bookicornia's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Grief
eli_jw's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
A warm and lovely read. It's quiet and empathetic in how it treats the main character and his grief.
To me it read like a love letter to books and the people who love them, but also a reminder that books may enrich our lives and the way we experience our world, but if we're not engaging with that world and the people in it then we're missing out on half the joy of them.
This feels like the kind of book it would be lovely to read to/with someone younger, especially if they're the kind of shut in, nose buried in a book kid that I was.
To me it read like a love letter to books and the people who love them, but also a reminder that books may enrich our lives and the way we experience our world, but if we're not engaging with that world and the people in it then we're missing out on half the joy of them.
This feels like the kind of book it would be lovely to read to/with someone younger, especially if they're the kind of shut in, nose buried in a book kid that I was.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Grief
babsi_222's review against another edition
informative
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
The message was clear but it just didn’t excite me and it was pretty boring to read but i think that’s just my personal opinion. The love story wasn’t very good and was not needed
I don’t like Sayo she isn’t “blunt and says what she thinks” or “compelling” she’s just mean and kinda a bully, sorry.
Love the setting with the bookstore tho.
But the plot was…something. Three weird men change their lives and way of thinking after a teenage boy says a few “deep and philosophical” thoughts (that are actually just quotes from his dead grandpa)
The 4th labyrinth- wtf so biring i can’t even remember what i read. The more i think about this the more does it not deserve 3 full stars so I’m just gonna downrate rq.
I don’t like Sayo she isn’t “blunt and says what she thinks” or “compelling” she’s just mean and kinda a bully, sorry.
Love the setting with the bookstore tho.
But the plot was…something. Three weird men change their lives and way of thinking after a teenage boy says a few “deep and philosophical” thoughts (that are actually just quotes from his dead grandpa)
The 4th labyrinth- wtf so biring i can’t even remember what i read. The more i think about this the more does it not deserve 3 full stars so I’m just gonna downrate rq.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Grief and Death
kebbi's review
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Death of parent, and Grief
buildingtaste's review
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
This was the first book I took up based on StoryGraph recommendation, and it was a charming read. Unexpectedly christmassy, so it was a good one to finish reading on December 25th. It is a poignant but adventurous read, with each chapter a "labyrinth" approaching some issue facing the world of books and reading. As we progress, we start to see how these issues have more in common than it seems.
As to "diversity", all characters in the book (except maybe the cat and the at the end) are Japanese, so it is a homogeneous group, but from the perspective of the Anglosphere reader wanting to diversify their reading overall, I guess it counts?
As to "diversity", all characters in the book (except maybe the cat and the
Spoiler
personified book
Content Warnings
Moderate: Grief, Death, and Death of parent
The book begins with the death of the main character's grandparent/de facto parent, and the grief and change which comes from that is a theme throughout the book.beauvisseau's review against another edition
adventurous
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.25
Whereas the message of the story is supposed to be uplifting and loving, it came across as a little preachy at times. The talking cat and the bookshop make up for a lot, but I felt as though the writer did not use an intersectional lens when talking about love for books. The publisher is publishing lots of books, but that also means that more people are able to afford and read these books. The portrayal of grief, however, was well-done. Moreover, I loved to hear from the translator at the end.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Grief, and Death
kathis_wonderland's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
The Cat Who Saved Books from Sosuke Natsukawa is an adventurous story about Rintaro and a speaking cat. After Rintaro's grandfather died, a speaking cat appears in his bookshop. The cat encourages Rintaro to help save books from the hands of people who mistreat them. Together they go on a few adventures.
This book was completely different to what I expected. I expected the main character to be a cat. But Tiger was a side character. And not even a lovable one, but rather cold-hearted. I loved how books were praised and how Rintaro tried to explain how important they are to people. This was really heart-warming. The book had some really awesome quotes.
The adventures to save books were not as intriguing as I expected. It just took some talking to the bad guys. All missions kind of repeated themselves and they were very lengthy. Every chapter was one mission. I personally don't like such long chapters. I always get the feeling that I will never ever finish any of the book when chapters are so long. And I hate stopping in the middle of a chapter.
I have a really hard time rating this book. On one hand, I enjoyed the story and liked the concept. On the other hand, it was not really my cup of tea. I expected something different. However, it was a new experience and I liked the cultural aspect of the book as well. I reflected on my love for books as well.
This book was completely different to what I expected. I expected the main character to be a cat. But Tiger was a side character. And not even a lovable one, but rather cold-hearted. I loved how books were praised and how Rintaro tried to explain how important they are to people. This was really heart-warming. The book had some really awesome quotes.
The adventures to save books were not as intriguing as I expected. It just took some talking to the bad guys. All missions kind of repeated themselves and they were very lengthy. Every chapter was one mission. I personally don't like such long chapters. I always get the feeling that I will never ever finish any of the book when chapters are so long. And I hate stopping in the middle of a chapter.
I have a really hard time rating this book. On one hand, I enjoyed the story and liked the concept. On the other hand, it was not really my cup of tea. I expected something different. However, it was a new experience and I liked the cultural aspect of the book as well. I reflected on my love for books as well.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Grief, Death, and Death of parent
librariangeorgia's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Considering I’m not a fan of translated works, I really enjoyed this one.
When I found that the whole book consisted of 4 chapters, I was actually dreading reading it because I thought it would take me ages to get through each chapter. However, I breezed through it. The storytelling was really interesting and kept me gripped.
Admittedly, I wouldn’t say it was the cat that saved books but rather the boy but details details.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Death, and Death of parent
foxo_cube's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
"The Cat Who Saved Books" is sweet and simple, and I thoroughly enjoyed reading it.
It's a book about loving books, and about loving books in their entirety - it urges the reader strongly to remember the importance of taking the time to read and enjoy books. Maybe it could come off as heavy-handed, but, as someone who grew up reading everything and came from a family who also read everything, it resonated with me, at the very least. Rintaro's outrage that someone could see no worth in re-reading a book particularly spoke to me!
The characters could be more fleshed out, but they're likeable. Tiger's an adorable mentor figure. The friendship and flirtation between Rintaro and Sayo is sweet and progresses fairly naturally. Rintaro's rediscovery of his will to live is really nice to follow, and I kind of like that he's happy to be a weird little hikikomori - he just goes from being a depressed one to a happy one. It's also a nice touch that his grief doesn't seem to lessen so much as it morphs from a sad wallowing into a positive motivator. Although, like I said, the book is simple, it feels like a lot of what's there is very deliberately and carefully put together.
I feel as though the story would lend itself well to animation, both due to its structure and its labyrinths each having their uncanny little quirks. I can hope!
It's a book about loving books, and about loving books in their entirety - it urges the reader strongly to remember the importance of taking the time to read and enjoy books. Maybe it could come off as heavy-handed, but, as someone who grew up reading everything and came from a family who also read everything, it resonated with me, at the very least. Rintaro's outrage that someone could see no worth in re-reading a book particularly spoke to me!
The characters could be more fleshed out, but they're likeable. Tiger's an adorable mentor figure. The friendship and flirtation between Rintaro and Sayo is sweet and progresses fairly naturally. Rintaro's rediscovery of his will to live is really nice to follow, and I kind of like that he's happy to be a weird little hikikomori - he just goes from being a depressed one to a happy one. It's also a nice touch that his grief doesn't seem to lessen so much as it morphs from a sad wallowing into a positive motivator. Although, like I said, the book is simple, it feels like a lot of what's there is very deliberately and carefully put together.
I feel as though the story would lend itself well to animation, both due to its structure and its labyrinths each having their uncanny little quirks. I can hope!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Grief and Death
Minor: Suicidal thoughts and Death of parent
hanz's review against another edition
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Grief