Book review: The Guest Cat

Book review of The Guest Cat

I found “The Guest Cat” by Japanese author Takashi Hiraide, in a small bookshop in Stamford, UK and fell for the cover instantly. This is my review of the book.

Summary

“[…] 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.”

• Quote borrowed from Amazon

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Verdict

“The Guest Cat” for me, was somewhere close to the feeling I had when reading “The Dog Who Dared to Dream”. Just from the human’s point of view. It was equally poetic, which makes sense, considering Hiraide’s career in writing.

Hiraide has a way of weaving subtle magic into everyday life and meetings with this cat they grow so affectionate about. Most of the scenes take place in the couple’s home or the garden. Thus it makes every incident seem close to the reader as well, as you are drawn into their little apartment.

Cat-person or dog-person?

 

I can’t say whether you’ll like this book or not, depending on you being a cat-person or not. But one thing is certain, the chapters and incidents very much reflects the general attitude of a cat. It’s slow paced but intense in some scenes and playful in others. It comes and goes as it pleases.

“The Guest Cat” is quite a short book, but contains so much life. I enjoyed it immensely and will definitely be reading it again. The final chapters of the book seemed a little out-of-place for me. Maybe very understandably so, but I’ll let you read and conclude why that is, on your own.

I wish I had a lot more to write as this is a lovely piece of work. But I feel like this is a book that the intrigued reader must experience on their own. I will say, however, that you should find the right time to read it. Maybe some peace and quiet, to read it in one sitting?

That’s what I did and I loved it.

Have you read “The Guest Cat” by Takashi Hiraide or are you planning to? Let me know what you think in the comments below, I’d be happy to hear from you!

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