Guest Book Review: James Bowen - A Gift from Bob

Reviewed by Tanya Phillips

From the day James rescued a street cat abandoned in the hallway of his sheltered accommodation, they began a friendship which has transformed both their lives and, through the bestselling books A STREET CAT NAMED BOB and THE WORLD ACCORDING TO BOB, touched millions around the world. 

In this new story from their journey together, James looks back at the last Christmas they spent scraping a living on the streets and how Bob helped him through one of his toughest times - providing strength, friendship and inspiration but also teaching him important lessons about the true meaning of Christmas along the way.

Amazon links: Kindle or Hardcover 

By now I expect the majority of you have heard of James Bowen and his ginger cat Bob. James lived on the streets and worked hard to get off a methadone programme so that he could get his life back on track.  He would busk and sell the big issue to allow him to pay the bills, however he never really enjoyed life until Bob became part of it.  Bob helped him to appreciate life and to work hard at it, he gave him hope and someone to come home to and work for.

This book is the third of the Bob books and looks at James’s life prior to Bob on the street when he had no one and was living for the next fix.  It also looks at life with Bob prior to being famous and how people showed that they did care by giving him cards and this helped him through a very tough winter.

Reading these books always makes me look at my life in a different manner and appreciate everything I have.   It also makes me look around at the people around me and notice what is happening.  Although it covers hard and difficult subjects this book is also about hope and appreciating all the little things around you.  The book has a feel good factor and who cannot help but smile at the idea of Bob pulling the Christmas tree over because it’s not up to his exact liking.  

I want to wish James and Bob good luck with the release of this book.  An early Merry Christmas and many more of them.

I'd like to thank Kerry at Hodder & Stoughton for sending a copy of this book to Tanya to review, and Tanya for reviewing it for the blog.