Preview
  • The Cat Who Saved Books

  • A Novel
  • By: Sosuke Natsukawa
  • Narrated by: Kevin Shen
  • Length: 5 hrs and 7 mins
  • 4.3 out of 5 stars (356 ratings)

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The Cat Who Saved Books

By: Sosuke Natsukawa
Narrated by: Kevin Shen
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Publisher's summary

An Indie Next Pick!

From the number one best-selling author in Japan comes a celebration of books, cats, and the people who love them, infused with the heartwarming spirit of The Guest Cat and The Travelling Cat Chronicles.

Bookish high school student Rintaro Natsuki is about to close the secondhand bookstore he inherited from his beloved bookworm grandfather. Then, a talking cat appears with an unusual request. The feline asks for — or rather, demands — the teenager’s help in saving books with him. The world is full of lonely books left unread and unloved, and the cat and Rintaro must liberate them from their neglectful owners.

Their mission sends this odd couple on an amazing journey, where they enter different mazes to set books free. Through their travels, the cat and Rintaro meet a man who leaves his books to perish on a bookshelf, an unwitting book torturer who cuts the pages of books into snippets to help people speed read, and a publishing drone who only wants to create best sellers. Their adventures culminate in one final, unforgettable challenge — the last maze that awaits leads Rintaro down a realm only the bravest dare enter....

An enthralling tale of books, first love, fantasy, and an unusual friendship with a talking cat, The Cat Who Saved Books is a story for those for whom books are so much more than words on paper.

Translated from the Japanese by Louise Heal Kawai.

"Cats, books, young love, and adventure: catnip for a variety of readers!" (Kirkus)

©2021 Sosuke Natsukawa (P)2021 HarperCollins Publishers
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What listeners say about The Cat Who Saved Books

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    177
  • 4 Stars
    121
  • 3 Stars
    39
  • 2 Stars
    17
  • 1 Stars
    2
Performance
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
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    192
  • 4 Stars
    73
  • 3 Stars
    30
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    3
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    4
Story
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    152
  • 4 Stars
    99
  • 3 Stars
    34
  • 2 Stars
    12
  • 1 Stars
    3

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Cats, Japan, intrigue, drama and mystery.

If you enjoy Cats, Japan, books, mystery, then this is the audio book for you.

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5 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Unique, captivating, good story

The story is, I feel, quite unique in its own genre. It reminds me, and open up vast perspectives, about books. The narrator does excellently, especially on the Tabby.

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Charming but not brilliant fable.

The premise is great in this charming fable, but as it turns, it does not feel brilliant in ideas and delivery. It is pleasing more than groundbreaking.

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Though provoking.

I will listen to it again, to catch the parts I didn’t understand the first time around. The story really makes you think

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

An enjoyable story.

I liked the concept of this story when I stumbled across it prior to release. The characters are endearing and the storyline while it may be predictable it is thought provoking and builds a unique visual in your imagination. This would be an interesting book to build upon with other stories. The narrator I have heard before and really enjoy Kevin’s reading. For anyone who loves books and appreciates them this is a cozy tale you will enjoy. And what’s not to love about a cat who can talk.

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6 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Good if you want to help refresh your perspective

Very fun book that honestly helped me shift my fantasy's about a sense of purpose in the infinite library of Alexandria in my imagination, or in this world. I'm thankful to have listened to it.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Alice and Wonderland meets books!

Charming and adorable...mix together a little Lewis Carol, the Cat Comes Back, and a love of books and the result is just charming!

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Great story

This is a read that pulls you in right away. Sure, some of the allegory seems a bit contrived but nonetheless the points are well made. One appreciates the way the main protagonist grows, either in spite of or because of the occurred loss and other losses during their childhood. And really, a cat who saves books. How could you not love it?

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Quirky & interesting little book

Follow along on the boy’s journey of discovery as he saves books. He follows four labyrinths each to a book “demon” who is not respecting the books & reading. A surprise twist near the end. With a good ending. Very enjoyable!

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Interesting philosophical journey

The Cat Who Saved Books is a short novel by Sosuke Natsukawa. The audio version was narrated by Kevin Shen. I found it to be a captivating, heartwarming, and whimsical story. The book contains an introspective fairy tale quality to it, with a message of hope. Translated from the original Japanese, there are interesting cultural aspects to the story, that I thought worked well. Probably a 3.5 but rounded up, who does not like books about books, and a talking cat.

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