This was my first read of a translated book and it was wonderful.

I love this story about a boy Rintaro, who just lost his grandfather who gave him as an inheritance, his bookshop. A talking cat appears to Rin one day and says he needs his help to save books. So they go to 4 different labyrinths where books are not being treated as they should to help show people how they can save books.

This was a quick read at just under 200 pages. I loved all we learn about how wonderful books are. One of my favorite things that is said is "a book that has been cherished and loved, filled with human thoughts, had been endowed with a soul." In the 4th labyrinth, Rin puts into words all the things that I feel about books... They help us care about others, they are filled with human thoughts.... Of suffering, of joy, of understanding the world around us.