Dewey by Bret Witter, Vicki Myron (2008, Hardcover)

I bought this book while browsing a Barnes and Nobles. It was the cover picture that caught my eye, being I am a cat lover. Once I read the description in the cover I decided to buy it.

I vaguely remember Dewey on the news, perhaps when he died, perhaps in the early 2000’s or 1990's some time. So I thought it would be interesting to learn more about him.

The book is about the life of a cat in a small Iowa town, Spenser. It starts with him ask a kitten and being found on a very cold morning, stuffed in the library book return slot, and ends with his death 19 years later. The story is about how Dewey Readmore Books changed the lives of many people and became an iconic symbol of the town.

Though I loved the book, I could have used a little less filler that talked about Vicki’s life. Some parts just were not important to the life of Dewey to me and I found myself eagerly waiting the return to the main story of Dewey when the book took a turn into Vicki's past and life. However that is my opinion and others may have enjoyed those parts as well.

A little over half way through the book I found myself on the internet, reading all about Dewey on the Spenser library site and finding news tidbits about him in google. There are many videos of him out there as well, and all will add more to the book if you hunt them down and view them.

I would love to say that Dewey was a special cat and an extraordinary cat, but over all he was not. I have owned cats for a long time and I believe anyone who is a cat lover and cares for them can tell you that Dewey just exhibited the traits of many cats. He was special in that he became famous, had a touching story and put the town of Spenser on the map, but he was not more special than any cat lovers cat(s). If you are not a cat lover and read this you may erroneously believe that he possessed some great people skills, but then you just do not know cats. I am not saying he was not a great cat, heck he seems to have been, and just the act of reading the book gives you a feeing of partial ownership in Dewey. You laugh at his antics and will cry at the end. If you believe that cats are aloof creatures who do not care about their owners and do not show affection, then perhaps this story will show you the error in your beliefs.

There were 2 things that Vicki said in the book that hit home with me for several reasons…

1. She believed Dewey would live forever (or something like that she says at one point): I know that one. You begin to believe your cat(s) will be with you forever and then it happens and you are just crushed. Even after years I often wonder what happened to some of my cats and find it hard to come to grips with them being gone.

2. Unlike human children, generally you will outlive your pets. How many of us really think upon this or realize it at the time we get them? We will all have to feel that pain if we own pets, sadly. But I always remember that the pain we will feel is a mere fraction of the love we had for the pet. No love = no pain, so in a way I am thankful I fell the pain of their losses, it means I felt the love as well, and I am thankful for having that time.

If you are an animal lover then I believe you will enjoy the book. Just keep in mind Dewey will leave us all at the end and your eyes will well up. However that is but a small price to pay for having Dewey touch your heart while you read about him.

It is worth the read.