Touching tale (tail?) of a recovering drug addict/homeless man who adopts a lost ginger tomcat, who in turn gives him a reason to live. James takes to busking with Bob by his side or on his shoulders, and his fortunes begin to improve. Later he sells the Big Issue and ultimately becomes a minor celebrity – hence this book. Along the way, there are scary episodes such as losing Bob in the crowded streets of central London, being treated with hostility or suspicion as one of society's marginal figures, and the harrowing cold turkey of getting off methadone.
Bob the cat emerges as a great character – strong-willed and intelligent, brave but vulnerable – and it's moving to read about the bond that builds up between man and animal. This inspiring book is also a reminder that we need to be kinder to sellers of the Big Issue: they don't get given their magazines, they have to buy them. They are urged to manage this responsibly as a mini-business, as this helps them scrape a living with dignity (in a way that charity hand-outs don't).
James Bowen was more fortunate than most because his furry friend often acted as a magnet for public goodwill (odd how we relate to animals more emotionally than we sometimes do to humans). So spare a thought for those without gorgeous pets to melt the hearts of passers-by and read this excellent book.
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