A review by mrtvavrana
If Cats Disappeared From The World by Genki Kawamura

challenging emotional reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5

What if the Devil showed up in your home, offering you a deal? You get to live another day, but in exchange you need to make a thing disappear from the world. Would you take it? 

 

That is what the narrator of this short book is dealing with—the Devil offering him more time. 

 

The story, while quite sad and a bit depressing, takes place over the span of seven days. I loved the idea behind this book; the pace and plot were very nice, but I found the book a bit dull and boring at times. I suppose that's how life is sometimes, isn't it? 

 

I am not sure how to feel about the open ending. On one hand, I am upset we did not get to see the narrator finish what he set out to do before his ultimate death. On the other hand, that gives your mind a lot of space to make your own conclusions about what might have happened. 

 

I feel like I kept thinking more about what I would make disappear if I were able to make a deal like this rather than the book itself. Despite that, I had a theory that the whole story is just the narrator having hallucinations before he ultimately gives up and chooses death instead of another day on Earth. 

 

Overall, If Cats Disappeared From The World is a really lovely and fast read. Unfortunately, the actual cats did not get that much space.