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bookishbarnowl's review against another edition
4.0
A charming book that reminds me fondly of my days at Edinburgh university and focuses on one of my great loves in life - cats.
generalheff's review against another edition
4.0
This is a very charming book. Author Alex Howard, still (I believe) a student when he wrote it has imbued the titular Library Cat – Edinburgh’s most bookish feline – with a wonderfully witty personality. He studies the humans around him and critiques their habits, makes (to him at least) erudite references to Samuel Beckett and still somehow remains, well, a cat, with all the need for tickles and scratches you’d expect.
Some moments truly had me in stiches. A particularly memorable sequence involves Library Cat trying to understand poetry in order to win over a she-cat. In his hiding place in the library, he pulls out the GCSE Guide to Creative Writing: Volume 1. As he flicks through he is fairly unimpressed with the likes of Wordsworth et al. (a phrase the cat uses himself so I cannot be blamed for it), until he comes across, scrawled in the margin:
Library Cat goes on to describe the epiphany of seeing these words:
If you liked that degree of silliness then you’ll definitely love this book.
A slight lack of cohesion is the only thing I think that lets Library Cat: The Observations of a Thinking Cat down. It cannot decide whether it wants to be a series of unrelated vignettes – the little charming stories of going to Marchmont to escape some book fines or his encounter with “the black dog”; a story with plot and development – some chapters build on one and other and some do not; or some sort of mock philosophy book – Library Cat expostulates on living life rather than thinking life and other such nuggets. I can’t help feel that this book could just have been that little bit better if it had decided more firmly to be one thing or the other.
Nevertheless, this is a delightful, whimsical novel that will brighten anyone’s day (well, anyone who likes slightly pretentious thinking cats that is). I laughed a lot reading this book. If you are not only a cat lover (I assume anyone reading to this point will be) but have also lived in Edinburgh or even been to the much-vaunted Library, then there really is no excuse not to pick this book up.
Some moments truly had me in stiches. A particularly memorable sequence involves Library Cat trying to understand poetry in order to win over a she-cat. In his hiding place in the library, he pulls out the GCSE Guide to Creative Writing: Volume 1. As he flicks through he is fairly unimpressed with the likes of Wordsworth et al. (a phrase the cat uses himself so I cannot be blamed for it), until he comes across, scrawled in the margin:
The cat sat on the mat
Library Cat goes on to describe the epiphany of seeing these words:
Such fantastic words! Such genius in their careful choice of imagery, meter and rhyme! Poetry had never before moved Library Cat so much … He looked around the Towsery. In the corner, by the fire, was indeed a small mat, and with that Library Cat headed over the to the mat and rested his furry posterior upon it. Cat – and the mat on which the cat sat – were one; united in a single, emblazoned vision of art.
If you liked that degree of silliness then you’ll definitely love this book.
A slight lack of cohesion is the only thing I think that lets Library Cat: The Observations of a Thinking Cat down. It cannot decide whether it wants to be a series of unrelated vignettes – the little charming stories of going to Marchmont to escape some book fines or his encounter with “the black dog”; a story with plot and development – some chapters build on one and other and some do not; or some sort of mock philosophy book – Library Cat expostulates on living life rather than thinking life and other such nuggets. I can’t help feel that this book could just have been that little bit better if it had decided more firmly to be one thing or the other.
Nevertheless, this is a delightful, whimsical novel that will brighten anyone’s day (well, anyone who likes slightly pretentious thinking cats that is). I laughed a lot reading this book. If you are not only a cat lover (I assume anyone reading to this point will be) but have also lived in Edinburgh or even been to the much-vaunted Library, then there really is no excuse not to pick this book up.
colourbandit's review
funny
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
Library Cat was a really unique book and I had so much fun reading it. The writing was really funny, often in a subtle way. The characters and different cats were interesting and unique, and the short chapters, written as little anecdotes from Library Cat’s life, were really engaging and fun to read.
I originally found the book having followed the author Alex on TikTok for some time. I just feel that I have to mention that my reading experience was made all the better by the personalised bookmark and message at the start which came with the book, so thank you very much to Alex for that!
You can really feel Alex’s love for Edinburgh and Library Cat throughout, which I think always adds a little extra magical something to a book. I did feel like I would have appreciated it a bit more had I been more familiar with the context of the university and Edinburgh. I did still enjoy it a lot but it felt like a few references went over my head. I think anyone who did go to the university would really love it though.
Also at times, it did almost feel like things came out of nowhere in the story, especially towards the end, and the tone was a bit all over the place. There wasn’t really a storyline so to speak, it was more one of those books where not much happens, but that doesn’t mean it’s a bad book, quite the opposite in fact. The owner kind of came out of nowhere too, I wasn’t even aware that Library Cat HAD an owner until the very last few chapters, which seems like quite a vital piece of information. Maybe this was intentional, I’m not sure, making Library Cat seem more independent and aloof, but it was a little confusing initially.
However, overall it emphasised a lovely message to seek contentment and nothing more sometimes, in a world where we’re all constantly looking for more. I especially really loved the penultimate chapter, Symbiosis, where Library Cat reflected on all he had learned in a really poetic, beautiful way.
Lastly I just have to say that I loved Puddle Cat and that whole storyline. Again, it was funny, but also quite touching to see Library Cat’s unrequited love play out and his views on love.
Overall, a really nice little book which was a very fun read.
courtneyjoyzanetti's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
3.5
I found this author on Tiktok of all places, and I knew if I like his voice that well there, I would love it in this sweet book. It’s a very fun read for a cat lover, and a cozy read for anyone!
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