Dewey: The Small-Town Library Cat Who Touched the World in Around the Year in 52 Books

Dec 27, 2010 Lacey Louwagie rated it liked it

Shelves: memoir, non-fiction, animals

I really liked Dewey's story, and I disagree with some reviewers who claimed that there was nothing "special" about him. If the anecdotes strung together here are true, he does seem like a really remarkable cat. For one thing, the picture on the cover of this book really IS Dewey, taken by a small-town professional photographer. I was sure it was an artist's rendition; how many cats do you know who would sit so perfectly prim in an unknown situation while their photo was snatched?

However, I'm no I really liked Dewey's story, and I disagree with some reviewers who claimed that there was nothing "special" about him. If the anecdotes strung together here are true, he does seem like a really remarkable cat. For one thing, the picture on the cover of this book really IS Dewey, taken by a small-town professional photographer. I was sure it was an artist's rendition; how many cats do you know who would sit so perfectly prim in an unknown situation while their photo was snatched?

However, I'm not sure a full-length book was the best way to tell the story. It felt like a book that was written because they thought it could sell more than because someone had a passion for writing it. I can respect the fact that the primary author, Vicki Myron, is not a writer, but a librarian--and it sounds like she's a very good one at that. But even with the assistance of a ghostwriter, this book was sort of painful to read at times. The chronology was confusing and certain phrases were repeated SO many times throughout the book that they lost all impact ("Dewey was just that kind of cat," or "Dewey may have belonged to Spencer, but he was MY cat.") The three different threads in the story--Vicki's life, Dewey's life, and what small-town Iowa is like--did not weave together smoothly. Sometimes it felt like Vicki got so caught up in the other two storylines that she'd have to periodically abruptly remind the reader that everything in the book was supposed to tie back to Dewey. Her own life story is pretty harrowing and worth a memoir in its own right, but it all felt like obligatory dumping so that we'd see how and where and why Dewey made such an impact.

Still, maybe it's a good thing that the book wasn't super well written, because that meant I didn't cry like a baby as I finished reading it in Barnes & Noble last weekend. I gave this book three stars despite my criticism because I related to all the "working-in-a-library" details and the small-town life ones as well (although Vicki did tend to overly romanticize small-town values--unless Spencer is a fortunate small town free of the vindictiveness, gossip, and pettiness that seems to run rampant in the small towns I've gornw up around). But most of all, I couldn't give it less than three stars because I really did love Dewey. I wish every library could have one. ...more

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Dec 08, 2008 Jason McKinney rated it really liked it

I really, really enjoyed this. It's one of the few books I've ever read that made me cry. I was afraid that it was going to be a little too folksy and simple for my taste, but I was pleasantly surprised. It's such a sweet story about this small town library and its cat...many might find it too gooey, but I thought it was really charming. ...more

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Feb 27, 2009 Jennie Brueck rated it really liked it

This book was good. If you love cats then you can relate to this creatures antics. It put a smile on my face knowing that all over the world animals are bringing joy to people.

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May 08, 2009 Skye rated it liked it

This was just so so - I was a little dissapointed in that I thought the author interjected too much of her personal story which I was really not interested in. She did do a really nice job of describing Dewey and I also enjoyed the information she shared on the community. I would have liked to have known Dewey - he really does seem to have been a remarkable cat.

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Nov 07, 2008 Beth Given rated it really liked it

A heartwarming memoir about a cat who was abandoned in a library dropbox and the head librarian who cared for him. Nothing monumental here -- just a good read! Cat-lovers, book-lovers, and those who love small-town America will enjoy this one.

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Nov 25, 2018 Crystal rated it liked it · review of another edition

It was a very good book. With cute short stories that and easy read. (view spoiler) ...more

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Mar 12, 2013 Claire rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: nonfiction, favorites

Warm and wonderful book ... very good insights that I found inspiring. And what a wonderful, wonderful cat! Cudos to all those women at the library who saved him and loved him!

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