Dewey by Vicki Myron

Well I have just (finally) finished up reading Dewey: The Small-Town Library Cat who Touched the World by Vicki Myron with Bret Witter. This is a 271 page book of non-fiction about a small town library cat written by the librarian of that small town library. Here is a description from Barnes and Noble of the book:


DEWEY is the heartwarming story of Dewey Readmore Books, the beloved library cat of Spencer, Iowa, as told by his owner and companion of nineteen years, Vicki Myron, the librarian who found him on a frigid January morning when he was abandoned as a kitten in the book drop slot. It is also the story of a remarkable small town, which burned down at the beginning of the Depression, only to rebuild itself, and which was almost shuttered during the farm crisis of the 1980s, before regrouping and rededicating itself to small town American values. Dewey's local charm and worldwide fame became a symbol of hope for this recovering town. Through Dewey's antics, we come to know and love many of the colorful and inspiring people of Spencer. But perhaps the most inspiring person in Spencer is Vicki Myron herself, a single mother who survived the bankruptcy of her family farm and working in a box factory to put two of her brothers through college to become one of the leaders of the Iowa library system. Dewey is one lovable, roguish cat who managed to transform an entire town and inspire people across the globe. (end quote)


It took me a while to get into the book because in the beginning it is alot of background information on the author and the town of Spencer with some Dewey story mixed in. But as I continued through the book it just got better and more entertaining as more items focused on Dewey and the lives he touched. Now... I'm not a cat person... I did grow up with cats but I'm not really the expert here. In my opinion though Dewey was different. And you can tell by the stories that Vicki told that he was so much more than just a cat. Her stories are descriptive and do a good job of painting a picture in your mind. I love when she would write in italics what she thinks Dewey was probably thinking in certain situations. The ending is very sweet and whether you are a cat person or not this story is sure to touch your heart. I almost cried at the end. It made me want to be a Librarian and have a cat when I grow up. ;) This won't be a book club selection but it is a good read. As always share your thoughts if you have read it or plan too. Happy Reading!