#if cats disappeared from the world

[samireads]

Japanese books with cats on the cover 🐈

[mobsolos]

“I see you as you see yourself through all the books you read”

[thomashewittslover]

“To live means: to cry and shout, to love, to do silly things, to feel sadness and joy, to even experience horrible, frightening things…and to laugh.”

Genki Kawamura, If Cats Disappeared From The World

[quererqueer]

I must have a whole collection of small injuries tucked away somewhere in the recesses of my memory. I suppose those are what some people call regrets.

If Cats Disappeared from the World by Genki Kawamura

[beljar]

I feel a wave of sadness so strong that the tears won’t stop.

Genki Kawamura, If Cats Disappeared from the World

[nurhadin17]

If cats disappeared from the world - Genki Kawamura

[stcrrysouls]

If cats disappeared from the world

This is the best book I've read so far this year. Nothing ever makes me cry but this did. The writer is so intelligent in crafting a story which is both fun and thought provoking. It seems like a lighthearted book in the beginning but as we go on it gets better and better. The last chapter was the most emotional thing. As we grow into adults we start taking our parents for granted and start to forget or be ignorant of their contribution in our lives. While they're the only ones who actually ever cared for us and wanted us to live.

If you haven't read this please read this and introspect and retrospect on your own life journey with the protagonist.

5/5☆

Kawamura you've created a gem ♡

[the---hermit]

If Cats Disappeard From The World Genki Kawamura

This is actually the first book by a Japanese author I have read, I have no idea how I never got to pick anything by a Japanese author before, but finally I have. I read this book for the studyblr w/knives summer reading challenge 2.0 for the poc main character prompt.

This book was so good. I loved the idea, the themes, and most importantly how these themes were approached by the author. This short novel is a long letter the main character writes to recount the last few incredible days of his life. He is hit with the terrible news he has an uncurable cancer and he could die anyday as there's nothing left to do. The devil appears to him and proposes a deal, he can make him live another day if he agrees on making disappear something from the world. And so this really interesting concept of what is actually worth having, and what is just meaningless is introduced, with our main character reflecting on the importance of many things, as well as his life. It's a great book that deals with death, life and the meaning of things that surround us, but the way it is executed is incredibly approachable. It doesn't feel like a phylosophical heavy book, it feels more like a fable, a tale witten so the reader can slow down and take a bit of time to reflect without being overwhelmed. I should also warn you that you'll end up wishing you had a cat whike reading this book. Overall I really recommend this book to everyone, especially this fact of it not being overwhealming at all even though it deals with heavier topics.

[gregor-samsung]

世界から猫が消えたなら [If Cats Disappeared from the World] (Akira Nagai - 2016)

[samireads]

What if?

[exactlyclearpost]

𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐩𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐞✨️ >>>>>> 𝐬𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐲𝐢𝐧𝐠

[shawnxcole]

"My hope is that my life would go on in someone's memory"

- Genki Kawamura, If Cats Disappeared From The World

[arkiskein]

— If Cats Disappeared From The World, Genki Kawamura

[youritalianbookpal]

Ten Questions Book Review - If Cats disappeared from the world by Genki Kawamura

What is it? Young man finds out that he has an incurable disease that will kill him at most in 6 months, and then the Devil shows up with a bargain he can't refuse. 

Who should read it and why? A short existential novel on what is important in life, will do good to anyone. If you love movies, cats, or clocks, this book is definitely for you though.

Which genre(s) is it? Contemporary with a dash of magic realism.

What is the setting? Tokyo (?), recent times

How are the characters? The characters are very lovable, especially the mother. I even enjoyed the Devil being there. He's a cool dude. The cat is AMAZING though.

What are the strengths and weaknesses of the novel? A big strength here, in my opinion, is how short the novel is. And don't get me wrong, I would have loved it to keep going. But the fact that it is so short is essential to the story itself. Nothing that is there shouldn't be there. Every single word, every single page, counts. It could be a weakness for others, but I loved how contained the story is.

Did I cry and/or laugh? I cried like a baby. The cat made me chuckle a couple of times, but the mother? The mother made me use an entire box of tissues. I even cried when I went back to the quotes I took note of in order to answer the last question. That's how much this book made me cry.

Who shouldn’t read the book? This book is a reasoning on grief, plus the story of a doomed man, who knows he will die very soon. It could be a hard read for many, and no one would blame you if you don't want to pick it up, or if you dnf it.

Any random comment? The cats on the Italian cover of the book are the cutest little beans, I cry whenever I think about them.

Which quote stuck with me?

As you go on with your life, always remember the things that are good in you. They're your gifts. As long as you have these things, you'll find happiness, and you'll make the people around you happy.

[justuknow]

Maybe the entire human race is unnecessary. The world we live in has no meaning at all.

[beljar]

Countless people who I seemed to have had some kind of a relationship with, but when push came to shove, didn’t really share much with after all. My contacts list was filled with people like that. My life was over and I had no one who mattered enough for me to call.

Genki Kawamura, If Cats Disappeared from the World