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Dewey’s Nine Lives: The Legacy of the Small-Town Cat Who Inspired Millions Reviewed By Amy Lignor of Bookpleasures.com
- By Amy Lignor
- Published November 12, 2010
- GENERAL NON-FICTION REVIEWS
Amy Lignor
Reviewer Amy Lignor: Amy is the author of a historical fiction novel entitled The Heart of a Legend, and Mind Made, a work of science fiction. Presently, she is writing an adventure series set in the New York Public Library, as well as a teen fiction series, The Angel Chronicles. She is an avid traveler and has been fortunate to have journeyed across the USA, where she has met the most amazing people, who truly bring life and soul to her books. She lives in the Land of Enchantment (for now) with her gorgeous daughter, Shelby, her wonderful Mom, Mary, and the greatest friend and critic in the entire world - her dog, Reuben
View all articles by Amy Lignor
Author: Vicki Myron
ISBN:
978-0-5259-5186-5
No one, including the author, knew
that Dewey would become beyond famous – a little kitten who, on a
fifteen-degree below zero night in Spencer, Iowa, was slipped through
the book return slot at the Spencer Public Library. And, from
that point on, became the most loved animal in America.
Well…certainly in Iowa. Whether or not it was a Good
Samaritan or an angel who saved Dewey that night and brought him into
the lives of people who sincerely needed his loving friendship and
help, no one will ever know. But Dewey certainly became an
angel, himself, as he gave laughter to people who were suffering from
the worst depression of their lifetimes; or offered an understanding
ear to folks who couldn’t find anyone to talk to…or anyone who
would listen to them. The writer, and head of the Public
Library, Vicki Myron, called his power Dewey’s Magic, and she
certainly couldn’t have “pegged” it better.
In
this wonderful book, Vicki has brought together various letters from
people across the country; people who shared with Vicki their
stories, and how their own beloved animals kept them strong in a
world that wanted to tear them apart. There are also three
chapters dedicated to Dewey Readmore Books, once again, offering
three stories that the author didn’t know about at the time she
wrote her first novel. The nine stories offered in this
wonderful book will make you cry, feel happy, and sometimes even make
you a bit angry. These are not perfect stories, by any stretch
of the imagination. All of us treat our animals in a different
way; some stories in this book have them being fed food that others
might feel is incorrect or harmful to the animal; while other
families let their pets roam where they could be hurt instead of
keeping them as house pets. But whatever the tale is, each and
every one of these people loved their cats beyond belief. The
animals taught them how to be nonjudgmental, and the devotion they
had for their pets was fierce.
I am a huge fan of two of
these stories presented in Dewey’s Nine Lives. The first was
about Dewey and his relationship with a local woman by the name of
Yvonne. I was so touched by the story of this lady who spent
her life in the “background,” and rarely spoke with anyone about
herself or her life. Tobi was her cat; a feline friend who was
just as closed off as Yvonne was, but Dewey was the opposite –
outgoing, friendly – and he became a sounding board for Yvonne and
her story completely touched me.
The second story I will
literally never forget was about a cat named Spooky and a Vietnam vet
suffering from PTSD. This story touched me so deeply and it
will be one of those that you, dear reader, will never, ever
forget.
There is also a story about Mr. Bob
Kittens – Ninja, to some – who could do karate dances.
There was another touching on the lives of twenty-eight cats in a
place called the Colony Resort; Sweetie, living with a young girl in
Alaska; and a Christmas Cat referred to as CC. From a cat named
Marshmallow in Minnesota to a church cat in Arizona – every story
was an absolute joy to read.
I am a huge fan of Dewey,
as everyone is. My own beloved cat was named MacGyver. He
was so big he could’ve been thought of as a tiger. He was my
absolute best friend and I talked to him about everything. I
miss him. And Dewey brought back all those wonderful memories.
Enjoy!
Click Here To Purchase Dewey's Nine Lives: The Legacy of the Small-Town Library Cat Who Inspired Millions