!!! this was the best. such a calming book.. a great one for a rainy or snowy day where you want some light to read. i was so worried reading these stories that they would all have sad endings, but i'm happy to report that they all have good endings. this book made me smile so much. all the stories were so heartwarming. i loved how they all connected! and i loved how you got both the cat's and women's perspectives. all the stories felt intimate and like i was being told the story from a family member.. idk that seems weird to say, but such creative writing style was presented in these stories and i'm glad i found this at the library. a quick, cheerful read! ( )

DNF @ Page 55

Didn't really like the writing and didn't find myself caring what happened in the story. Might reread later. ( )

4.5⭐

“It’s your life, and you have to make sure you keep enough of it for yourself.”

She and Her Cat: Stories by Makoto Shinkai, Naruki Nagakawa,(translated by Ginny Tapley Takemori) is a collection four interlinked short stories featuring cats and their humans. The narrative is shared from the alternating perspectives of the cat and his/her human. The cats have struggles of their own from dealing with territorial counterparts, separation from their own, and witnessing the ups and downs in the lives of their human(s) who in turn are dealing with their fair share of troubles relating to love, work, friendships and loss.

The first story Sea of Words features Chobi, who was rescued from a cardboard box by Miyu. His infatuation with Miyu (his referring to her as his “girlfriend” is adorable) and his concern for her when she is upset or heartbroken is beautifully portrayed as is his helplessness when he admits that all he can do to help her is stand by her when she is troubled. “I couldn’t do anything about her problems. I just lived my days at her side.”

We also get to meet Jon, a neighborhood dog, Shino’s pet who is wise and settles any dispute among the cats who also look up to him for knowledge and advice.

The second story First Blossoming features Reina a talented art student who is struggling and Mimi, a stray cat who was abandoned as a kitten. Weaker than the rest of the litter and hard of hearing, she is determined to make it on her own. She befriends Reina who names her Mimi after the cat she had as a child. In this story, we also meet Kink Tail with whom Mimi has a romantic encounter and Kuro, the feral cat who befriends the other cats. The story follows Mimi and Reina and the events that lead to Mimi becoming Reina’s cat.

The third story Slumber and Sky tells us the story of Aioi who is grieving the loss of her best friend Mari and Cookie, the kitten who her mother adopts. Initially, Aioi’s grief is all-consuming but gradually Cookie finds her way into Aioi’s heart.

The fourth story The Temperature of the World revolves around Kuro the feral cat who eventually gives up his independence to become a part of Shino’s household after the demise of her pet.

The authors have done a wonderful job of portraying how our furry friends can provide warmth companionship and comfort amid the trials and tribulations of modern life. The authors do an incredible job of blending the alternating narratives. I enjoyed the POVs of Chobi, Mimi, Cookie, Kuro and Jon I loved their observations on human behavior and relationships, their closeness and concern for the people around them and their opinions on the way humans go about their daily lives. Their POVs are rich in emotion, humor and wisdom. I loved how the stories come together in the end. Touching upon themes of loneliness, grief, depression and the significant impact that our furry friends can have in our lives, this is a lovely, heartwarming read that will strike a chord in your heart.

I paired my reading with the incredible audio narration by Hana Teraie-Wood, Nile Faure-Bryan, Jacqui Bardelang, Julia Strowski and Winson Ting.

“People who are too earnest can’t bring themselves to blame others, so they end up blaming themselves and suffering for it.” ( )

Slight but charming interconnected stories of whimsical cats and their owners, set in Japan. Reading it was like sitting down in a cosy room with a mug of hot chocolate. ( )

Best for:
Fans of sweet little stories. And of cats.

In a nutshell:
Multiple cats and multiple humans change each others’ lives.

Worth quoting:
N/A

Why I chose it:
CATS!

What it left me feeling:
Calm.

Review:
What a very sweet, deep book. It is told from the perspectives of multiple cats, some related to each other. It is also told from the perspective of the humans who come into contact with these cats.

One human is trying to figure out what to do with her life. Another is in a job but very lonely, unsure of the status of her romantic life. Another is filled with guilt over something that happened to her friend. A fourth is facing life on her own for the first time in years.

I am one of two humans who was chosen to take care of two special cats. They turn 12 in a month, and we’ve had them for nearly that long. They make my life better in every way - one of them has for the last six months been sleeping curled up next to my head at night. I adore dogs as well, but there is something about cats - their independence, the way they show love, their curiosity - that just feels different.

This book isn’t long, and very little ‘happens’ in it. But the humans are living lives I think so many people can relate to, and the cats are living their own lives too. Seeing how the humans care for the cats, and the cats for their humans, it’s just so sweet, and such a lovely commentary on life.

Recommend to a Friend / Keep / Donate it / Toss it:
Donate it ( )