The Cat Who Saved Books Audiobook By Sosuke Natsukawa cover art

The Cat Who Saved Books

A Novel

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The Cat Who Saved Books

By: Sosuke Natsukawa
Narrated by: Kevin Shen
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About this listen

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
Animals Contemporary Fantasy Fiction Friendship Genre Fiction Paranormal & Urban Cats Heartfelt Feel-Good Thought-Provoking
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Charming Fantasy • Whimsical Adventure • Nuanced Performance • Endearing Characters • Heartwarming Message
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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.

Charming but not brilliant fable.

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

Though provoking.

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A great fable that's a great listen for all ages. I really enjoyed it. It was just the palette cleanser I needed!

Short and sweet

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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!

Quirky & interesting little book

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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?

Great story

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

Cats, Japan, intrigue, drama and mystery.

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I love the direction this story follows, especially all the wisdom and knowledge shared through the different characters backgrounds and experiences. This is one of those books I may reread over and over again. I absolutely love this narrator but the story was so exquisite I'm already looking to purchase a hard copy to read at home. It was short but beautiful, it just might become my favorite.

Beautifully sculpted

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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.

Unique, captivating, good story

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the narrators voice lends a calm, cozy feel to a story that is complex and simple depending on the viewpoint you come from. a fun adventure of rescuing books is simple. A boy, a cat, a bookstore, and the girl he likes is still simple. The complexity comes from losing a loved one, daily life challenges, and facing yourself while trying to accomplish saving something or someone else at times. While the boy never wavers from who he is, he does learn that he hasn't discovered everything about himself such as confidence and knowledge of books being greater than most.

calm, cozy, adventure

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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.

An enjoyable story.

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