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3.77 AVERAGE
3.77 AVERAGE
Some of the stories were cute or interesting, but for the most part I was only reading them to get to the end and see if the next one is better.
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Local bookshops are amazing places, run by book lovers for book lovers, you can go in and witter vaguely that you fancy something new, different, yes you do like cats....
.....and from out of nowhere they've scurried off and come back with something they're sure you'll like.
They might not get it right every time, but when they do....
The Cat And The City, Nick Bradley's debut novel, is essentially a collection of short stories about different people living their lives in Tokyo.
Only it's more than that. So much more.
For a start, there is the connecting thread of the titular cat. Every tale Bradley tells features the cat in some form – sometimes centrally, sometimes in passing.
And there's no set genre here either. We have Manga, sci-fi, romcom, crime - Bradley is basically giving us a taste of the whole Japanese Cat Story genre (yes, it's a thing - and a bloody good thing too).
In doing so, he not only shows us how good a write he can be, but also how wide and varied this particular literary form is.
He creates a range of characters – some you love, some you hate, one you really like until, in a very shocking moment, you don't – and then introduces you to them, lets them go away, and then brings them back. Slowly and subtly Bradley connects everyone and everything, showing us that we are not alone, but part of a collective whole. Our actions can have consequences far beyond our range of awareness.
And then, the clever little sod really spins it back around.
The Cat And The City is an emotional rollercoaster, one that will stay with you for a while after you've put it down for the final time, and one that will benefit from many re-reads as you spot new connections, new twists.
This cat really gets under your skin.
.....and from out of nowhere they've scurried off and come back with something they're sure you'll like.
They might not get it right every time, but when they do....
The Cat And The City, Nick Bradley's debut novel, is essentially a collection of short stories about different people living their lives in Tokyo.
Only it's more than that. So much more.
For a start, there is the connecting thread of the titular cat. Every tale Bradley tells features the cat in some form – sometimes centrally, sometimes in passing.
And there's no set genre here either. We have Manga, sci-fi, romcom, crime - Bradley is basically giving us a taste of the whole Japanese Cat Story genre (yes, it's a thing - and a bloody good thing too).
In doing so, he not only shows us how good a write he can be, but also how wide and varied this particular literary form is.
He creates a range of characters – some you love, some you hate, one you really like until, in a very shocking moment, you don't – and then introduces you to them, lets them go away, and then brings them back. Slowly and subtly Bradley connects everyone and everything, showing us that we are not alone, but part of a collective whole. Our actions can have consequences far beyond our range of awareness.
And then, the clever little sod really spins it back around.
The Cat And The City is an emotional rollercoaster, one that will stay with you for a while after you've put it down for the final time, and one that will benefit from many re-reads as you spot new connections, new twists.
This cat really gets under your skin.
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Loveable characters:
Complicated
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
challenging
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I loved this author’s 2nd book, Four Seasons in Japan, and really hoped this was going to be the same.
But no. It’s an odd book and you wonder what is happening and where it is going at times. The author seemed to have a bit of a fixation on sex and some chapters did not read comfortably.
I did really like the section with the cartoon type strip, that was my favourite story, but overall was disappointed.
But no. It’s an odd book and you wonder what is happening and where it is going at times. The author seemed to have a bit of a fixation on sex and some chapters did not read comfortably.
I did really like the section with the cartoon type strip, that was my favourite story, but overall was disappointed.
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I started this book ages ago and I didn't get entirely into it. Then I abandoned it for some months and picked it up again. So I noticed that I was missing threads and didn't entirely get the ending.
But I did the enjoy the stark contrast once the story switched to first person and we then got some blog images and later on an entire comic. That was such a pleasant surprise!
But I did the enjoy the stark contrast once the story switched to first person and we then got some blog images and later on an entire comic. That was such a pleasant surprise!