What is the author's tone in the book, A Gift From Bob: How a Street Cat Helped One Man Learn the Meaning of Christmas?

At the start of the memoir, Bowen’s tone is markedly more defeated, as he sees Christmas as “a time of the year that needed to be survived, not enjoyed” (41). However, in the chapters that follow, the more acts of kindness Bowen is shown, the more his perspective and thus his tone begin to shift. Despite the continued challenges of his life, Bowen reminds himself to focus on all that he does have. In this way, he is able to embrace a more hopeful and joyful spirit and tone.

Over the course of the memoir, Bowen’s depictions of his life beget deep reflections on his past, those which affect an uplifted tone. For example, in the final chapter, “A Gift from Bob,” Bowen remarks upon Bob’s photo album gift saying, “These last three years had seen my life take such a change for the better, spiritually and emotionally” (169). The photo album’s collected images remind Bowen of all that he has accomplished, been given, and learned. This moment induces yet another hopeful shift in Bowen’s tone, inspiring the reader to reflect upon her own circumstances in a similarly positive manner.