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marguerite_gautier's reviews
13 reviews
On the Shortness of Life by Lucius Annaeus Seneca, Charles Desmond Nuttall Costa
challenging
reflective
slow-paced
2.5
El amante japonés by Isabel Allende
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
The Cat Who Saved Books by Sōsuke Natsukawa
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
This is simply heartwarming, such a cozy read. The book itself is not bad at all but the true gem in this story is the message it leaves you with.
As someone who loves books it was so wonderful to read about characters that feel the same way, it was a story that was absolutely adorable, and made my reader heart so so happy.
All the characters have something to teach you, and there’s a tiny romance that i loved because how pure it was.
As a cat lover and someone who owns a ginger tabby cat I could picture him during the book which made my reading experience so much better lol
So if you are someone who doesn’t enjoy reading as much, or someone who is looking for a fantasy novel for the plot this is definitely not for you.
But if you are a reader, someone who reads a lot, or has forgotten about the magic of literature I beg you to read this, it will remind you of why you read in the first place.
I’m still doubting my rating, since this felt like a 4 star book! But I have to give it 3 stars because even though it is short it took me 6 days to read.
Alsoooo, I would highly recommend reading this while you listen to Beethoven’s ninth symphony!!!! Since it’s mentioned in the book.
As always here are some of my favorite quotes:
“There are timeless stories, powerful enough to have survived through the ages. Read lots of books like these – they’ll be like friends to you. They’ll inspire and support you.”
”Hmm. Your sense of humour leaves something to be desired, but your heart is in the right place. This world throws all kinds of obstacles at us, we are forced to endure so much that is absurd. Our best weapon for fighting all the pain and trouble in the world isn’t logic or violence. It’s humour.”
“It’s not true that the more you read, the more you see of the world. No matter how much knowledge you cram into your head, unless you think with your own mind, walk with your own feet, the knowledge you acquire will never be anything more than empty and borrowed.”
“There was something solemn about the way he was staring at the bookcases, as if burning every cover, every title onto his retinas, and engraving each of the stories within into his heart.”
“Don’t give in to loneliness. You aren’t alone. You have many friends looking out for you.”
“When book-lovers talked about books, their faces seemed to light up.”
“You know, Natsuki, sometimes you talk like you’re trying out pick-up lines. Is that a side effect of reading too many books?”
“There was a warm feeling in the pit of his stomach which began to spread. It would be too much to call it courage, but it certainly came from the same place.”
“Nobody’s interested in truth or ethics or philosophy. People are worn out from living. All they want is either to be stimulated or healed. The only way for books to survive in such a world is for them to metamorphose. Dare I say it? Sales are everything. No matter how great a masterpiece, if a work doesn’t sell it vanishes.”
“Every single customer who came in the door felt the same way I do. That little second-hand bookshop was filled with my grandfather’s thoughts and feelings – anyone who stepped over the threshold could feel them. And that’s what made it special.”
“But if I admit I love books, how will I be able to publish ones that I don’t like?”
“All it takes is compassion.’
‘Compassion?’ Rintaro said, dumbfounded.
‘Being able to express shallow words of sympathy in a sweet voice doesn’t make someone a caring, compassionate soul. What’s important is the ability to have empathy for another human being – to be able to feel their pain, to walk alongside them in their suffering.”
“Rintaro tipped the white teapot and immediately the aroma of Assam tea rose from the well-used Wedgwood teacup. He added a single sugar cube and plenty of milk, then took a silver spoon and gently stirred, watching the splash of milk gently circle the cup and become absorbed into the tea. He nodded with satisfaction.”
“There was no sunshine, but the glittering flakes made everything seem bright. ”
“That’s a good approach. Logic and reason are never the best weapons in an irrational world.”
“A book that sits on a shelf is nothing but a bundle of paper. Unless it is opened, a book possessing great power or an epic story is mere scraps of paper. But a book that has been cherished and loved, filled with human thoughts, has been endowed with a soul.”
“I met you once in a story. I think it was one my mother read to me.’
‘Books have souls,’ repeated the cat softly. ‘A cherished book will always have a soul. It will come to its reader’s aid in times of crisis.’
The calm, measured voice warmed Rintaro’s heart. He looked over and saw the cat faintly smiling.
‘I told you that you weren’t alone.”
“Look at you, Rintaro. You’ve turned out just like your grandfather.’
There was no better compliment.”
“If you find a book easy to read, that means it’s all stuff that you already know,’ he went on. ‘That’s why it’s easy. If you find it difficult, then that’s proof it’s something brand new.”
As someone who loves books it was so wonderful to read about characters that feel the same way, it was a story that was absolutely adorable, and made my reader heart so so happy.
All the characters have something to teach you, and there’s a tiny romance that i loved because how pure it was.
As a cat lover and someone who owns a ginger tabby cat I could picture him during the book which made my reading experience so much better lol
So if you are someone who doesn’t enjoy reading as much, or someone who is looking for a fantasy novel for the plot this is definitely not for you.
But if you are a reader, someone who reads a lot, or has forgotten about the magic of literature I beg you to read this, it will remind you of why you read in the first place.
I’m still doubting my rating, since this felt like a 4 star book! But I have to give it 3 stars because even though it is short it took me 6 days to read.
Alsoooo, I would highly recommend reading this while you listen to Beethoven’s ninth symphony!!!! Since it’s mentioned in the book.
As always here are some of my favorite quotes:
“There are timeless stories, powerful enough to have survived through the ages. Read lots of books like these – they’ll be like friends to you. They’ll inspire and support you.”
”Hmm. Your sense of humour leaves something to be desired, but your heart is in the right place. This world throws all kinds of obstacles at us, we are forced to endure so much that is absurd. Our best weapon for fighting all the pain and trouble in the world isn’t logic or violence. It’s humour.”
“It’s not true that the more you read, the more you see of the world. No matter how much knowledge you cram into your head, unless you think with your own mind, walk with your own feet, the knowledge you acquire will never be anything more than empty and borrowed.”
“There was something solemn about the way he was staring at the bookcases, as if burning every cover, every title onto his retinas, and engraving each of the stories within into his heart.”
“Don’t give in to loneliness. You aren’t alone. You have many friends looking out for you.”
“When book-lovers talked about books, their faces seemed to light up.”
“You know, Natsuki, sometimes you talk like you’re trying out pick-up lines. Is that a side effect of reading too many books?”
“There was a warm feeling in the pit of his stomach which began to spread. It would be too much to call it courage, but it certainly came from the same place.”
“Nobody’s interested in truth or ethics or philosophy. People are worn out from living. All they want is either to be stimulated or healed. The only way for books to survive in such a world is for them to metamorphose. Dare I say it? Sales are everything. No matter how great a masterpiece, if a work doesn’t sell it vanishes.”
“Every single customer who came in the door felt the same way I do. That little second-hand bookshop was filled with my grandfather’s thoughts and feelings – anyone who stepped over the threshold could feel them. And that’s what made it special.”
“But if I admit I love books, how will I be able to publish ones that I don’t like?”
“All it takes is compassion.’
‘Compassion?’ Rintaro said, dumbfounded.
‘Being able to express shallow words of sympathy in a sweet voice doesn’t make someone a caring, compassionate soul. What’s important is the ability to have empathy for another human being – to be able to feel their pain, to walk alongside them in their suffering.”
“Rintaro tipped the white teapot and immediately the aroma of Assam tea rose from the well-used Wedgwood teacup. He added a single sugar cube and plenty of milk, then took a silver spoon and gently stirred, watching the splash of milk gently circle the cup and become absorbed into the tea. He nodded with satisfaction.”
“There was no sunshine, but the glittering flakes made everything seem bright. ”
“That’s a good approach. Logic and reason are never the best weapons in an irrational world.”
“A book that sits on a shelf is nothing but a bundle of paper. Unless it is opened, a book possessing great power or an epic story is mere scraps of paper. But a book that has been cherished and loved, filled with human thoughts, has been endowed with a soul.”
“I met you once in a story. I think it was one my mother read to me.’
‘Books have souls,’ repeated the cat softly. ‘A cherished book will always have a soul. It will come to its reader’s aid in times of crisis.’
The calm, measured voice warmed Rintaro’s heart. He looked over and saw the cat faintly smiling.
‘I told you that you weren’t alone.”
“Look at you, Rintaro. You’ve turned out just like your grandfather.’
There was no better compliment.”
“If you find a book easy to read, that means it’s all stuff that you already know,’ he went on. ‘That’s why it’s easy. If you find it difficult, then that’s proof it’s something brand new.”
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