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matritense's review
The first and second chapter are enough to grasp the book's execution and intention. It gets old very quickly. A novelty read. Overall, I'm glad I encountered and delved into this book.
larobertson's review against another edition
I wanted to read something else instead.
classically_book_clubbin's review against another edition
funny
informative
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
frizzbee's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
funny
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
ann17young's review against another edition
The writing is fine and the premise of great. I just could not get I into that book after 150 pages 🫥. I was not very invested in the story.
elsecallerreads's review against another edition
lighthearted
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I'll be completely honest here, I picked this up just because I love cats. I found a lot of the book amusing, even with being unfamiliar with this time period in Japan. I can see why it was so popular when it was released and a lot of it was really clever.
Unfortunately this book suffers from a problem that I find most books written during this time period have: it is way too long. I got the point in the first third and I don't feel the rest of the book was justified.
Unfortunately this book suffers from a problem that I find most books written during this time period have: it is way too long. I got the point in the first third and I don't feel the rest of the book was justified.
theesotericcamel's review against another edition
4.0
What a whimsical book! And that is the best way to describe it. Whimsical. It is clear that Natsume Soseki was heavily influenced by Laurence Sterne, especially Tristram Shandy, to which I would most favourably compare this book. The cast of characters are very similar in their demeanour and dispositions to those of Tristram Shandy. But the situations in this book are decidedly more domestic and well, Asian. Notice how I have not spoken about the cat in the title yet? That is not completely by accident. Although the cat is the main character in the first and second parts, he gets relegated more and more to observer and narrator in the remaining parts of the novel. I would say that the first part of the book is the most cat-like, where we tightly follow a day in the life of the nameless kitten of the title. It is the best realised story of the bunch. And this makes sense when you understand that this book was originally published as a serial in a literary magazine called 'Cuckoo.' Soseki originally did not plan to write more than the first part. But it proved so successful that his friends urged him to continue the story. Make no mistake, the parts that follow are also entertaining and whimsical, but there is less of the "cattiness" conceit that made the first part so original. Another thing to note is that the characters of the story seem to be modelled after himself and his friends. And it is clear that Soseki pokes fun at himself and his friends through the non-human eyes of his own pet cat. The setting of the story, right as Japan is in the process of modernising and taking upon more and more Western customs, also makes for an interesting read. And the cat becomes a way for Soseki to criticise the society around him with relative impunity.