The Cat Who Saved Books
2017 novel by Sosuke Natsukawa
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The Cat Who Saved Books (本を守ろうとする猫の話) is a 2017 novel by Sosuke Natsukawa, published by Shogakukan. Its English translation, done by Louise Heal Kawai, was published in 2021 by HarperVia.[1]
It was the first novel by Natsukawa that was translated into English.[2]
Background
In addition to being an author, Natsukawa is also a doctor.[2]
Plot
The book is about a teenage boy, Rintaro Natsuki (夏木 林太郎, Natsuki Rintarō), who stops attending high school classes after he obtains a bookshop held by his deceased grandfather. A talking cat character,[1] named Tiger,[2] appears and helps Rintaro deal with his trauma.[1]
Louise George Kittaka of The Japan Times wrote that Rintaro has "hikikomori (reclusive) tendencies".[2]
Reception
Lanie Tankard, who reviewed the book for World Literature Today, compared the book with The Jungle by Upton Sinclair because the book has commentary on the publishing industry.[1]
Kirkus Reviews gave the book a positive review, comparing it to catnip.[3]
Publishers Weekly argued that the work was too "simplistic" to be substantial; the reviewer argued the book was "hopeful and breezy".[4]
Hephzibah Anderson of The Observer wrote that the work is "whimsical".[5]
See also
Other books translated by Louise Kawai: