Thank God, A Sequel!

Would you listen to The World According to Bob again? Why?

I'd listen to this book again because I couldn't get enough of the first book. This was another life-disrupting, "cover-to-cover" listen for me; I just kept wanting to know what was going to happen. This isn't only an animal/buddy book, it's also about trying to rise from circumstances with few resources. How do Bob and James survive? Put food on the table? How does one of the invisible members of society get sick, find care... and still make rent? Bob and James have become a bit of a sensation, but has that changed their situation in any way? Seriously, how do people on the street live?

What was one of the most memorable moments of The World According to Bob?

Bob's complete devotion to James is unwavering and causes so many memorable moments. In this book, one learns how James really, really considers what kind of a life he can offer his cat: can he give an animal security and care when he's not sure of his situation from day to day? But animals make their own choices, don't they?

Which character – as performed by Kristopher Milnes – was your favorite?

As I said about the previous book, Kristopher Milnes brings an authenticity to the narration that can always make or break a story. It works so well here. My only complaint is that, unlike the first book, here, for some inexplicable reason, someone decided to "beep" the limited profanity. Very jarring to the listener, unnecessary, and heck, kind of laughable.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

It's a stand up and cheer book. It's a shake your fist to the sky because of a crappy hand dealt book.

Any additional comments?

Again, this book is just too short. It's kind of painful to spend a credit (miser that I am) on such a short book, but, as I'll be listening to it again, what the hell! It's well spent, and was an audiobook that I've recommended to friends and family who have discovered audible!

7 people found this helpful

Another great book about Bob and James

I laughed and had many times of thought while I heard this book. I looked up the things on the Internet to see them in action, it was great. I am so glad that James' life got turned around and still wish I could meet them. Great story and book.

1 person found this helpful

As Good as the First Book

What made the experience of listening to The World According to Bob the most enjoyable?

After reading A Street Cat Named Bob and finding out how successful it was, I wanted to know how the success affected James and Bob's lives. This book satisfied that curiosity. I desperately wanted to see good things happen to them.

Who was your favorite character and why?

James. He is such a good-hearted, humble man who made some bad choices in his youth and is desperately trying to turn his life around. I was very sympathetic to his plight and was pulling for him all the way!

What about Kristopher Milnes’s performance did you like?

I can't say enough about Kristopher's performance. Totally believable! The real James has some big shoes to fill to match it.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

I laughed at some of Bob's antics. I cried (tears of joy) at the way the first book-signing event turned out after James was so worried it would be a flop.

Any additional comments?

I am looking forward to the release of the next book "My Name is Bob" where the story will be told from Bob's point of view.

1 person found this helpful

Fabulous!

I love James and Bob! Every book gets better. I have learned so much and have more awareness of others.

1 person found this helpful

Most enjoyable cat story

What did you love best about The World According to Bob?

The wonderful meaning a relationship with a cat can give to your life.

What was one of the most memorable moments of The World According to Bob?

When Bob woke James when they reached the bus stop, preventing them to go way past home.

What does Kristopher Milnes bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Well I just loved knitting whilst someone read me the book. Kris managed to actually sound like a recovering drug addict, street person.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

The epilogue - and the meaning this story gave to the last days of the dying lady.

Any additional comments?

Due to this book I will always view people who sell the Big Issue differently, and I pray that more people's lives will be touched by a cat. I would love for James to write more books so that we can follow his progress in his life. I'll keep a lookout James - well done and thanks for the heart warming tale.

1 person found this helpful

Not a Kitty person you will be after you meet Bob

I loved it, really related to the struggle. James and Bob have a strong bond. Dr Bob is better then therapy!

the other half of the story

A delightful follow up to A Street Cat Named Bob and How He Saved My Life, this audiobook continues with more charming Bob stories, then goes on to tell about how the first book came to be written. Another Delight!

Wonderfully heart warming and adorable!

Full of hope, love, and redemption! A real uplifter that will leave with a smile and wanting more!

I will recommend this book to everyone I know!!!

Absolutely, stunningly, heartwarmingly brilliant!!! I loved every moment!!! It made me laigh. it made me cry and it made me search my soul to the very depths. With all my heart I wish James and Bob the very, very best. And I will do my very best to reach out to and help anyone I see who is having to ask for help. After all, we are all in that situation at some point in our lives are we not?

A "must listen" companion to STREET CAT NAMED BOB

recently finished listening to THE WORLD ACCORDING TO BOB after first listening to A STREET CAT NAMED BOB.

I am a cat lover and expected this to be mostly cute stories about Bob himself. There were those. However, to my surprise, I found myself very moved by James Bowen’s story of overcoming homelessness and drug addiction. After listening to the book, I had a much greater awareness and much deeper compassion for those who are homeless, whether human or animal, and to those who are struggling to overcome addictions.

I would highly recommend reading both of these two books, as THE WORLD ACCORDING TO BOB answered alot of questions that I had at the end of A STREET CAT NAMED BOB. STREET CAT ends just before James and Bob begin their careers and authors and spokesmen for the homeless. THE WORLD picks up with how they began that career, how it changed their lives, and what their lives are now like.

Kristopher Milnes did a great job of capturing James in his narration. Since James comes from Australia and has also lived in the UK, he speaks with a combination Aussie-Cockney accent that Kristopher was able to emulate. Kristopher also did a good job of communicated James' emotionally as well. James' anxieties, his humility, his concerns and his joys came through clearly in the narration.

It is no small thing to find one’s purpose in life. To do that, one has to know what love is, who and what is worth loving, and be able to accept love. That means also being able to love oneself. It was a real joy to see how Bob helped James to find his purpose and to live it out. To move others to be more loving, as James moved me toward the homeless and the addicted, is the ultimate purpose of all of our lives. Still, as special as Bob is, Bob could not make decisions for James. Only James could and did do that. James' honesty about the difficulty that he had in making good life decisions and sticking to them, and how Bob helped him to do that was what made this book so enlightening and inspiring.

I would highly recommend reading both of these two books, as THE WORLD ACCORDING TO BOB answered alot of questions that I had at the end of A STREET CAT NAMED BOB. STREET CAT ends just before James and Bob begin their careers and authors and spokesmen for the homeless. THE WORLD picks up with how they began that career, how it changed their lives, and what their lives are now like.