Scan barcode
camiebooks's review against another edition
funny
informative
lighthearted
reflective
slow-paced
5.0
mjap_04's review against another edition
funny
informative
lighthearted
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
evermoregirl's review against another edition
funny
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
La civiltà occidentale è forse positivista e progressista, ma tutto sommato è stata creata da uomini che hanno vissuto tutta la vita scontenti.
Di conseguenza, anche tutti coloro che si conformano ai costumi occidentali, quali i protagonisti del romanzo, sono infelici.
Ogni studio che gli esseri umani conducono è una ricerca di se stessi.
Il gatto che vive nella casa del professore e studia i comportamenti umani, e in quanto soggetto esterno all'umanità è l'unico a rendersi conto dell'insensatezza degli uomini.
Attraverso dialoghi comici e personaggi inetti, il romanzo propone una riflessione sul senso dell'esistenza umana in un periodo storico ricco di mutamenti culturali.
Se Dio fosse stato capace di creare gli esseri umani uno identico all'altro, tanto da sembrare fatti con lo stampo, allora sì che avrebbe manifestato la sua onnipotenza! Invece,come possiamo constatare oggi con un senso di vertigine, ha messo sotto la luce del sole tutte le facce che gli sono saltate in mente, provando così senza scampo la propria incapacità.
Di conseguenza, anche tutti coloro che si conformano ai costumi occidentali, quali i protagonisti del romanzo, sono infelici.
Ogni studio che gli esseri umani conducono è una ricerca di se stessi.
Il gatto che vive nella casa del professore e studia i comportamenti umani, e in quanto soggetto esterno all'umanità è l'unico a rendersi conto dell'insensatezza degli uomini.
Attraverso dialoghi comici e personaggi inetti, il romanzo propone una riflessione sul senso dell'esistenza umana in un periodo storico ricco di mutamenti culturali.
Se Dio fosse stato capace di creare gli esseri umani uno identico all'altro, tanto da sembrare fatti con lo stampo, allora sì che avrebbe manifestato la sua onnipotenza! Invece,come possiamo constatare oggi con un senso di vertigine, ha messo sotto la luce del sole tutte le facce che gli sono saltate in mente, provando così senza scampo la propria incapacità.
zuzuchuu's review against another edition
2.0
as an avid fantasy/romance reader i realized that some books that don't have an obvious on-going plot may not be my cup of tea..
Also, if anyone wants to read this book please do some research about the Meiji era and the cultural and historical context. If I had done that maybe I would've enjoyed this book a bit more
Also, if anyone wants to read this book please do some research about the Meiji era and the cultural and historical context. If I had done that maybe I would've enjoyed this book a bit more
jennamck's review against another edition
its been too long since i last read it, i would have to start over when im in the mood
timgrubbs's review against another edition
5.0
A feline performs a social anthropological study of humanity during the Meiji era of the early 29th century…
I Am a Cat by Natsume Sōseki is a serialized novel about an unnamed cat (though tortoiseshell does call him “Professor”) studying human behavior, much to the cat’s annoyance and frustration.
The first few pages are woefully tragic so it’s best to skip those…as the unnamed cat narrator finds himself inhabited a schoolteacher’s house and taking the time there to learn all manner of human ethics, philosophy, and sociology….
The unnamed narrator has a HUGE vocabulary, but that’s possibly due to cats simply being very smart and having to deal with dumb people so just go ahead and accept that element of the writing.
Oh, that’s the other thing. This three volume novel is meant to be a written record of the cat’s studies of his human “owner” (because…yeah…cats don’t have true owners) and his family and associates. How does he write these things down? It’s never clear, but he makes it adamant that he’s documenting these observations…so there must be a written record somewhere…
Anyway, the only time reference is to the 38th year of the Meiji era (1905) and the end of the Russian-Japanese war (also 1905) which occurred around midway…so the entire novel is set at the beginning of the 29th century in case you need a reference.
The cat documents his interactions with other cats…which sadly mostly occur during volume one (and some of two). Volume three involves an almost total commitment to studying humanity with VERY LITTLE interesting stuff that doesn’t involve documenting various human chatting.
Cats are interesting creatures and most of this unusual novel definitely feels like how a cat perceives reality (especially the tragic beginning that you should probably skip but might also read anyway).
As a note, the novel makes reference on numerous occasions to various historical figures and cultural footnotes (specifically two plays) that I can’t verify as accurate. I wonder if the author created them as part of his world or if they simply haven’t survived the last century of historical preservation…
I Am a Cat by Natsume Sōseki is a serialized novel about an unnamed cat (though tortoiseshell does call him “Professor”) studying human behavior, much to the cat’s annoyance and frustration.
The first few pages are woefully tragic so it’s best to skip those…as the unnamed cat narrator finds himself inhabited a schoolteacher’s house and taking the time there to learn all manner of human ethics, philosophy, and sociology….
The unnamed narrator has a HUGE vocabulary, but that’s possibly due to cats simply being very smart and having to deal with dumb people so just go ahead and accept that element of the writing.
Oh, that’s the other thing. This three volume novel is meant to be a written record of the cat’s studies of his human “owner” (because…yeah…cats don’t have true owners) and his family and associates. How does he write these things down? It’s never clear, but he makes it adamant that he’s documenting these observations…so there must be a written record somewhere…
Anyway, the only time reference is to the 38th year of the Meiji era (1905) and the end of the Russian-Japanese war (also 1905) which occurred around midway…so the entire novel is set at the beginning of the 29th century in case you need a reference.
The cat documents his interactions with other cats…which sadly mostly occur during volume one (and some of two). Volume three involves an almost total commitment to studying humanity with VERY LITTLE interesting stuff that doesn’t involve documenting various human chatting.
Cats are interesting creatures and most of this unusual novel definitely feels like how a cat perceives reality (especially the tragic beginning that you should probably skip but might also read anyway).
As a note, the novel makes reference on numerous occasions to various historical figures and cultural footnotes (specifically two plays) that I can’t verify as accurate. I wonder if the author created them as part of his world or if they simply haven’t survived the last century of historical preservation…
indigo78180's review against another edition
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
3.75
I found this book terribly boring, and I felt like the prose of the translation was a little rough at times. I'd love to try reading it in Japanese someday, if I ever learn it!
tyunyang's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
harukifuyukami's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
Incredibly funny and the social commentary doesn't feel so heavy handed when it's coming from the perspective of a cat.