Dewey discussion

because it is her life, the town is centric to all her experiences, why wouldn't she mention it - do you think Dewey would have survived if he had ended up at any other library?

She mentioned it once or twice - I wouldn't be complaining

Charlotte wrote: "I mean, really.
The book is a 277-page long advertisement for Iowa. With a few bits about "my life was so hard" thrown in.
There's barely any cute, orange cat in here. It's just Iowa. And more Iow..."

I agree with Dee and Magicpages13. I thought there was a lot of "cute, orange cat" in the book and what is wrong with Iowa being great?

got to admit she would have talked more about Dewey. but guess she loves her hometown.

She does digress quite a bit.

but the sub-title is "the small town cat that changed the world" (bold my emphasis) - that implies (at least to me) that the small town life in Iowa was key to the story

Because it was not just about the cat. It was about the cat in this particular setting.

Historical non fiction piece, - enough said.

I agree with Ira.

Thank you, Ashleigh! Very well stated!

Here's another vote that all the blah, blah, blah about the crappy town, crappy library, and crappy daughter were just gratuitous...and narcissistic. Dewey was the only good thing about the book, and there wasn't nearly enough of him. I agree with you, Charlotte, and if you check the reviews, so do an awful lot of other readers. This was one really disappointing book.

Just because the title is "Dewey" doesn't mean that Dewey is required to be in every scene. Look at "Moby Dick" or "Julius Caesar". Now if you just didn't like the Iowa stuff, then that's just a matter of taste, but I think the tacit suggestion that author pulled a fast one by naming the book after the cat is a little off base.

I live in Iowa and it isn't really that great... but I have been to Spencer and it is a great town! You guys should stop criticizing Iowa!

I hated this book more because of the writing than anything. I don't know who edited this book but they should have gotten someone who could actually write an interesting and entertaining story rather than people who have no business writing a book at all.

I didn't mind the life experiences, but when it went into history that really didn't connect with the current story other to say, "We are a hardy people, fear our corn!" was when it got to be a little redundant and I actually nodded off a few times, which I never do unless I am really exhausted.

Since Dewey became a big part of the town and it's culture, much of the book was dedicated to discussing and celebrating the town in turn. As the librarian for so long, she would have been intrigued by its histories and patrons. I think she wrote a book showing her love of the area, not just Dewey.

I read this book a long time ago so detailed memory is fuzzy, but what i do remember is not feeling like Iowa was overdone?

I liked the comment about the book's description of Iowa and how is the best part of Dewey' book. I do like Iowa, I do like the midwest. Marilynne Robinson dedicated her last book, "Lela." to the state of Iowa.

Ira wrote: "Because it was not just about the cat. It was about the cat in this particular setting."

Yes, totally agree. I also thought at first it was getting to be a bit much talking about Spencer and Iowa but it IS about Dewey and his place in this town and this setting.

What I found curious, a bit annoying AND made me cringe, (being a conscientious cat owner myself), is how Ms. Myron did not know that you NEVER let a cat play with much less consume rubber bands!! Really? He was lucky to live to be 19 years old with all those bands going through his body. Plus taking him in the car just loose with no cat carrier? I mean, this was the 80's and 90's I know, when people didn't go as crazy about their pet's welfare like they do now. Scolding cats and locking them in closets is also a no-no and does not work. But she was a librarian - didn't she research or at least ask how to care for a cat? Anyway - those are the things that made me talk out loud to my library app while listening to this book. Other than that it was a nice story and the ending did make me cry. He was clearly a sweetie-pie of a cat and I would have loved him just as much as Ms. Myron did and still does.