The Guest Cat
ByPublisher Description
A wonderful sui generis novel about a visiting cat who brings joy into a couple’s life in Tokyo
A bestseller in France and winner of Japan’s Kiyama Shohei Literary Award, The Guest Cat, by the acclaimed poet Takashi Hiraide, is a subtly moving and exceptionally beautiful novel about the transient nature of life and idiosyncratic but deeply felt ways of living. A couple in their thirties live in a small rented cottage in a quiet part of Tokyo; they work at home, freelance copy-editing; they no longer have very much to say to one another. But one day a cat invites itself into their small kitchen. It leaves, but the next day comes again, and then again and again. Soon they are buying treats for the cat and enjoying talks about the animal and all its little ways. Life suddenly seems to have more promise for the husband and wife — the days have more light and color. The novel brims with new small joys and many moments of staggering poetic beauty, but then something happens….
As Kenzaburo Oe has remarked, Takashi Hiraide’s work "really shines." His poetry, which is remarkably cross-hatched with beauty, has been acclaimed here for "its seemingly endless string of shape-shifting objects and experiences,whose splintering effect is enacted via a unique combination of speed and minutiae."
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Meet readers like you in the Fable For You feed, designed to build bookish communities1061 Reviews
sherriea92
Created about 12 hours agoNat
Created 3 days agoLarissa
Created 7 days agoBrittany
Created 8 days agoShyamasree Saha
Created 8 days ago
“🐈⬛ Book Review: The Guest Cat by Takashi Hiraide🐈
✔ Things I Liked:
✨ I found the book very relatable as I too had a similar cat mentioned in the story. The emotions, the bond with the cat, and the quiet moments of life felt very real and I could relate with the protagonist like a skin.
✨ I came to know about some Japanese customs and norms I was not aware of. Subtle cultural insights made me search about them which made this reading experience more fascinating.
✨ It was a Short book (140 pages). Though this book is very short I took my own sweet time to relish and enjoy reading this book.
✨ I loved how the story progressed from the begining to the end. From the cat’s arrival to the bittersweet ending, everything flowed beautifully. In fact those who have had cats at some point of time in their lives will find how apt this book is as a cat 'care giver'
❌ Thing I Didn’t Like:
👎🏽The Ornate, flowery language. I am not a fan of overly descriptive prose and ornate language in prose and this book had quite a bit of it. And this is quite obvious as the author here is a celebrated Japanese poet.
That being said, I loved this book!♥️This book is a must-read for anyone who loves cats or has ever had a cat as a pet. The way it captures the quiet companionship and unspoken emotions between humans and the unique nature of cats is just chef’s kiss!
I read this book for #readingwithmuffy challenge (A Book with the Name of an Animal in the Title) hosted by @kohleyedreads , as well as for #literaryhanami #januaryinJapan hosted by @diaryofsulagna & @alazywriter for the prompt A Book with a Cat on the Cover.
#TheGuestCat #TakashiHiraide #JapaneseLiterature #CatLovers #BookReview #JanuaryReads #BookstagramIndia #ReadingWithCats #TranslatedFiction”About Takashi Hiraide
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