey. Her own life story is pretty harrowing and worth a memoir in its own right, but it all felt like obligatory dumping so that we'd see how and where and why Dewey made such an impact.
Still, maybe it's a good thing that the book wasn't super well written, because that meant I didn't cry like a baby as I finished reading it in Barnes & Noble last weekend. I gave this book three stars despite my criticism because I related to all the "working-in-a-library" details and the small-town life ones as well (although Vicki did tend to overly romanticize small-town values--unless Spencer is a fortunate small town free of the vindictiveness, gossip, and pettiness that seems to run rampant in the small towns I've gornw up around). But most of all, I couldn't give it less than three stars because I really did love Dewey. I wish every library could have one.
Quaint and cutesy and charming in parts, and a sweet picture of a small town community in Iowa -- but far too much of the author's own personal sob story woven in for the simple pleasure I was hoping for.
I liked parts of this book but for the most part I didn't like the writing and couldn't connect to the narrator. She contradicted herself a lot. The cat sounded adorable though! And the theme of the impact animals have on humans certainly rings true.
I’m not a huge fan of memoirs but this one captured my attention. I’m a cat lover myself and I enjoyed Dewey’s story!
This book is a must-read for any cat lover, but I will admit that I am not a cat-lover, just a library-lover. The personal stories of Dewey made me smile.
This book was given to me by my grandmother last year, a cat lady herself, because I've always loved animals and I had just started working at a library. It took me time to get around to reading it but I'm so glad I did and I'm happy it's in my collection.
I think the book is written beautifully, by the woman who loved Dewey the most. I know what it's like to be going through hard times and having a cat be right beside you through it all. I was pleasantly surprised to learn so much about Iowa and Vicki's life around Dewey, not just a book that's about him! I think it rounded it out nicely and overall really gave me a perspective of life in Spencer. I would recommend this book to anyone who might enjoy it. I'll definitely be telling my grandmother how much I loved this book when I see her next 💕
I think the book is written beautifully, by the woman who loved Dewey the most. I know what it's like to be going through hard times and having a cat be right beside you through it all. I was pleasantly surprised to learn so much about Iowa and Vicki's life around Dewey, not just a book that's about him! I think it rounded it out nicely and overall really gave me a perspective of life in Spencer. I would recommend this book to anyone who might enjoy it. I'll definitely be telling my grandmother how much I loved this book when I see her next 💕