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slice98's review against another edition
1.0
I have several issues with this book. Here are some of them:
1. THE CAT DOESN'T SAVE ANY BOOKS?? Incredibly misleading title. The title was what made me interested in reading the book, so I got really disappointed when the cat wasn't even the one doing the saving. I mostly felt like he was just there as a slightly annoying and very unlikable character who didn't really do much.
2. The book doesn't feel like it's written for adults? The language, plot, development and character felt very simple and a bit boring. It was also PAINFULLY predictable.
3. The messages in the book were a bit tone deaf to me. I felt that it gave of a strong condescending tone towards everyone who reads anything other than classics and other "intellectual" reads. Also, the part where Rinkaro realised that people cared about his well-being gave of a strong vibe of the classic "you shouldn't be depressed - people like you!"
Honestly I'm just really disappointed in the book and what I thought it would be. I thought the plot sounded really fun and I really wanted to like it, but it just ended up falling flat for me.
The only thing I liked was the translation and how the translator didn't translate some japanese words that don't really have an english equivalent, such as 'hikikomori'.
1. THE CAT DOESN'T SAVE ANY BOOKS?? Incredibly misleading title. The title was what made me interested in reading the book, so I got really disappointed when the cat wasn't even the one doing the saving. I mostly felt like he was just there as a slightly annoying and very unlikable character who didn't really do much.
2. The book doesn't feel like it's written for adults? The language, plot, development and character felt very simple and a bit boring. It was also PAINFULLY predictable.
3. The messages in the book were a bit tone deaf to me. I felt that it gave of a strong condescending tone towards everyone who reads anything other than classics and other "intellectual" reads. Also, the part where Rinkaro realised that people cared about his well-being gave of a strong vibe of the classic "you shouldn't be depressed - people like you!"
Honestly I'm just really disappointed in the book and what I thought it would be. I thought the plot sounded really fun and I really wanted to like it, but it just ended up falling flat for me.
The only thing I liked was the translation and how the translator didn't translate some japanese words that don't really have an english equivalent, such as 'hikikomori'.
trissmaximoff93's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
fast-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
5.0
Super recomendado, me ha dejado con el corazón calentito 🥰
ems0's review
adventurous
informative
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
paige_hollingsworth99's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
I thought this book was delightful. The cat was endearing to me, and I enjoyed the reluctantly helpful teenager who got dragged along helping the cat.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Grief
Minor: Death and Fatphobia
mathman329's review against another edition
4.0
2022 Book Review - Book No. 17: “The Cat Who Saved Books” by Sōsuke Natsukawa
Date started: 9/3/22
Date finished: 9/11/22
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️(would recommend reading this fall, especially if you like books and/or cats)
Spoiler free review: I purchased this book after walking into a small independent book store and looking at it for 2 seconds. I like cats, I like books, so I figured I would probably like a book about a cat who saves books. Turns out I was right! More seriously, though, I have been trying to read things more outside of my usual reading box. That includes books from outside the US, and this book was originally written in Japanese before being translated into English. This was the second Japanese book I read this year (along with “Memoirs of a Polar Bear”).
One of the things I’ve noticed in these books is the way the translation will get to the point directly in many situations. That isn’t to say there isn’t some more flowery descriptions, but for the most part it’s rather straight forward. One of the things I like in the translation of Natsukawa’s tale was the inclusion of Japanese words that don’t have direct English translations. It was neat to look those words up and get a better idea of what they meant rather than simply using context clues.
The story itself is fun. After the young protagonist inherits a used book store from his grandfather, he is soon visited by a mystical talking cat who recruits him for help on some quests to, well, save books. What ensues is a tale of growth and a love of literature. Much like “The Reading List”, this tale hopes to highlight how books can heal their readers. And while the cat gets the title treatment, the story is truly about Rintaro, the recently orphaned boy. Though possibly a bit predictable at the end, this book is well worth saving and reading!
Date started: 9/3/22
Date finished: 9/11/22
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️(would recommend reading this fall, especially if you like books and/or cats)
Spoiler free review: I purchased this book after walking into a small independent book store and looking at it for 2 seconds. I like cats, I like books, so I figured I would probably like a book about a cat who saves books. Turns out I was right! More seriously, though, I have been trying to read things more outside of my usual reading box. That includes books from outside the US, and this book was originally written in Japanese before being translated into English. This was the second Japanese book I read this year (along with “Memoirs of a Polar Bear”).
One of the things I’ve noticed in these books is the way the translation will get to the point directly in many situations. That isn’t to say there isn’t some more flowery descriptions, but for the most part it’s rather straight forward. One of the things I like in the translation of Natsukawa’s tale was the inclusion of Japanese words that don’t have direct English translations. It was neat to look those words up and get a better idea of what they meant rather than simply using context clues.
The story itself is fun. After the young protagonist inherits a used book store from his grandfather, he is soon visited by a mystical talking cat who recruits him for help on some quests to, well, save books. What ensues is a tale of growth and a love of literature. Much like “The Reading List”, this tale hopes to highlight how books can heal their readers. And while the cat gets the title treatment, the story is truly about Rintaro, the recently orphaned boy. Though possibly a bit predictable at the end, this book is well worth saving and reading!
shereadytoread's review against another edition
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
slow-paced
3.0
I had really mixed feelings about this book. I enjoy the message behind the book about the love of reading and how important reading and books can be in someone's life. I loved the idea of the power of books and how that presents in different ways for different people.
However, the concept and the execution don't match up as much. The "adventures" to save books are primarily short philosophical conversations about different viewpoints on books and reading. There is no action to these quests. It's walk in, talk, rinse and repeat.
I really enjoyed some of the imagery around the books and the bookshop. The cat is a brash character but not in a way that made him unlikeable to me.
This was chosen as the "Works in Translation" selection for the Diversify Your Reading book club. Join us here: https://bookclubs.com/diversify-your-reading-2/join/
However, the concept and the execution don't match up as much. The "adventures" to save books are primarily short philosophical conversations about different viewpoints on books and reading. There is no action to these quests. It's walk in, talk, rinse and repeat.
I really enjoyed some of the imagery around the books and the bookshop. The cat is a brash character but not in a way that made him unlikeable to me.
This was chosen as the "Works in Translation" selection for the Diversify Your Reading book club. Join us here: https://bookclubs.com/diversify-your-reading-2/join/
julesssss's review against another edition
adventurous
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
paxicara's review against another edition
1.0
This book lacked substance. Everything was surface-level and frankly boring. There wasn’t any actual conflict and practically no stakes. Rintaro would just show up to the boss of the labyrinth, say something to the extent of “no books are meant to be enjoyed and what you’re doing is bad” and the boss would smile and nod knowingly like he had solved their clever book puzzle.
Character development was bad, I didn’t care about any of them, and the cat could have been written out of the book since he was practically useless.
The message of the book was about how important books are but it was done so preachily that it was cringy.
Overall: blah
Character development was bad, I didn’t care about any of them, and the cat could have been written out of the book since he was practically useless.
The message of the book was about how important books are but it was done so preachily that it was cringy.
Overall: blah