Dewey Readmore Books
Last week I finished reading Dewey. It’s a book about a cat who lived in a library in Spencer, Iowa. He was stuffed in the library drop-box on the coldest night of winter when he was only eight weeks old, the pads on his poor little feet were frost-bitten and he was so dirty he looked grey, not orange! When he was found, the librarian, Vicki, cleaned him up and took him in as her own but he lived at the library.
Soon, Dewey becomes famous; people travel from all over to see him and filmmakers even came from Japan to make a documentary about him! He’s a very friendly cat who sensed when people needed him most. According to Vicki, he would seek out the person who was having a bad day or week and curl up in their lap and “allow” them to pet him. He was always gentle and patient with children and absolutely loved the public. People would rent cars and drive 3-4 hours to Spencer JUST to meet Dewey!
The book is written by,Vicki and it talks about Dewey’s antics; the time he escaped and ran away for three days, how he’d ride around on the library cart with his feet dangling over, when he found a bat in the library and peed in the library cards to warn them and how he’d jump out of the books to scare patrons. The book also talks a lot about Iowa and the history of Spencer, as well as about Vicki’s personal life. Her alcoholic husband, how she lost two of her brothers in the same year; one to cancer and one to suicide, her struggles as a single mother and how Dewey helped get her through all of that. I really, really enjoyed this book, and I think that’s because Dewey reminded me of my own orange, ball of fur; Webster.
At the end of the book it was the end of Dewey’s life and she wrote about the tumor he has in his stomach and about taking him to the vet to get put down. I bawled my face off at that part. I still feel sad now, a week later.
I loved this passage, which was on one of the very last pages:
“Find your place. Be happy with what you have. Treat everyone well. Live a good life. It isn’t about material things; it’s about love. And you can’t anticipate love. I learned those things from Dewey.”
When I get home at the end of the day, Webster doesn’t care if I have anything for him. He just wants to be petted and cuddled and loved. Sometimes I just lay down on the floor and he rubs up against me and licks my face and we play. It’s relaxing. It’s freeing.
I think we could learn a lot from our pets; they love us unconditionally and all they expect in return is love back. It’s not very often that you find a person like that. Also, for a very interesting post on pets loving unconditionally, check out this post on Carissa’s blog.
Studies show that people who have pets are happier and more relaxed. I think it might be good for the world if everyone got a pet and spent 20 minutes a day cuddling and playing with it. If you don’t have a pet, go to the SPCA and give some love!
I highly suggest you check out the book Dewey, especially if you’re a cat or animal person.
So let’s talk pets. Do you have a pet? What kind, what’s it’s name? Do you agree that pets are good for stress? Have you ever read Dewey, if so, what did you think?
PS: I also just finished ‘Twenties Girl’ by Sophie Kinsella and it was GREAT. Best one of her books I’ve read in awhile; I highly recommend it if you’re a fan of her books! I think it was even better than Shopaholic!!
This book sounds really cute! We don’t have pets because of my husband’s allergies. Most people are allergic to the dander in cat and dog fur, but he’s allergic to the oils in their fur. My brother and sister-in-law (who we’re visiting in a few weeks), have a yorkipoo so hopefully the hubby does well with him – I’d love to eventually get a pet!
I’m allergic to cats so having one isn’t an option for me… I think I am a really warm and caring person, but I am just not an animal person. I think it’s because we really didn’t have pets growing up maybe? Sometimes I think about getting a dog like Charlotte’s on SATC. But it would be so neglected since I am never home!! I really wish I had a neighbor w/ a dog that I could borrow and run with from time to time!!
Sounds like an interesting book!! Cute name for a cat that lives in a library!
I am not a cat person, nor much of an animal person at all. I may have to check out Twentie’s Girl… I haven’t read any of the Shopaholic series because it just doesn’t seem like something I would enjoy too much. Though I’m sure I would if I read it. But the thought of reading about someone who spends more than they should, makes me nervous.
I have really got to read this book. It’s been on my shelf for months now (borrowed from my Grandma! Ha!). I’m not being a good Iowan, huh?
I mentioned before that I have several close friends from Spencer and the surrounding area and many of them are very familiar with this story and know Dewey/Vicki. Gives me chills to think about it and makes me proud of where I live!
Many of you know about my cat, Libby. Honestly, I don’t know what I would do without her! She’s all white with a black ear and a black tail. She’s very mischevious and sometimes I wonder if she thinks she’s a dog. I definitely agree everyone should have pets. There’s just something wrong with you if you don’t like animals… (no offense to anyone if you don’t like ‘em….)
I am an animal lover…
I have 2 kitties: Samuel and Lewis both adopted from the shelter. They were both ‘special needs’ cats.
Lewis has hit by a car prior to adoption and no one wanted him because of his severe limp. 4 years later, there is no limp to speak of.
Samuel has severe allergies. So severe he has to get steroid injections to control them. I could care less about his allergies though. He is the snuggliest cat ever, and i love him to bits.
We also have a golden retriever that we got from a family that didn’t want a dog any longer. She’s the best too.
I would be lost without my fur babies!
That sounds like a great book! I’m an animal lover too ~ I have a horse named Ariel and a cockapoo puppy named Chloe and would have more pets if a) my husband wasn’t allergic to most things with fur or b) we lived in a bigger house. I think pets generally greatly reduce stress, though Chloe’s raising my stress level these days since she’s decided to gnaw on the baseboards all around our house and seems to enjoy the taste of the oranges/onions/anti-chew spray we’ve used to get her to stop. Next we’ll try tabasco sauce …
Love your blog
Oh, and your cat’s adorable!
Webster has the same eyes as my Bentley!! They could be twins – and Bentley is the same – he just wants to be cuddled and loved, and he always knows when I need him
I’m glad you liked Twenties Girl! Last Tuesday, it was between Twenties Girl and Jennifer Weiner’s Best Friends Forever. I chose the latter, and wasn’t very fond of it. As soon as I finish Time Traveler’s Wife (probably by tonight, I can’t put it down!) I’ll have to grab Twenties Girl!
I’m an animal lover as you know, and Jack is my dog… I grew up with two dogs at my parents house as well, one which recently died as a result of a tumor in his stomach so I don’t think I could handle reading this book without bawling like a baby.
Jack knows when I need love. He knows when to protect me. He knows when to cuddle. We play, go on walks, chase each other around the house, and at the end of the day, he’s there to greet me with a kiss and a tail wag. I’ve also learned a lot from Jack… caring for another life other than your own, one that relies on you entirely is an important expeirence for people to go through. I’ve learned patience. Responsbility. Selflessness. It’s great and I wouldn’t change it for the world.
hey, thanks for the shout out!
I’m glad to hear you liked Dewey. I pretty much knew how the story went, even though I haven’t read the book, because I read an article about the book awhile back. But your review makes me want to read the book for real! And that quote you pulled is great. So true. Hazel has taught me a lot about love for sure! She is whimpering at me right now as I type this for attention… she’s just a cuddle bug. I really feel like she is my child though because oh man can she make me mad sometimes, but I always love her and she always loves me back.
btw, the pic of Webster is adorable but one question– what is printed on the inside of his ear? just wondering…
and so funny that you mention Twenties Girl because I was just looking at that book on Borders.com last night. I haven’t read any of the Shopaholic books but I think I would like them since I liked the movie
and I guess I would like Twenties Girl too!
We have always had pets. One time we got a beagle puppy and we were in Vancouver with the dog in the hotel room trying to think of a name for her. Amber was 2 years old. She said, I want to call her Cherry. Both her father and I didn’t like that name and we kept discussing names. Finally she said from under the table, “well I don’t care what you call her, I’m callin her CHERRY”. Needless to say we named the dog Cherry.
When my children grew up I got a dog and named him Murphy. Amber has posted some pictures etc about Murphy, I also have a cat named Izzie (I’m a Grey’s Anatomy Lover).
I have always loved orange tabby cats and I am a proud Grandma to Webster!! He really does have his own personality. Webster is tattooed as a security. If he is ever lost and someone finds him and takes him to a pet store, or a vet clinic they can identify him by his tattoo. At the bottom of his security tattoo is a small heart tattooed. My cousin works in the vet clinic where we had Webster neutered and she tattooed him while he was sleeping for his surgery. The heart was a “just because” tattoo. Just because he was so bad when he was little that only his owner could love him. Amber can tell the story about him throwing himself at the cage door. I love him because Amber does.
This book looks sweet : ) I might just have to pick it up!
And I love Kinsella’s books! I can’t wait to get my hands on ‘Twenties Girl’.
If you love Kinsella, you’ll also love a new book called ‘Knickles and Dimes’. It has hilarious characters and a really great story. I’d recommend it!
Anyway, thanks for the review : )
Duh. We are so on the same page with our kittehs!
I will never understand you cat people
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I love my beagle! Seriously, it isn’t possible for me to stay stressed out when I get home and he’s all excited to see me. Puppies are where it’s at
oh amber, dewey is so much cuter..errmm, i mean..fluffier, looking than webby.
That book sounds really interesting. As for pets, I don’t have any pets myself, but my parents do. Growing up we always had a few cats, and we had a dog as well.
I’ve loved all of Sophia Kinsella’s other books, and can’t wait to read 20s girl. I think my goal would be to wait until it comes up in paperback, but we’ll see if that happens
I have two furbabies…black & white ‘tuxedo’ cats, aptly named Giorgio Armani and Coco Chanel. They are brother and sister, and are 13 years young. And night and day from each other!
I can not imagine my life without my furry children, and thank every day for them. Over 10 years ago, I was diagnosed with Clinical Depression and spent 6 months off work and on the couch. Neither of my children judged me for it, and they seemed to know when I needed that extra cuddle or kiss to lighten my mood.
I should also note that I am allergic to cats…and dogs and pretty much anything with fur or feathers. Since they are only part of the list (pretty much everything I inhale, actually!), I have always “sucked it up” and enjoyed their company over sitting at home alone. I figure that’s why someone invented antihistomines!
Don’t know if I can read this book though…I started to cry just reading your review!!!
I want to read this book, but I don’t know if i can, I was getting choked up just reading this. I have a cat called Tallula, who is a perfect stress reliever. As soon as I see her, I feel better.
Oh and I read and loved Twenties Girl
Yay! Great review! I watched that documentary here in Japan. Loved it.
We have four dogs back home and I miss those boys so much! Pets are the best indeed. They love unconditionally.
I actually used to live in Spencer and Dewey on more than one occasion sat on my lap! I’m allergic to cats, but he was so nice and “purry” that I didn’t have the heart to shoo him away. I was sad when he died.
I have 3 cats and I agree that they are total stress relief. They love me unconditionally and it takes so little (like a tummy rub) to make them soooo happy! We could all learn from that…find happiness in the small things. I’ve heard about Dewey before and I’ll have to check it out!
i love dewy Im reading a book about him write now he’s my favorite cat ever