The Cat Who Saved Books by Sosuke Natsukawa — Book Summary and Notes

‘It’s not true that the more you read, the more you see of the world. No matter how much knowledge you cram into your head, unless you think with your own mind, walk with your own feet, the knowledge you acquire will never be anything more than empty and borrowed.’

⛰ What It’s About

Rintaro, a high school student left by his grandfather, took care of an old bookstore and met a cat named Tiger the Tabby. He always feels that books are his friend and they are the ones who understand him very well. He also always remembers what his grandfather said to him:

‘There are timeless stories, powerful enough to have survived through the ages. Read lots of books like these — they’ll be like friends to you. They’ll inspire and support you.’

Since that time, he needs to solve a lot of labyrinths for saving the books along with the cat, and the girl he loves. It’s fantasy, adventurous, and mystical at the same time.

Reading isn’t only for pleasure or entertainment. Sometimes you need to examine the same lines deeply, read the same sentences over again. Sometimes you sit there, head in hands only progressing at a painstakingly slow pace. And the result of all this hard work and careful study is that suddenly you’re there and your field of vision expands. It’s like finding a great view at the end of a long climbing trail.

🔍 How I Discovered It

I found this book on Periplus at Riau Junction, Bandung, and I feel fascinated with the title and the cover. After a lot of consideration, finally I bought it and I don’t regret it at all!

🧠 Thoughts

I really like the structure of this book by giving Rintaro four labyrinths that he needs to face and rescue the books along with the tabby cat. By having this mission and meeting a girl that he likes (and likes him too), this story becomes gradually magical and puzzling. Every labyrinth is teaching him about the relationship with books, whether not to get lost in them, or see books as a status, or knowledge of others. Through this adventure, he has grown his confidence and had a better life without much grief and hikikomori.

🥰 Who Would Like It?

Personally, I like it because a cat is one of the characters. But other than that, if you like and care about books, it’s better for you to read this and see how books are being seen from other’s perspectives.

💬 Quotes

It’s not that shocking. All the intellectual leaders of our time, such as myself, are constantly reading. It’s vital for us always to be brushing up on our philosophy and expanding our knowledge. Books have made me the man I am today. They’re my dear companions.

In today’s world, a lot of what should be obvious has been turned upside down. The weak are used as stepping stones and those in need are taken advantage of. People just get caught up in this pattern. Nobody stands up and calls for it to stop.

But at the same time, reading is still fashionable. It confers status. Everyone wants to brag about reading some difficult book.

Being able to express shallow words of sympathy in a sweet voice doesn’t make someone a caring, compassionate soul. What’s important is the ability to have empathy for another human being — to be able to feel their pain, to walk alongside them in their suffering.’

‘A book that sits on a shelf is nothing but a bundle of paper. Unless it is opened, a book possesing great power or an epic story is mere scraps of paper. But a book that has been cherised and loved, filled with human thoughts, has been endowed with a soul.’

Empathy — that’s the power of books.