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17th out of 441 books
—
162 voters
A Street Cat Named Bob: How One Man and His Cat Found Hope on the Streets
by
James Bowen
When James Bowen found an injured, ginger street cat curled up in the hallway of his sheltered accommodation, he had no idea just how much his life was about to change. James was living hand to mouth on the streets of London and the last thing he needed was a pet.
Yet James couldn't resist helping the strikingly intelligent tom cat, whom he quickly christened Bob. He slowly...more
Yet James couldn't resist helping the strikingly intelligent tom cat, whom he quickly christened Bob. He slowly...more
Hardcover, 279 pages
Published
2012
by Hodder & Stoughton
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This is a wonderful feel good true story about a street Cat named Bob and his owner a recovering heroin addict and the streets of London.
I don’t read books about animals but this sure pulled at my heart strings and made me realise everybody should experience the love of a pet at least once in their lives.
This is a story of love and devotion and how sometimes we are sent little signs of help and encouragement we just have to learn how to recognise them and I am sure that James was so happy that...more
I don’t read books about animals but this sure pulled at my heart strings and made me realise everybody should experience the love of a pet at least once in their lives.
This is a story of love and devotion and how sometimes we are sent little signs of help and encouragement we just have to learn how to recognise them and I am sure that James was so happy that...more
Yabancı Yayınları’ndan çıkmış olan , “James Bowen’ın –Sokak Kedisi Bob “ adlı kitabını bitirmiş bulunmaktayım .
Yabancı Yayınları’nın ılk kitabı olan bu kitabı okurken zamanın nasıl geçtiğini anlayamadım .Çevirisi son derece akıcı olan bir kitaptı , kelime hatası bile yoktu .Titiz bir çalışmanın ürünü olduğu buradan belli oluyordu zaten ..
Kitabın konusuna kısaca değinirsek ; James adlı bir adamın bir gün, sarman bir kedi bulmasıyla hayatının nasıl değiştiğini ,başına gelen olayları bir kedinin in...more
Yabancı Yayınları’nın ılk kitabı olan bu kitabı okurken zamanın nasıl geçtiğini anlayamadım .Çevirisi son derece akıcı olan bir kitaptı , kelime hatası bile yoktu .Titiz bir çalışmanın ürünü olduğu buradan belli oluyordu zaten ..
Kitabın konusuna kısaca değinirsek ; James adlı bir adamın bir gün, sarman bir kedi bulmasıyla hayatının nasıl değiştiğini ,başına gelen olayları bir kedinin in...more
Please don't think me churlish, but I will kick off by saying that this book is not terribly well crafted - it's repetitive and poorly copy edited. So, if you're snobby about writing, I suggest you give it a miss. That said, it'll be your loss, as it is a heartwarming book with an important message, for reasons other than its prose.
Bowen describes how he was `invisible' when he was homeless, and the difference it made when he found Bob and took him busking with him. Suddenly people - the public...more
Bowen describes how he was `invisible' when he was homeless, and the difference it made when he found Bob and took him busking with him. Suddenly people - the public...more
44 likes · like · see review
Firstly, as many people have mentioned, this book is not exactly well written, but it is a true and honest account of James & Bobs life - it isn't romanticised, or dramatised, it is what it is. I hear they are making a movie, and I hope they keep this natural account without making it too Hollywood.
I have however given it a 4* just for the happy story that it is. A story about true companionship, and not only that, but how unique Bob is himself. I have had cats all my life, and I am pretty s...more
I have however given it a 4* just for the happy story that it is. A story about true companionship, and not only that, but how unique Bob is himself. I have had cats all my life, and I am pretty s...more
9 likes · like · see review
This is really heart-warming.
This book follows James Bowen as he struggles to get out of his downward spiral and how a lost lonely kitty helped him do just that.
I can't even imagine how hard some days must have been for James, but I'm so glad that he felt that he had to help 'Bob'.
Bob himself is amazing; it really does seem that they were meant to find each other.
I have long known that the bond between human and feline can be strong and fulfilling, so too for our canine friends as well, but here...more
This book follows James Bowen as he struggles to get out of his downward spiral and how a lost lonely kitty helped him do just that.
I can't even imagine how hard some days must have been for James, but I'm so glad that he felt that he had to help 'Bob'.
Bob himself is amazing; it really does seem that they were meant to find each other.
I have long known that the bond between human and feline can be strong and fulfilling, so too for our canine friends as well, but here...more
James Bowen was a homeless man living on the streets of London, addicted to drugs and in a bad way, eventually after spending time in homeless hostels he was given his own flat in sheltered accommodation block in North London. One day in 2007 a chance meeting with a ginger Tom cat that James decided to call "Bob" would change and turnaround his life. This is a charming, lovely, heart-warming true story of young man busking in central London along with his new companion the street cat Bob. They s...more
This is a fabulous book; uplifting, fresh, thoughtful and honest. Not every writer has a story to tell worth reading and not every book worth reading is written by a 'writer'. James' story makes for good reading and his style of writing invites the reader to sit down beside him and Bob and listen to what he has to say. There is a lot of living depicted in these pages - a life that is at times perhaps, like yours or mine. At other times James' life is almost unfathomable, almost unrecognisable a...more
A wonderful inspirational book from start to finish.
James Bowen is a street musician in London, England. He found Bob in the spring of 2007, and the pair have been inseparable ever since.
Yes, the cat is cute; yes the story is a simple one. But it’s genuinely revealing about the kind of life led by those labelled "in the lower echelons of society". It’s a window on motivation – on how and why people who’ve apparently given up on themselves might finally be spurred to get their life together. And...more
James Bowen is a street musician in London, England. He found Bob in the spring of 2007, and the pair have been inseparable ever since.
Yes, the cat is cute; yes the story is a simple one. But it’s genuinely revealing about the kind of life led by those labelled "in the lower echelons of society". It’s a window on motivation – on how and why people who’ve apparently given up on themselves might finally be spurred to get their life together. And...more
I like this book. It wasn't very sophisticated in terms of prose but it is a heart warming true story. I have a ginger tomcat myself so it was Bob the cat who attracted me to the book!
This is a true story and as such one you should really all read.
A young male cat is injured in a fight and comes in from the cold and adopts a recovering addict.
The recovering addict - the author of the book James - takes the cat - now named Bob - everywhere with him. The cat is amazingly tame and will walk on a lead and sit while James busks, and even goes about sitting on James' shoulder even onto buses.
James now feels he has to take responsibility for another person and moves away from his s...more
A young male cat is injured in a fight and comes in from the cold and adopts a recovering addict.
The recovering addict - the author of the book James - takes the cat - now named Bob - everywhere with him. The cat is amazingly tame and will walk on a lead and sit while James busks, and even goes about sitting on James' shoulder even onto buses.
James now feels he has to take responsibility for another person and moves away from his s...more
This isn't a book I'd recommend to anyone unless they love cats, or have seen Bob out and about in London and are interested in knowing a bit more about him.
I've seen Bob with his owner quite a few times in Islington, I used to stop to stroke Bob on my way to the Business Design Centre each morning and he really is a lovely animal. Never before have I seen a cat perfectly at ease in the middle of London surrounded by strangers petting him. Or seen a cat sit on a guys shoulders perfectly content...more
I've seen Bob with his owner quite a few times in Islington, I used to stop to stroke Bob on my way to the Business Design Centre each morning and he really is a lovely animal. Never before have I seen a cat perfectly at ease in the middle of London surrounded by strangers petting him. Or seen a cat sit on a guys shoulders perfectly content...more
As a huge cat lover, it will come as no surprise that the most inspirational and affecting book I have read so far this year is A Street Cat Named Bob by James Bowen. I first heard of James and Bob via their Twitter feed and couldn't wait to read their story, although I did have to wait as my local Waterstones had sold out within a few days of it being released!
James was living hand to mouth on the streets of London when he first met the injured ginger cat. He nursed him back to health and when...more
James was living hand to mouth on the streets of London when he first met the injured ginger cat. He nursed him back to health and when...more
A simple but emotional story of one mans struggle with addiction and life on the streets while trying to allow himself to be a person that Bob the sick homless street cat can rely. After finding each other on the London streets, both James and Bob's lives changed for the better. James battle with addiction left him in lonely state until Bob arrived and helped him realise that he could, wanted to and did successfully beat his addiction. A little repetitive in parts but I imagine street life must...more
Kehidupan yang tak beraturan, berlatar belakang dari pecahnya keluarga, dan akhirnya memisahkan kami, sehingga dalam hidup tidak lagi ada sebuah cita-cita, sehingga menjadikan diriku seperti sekarang ini.
Aku hidup serba kekurangan di rumah susun sederhana untuk orang miskin. Mengurus diriku sendiri aja sudah berat bagiku, apalagi ditambah dengan mengurus hewan peliharaan. Aku dibesarkan di Inggris dan Australia, menetap cukup lama di daerah Craigie Australia Barat.
Sepenggal Kisah cerita yang me...more
Aku hidup serba kekurangan di rumah susun sederhana untuk orang miskin. Mengurus diriku sendiri aja sudah berat bagiku, apalagi ditambah dengan mengurus hewan peliharaan. Aku dibesarkan di Inggris dan Australia, menetap cukup lama di daerah Craigie Australia Barat.
Sepenggal Kisah cerita yang me...more
This book tells a true story that made newspaper headlines, about how the writer, James Bowen, and his cat Bob became minor celebrities.
The story starts with James, who is homeless at the time, returning to his sheltered accommodation to find a cat outside his front door; believing him to belong to a neighbour, he initially ignores the cat, but it soon becomes apparent that the cat is a stray, and he sees James as a new master, and follows him around. Seeing him as a sort of kindred spirit, sinc...more
The story starts with James, who is homeless at the time, returning to his sheltered accommodation to find a cat outside his front door; believing him to belong to a neighbour, he initially ignores the cat, but it soon becomes apparent that the cat is a stray, and he sees James as a new master, and follows him around. Seeing him as a sort of kindred spirit, sinc...more
Picked up this book in a shop once. Loved the picture of the cat on the front. Read the blurb and the first few sentences...
"we are all given second chances every day of our lives. They are there for the taking, it's just that we don't usually take them. I spent a big chunk of my life proving that quote. I was given a lot of opportunities, sometimes on a daily basis. For a long time, I failed to take any of them, but then..."
... and then I put the book back. To me, it seemed ingratiating, insinc...more
"we are all given second chances every day of our lives. They are there for the taking, it's just that we don't usually take them. I spent a big chunk of my life proving that quote. I was given a lot of opportunities, sometimes on a daily basis. For a long time, I failed to take any of them, but then..."
... and then I put the book back. To me, it seemed ingratiating, insinc...more
2 likes · like · see review
This book is engaging enough for me to have finished it within two days, which is a good sign! I don't much like biographies as I don't understand people who want to write about themselves; today almost everyone feels as though they have something interesting to say, that they can write down the secrets to life within a certain number of pages, or that in order to feel as though they are worth something, they need to write about themselves and have over a thousand people read their words, be it...more
Dec 15, 2012
Atique euqita
rated it
3 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
biographies-memoirs
Entah mengapa saya lebih bersimpati pada si James Bowen daripada si Bob (cat).
Seperti umumnya kota2 metropolis di dunia, London juga komplit dengan strata sosial masyarakat dengan berbagai permasalahannya. James termasuk salah satu yang berjuang hidup normal terbebas dari narkoba dan diterima masyarakat luas tanpa harus selalu dianggap rendah dan dihindari.
Berusaha mandiri dan sedikit ekstrim karena berusaha lepas dari kehadiran Keluarga yang memang sudah broken home.
Tapi kehadiran Bob si kucing...more
Seperti umumnya kota2 metropolis di dunia, London juga komplit dengan strata sosial masyarakat dengan berbagai permasalahannya. James termasuk salah satu yang berjuang hidup normal terbebas dari narkoba dan diterima masyarakat luas tanpa harus selalu dianggap rendah dan dihindari.
Berusaha mandiri dan sedikit ekstrim karena berusaha lepas dari kehadiran Keluarga yang memang sudah broken home.
Tapi kehadiran Bob si kucing...more
A year 6 student mentioned this book when I asked what he had read recently and enjoyed. A couple days later he brought it in for me to read. I picked it up last night expecting to read for 30 minutes or so before bed but I ended up staying up until I finished it. It isn't very well written but it is extremely heart warming to read about the relationship that develops between James (a recovering heroin junkie) and Bob the street cat who befriends him.
Today when I told the student that I finishe...more
Today when I told the student that I finishe...more
A Street Cat Named Bob is one of those books that is not terribly well written and considering it is published by one of the major publication houses, you would think that the ghost writer or editor would have done a better service to the material. Of course, saying that, this book captures your heart from the very beginning.
This is one of those true stories that triumphs and gives you courage that how friendship, companionship and love can conquer any obstacle. James Bowen's has disappointed hi...more
This is one of those true stories that triumphs and gives you courage that how friendship, companionship and love can conquer any obstacle. James Bowen's has disappointed hi...more
Looking through the reviews for this book there is a lot of hype against the writing so I won't bother writing anything about it, you'll see for yourself!
I loved this book for so many reasons!
Living in Britain (Probably anywhere, in fact) There is a lot of irritation and even anger towards homeless people, it's very close-minded and I think ANYONE could benefit from reading this book. You see it from a whole new perspective and I do believe Bob makes that easier. Humans seem to find it easier t...more
I loved this book for so many reasons!
Living in Britain (Probably anywhere, in fact) There is a lot of irritation and even anger towards homeless people, it's very close-minded and I think ANYONE could benefit from reading this book. You see it from a whole new perspective and I do believe Bob makes that easier. Humans seem to find it easier t...more
15 likes · like · see review
Erstmal gilt mein Dank an Blogg dein Buch und Bastei Lübbe für dieses Rezensionsexemplar. Es war mir wirklich eine Freude, die Geschichte über James und seine Kater zu lesen.
Ich bin wirklich ohne jeglichen Vorbehalt an dieses Buch gegangen und obwohl sowas eigentlich gar nicht mein Genre ist, hat es mich doch wirklich positiv überrascht.
James schlägt sich als Strassenmusiker in London durch, wenn auch mehr schlecht als recht. Es reicht für ihn gerade so, um einigermassen über die Runden zu komme...more
Ich bin wirklich ohne jeglichen Vorbehalt an dieses Buch gegangen und obwohl sowas eigentlich gar nicht mein Genre ist, hat es mich doch wirklich positiv überrascht.
James schlägt sich als Strassenmusiker in London durch, wenn auch mehr schlecht als recht. Es reicht für ihn gerade so, um einigermassen über die Runden zu komme...more
It was such a heart warming book based on a true story of a homeless busker who finds an injured stray cat. The story is simple but it reveals the kind of life lead by those who live at the bottom society net. It is also a book of hope and motivation on how people who have nothing and are down on there luck can finally have a purpose in life and become spurred on themselves to change there outlook.
It gave me a clear insight to just how hard it is for the homeless to find work and the struggles o...more
It gave me a clear insight to just how hard it is for the homeless to find work and the struggles o...more
İyi kitapların kötü yanı çok çabuk bitmesi sanırım. Sokak Kedisi Bob’da böyle oldu ve azar azar okumama rağmen bitti.
Bir hayvansever olarak bu kitap özellikle ilgi alanıma giriyordu. Dili, anlatımı ve gerçek bir hikaye olması sebebiyle geçer not aldı. Bayıldım kitaba. Okuması oldukça keyifliydi. James ve Bob’un tanışmasını ve sıkı birer dost olmasını anlatan kitaptan etkilenmemek elde değil. Hatta sonunda niye bitti, acaba daha neler yaşayacaklar diye düşündüm.
Bittikten sonra birçok kişinin Bob...more
Bir hayvansever olarak bu kitap özellikle ilgi alanıma giriyordu. Dili, anlatımı ve gerçek bir hikaye olması sebebiyle geçer not aldı. Bayıldım kitaba. Okuması oldukça keyifliydi. James ve Bob’un tanışmasını ve sıkı birer dost olmasını anlatan kitaptan etkilenmemek elde değil. Hatta sonunda niye bitti, acaba daha neler yaşayacaklar diye düşündüm.
Bittikten sonra birçok kişinin Bob...more
Uma existência nómada durante a infância privou James Bowen das bases que lhe permitiriam uma adaptação social normal, empurrando-o para os sentimentos de revolta que acabariam por transformar a sua adolescência num período de delinquência. James conta-nos, em A Minha História com Bob, como percorreu este caminho rumo à autodestruição, começando pelo consumo de drogas leves que culminou na saída da casa da mãe para a casa da meia irmã…daí para o sofá de amigos, casas abandonadas e, em última ins...more
5 likes · like · see review
Picked this up at a Boxing Day sale near Blackpool. Visiting family and friends in the UK, and came across this amazing cat story. If you are a cat person, you've got to read this. Not sure if you can buy in the US yet, but it is published by Hodder and Stoughton. In the hardcover copy, it mentions ebooks available.
Basically, it's a memoir telling the story of how a cat helps the author gain the strength to kick his drug addiction. James has been living on the streets of London, busking, and Bo...more
Basically, it's a memoir telling the story of how a cat helps the author gain the strength to kick his drug addiction. James has been living on the streets of London, busking, and Bo...more
What a great story, written in a fluid, easy to read style. The author comes across as a likable, intelligent man who fell on hard times, made some very bad decisions but pulled himself through. The reader gets an insight to the life of a recovering drug addict and all that entails. And throughout the book is the expressed love and concern for one little cat who meant the world to him. The crux of this book is that although he had so very little, the author was still able to open his heart to an...more
I decided to read this book after seeing James and Bob doing an interview on day time tele and being touched by their story. I really enjoyed the book - I mean, it's not the best written thing I have ever come across and James does have a habit of repeating himself, and perhaps blaming too much on other people without really explaining why it is their fault - but the man is not a writer, he is a Big Issue sales person and I think he has made a fairly decent stab at telling his story. I think it...more
I agree, to a certain extent, with those who say that this book is not particularly well-written. There are no fantastic images or witty pieces of dialogue.
However, I think one has to bear on mind that this isn't supposed to be a great literary piece. It is an autobiography of James, a recovering drug-addict living in a hostel and working on the streets of London, and the unlikely companion whom he befriends - or rather, who befriends him - a stray cat whom he names Bob.
Also, I feel that actua...more
However, I think one has to bear on mind that this isn't supposed to be a great literary piece. It is an autobiography of James, a recovering drug-addict living in a hostel and working on the streets of London, and the unlikely companion whom he befriends - or rather, who befriends him - a stray cat whom he names Bob.
Also, I feel that actua...more
Cats are by far my favourite animals, and I knew I'd really enjoy this story before I even opened its pages. The tale which Bowen has woven about his real-life adventures with the wonderful tomcat Bob is lovely and heartwarming, and I struggled to put it down. Bob is such a character - he goes for walks on a harness and gives high fives - and he is fiercely loyal. What more could you want from a pet? Recommended for cat lovers everywhere.
1 like · like · see review
| topics | posts | views | last activity | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| For those who love cats and those who have ever suffered from an addiction | 6 | 38 | Mar 03, 2013 09:37am | |
| Free Book Giveaway: Have you had a book signed by a cat before? | 1 | 9 | Oct 05, 2012 07:15am |
Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
James Bowen is an author and musician currently based in London. He is author of A Street Cat Named Bob, which tells his life story.
James Bowen was born in Surrey in 1979. Following his parents’ divorce, he moved to Australia with his mother and stepfather. Home life was tense and, because the family moved frequ...more
More about James Bowen...
James Bowen is an author and musician currently based in London. He is author of A Street Cat Named Bob, which tells his life story.
James Bowen was born in Surrey in 1979. Following his parents’ divorce, he moved to Australia with his mother and stepfather. Home life was tense and, because the family moved frequ...more
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