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sglance9's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death and Grief
Moderate: Death of parent and Car accident
chris_reads's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Really great, though not quite at The Traveling Cat Chronicles level. (I think I just prefer novels.) Though the titular story did make me cry. The others were all good, and she implements it masterfully, but there's only so far you can go with this premise. I would be interested to read what Arikawa has to offer outside the subject.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death
Moderate: Death of parent, Grief, and Animal death
Minor: Terminal illness and Car accident
jstilts's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.75
This is a collection of short stories that vary in quality and interest, so a bit hard to give a useful star rating. Some of the stories are little gems, some so-so, the final story I almost skipped (but glad I didn't).
The stories all explore family life as affected by cats, usually at least partly from the cats perspective. Maybe, being a Japanese translation, the directions the stories take or fail to take are a little surprising to this western reader (the first especially so). For some reason the majority of these tales depict the fathers as being buffoons or jerks, which wears a little thin - but overall they are interesting insights into Japanese family life.
Be warned, there are a few sad tales.
The stories all explore family life as affected by cats, usually at least partly from the cats perspective. Maybe, being a Japanese translation, the directions the stories take or fail to take are a little surprising to this western reader (the first especially so). For some reason the majority of these tales depict the fathers as being buffoons or jerks, which wears a little thin - but overall they are interesting insights into Japanese family life.
Be warned, there are a few sad tales.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Abandonment, Animal death, Grief, Car accident, Death of parent, and Death
catandherbooks's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief
Moderate: Death of parent and Animal death
martinimissy's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
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? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Car accident, Death of parent, Grief, and Animal death
erinreadsbooks's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
Very cute collection of short stories about cats and their relationships with and alongside humans. Without the cats, these stories may have been sad and hopeless, but through the lenses of the cats who love them, the characters appear more hopeful and their lives are full of love.
Read if you like sentimental short stories featuring cats!
Read if you like sentimental short stories featuring cats!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Car accident, Animal death, Grief, Abandonment, Terminal illness, and Death of parent
schnaucl's review against another edition
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
CW: There are multiple cat deaths in this book. None are described in graphic detail.
I thought the first story was the strongest story. It was one of a few stories told from the point of view of the cat and was about his love for the youngest son in the family and how he tried throughout his life to keep him from being sad. Most of the stories were about the bond between a cat and male.
There's also an irritating theme of learned helplessness among the adult men in a few of the families and everyone else in the family having to accommodate their childishness.
I thought the first story was the strongest story. It was one of a few stories told from the point of view of the cat and was about his love for the youngest son in the family and how he tried throughout his life to keep him from being sad. Most of the stories were about the bond between a cat and male.
There's also an irritating theme of learned helplessness among the adult men in a few of the families and everyone else in the family having to accommodate their childishness.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal death
Minor: Death of parent, Car accident, Terminal illness, Cancer, Death, and Grief
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