Lately, I’ve been enjoying books featuring cats so much that I was even tempted to follow a cat I ran into during my morning walk yesterday. In the novel “The Cat Who Saves Books” by Sosuke Natsukawa, I was reminded why I love reading through the wisdom of a boy named Rintaro Natsuki:
“Books teach us how to care about others…Books are filled with human thoughts and feelings. People suffering, people who are sad or happy, laughing with joy. By reading their words and their stories, by experiencing them together, we learn about the hearts and minds of other people besides ourselves. Thanks to books, it’s possible to learn not only about the people around us every day, but people living in totally different worlds…Don’t hurt anyone. Never bully people weaker than yourself. Help out those in need. Some would say that these rules are obvious. But the truth is, the obvious is no longer obvious in today’s world. What’s worse is that some people even ask why. They don’t understand why they shouldn’t hurt other people. It’s not a simple thing to explain. It’s not logical. But if they read books, they will understand. It’s far more important than using logic to explain something. Human beings don’t live alone, and a book is a way to show them that…I think the power of books is that – that they teach us to care about others. It’s a power that gives people courage and also supports them in turn…Empathy – that’s the power of books.”
“You think your pain and your heartbreak are unprecedented in the history of the world, but then you read. It was books that taught me that the things that tormented me most were the very things that connected me with all the people who were alive, or who had ever been alive.”
– James Baldwin
If you ever feel lonely, listen to the advice of the wise cat: “Don’t give in to loneliness. You aren’t alone. You have many friends looking out for you.” Thanks to Rintaro’s grandfather, I learned that those friends can also be found in books. During some of the most difficult moments in my life, when I felt lost, sad, or lonely, I turned to books. They gave me hope, courage, and a new perspective on life. I was able to let go of the burdens I carried and connect with the characters in the stories; somehow, they became like supportive friends. Some of the friends I made through reading include Levin, Jane Eyre, Elizabeth Bennet, Takako, Morayo Silva, Areum, and many more. And most recently, of course, Rintaro Natsuki, who taught me about the power of books.