What We're Reading

Dewey: The Small-Town Library Cat Who Touched the World

Author: Vicki Myron
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing
$19.99 Cloth. (277 p.)
ISBN: 9780446407410
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Reviewed by Sonya Detwiler, Customer Service

Myron, a seasoned library director for the Spencer Public Library in Spencer, Iowa has delivered a passionate story about a beloved library cat, Dewey Readmore Books.

Part autobiography (Myron's life) and part biography (Dewey's life), this book is a true tale about a profound relationship between a woman and a pet cat. In addition, the author candidly shares her experiences of being married to an alcoholic, helping her dying mother, raising her teenage daughter, and losing her breasts to breast cancer. Dewey's constant love gives her strength to carry on during the loneliest of times.

Dewey's fame was due to a combination of his and Myron's charming and outgoing personalities. His tragic beginning, i.e., abandoned as a kitten in the library's metal book drop during below freezing temperatures, surely added to his fame. It wasn't long before emails, articles, and photos of Dewey mysteriously circulated around the world, even though the library had only ever contacted one local newspaper about its feline friend. As a result, domestic and international fan mail, gifts and visitors came to the Spencer library to show their appreciation of this out of the ordinary public cat. Best of all, Dewey gave each visitor and camera man his undivided attention (and playfulness) without any coaxing.

This nonfiction title will appeal especially to cat lovers and librarians but also to anyone who's looking for a heartfelt story that will bring them true joy and true tears.