A review by joymargot
The Cat Who Saved Books by Sōsuke Natsukawa

2.5

Japanese books with cats on the cover and books about books are almost always my favourites, but this one fell a little flat for me. Perhaps something was lost in the translation, but the dialogue was rather wooden and Rintaro’s “compelling arguments” are more trite than profound. The notion of books not being enjoyed in the “right” way had a whiff of gatekeeping about it too.

It’s a quick read and not entirely without merit, but I’d recommend these alternatives if you’re new to Japanese literature:

  • Before the Coffee Gets Cold by Toshikazu Kawaguchi (for fans of magical realism)
  • She and Her Cat by Makoto Shinkai and Naruki Nagakawa (for cat lovers)
  • What You Are Looking For Is in the Library by Michiko Aoyama (for book lovers)
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