Bernard: Dad, you look a little sad.
Dad: Do I? Well, I was just remembering some books I lost a few years ago when the storage unit I had them in had a leak in the roof, and the books got wet and then molded, and I had to throw them out. It happened long enough ago that most of the sadness is gone, and I have replaced the ones which were most important to me, but sometimes it still makes me sad.
Papas: We know how much you love your books. Why did you have them in storage?
Dad: We didn't have a lot of room when your mom and I got married, so I had to put either some of my books in storage or put your mom in storage.
Mom: He chose to keep me out of storage. Good choice.
Dad: I think it was the best decision. I don't think I could have replaced you.
Mom: You're sweet to me.
Bernard: Sigh. There they go again. Always with the flirting.
Papas: Mom and Dad, sittin' in a tree...
Bernard: R-E-A-D...
Papas: I-N-G!
Dad: You've been waiting for the right moment to say that, right?
Papas and Bernard: Mmmmaybe....
Dad: Very clever kittens you are.
Bernard: Are we as clever as Tiger the Tabby?
Papas: Who?
Bernard: Tiger the Tabby is the hero of "The Cat Who Saved Books" by Sosuke Natsukawa. It was first published in Japan in 2017 and in English in 2021 in a translation by Louise Heal Kawai.
Dad: That's a very good introduction. But how did you know that? I listened to the audio version last year before we adopted you.
Bernard: When you bought a copy, you left it on the bed, and I read it.
Mom: How did you do that? Cats don't have opposable thumbs.
Papas: What is the book about? You said the cat is the hero, but what about the humans?
Bernard: The book's main human protagonist is a high school student named Rintaro Natsuki, who is sad at the beginning of the story because his grandfather who raised him has just died. And he's not sure what to do with his life now.
Mom: Honey, are they ignoring my question about opposable thumbs?
Bernard: Rintaro's grandfather has left him Natsuki Books, which Rintaro practically grew up in, and Rintaro plans to sell the bookstore and all its contents and go live with his aunt.
Papas: That's sad. Who wouldn't want to own a bookstore?
Dad: Yes, sweetheart, they are ignoring your question.
Bernard: I don't think it's that he doesn't want the bookstore, but just that he's so sad and the bookstore has so many memories. But then the cat comes along one night after closing hours and speaks to Rintaro. He introduces himself and asks Rintaro for help rescuing imprisoned books from abusive and neglectful owners.
Papas: I like that. Cats to the rescue! But how does a person imprison books? And why would they?
Bernard: Tiger the Tabby tells Rintaro on a journey through four labyrinths, other dimensions where they meet people who claim to love books, but show it in odd ways. Rintaro's task is to convince them to set their books free. I don't want to give away too much, but this journey Rintaro goes on is a healing journey for him as well. As he talks to the people he meets he remembers all the reasons why and the ways how he loves books himself.
Papas: What are the four labyrinths?
Bernard: In the first, Rintaro meets a man who is very proud of how many books he reads every month, and he keeps them locked in glass cases so everyone can see how many books he reads, and he never ever reads the same book twice.
Papas: That sounds a bit like Dad. Except for the glass cases. And not reading the same book twice, because his favorites he reads even more often than that.
Dad: I did recognize a bit of myself in this man. And I am learning to let go of the ones I really wanted to read when I found them but don't want to any longer. I'm trying to find good homes for the ones I don't think I'll read and those I liked but don't think I'll read again. It is hard because I do enjoy collecting books as well.
Papas: Just not in glass cases. Bernard, what about the other labyrinths?
Bernard: On the second night, Rintaro's school friend Sayo joins him. Tiger is surprised that Sayo can see and hear him talk as well, but says there must be a reason she can, so he doesn't protest when she insists on coming along. When they go into the second labyrinth they meet a collector who mutilates books. He cuts out what he thinks are only the most important parts so people can read more in a shorter amount of time.
Papas: That's silly. That's not the way it works. Dad, please tell me you've never done that.
Dad: I've never done that. I keep the best parts where they belong, inside the book with the other best parts that I don't know are also the best parts until I read them again.
Bernard: In the third labyrinth they meet a publisher, who only wants to publish bestsellers, and not waste his time with books that aren't what the public wants, or at least what he thinks the public wants.
Dad: I didn't care much for that guy. Some of my favorite books were bestsellers, but I discovered them before I knew that. And some of my other favorites weren't very popular but I loved them.
Papas: So all these people collected books, but didn't really love them, at least not in the way Rintaro did?
Bernard: That's right. And along the way, Rintaro began to remember why he loves books and the bookstore.
Papas: I think I want to read that book next. But wait... didn't you say there were four labyrinths?
Bernard: Yes. But that one is where Rintaro learns about himself and the people who care about him and ... well, I'll leave that for the reader.
Dad: How many paws up, Bernard?
Bernard: Definitely two paws up.
Papas: Sounds like a two-paws-up book to me too! But of course, I'll have to verify that for myself.
Dad: Of course.
