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Bob

By: James Bowen
Narrated by: Alistair McGowan
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Summary

A special audio edition for children age 11 and above.

"We are all given second chances every day of our lives, but we don't usually take them. Then I met Bob."

James Bowen was a homeless musician, busking on the streets of London to survive. But the moment he met an injured stray cat with ginger fur and big green eyes, his life began to change. Together James and Bob the cat faced the world - and won.

A purrfectly true "tail" of love and friendship to make you smile!

©2012 James Bowen (P)2013 Hodder & Stoughton

Critic reviews

"This is a revealing glimpse of London's underbelly and the resourcefulness needed to survive it. But mostly it's a love story that will make your heart purr." ( Daily Mail)

What listeners say about Bob

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A good story for all animal and people people

I hope it's true. Because this story reaffirms the magical bond between animals and us.

2 people found this helpful

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Cataclismic!!

Omg thus brought tears to my eyes, being a cat lover myself. will certainly look at big issue sellers in a different light.

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cat lovers

great read. well read.very good story line. easy to listen to.will be reading all other books in series.

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lovely lovely story

heart warming and insightful!
I felt I really got to know Bob and his owner and felt as if I were a part of their daily lives. :)

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Uplifting & hopefully inspirational

From the depths of despair - new horizons are miraculously revealed. Emotional connection is so fundamental.

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Bob🍭

Very good book good acting maybe a bit over the top like being a drug addict and being homeless

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An inspiring story of our time

This is the true story of a cat bringing purpose and structure to one man's life whilst touching a whole community. For those of us who have never sold the big issue it also gives an education of how and why this is a wonderful chance for a return to self worth but has limitations for those with out good levels of intelligence and organizational ability. It would be a hard person who is not challenged about how we treat those at the bottom of the financial heap
This all sounds rather worth and dry but it is an enjoyable story which is unforgetable

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Warming story of cat befriending man in need 💖

I loved it so much I listened to it all in one go and ready for the second book! Bob is awesome and is a very lucky furbaby to have met such a loving caring guy to be his new family 🐈🐾🐾🐱

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A unique book for a unique friend

Bob No Ordinary Cat - an emotional book about a special friendship between Bob and James, a cat and a human. The characters are on of the aspects which are well described. They are well depicted and you can really sympathize with them. The story had ups and downs but did always make me want to read on. The book manages to keep the balance between making you laugh and making you cry for example when James got rid of his addiction. Some parts of the book might have been a little hard to understand, but it's written so well that it's not a big problem. In the end, the story could really persuade its reader and according to the fact that it is a true story, it's even better!

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Very ordinary book

I expected a lot more from this author. This book is very boring. Need to introduce more life and characters into the story. Looking forward to better books.

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  • MovieGuy
  • 13-09-13

Short but powerful

The story may be short, but it packs a wallop emotionally. I really really enjoyed this story, and was extremely moved by James and his wonderful cat. The reader was excellent also, gritty, perfect for the role. Highly, highly recommended!

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  • Ann
  • 12-09-13

Inspiring story of rehabilitation

What made the experience of listening to Bob the most enjoyable?

Alistair McGowan did a great job with the various accents.

What did you like best about this story?

James Bowen was so courageous in revealing his struggles to clean up his life for the sake of the cat who depended on him.

Which character – as performed by Alistair McGowan – was your favorite?

James.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes.

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  • Roseclan
  • 31-01-23

Same book as "A Street Cat Named Bob"

This is the same book as "A Street Cat Named Bob" ...different narrator, but I didn't mind listening to it again because I loved the story so much. The narrator was good but I preferred Kris Milnes in the other books.

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  • Kim M. Brownell
  • 10-02-21

Bob

Great story! Looking forward to the next book. I love cats and have 13 rescue cats. You had a wonderful life with Bob. God rest his big soul.

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  • andeea
  • 28-01-21

Bob the cat

I love love love these books! what an awesome cat! and an honest author! great read!

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  • EB
  • 23-08-20

What a beautiful story. Narrator is great.

Heartwarming and well written. Conveys the love and meaning our pets provide to their pet parents lives.

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  • Leah bell
  • 12-07-20

awesome Book

Love listening over and over
Great Book of Bob ❤
we love you Your Legacy Lives on Forever ❤❤❤

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  • Bridget
  • 25-06-20

Love Bob cat

I just love the story all together. but did not care for the repetitive information that was told in the book, "A Streetcat Named Bob". i understand this is a series but for this title of this book series I would of liked to hear more focusing on Bob how he went from streetcat to finding a loving home with Mr..Bowen.

The story is so wonderful and so happy to hear Bob the beautiful cat found a home with a loving person who took him in amd loved him

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  • Grand Parents 3
  • 08-04-17

Bob, an unusual cat

Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?

I have read several 'Bob' books and love the story of this extraordinary cat. I also like how this story is ultimately about redemption because through James' relationship with Bob, he became free of his drug habit. I felt this book overlapped too much with the other Bob books.

What was your reaction to the ending? (No spoilers please!)

Since I knew the story the ending was no surprise to me.

What do you think the narrator could have done better?

I wasn't particularly fond of the narrator and maybe that is little unfair because I really enjoyed Kris Milnes in 'For the Love of Bob' and compared the two voices.

If this book were a movie would you go see it?

I missed seeing the movie though I I wanted to see it.

Any additional comments?

The Bob and James story is a good one. If you haven't read any of their books, you will probably like this, though I enjoyed 'For the Love of Bob' more than this one.

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  • L. B. Bealessio
  • 04-09-16

Excerpts from past books

This book was very good, other than the fact that it was merely excerpts from previous books. As a stand alone it would have been very nice.