The Cat Who Saved Books

Rintaro Natsuki became the new owner of the second-hand bookshop, Natsuki Books, after the death  of his grandfather. The original plan was that he would go and live with an aunt but that plan changed after he met Tiger, a talking cat. The cat was on a mission and needed help to save books that were being destroyed. This led to Rintaro, Tiger and later Sayo to journey through four labyrinths to save books.

The Cat Who Saved Books by Sosuke Natsukawa explores the importance of books in the lives of individuals and how reading can open up new worlds for us to explore. As Rintaro travels on the expeditions he comes to understand himself better and what his future should be. He also learns more about the importance of books.

Statements about books and reading (pages 195-197) include:

Books have tremendous power.

Books can give us knowledge, wisdom, values, a view of the world ... the joy of learning something you didn't know before and seeing things in a whole new light. Books teach us how to care about others.

Books are filled with human thoughts and feelings ... we learn about the hearts and minds of other people besides ourselves.

Human beings don't live alone, and a book is a way to show that. 

Empathy - that's the power of books. 

The Cat Who Saved Books is a heart-warming read about the love of books and literature. Once I started reading this book I just had to keep reading until the final page.

 Sosuke Natsukawa has also written The Cat Who Saved the Library.

The Cat Who Saved the Library

Nanami spends most of her time in the library so she knows the collection well. Until one day she noticed that books had vanished from the shelves. Feeling concerned she watched some of the other library users until one evening she spied a strange man who may be the thief. Nanami began to follow him until a cat appeared and warned her that danger lies ahead.

Nanami and Tiger, the talking cat, work together to retrieve the missing books that are now in a building in a different world. The entrance to this other world is via a passage in the library but there is no guarantee that it will always be there. Another passage, Nanami discovers, leads to a book shop. 

In The Cat Who Saved the Library by Sosuke Natsukawa,  Nanami and Tiger discover a world where the occupants are expected to mechanically follow what others are doing and not think for themselves. Questioning decisions and beliefs is harmful and not an option. That is why books that encourage readers to question different theories and beliefs, to experience different worlds and ideas through literature and come to their own conclusions are being removed. 

For those who love books and reading this is a book worth considering for your to be read list. It is a sequel to the first book in this series - The Cat who Saved Books.

Harry Potter books

In 1997 the first of a series of fantasy books was published which created enthusiastic response from readers throughout the world. Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone introduced young and old readers into the world of a young wizard and his friends as they fought against evil powers. It was not long before J K Rowling became known as a writer throughout the world. When a new volume of the series was released people would queue to purchase the next book. Waiting lists for the books in libraries were huge. It was not unusual to be travelling on a train and watching adult passengers read Harry Potter books, especially when there was a reprint with covers designed to attract adults.

The seven books in the series are:

    Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (1997)

    Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (1998)

    Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (1999) 

    Harry Potter and Goblet of Fire (2000)

    Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (2003)

    Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince (2005)

    Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (2007).

The first two books were written for upper primary school age readers and provided a readable fantasy based  adventure story. The author had anticipated that the readers would be older as each volume was published so the later volumes in the series were written for older readers than the first two and often had darker themes. The system did not work when younger children started reading the books after the later volumes had been published and then immediately attempted to read books written for teenagers and young adults. Each book in the series also had many more pages than the initial two books.

I read six of the seven books in the series. I decided against Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban as I was not in the mood to read a darker themed book at the time. Generally I enjoyed reading the series as an adult, however I thought that the last two volumes, in particular, could have been given a more thorough edit. 

Harry Potter has turned into an empire with films and other materials relating to the series of seven books. 

The Cicada House

When Caitlin inherits a large sum of money she takes the opportunity to leave England and travel back to Australia where she was born. Her husband is leaving her for another woman so she needs time to rethink about her life and also to try to find information about her mother who had travelled to Australia with a band before Caitlin was born.

Caitlin finds herself living in an old house, The Cicada House, by the beach on the Victorian coast. Here she has the chance to reflect on her life so far and consider what the future may hold. As she encounters many of the locals Caitlin finds the need to reconsider how she has approached people in the past. Gradually she begins to enjoy the new life she is encountering in Australia, especially the weather and being able to swim in the sea, a short walk from the house.

Then one day Caitlin meets David who makes some of the repairs that the house badly needs. David also encourages Caitlin to assist him in some of the tasks. Caitlin looks forward to David's visits but then begins to discover that all is not as she would expect.

The Cicada House by Ella Ward is a story about how a lonely woman reconstructs her life when she encounters new opportunities in a different environment. The novel also incorporates time travel into the plot, adding another dimension to Caitlin's story.

Orbital

Set in the near future, Orbital by Sarah Harvey is an account of one day in the life of four astronauts and two cosmonauts in a spacecraft, orbiting 250 miles above Earth. Each day the spacecraft completes 16 orbits of the earth - orbiting the planet once every 90 minutes. Each chapter covers one orbit. 

The book describes the daily lives of the occupants of the spacecraft - four men and two women; two Russians, one Japanese, one British, one Italian and one American - as they carry out their scientific experiments, exercise to keep fit, send regular reports back to base, eat, sleep and adjust to the different environment of living in space for a prolonged time. There is time to reflect on life and family back on earth and the damage being done to the environment. There is also concern about the quantity of space junk circling the earth. The first manned spacecraft for many years has just left Earth for the Moon which causes another avenue for reflection about the future of space travel.

Orbital to a large extent reads like a poem as it records the different views, thoughts and activities of the spacecraft occupants. It is a short novel, only 136 pages. Orbital by Sarah Harvey won the 2004 Booker prize for fiction.

Juice

Juice by Tim Winton is set in a future drastically altered by climate change. People can no longer live in the tropics and during the summer families in part of Western Australia (and probably other areas in Australia) need to retreat below ground in order to survive. They can live and work above ground in the winter but need to work to gather enough supplies to allow them to survive isolation during the hot season.

An unnamed narrator recounts the story of the cause of this climatic destruction to a man he meets when he and a young girl are looking for a new location where they may possibly survive. His story describes the destruction of past lifestyles to the current disaster. The narrator also tells of his life story leading to his present predicament.

Tim Winton is known for his concerns about the environment and the effects of climate change. One of his other works is a book for young teenagers, Blueback. He has also featured in a number of television programs about the environment and threats to nature. 

Juice is a long book - 513 pages - but once I became used to the writing style I wanted to keep reading. Books like Juice encourage readers to think more carefully about how our lifestyle affects the environment in which we live. Dystopian books like Juice will hopefully encourage the reader to think about how the way we currently live may affect and / or destroy life for future generations living in our country. The novel also touches on the possibility of the creation of AI people or simulations in the future.

Juice by Tim Winton - life after the apocalypse - The Guardian  

Schooled in doubleness - Australian Book Review 

Haunted by our legacy - QUT Guild

The Lost Book of Magic

Another year of sharing and enjoying the reading of books with my grandson is almost over. During 2024 we finished reading Runt by Craig Silvey. This was followed by going on adventures with The Hobbit by J R R Tolkien. Impossible Creatures by Katherine Rundell took us on our next fantastical adventure. The Eagle of the Ninth by Rosemary Sutcliff provided an introduction to historical fiction. Then Aiden read me Scar Town by Tristan Banks - he became so involved with the book that I was not allowed to participate in reading any of the text. Our final book for the year was The Lost Book of Magic by Amelia Mellor which he also enjoyed.

The Lost Book of Magic is the third and final book in the series of books that began with The Grandest Bookshop in the World. Once again Vally, Pearl and Ivy Cole find themselves battling against the Obscurosmith and the Wraith in order to save Coles Book Arcade before their parents return from Sydney. They  are assisted in their endeavours by Mr Pyke (Billy Pyke) and Miss Kwon (Kezia Nobody) who we previously met when they were children in The Booksellers' Apprentice. The Obscurosmith once again sets puzzles for the children to solve but this time they also have to contend with the Wraith who does not want them to succeed.

This trilogy of books is not just an excursion into a world of fantasy but also introduces the reader to places and events in the history of Melbourne during the latter part of the nineteenth century. My grandson and I have thoroughly enjoyed reading the books in this series.

The Life Impossible

Recently I read Susie Dent's novel, Guilty by Definition, which reveals the plot through the examination of language and the solving of puzzles. In The Life Impossible by Matt Haig, mathematical concepts frequently appear throughout the novel as former mathematics teacher, Grace Winters, tells her story.

When Grace received an email from a former student who was going through a difficult time she replied by sending him a story about her recent challenges as she attempted to come to terms with perceived mistakes in her life.

When Grace received a letter saying she had received an inheritance of a cottage in Ibiza she decided to take a one-way ticket to the island. A letter from Christina provided suggestions of things she should do including visiting Albert at Atlantis Scuba at Cala d'Hort. Albert suggests that if she really wants to discover what happened to Christina she should go on his boat with him to explore part of the sea at midnight. While swimming she encounters a blue light in the water and her life changes.

As Grace endeavours to learn how to use her new power she also has to come to terms with the grief and guilt she is still suffering after the death of her son and later her husband. In time Grace realises that she needs to work with Marta and Albert to carry out Christina's goals of protecting the wildlife on the island and saving the island from further development.

Matt Haig has written another thought provoking novel taking the reader into another world.

How to be Remembered

Tommy Llewellyn turned one and no one, including his parents, remembered him. His presence was still there but no one remembered who he was. This happened every year. Tommy was taken to a foster home where he was looked after by Miss Michelle until he turned eighteen, though he had to reintroduce himself to her every year on the day after his birthday.

As he grew older Tommy was determined to find a way of defeating this jinx that was affecting his life. Each year he would experiment to try and find out what would prevent this annual event from occurring. When in the foster home, Tommy met Carey but she, of course forgot him. When he left the home Tommy was determined to find Carey and re-establish their relationship.

Eventually Tommy decides that his life will always be different but is determined to work out how to still create a life with a new family even though there will always be parts of his life that he leaves behind each year.

This was a Monash University Alumni Book Club suggested book in 2024.

The Hobbit

In the 1960s I read The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings Trilogy by JRR Tolkien. These joined my list of favourite books. I read The Hobbit to my three sons when they were young and they all later read The Lord of the Rings. When the films were released in the cinema we went to see them as a family group. This year my twelve year old grandson and I read and enjoyed the story of The Hobbit together.

Bilbo Baggins is a hobbit and like other hobbits he enjoys the quiet life living in his hobbit hole in the hill. Then the wizard Gandalf visits Bilbo and Bilbo's life dramatically changes.A few days later there is a knock on Bilbo's door and a dwarf enters. Bilbo hurriedly organises afternoon tea. Before long his house is filled with dwarves and then Gandalf returns and tells Bilbo about the adventure they are to undertake together.

During the book Bilbo and the dwarves encounter elves, Gollum, spiders and many other characters including Smaug the dragon as they endeavour to retrieve the treasure that once belonged to the dwarves. This is a great magical adventure which can be enjoyed by adults as well as children.

In 2024, The Hobbit was one of the books that my grandson and I enjoyed reading together.

Klara and the Sun

In Klara and the Sun Kazuo Ishiguro has produced a novel investigating a future dystopian world where robots known as AFs (artificial friends) are created to become friends of children and young people. We meet Klara in a store where AFs  are available to be sold to families requiring them. The robots are moved to various locations within the store, however the window is the prime location. It is when Klara and Rosa have their turn in the window that Klara first encounters Josie, a young girl who seems attracted to this robot. Eventually Josie persuades her mother to purchase Klara to be her special AF.

Klara soon learns that Josie is unwell but she is diligent in looking after her young charge. For much of the time Josie is dedicated to her AF but at times she is in a mood and ignores her. Klara, however, remains faithful and endeavours to take care of Josie.

We learn that Josie has been lifted (genetically modified) when younger so that she can achieve at college and in life in general. Unfortunately being lifted has resulted in the illness she now suffers. Her special friend, Rick, has not been lifted and is shunned by the guests at a party at Josie's house. Klara carefully watches what is occurring in the house and is surprised at how Josie's attitude can change in different situations.

Before Klara went to live with Josie she had observed how the Sun had healed a beggar and his dog when they appeared to be dead. Klara, with Rick's help plus the assistance of Josie's father, is determined to persuade the Sun to help her friend.

The novel looks at a variety of relationships including how people can behave in times of crises. It also takes us into another world where robots have become part of the life of some families but gradually become feared by a large part of the general community. Through Rick's story we also learn about the acceptance of the gifts we have rather than trying to be something we aren't.

Klara and the Sun is the book read by the Monash Alumni Book Club in August 2024.

Impossible Creatures

Impossible creatures by Katherine Rundell received great reviews in lists of children's books published last year so I purchased copies for two of my grandchildren for Christmas. This term my eleven year old grandson and I have been sharing the reading of this book when he visits after school. There is no argument about reading - he just grabs something to eat, picks up the book and informs me that it is time to read.

Christopher is a young boy who attracts animals wherever he goes. When he visits his grandfather in the country he is told that he can go exploring but not to walk up the hill. Of course he does and immediately realises that this is a different place. 

One day he rescues a baby griffin from drowning and his world changes. When Christopher meets Mal, a young girl with a coat that enables her to fly who is looking for her griffin, he learns that she is being hunted by a man who is trying to murder her. Christopher decides to protect her and she takes him to her magical world, the Archipelago, where he meets many mythical creatures including sphinxes and dragons, centaurs and ratatoska plus a few humans including Nighthand and Irian.   

Impossible creatures is a spell binding tale of friendship, courage, bravery and love.  The glamourie that controls the mystical world of the Archipelago is fading and it is up to Mal and her friends to discover why and undo the damage that has been done.

At the front of the book is a Bestiary with descriptions and illustrations of some of the mythical creatures in the story. Katherine Rundell has produced a wonderful world of fantasy that makes you want to keep reading to find out what happens next.

The Sinister Booksellers of Bath

This sequel to The Left-Handed Booksellers of London may be even better than the first book. The Sinister Booksellers of London by Garth Nix is set primarily in Bath, plus some time in London, and their alternate magical worlds. When Merlin is transported into an alternate world through the remnants of a magical map, Susan Arkshaw is summoned to Bath to assist Veronica in his rescue. This leads to the discovery of a plan of an Ancient Sovereign to cause destruction on the night of the Winter Solstice.

As the magical booksellers group together to prevent this plan eventuating it is discovered that Susan is the immediate target so all efforts are required to protect her from danger. Through her dreams Susan has also been contacted by her father, The Old Man of Coniston, and realises that she is gaining some of his magical powers, which she tries to resist.

Once again the author takes the reader into a world of  magic with the tension increasing as the hour of the Solstice approaches. Throughout the book there is an array of weird underworld characters, including Bath stone sculptured creatures, that threaten anyone or anything in their path. As time is running out Susan realises what she has to do. You might also discover the titles of books that you might like to read or reread scattered throughout the book. Another great book by Garth Nix.

Awarded the 2024 Ditmar Award for Australian Science Fiction.

Good Omens: the nice and accurate prophecies of Agnes Nutter, Witch

A couple of months ago I watched the first episode of the series, Good Omens, and ended up binge watching the entire series, not realising that there were six one hour episodes. I thoroughly enjoyed it. The television series was written by Neil Gaiman based on the book, Good Omens, that he and Terry Pratchett published in 1990. Naturally I then had to read the book.

In 1655 Agnes Nutter wrote a book predicting the end of the world. As the time of the Armageddon approaches Aziraphale (angel) and Crowley (demon) who have been guarding earth for hundreds of years decide that they do not want the world to end and attempt to do something about it, even though it will enrage their superiors. Meanwhile eleven years earlier the Antichrist was brought to earth as a baby to be swapped for a human baby. The swap did not go to plan so there is much confusion as the other parties involved in organising the future chaos start coming together.

The authors have a great time introducing the reader to  angels, demons, the M25 motorway, Manchester, raining fish, dolphins, Atlantis, tunnelling Tibetans, witches, witch-finders, whales, Hell's Angels, Queen and Freddie Mercury, junk food made of junk, nuclear power, a flaming car, satanic nuns, plus many references to Americans and footnotes for Americans. The four bikers of the Apocalypse represent famine, pollution, war and death. There is lots of humour but it is sobering reading a book commenting on life and how humans are destroying their environment in 1990 and realising how little life has changed thirty-three years later.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this novel. 

Readers who enjoyed The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams should enjoy this book.

Pippi Longstocking

Nine year old Pippi lives in a house in a village with her monkey and her horse. It is soon obvious that Pippi is a child who enjoys adventures and also has special powers. Tommy and Annika, who live next door to Pippi's house, soon dicover that life is never dull when they are with their new neighbour. Who else do you know who is strong enough to carry a horse? 

Pippi Longstocking by Swedish author Astrid Lindgren is a classic children's book which I introduced to my ten year old grandson during first term this year. The book was first published in 1945 and shortly afterwards English editions were published. The books in this series have been translated into fifty languages.

The edition of the book that I own is illustrated by Lauren Childs, well known for the children's television series Charlie and Lola. Consequently my grandson enjoyed examining the copious illustrations as well as sharing the reading of the story with me. At times he became so engrossed with the adventure that he would take over and not let me read at all! What more can I say? Most children and adults will enjoy reading this book.

The Book-seller's Apprentice

Set in 1871 The Book-seller's Apprentice by Amelia Mellor is the prequel to The Grandest Bookshop in the World.  Twelve year old Billy Pike has to find a job to help his family pay the bills. He replies to an advertisement for the job as a book-seller's apprentice at Coles book stall in Paddy's Market in central Melbourne. Mr Cole wants to employ someone around sixten but agrees to give Billy the opportunity to work with him. 

Billy meets a young girl his own age, Kezia Nobody, who warns Billy about the dangerous Obscurosmith who frequently visits the market tempting people to make a deal with him. For much of the book Billy and Kezia work together to defeat the Obscurosmith and prevent him from threatening people working in or visiting the market.

There are lots of descriptions of the stalls and some of the entertainers who frequent Paddy's Market which really was the location of the first Coles book-selling enterprises. But this is basically a book of fantasy with lots of magic, lots of riddles and also tension as Billy and Kezia race aginst time to defeat the Obscurosmith. Written for children 10 + years it is a fun book for teenagers and adults to read as well.

Shortlisted for the 2023 Australian Book Industry Awards - Book of the Year for Younger Children 7-12 years.

The winner of the 2023 ARA Historical Novel Prize – Children and Young Adult (CYA) Category.

Treacle Walker

Alan Garner's new novel, Treacle Walker, has been nominated for the short list of the 2022 Booker Prize. I first discovered the work of Alan Garner when I worked as a children's librarian in the late 1960s and early 1970s. I later introduced his children's books to my children and last year my grandson and I read Weirdstone of Brisingamen. I have also read Alan Garner's adult novels.

Treacle Walker is another work of folk tale and fantasy which also explores time and dimensions. Joseph Coppock is a young boy whose vision of the world is flawed due to a lazy eye. His good eye is covered by a patch in an attempt to strengthen the problem  eye. Joe is also recovering from an illness. He wiles away his time reading comics (especially Knockout), collecting birds' eggs and playing with his marbles. Joe' favourite strip in Knockout is Stonehenge Kit the Ancient Brit whose characters Kit, Whizzy the Wicked Wizard and the Brit Basher make appearances in this novel. One constant in Joe's life is that each day Noony, the train passes his house at noon.

One morning the rag-and-bone man, Treacle Walker, appears and he and Joe swap a pair of Joe's old pyjamas and a sheep bone for an old jar which once held cure-all ointment and a donkey stone. A friendship develops between Joe and Treacle Walker. When Treacle Walker allows Joe to play his special musical bone it sounds like a cuckoo, a bird that Joe has wanted to find, and the whistle's call is answered by the call of a cuckoo outside. Joe's quest to locate the cuckoo leads him to pool of water where he meets Thin Amren, a bog creature.

Throughout the novel Joe experiences the intertwining of real and magical encounters, at times through the illusion of a mirror world.

Treacle Walker is a short novel - 150 pages - and readers of other Alan Garner books will recognise illusions to events and objects in some of his other works and also to events in the author's early life. This adds another dimension to the novel but Treacle Walker can lead readers into the fantasy world of Alan Garner without this previous knowledge. This is a book to read slowly and enjoy.

Treacle Walker by Alan Garner a phenomenal late fable - The Guardian 30 October 2021  

Treacle Walker by Alan Garner - the book of a lifetime - The Guardian  1 November 2021

The critic and the clue: tracking Alan Garner's Treacle Walker - Strange Horizons 5 September 2022

Knockout - UK  Comics Wiki

Stonehenge Kit the Ancient Brit - Yesterday's newspapers

Donkey stones - Eli Whalley & Co

The Miniaturist

Petronella Oortman is eighteen when she marries the successful merchant Johannes Brandt and moves to his family home in Amsterdam in October 1686. Her vision of a happily living in a rich househouse soon disappears when Nella is introduced to her new environment and realises that her prescence is not welcome. She rarely sees her husband who is always involved in his business interests and her husband's sister, Marin, ensures that Nella knows her place in the house. The saving grace is the occasional support from the two servants, Cornelia and Otto.

Then Johannes presents Nella with a wedding present - a large cabinet with nine rooms representing their house. Nella sets out to furnish the rooms of the house with the help of the Miniturist who creates the required minature items. But when strange events begin to occur in her life Nella begins to wonder whether the Miniaturist has powers to warn her of future events or whether the Miniaturist is controlling the events that occur in the house.

Petronella Oortman did live in seventeenth century Amsterdam and did have a large doll's house which she decorated. The doll's house is now in the Rijks Museum. However the rest of the story is fiction based on life in Amsterdam during the second part of the century. Amsterdam was a city of trade and merchants, especially those involved with the VOC - Dutch East India Company. The power of the church was also paramount and this affected the lives of the population, especially those who chose to live a different lifestyle.

A three part television series based on this novel was released in 2017.

More about the doll house of Petronella Oortman:

Hidden women of history - Petronella Oortman and her giant dollhouse - The Conversation.com

Petronella Oortman - Wikipedia

 The true story behind the cabinet doll house in the Miniatruist - Town & Country

Matilda

As my granddaughter is taking part in a school production of the musical Matilda next week I thought it might be a good idea to read the book Madilda written by Road Dahl, illustrated by Quentin Blake and originally published in 1988.

Matilda lives in a family where her parents do not really want her. She is an extremely bight child who has taught herself to read and write and learn the times tables by the age of five. Her parents do not appreciate their gifted daughter. In fact her father is always telling her that she should be watching TV instead of reading. The local librarian takes pity on Matilda and ensures that she has access to all the books she wants to read.

When Matilda starts school she is in Miss Honey's class. Miss Honey immediately realises how bright Matilda is but the headmistress, Miss Trunchbull, is determined that Matilda should not receive special treatment. Matilda decides to take matters into her own hands and on a number of occasions seeks revenge for her father's bullying and also for the cruelty inflicted by Miss Trunchbull on the students and staff.

During one episode of bullying displayed by the headmistress, Matilda discovers that she has special powers when she is really cross. Matilda determines to use these powers against Miss Trunchbull to obtain justice for her classmates and for her teacher, Miss Honey.

Matilda is a book about the love of reading, about bullying, about standing up for yourself and, of course, there is a little magic to help obtain justice.

Matilda the musical - Wikipedia

Terciel and Elinor

Since discovering the book, Sabriel, (originally published in 2005) many years ago I have also read the other books in the Old Kingdom series by Garth Nix. Terciel and Elinor, the sixth book in series, tells how Sabriel's parents, Terciel and Elinor, met.

Terciel, the Abhorsen-in-Waiting, is receiving training from Tizanael, his great aunt and the current Abhorsen. They live in the Old Kingdom and use powerful necromancy, including the bells, to ensure that the Dead do not return to this world. Meanwhile Elinor lives on the other side of the Wall and although she is aware that she has some unusual powers she is unaware that the mark on her forehead is a chartre mark and that she she has family connections to the Old Kingdom, especially to the Clayr who have special powers of their own.

Terciel and Elinor meet when Elinor's home is attacked by an enemy from the Old Kingdom which has crossed the wall into Ancelstierre followed by Terciel and Tizanael who hope to defeat it. Elinor learns the power of her charter mark and becomes determined to learn more, eventually arriving in the Old Kingdom where she joins forces to work with Terciel and Tizanael to help defeat the evil power threatening the kingdom.

Terciel and Elinor is a prequel well worth reading by those who have enjoyed the other books in the Old Kingdom series.