January 2023 Book of the Month Club - Homer’s Odyssey and/or The Cat Who Saved Books 🐈

[verna davies]

Mamanyt1953 , Homer's Odyssey was a feel good book and I think its always nice to be pleasantly surprised when a book turns out to be different from expected. Glad you enjoyed both.

rubysmama Did you enjoy rereading Homer and was it different to what you remembered?

gilmargl
You have obviously give The Cat Who Saved Books a great deal of thought to understand it and answer your questions . You gave it 3 stars in your review, do you still feel the same about the book now?

pearl99 Is The Cat Who Saved Books one you will read again if only for the usable quotes?

 

[rubysmama]

some of the things that Homer achieved I wondered if they were totally accurate or some exaggeration for the sake of the story.

Some of Homer's achievements did seem almost impossible to believe, but then cats are pretty amazing animals, so maybe things did happen as written.

rubysmama rubysmama Did you enjoy rereading Homer and was it different to what you remembered?

I did enjoy re-reading it, as there were things I'd forgotten, such as Homer having 2 feline siblings.

 

[laureen227]

I only read Homer's Odyssey. The other wasn't attractive to me. I really loved it, though. Homer makes me think of my Widget (cat in back in my avatar), at least, looked a lot like him, other than the obvious! I very much enjoyed reading about the different personalities of Gwen's cats. I laughed at that one part where the visitor pets Scarlett and SHE LOVED IT! Then he asks, "Which one is the mean one?". I think, for people who consider their cats/pets as family members this book would be the perfect read, because we can so identify with how Gwen feels about her cats.

 

[verna davies]

I laughed at that one part where the visitor pets Scarlett and SHE LOVED IT! Then he asks, "Which one is the mean one?".

Isn't that so typical of cats, they always do the opposite of our descriptions of them to other people.

 

[rubysmama]

laureen227 : glad you were able to join us this month, and happy to see you enjoyed Homer.
I agree, for those of us who consider our cats and other pets family members, it was the perfect read.

 

[gilmargl]

gilmargl
You have obviously give The Cat Who Saved Books a great deal of thought to understand it and answer your questions . You gave it 3 stars in your review, do you still feel the same about the book now?

I wanted to forget thinking about this book and now I'm asked a difficult question! I didn't enjoy the book as such - Goodreads had told me it was a good book if you liked cats and enjoyed books. I was reading it as though it were a lecture on the value of books so I was disappointed by the style, the rather boring so-called dangerous missions and the non-catlike cat. By the end I found it totally illogical so had to put on my thinking cap - which no longer fits me too well. It took a while till I realised that instead of books, grandfather could have been an art collector, and the cat could have been a dog - or any other non-human animal or bird. The important subject was the boy and how he was going to live the rest of his life - hence the danger - sink or swim!
I prefer books I can like or hate the first time around - I am no longer at school reading excerpts from "The Seven Pillars of Wisdom" for public English Literature examinations and learning the subtieties of language in descriptions of blowing up a train or bridge in the desert. But, I do prefer books where I have to think - but not rethink the whole story as in the case of "The Cat Who Saved Books"!
The German book is called "The Cat Who Dreamt About Books" and there is another English translation of the title "The Cat Who Loved to Protect Books". I assumed I was going to learn something about that cat - but I was disappointed. So, I'll stick to three stars.

 

[rubysmama]

I assumed I was going to learn something about that cat - but I was disappointed.

gilmargl : I agree the title was deceiving, as the cat could have been replaced by a dog or any other non-human, and the story would have been exactly the same .

 

[pearl99]

pearl99 Is The Cat Who Saved Books one you will read again if only for the usable quotes?

I think I would, skim it and write them down this time.

 

[gilmargl]

Goodreads has a list of quotes

Quotes from "The Cat Who Saved Books​

 

[verna davies]

Good find gilmargl , thank you

 

[rubysmama]

Good find gilmargl , thank you

Ditto. Lots of great quotes, weren't there.

This one really stood out for me, as it's very timely.

“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 caught up in this pattern. Nobody stands up and calls for it to stop.”

 

[Mamanyt1953]

Good find gilmargl , thank you

Goodreads has quotes for most books, and if you are not familiar with them, you are welcome to add your own favorite quote.

 

[verna davies]

Is there nothing that someone cant find on the internet, thanks.

 

[rubysmama]

Finished Homer's Odyssey.

And now I have The Cat Who Saved Books, too!

Finished The Cat Who Saved Books

Boris Diamond and mani :
Don't forget to post your reviews.
No pressure though.

 

[mani]

Boris Diamond and mani :
Don't forget to post your reviews.
No pressure though.

OK.. I was hoping you'd forgotten about me, as I go against the flow on The Cat Who Saved Books.
It's been a while but let me try to remember why it didn't blow my hair back...unfortunately I mainly remember why I didn't take to it.

I felt like I was reading a children's book. I found it a bit obvious and twee.
I wasn’t keen on the idea that a book that's difficult is ‘the point’ and easy books are not. There also seems to be an attitude that classics are ‘worthy’ but the latest thriller or whatever are not just a waste of time, but have some kind of deeper detriment to the soul of books.
As far as the journeys are concerned, the challenges they meet are not challenging.. they just have a chat and the main character wins, even though I’m unsure why.
There’s a kind of obvious preachiness that didn’t go down well with me..
And the cat really could have been an otter, or an elephant....
Having said that, it could well give up and coming readers something to consider.

if you're an adult
if you're a child

But I'm very difficult to please.

 

[verna davies]

It would be very boring if we all liked the same books so not liking this one is absolutely fine, you gave it a go and wrote an honest review.

 

[rubysmama]

mani : Can't say I disagree with anything you posted.

The cat could have been an "otter, or an elephant", so the title was deceiving, with its implication that the cat would be the main focus of the book. And the challenges really were not very challenging. And there was a bit of preachiness, while at the same time feeling like a children's book.

All those above things were what initially prompted me to only give the book 3 starts. But as I reread my review, I realized I loved the descriptions of the labyrinths, as well as the many quotes about books, so upped my rating to 4, based on that, and not just the actual story.

As V verna davies posted, it "would be very boring if we all liked the same books". And would make for a dull discussion.

 

[rubysmama]

It's the last day of the month, which means it's time to say good bye to January.

Thanks to all who joined us this month. Your participation is always appreciated.

I know the books had mixed reactions, but I'm glad some of us enjoyed the one(s) they read.

I do feel bad about the time, and maybe money, wasted when a book we've chosen to read isn't enjoyed by everyone. I think it's almost impossible, though, to find a book that will be a unanimous success.

Good news, though, as February is "choose your own" again. So if anyone doesn't like the book they read, at least we won't be to blame.

See you in February!

February 2023 Book of the Month Club. Choose Your Own.

 

[Boris Diamond]

Homer's Odyssey

by Gwen Cooper
​

Nice story about a very special cat named Homer. I would love to see him rise five feet in the air to snatch a fly that was on the wing. He adapted to his sightlessness and acted like he did not recognize his handicap.

The author was felt overprotective at times. I have a special needs cat, and I have been the same way. But Homer's bravery and spirit inspired the author to grow and put her bad experiences behind her.

The author was unsure of herself at the start of the book. She was more sure of herself later. And she should have been. She had successfully negotiated difficult situations. Early on, when her parents told her they would be glad to keep Homer if needed, she resented it because she thought they did not think she could make it on her own. I think it was because they had fallen in love with Homer!

I was surprised that she chose a partner who was not particularly found of cats. But Vashti took care of that! I did not enjoy the romantic element as much as I enjoyed reading about Homer, though I suppose it was part of Homer's story.

There are two other books about Homer written by Gwen Cooper. Homer: the Ninth Life of a Blind Wonder Cat and Spray Anything. Both are highly rated and might be worth checking out. 1/2 stars

Here is an interview of the author, Gwen Cooper with videos of Homer.

The Cat Who Saved Books

by Sosuke Natsukawa​

This book is about a young person whose grandfather, who was raising him, has just died. A talking cat shows up and takes the youngster on adventures to save books. Their method of saving books often is not what is best for institutional outlook (businesses, publishers and collectors.) The book cited much that I agree with about society.

"Books have tremendous power." This line from the book has sparked some discussion with several friends and will probably spark more. Books can educate, take a person places and entertain. The exposure to different types of thinking in books can be an invaluable lesson. Also they can be places of refuge in times of trouble.

"Books can’t live your life for you. The reader who forgets to walk on his own two feet is like an old encyclopedia, his head stuffed with out-to-date information. Unless someone else opens it up, it is nothing but a useless antique." I'm glad they put this caveat into the novel. Books can do much, but life experience is the best way to learn.

"Most people don’t get that obvious truth. They just go about their everyday lives, and yet it is only with the heart one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye." I think we all know this is true.

I like fantasy and this was a fun read for me. I enjoyed the small romance between Suko and Rintaro. Though Suko's character was somewhat inscrutable. Many truths were presented that are obvious to me, but they were charmingly presented. Four stars.

 

[verna davies]

Thank you for posting the video of Homer Boris Diamond , it was lovely to see Homer acting as a sighted cat would. Until you see a blind cat living a normal life its difficult to imagine. Glad you enjoyed both books and great emoji's as usual.