Monday, February 1, 2016

The Guest Cat

Title: The Guest Cat
Author: Takashi Hiraide
Language: English
Translator: Eric Selland
Publisher: New Direction Publishing
Year: 2014

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. 


My thoughts:

I struggled for the first 20% of the book. But then, little by little it absorbed me into its little world. And by the end of it, I said, " Ok, you won my heart!" :D

Written by a Japanese acclaimed poet Takashi Hiraide, this book is like a cat coming to your house silently. Wandering around, and before you know it your heart is hooked. Just like Chibi who comes silently into The Couple's life. Its slow pace, poetic tone lulls you to a point of unawareness, then suddenly it grabs and catches you. Just like Chibi who is usually calm and collected, suddenly bites The Wife.

As you approach to the very end, it will leave you like "wait, what? whaat??!" and you probably will want to browse or even reread the book in case you miss something. Just like having time flies in daily life, and at certain point you suddenly stop and try recollecting things in the past you might have missed, you might have left unaware of.

A serene story with a little touch of mystery. Just like a seemingly monotonous life, with a little spark of joy. A book worth collecting. A life worth loving.



4 comments:

  1. Hello.. can u share where did you buy it.. i cant find those book now..��
    Mohon dibalas ��

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