Sōsuke Natsukawa

Teenager Rintaro Natsuki has just lost his grandfather and will probably soon have to go and live with an aunt, but for a little while he plans to stay at his grandfather’s used bookstore, where he has worked alongside his grandfather for years. Although a couple of students at his high school drop in to check on him, he does not have any interest in going back to school - or anywhere else, for that matter. That is, until a talking ginger cat suddenly appears in the bookshop and requests his assistance in rescuing books that are being mistreated…. This is a delightful short novel that gently teaches the reader about the value of books and of reading, and of caring for one another and of courage. I enjoyed its well-drawn characters, who grow and thrive through fantastical adventures, and I’m pretty sure most readers would feel the same way; recommended!… (more)

“Our best weapon for fighting all the pain and trouble in the world isn’t logic or violence. It’s humour.”

“Books have a soul. A book that sits on a shelf is nothing but a bundle of paper. Unless it is opened, a book processing 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.”

"Books teach us how to care about others. Books are filled with feelings. Books help us understand each other. They bring us together."

The Cat Who Saved Books was a really enjoyable story. Each adventure that Rintaro and Tiger, the cat, head out on provides a moment of reflection on how we buy, read, store/keep, and what importance we put on books. I loved the concept that books have a soul, but that that soul is only exists when the books have engaged with, cherished, and loved. I also liked the concept that books teach us about and help us understand others. This is a book I will be keeping on my shelf, and not just because of the cover!… (more)