From the back of the book:
"On the coldest morning of the year, Vicki Myron found a tiny, bedraggled kitten almost frozen to death in the night drop box of the library where she worked, and her life - and the town of Spencer, Iowa - would never be the same again.
Dewey, as the townspeople named the kitten, quickly grew into a strutting, adorable library cat whose antics kept patrons in stitches, and whose sixth sense about those in need created hundreds of deep and loving friendships."

I thoroughly enjoyed this book the first time round and haven't been disappointed with a recent re-read.
I was delighted when I found this paperback copy in a charity bookshop because now I can share this wonderful true story with other booklovers and cat lovers.
Reserved for a bookring/bookray.

Participants:
Trojanhorse - UK (Ship internationally)
Alectoness - Australia (Ship internationally)
gaboyd - NZ (ship international)
Southernfryed - US (Prefer US, ship international if needed) skipped
penelopewanders - Switzerland (Ship within Europe)
JemmaJ - UK (Ship Europe, international if needed)

Ray completed.

Posting Dewey to Alectoness in Australia at the start of a bookray.
It's a lovely book, I hope everyone who reads it will enjoy it.
Happy Reading!

I was very excited to find this book in my post office box this morning. I've recently finished 'The Readers of Broken Wheel Recommend' and this one gets a mention in there. I'm hoping to read it over the next couple of weeks, and then get it on its way.

I really enjoyed reading this book. It's interesting how the 'biography' of a cat, became a portrait not only of Dewey, but also a family, a workplace and the community as a whole. I felt I got to know the narrator and her world, and have continued to think about them after finishing the book.

Thanks very much to Trojanhorse for starting this ring. I have gaboyd's address, so the book will be heading across to New Zealand soon.

I put this in the mail to gaboyd on Friday. Hopefully it doesn't take to long to cross the Tasman to New Zealand!

Received today. Thank you
No reply from Southernfreyd

Released while at the Post Office

This has travelled from New Zealand over to the Swiss Alps- thanks so much! I see it heads to the UK next - I'll be there in a few weeks, so might send it from there once I've read it. Thanks for making this available.

This came in as a ring and at first I wondered what had possessed me to sign up for it... but at the end of the day I enjoyed learning about the fate of Spencer, Iowa, and how it was affected by the various periods of America's more distant and recent past. Interesting how what harsh nature, fire, locusts and the dust bowls barely accomplished, the banks and outside (non-local) industry succeeded - producing economic devastation. I am not sure to what extent the role of Dewey was as instrumental as Vicky Myron contends, but her ability to develop the library into a vibrant community center was surely essential.

Ironically one thing that chafed was the insistance on giving poor Dewey baths... I had a cat who lived to the ripe old age of 18 (going through several of its nine lives) - I don't think he was ever subjected to a bath or some of the other procedures the cat was subjected to at the vets - before they were aware of his condition! It seems to me cats are quite adept at grooming themselves... my cat was always clean and smelled good. I understand the need to warm Dewey when he arrived frozen, but I'm baffled the vet didn't advise against bathing an indoor cat. Combing off extra fur when he was shedding is something else again, but that can be soothing to both cat and the comber. (I hesitate to say "owner" because who owns whom in a cat-human relationship is a rather moot point).

Meanwhile, I read this mostly on a trip from Switzerland to London and will post this on from here. Thanks so much for sending and making it available.

Sent this off from a little post office/shop in a lovely market in Hackney today. Happy trails, little book. Again, thanks for making this available, and for sending.

Just arrived! Very excited about getting into this book!

Passing to Cinderess!

I hope that they will enjoy this book as much as I have!

Quite funny timing today, it felt like serendipity in action as I had been chatting online to a longish-lost bookcrosser aquaintance about possibly organising a meet, after several years, or more, without any. As we were swapping messages back and forth my letter box clanged with this book!

Another bit of good timing - I was just about to see my relative whom I got the book for, I hope she enjoys it. I will probably read it too. Then I have more cat loving people to share it with.

Thanks JemmaJ (and for the book labels, you mean I have to start to register a few again, don’t you? Ok then ...!)

“Being a cat person I can see the cat doing exactly what it did in the library! Can picture it perfectly. It’s a well written story, very enjoyable. A lovely true story. ”

And as she spoke about the book her eyes became moist - she really enjoyed this book. Thanks so much for sending it.

I’ll read next.

29/9/18

Nice gentle read.

I agree about the baths and some of the vet’s practices, but I’ve never owned a long-haired cat, though I’m doubtful that they do need that bathing.

It was really interesting to learn about Spencer and the surrounding farming environment, the history of the town and the vanished neighbouring town. How sad for the former residents!

Some paragraphs about the cat made me cringe; when Vicki expounds upon how she totally understood Dewey’s thoughts and feelings, about him being attuned to people who particularly needed him. Cats like attention (when they chose to accept it) and a very sociable cat like Dewey will sit on somebody’s lap/books/papers and prompt stroking...

I’ll try to pass this on to a Bookcrosser so it doesn’t get lost on a dusty shelf in a random cafe.

I have asked other cat loving friends if they'd like this book, but they have already it! Must've have been a big hit for the authors.

Taking to a BC meet up.


If this is your introduction to Bookcrossing, welcome!

Please make as many, or few, comments about the book as you wish. The book is now yours to do with as you choose. Keep it, pass it on, but please leave the label so we can keep in touch with what's happened to it.

If you would like to know what happens to the book if you decide to pass it on, then do join BookCrossing. It's free, private and it's great fun!

And if you do choose to join, I hope you'll consider using me Cinderess as your referring member.

*********************************************************************************************************************

Saw this on a journal alert and hoped I might bag it. Looking forward to reading it, although it might take a little while to get to the top of the TBR.

Received in the post from Katisha50. This is a well-travelled (and well-journaled) book!

Read and enjoyed this. Now travelling.