Book Review: A Street Cat Named Bob by James Bowen

Quote: Having Bob gave me a chance to interact with people.... Cats are notoriously picky about who they like. Seeing me with my cat softened me in [others] eyes. It humanized me. Especially after I'd been so dehumanized. In some ways it was giving me back my identity. I had been a non-person; I was becoming a person again.

In general I am reluctant to pick Non-fiction, as my occupation is to proofread and edit Non-fiction! But during the book sale last week, this came to me because of mistaken identity, I didn't pay attention and assumed it was A Streetcar Named Desire.

Now I have a soft corner for cats and books on animals are welcome to my shelf. This was an adorable, entertaining and educating read for a human who doesn't have many philanthropic or empathic desires, I do drop in a coin or a cupcake once in a while to homeless people out of sheer guilt of being a privileged human.

It was an eye-opener, it tells the story of James Bowen, a musician who failed to climb the success ladder, homeless and recovering addict who busks in the famous Covenant Garden of London. One day he meets a ginger cat, who is injured and seeks his help. Twenty-four hours later he nurses the cat back to health and wants to release back to streets two weeks later. But nothing of that happens, the cat now named Bob follows him through the road and jumps into his bus.

They become a team, they busk (as my buddy to call it fancy begging with music) together, later sell The Big Issue (an initiative to help homeless people sell magazines legally to earn a keep) make a bit of money as Bob charms his way into hearts of busy people. There is a lot of drama too: Bob getting lost, James' constant fear that Bob will leave him, they get into fights, meet new people. Bob helps James sober up as he gives up on drugs and yearns stability to protect his baby cat.

First Christmas of Bob's was heartwarming; little interactions with tube commuters and people who gifted Bob showed James that kindness existed. I learned new terms nark, busking, chuggers.

Davika became Vanika and 'No one was paying' became 'No was paying', the book needed another round of proofreading.

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