The Guest Cat
Takashi Hiraide
Translated by Eric Selland
25 September 2014Synopsis
A beautiful and profound novel that illuminates the small joys and complexities of life, even in the quietest of moments.
A couple in their thirties live in a small rented cottage in a tranquil corner of Tokyo. Working from home as freelance writers, they find their once vibrant relationship has grown distant and uncommunicative.
One day, an enchanting cat appears in their small kitchen. The beautiful creature comes and goes, but her visits become a welcome respite from their solitude. The cat's presence brings a new light to their days, inspiring the husband and wife to go on walks together, share stories of the cat's endearing ways, and rediscover the joy of the world around them.
But then something happens that will transform their lives once more. . .
The Guest Cat is an exceptionally moving novel that reflects on the nature of life and the way it feels to live it. Written by acclaimed Japanese poet and novelist Takashi Hiraide, the book won Japan's prestigious Kiyama Shohei Literary Award.
‘A rare treasure. . . beautiful and profound. . . whether you're a cat lover or not, don't pass this one up.’ – NPR
Details
25 September 2014
9781447279402Reviews
The Guest Cat is a rare treasure . . . beautiful and profound . . . whether you're a cat lover or not, don't pass this one upNPR
This is a gentle, thoughtful and subtly profound work . . . It's the kind of work that makes you ask of its author: "How on earth did he do that?" as you find yourself dabbing your eyes and pausing to look wistfully into the distance . . . You will want to read The Guest Cat more than once, so you notice more details - seeing as you can't do this with lifeNicholas Lezard's Paperback of the Week, Guardian
The language and descriptions are careful, elegant and lovely; while Hiraide's book is ostensibly about a cat, it is more precisely about space and ownership. The book renders an unusually intimate, detailed and vivid picture of a place that is simultaneously private and open.New York Times
Lyrical and captivating . . . I will revisit The Guest Cat with pleasure, much as I return to favourite poems and paintings and memoriesHuffington Post
