But the most cat-heavy Murakami novel is also his most surreal: Kafka on the Shore. The Wind-Up Bird Chroniclebegins, for example, with its protagonist losing his cat. Something else he adores is cats, who appear in several of his books. This is probably helped by his more Western writing style, the fact that he speaks perfect English, has lived in the US, and is known for his adoration for American literature. Murakami is, without doubt, the most famous and treasured Japanese author alive today, and certainly the one with the biggest fanbase outside of Japan. It’s a simple story that paints a vibrant picture of ordinary suburban life, and how our bonds with our pets help to enrich and add colour to our worlds.
The cats of these tales form relationships with each other, and with a wise old neighbourhood dog named Jon.Īs the cats form their bonds, the humans go through changes and face difficulties that their cats help them deal with. We see how they comfort and support each other, making one another’s lives better and more interesting in subtle ways. We learn about their unique personalities, backstories, and relationships.
She and Her Cat is separated into four parts, each set in the same suburb, with characters who overlap into each other’s stories.Įach part focusses on a human and their cat, and we see the world through the eyes and experiences of both the human and the cat. Written by legendary anime film director Makoto Shinkai ( Your Name and Weathering With You), and based on his first ever animated short, this is a beautiful little novel about life with cats. The Travelling Cat Chronicles by Hiro Arikawa
The Cat Who Saved Booksis a beautiful little YA fantasy story with a poignant message, a protagonist who goes through a satisfying journey of growth, and a sweet journey that carries it all forward. Rintaro, once he reaches these bulls of the labyrinths, must do intellectual battle, arguing the philosophical nature of books, words, and stories, in order to change their hearts ( think Persona 5). Tiger guides Rintaro to three separate “labyrinths”, which each hold at their heart a person who is doing damage to the world of literature in some way. Without the man who raised him around, Rintaro has decided to shut down the family business, Natsuki Books, and move in with his aunt.Īs he is packing up the bookshop and his life, however, Rintaro is visited by a talking cat named Tiger, who pleads with Rintaro to help him save books. The Cat Who Saved Books, brilliantly translated by Louise Heal Kawai, is a YA Japanese novel that begins with Rintaro Natsuki, a teenager who has just lost his grandfather.
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