If Cats Disappeared From The World cover art

If Cats Disappeared From The World

A moving and thought-provoking tale for fans of cosy Japanese fiction

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If Cats Disappeared From The World

By: Genki Kawamura, Eric Selland - translator
Narrated by: Brian Nishii
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About this listen

A tender, whimsical tale of love, loss, and the quiet miracles of everyday life. Perfect for fans of cosy Japanese fiction.

When an unexpected diagnosis turns his world upside down, a lonely man, with only Cabbage the cat for company, is faced with an impossible choice. The Devil appears with an offer: if he makes one thing in the world disappear, he can have an extra day of life.

As the days tick by, and with Cabbage by his side, he begins a journey that might just lead him back to the people he thought he’d lost. Before it’s too late . . .

Genki Kawamura’s If Cats Disappeared from the World is a life-affirming meditation on what we leave behind – and what we hold onto until the very end.

'If you're a fan of The Guest Cat (or even just cats generally), you'll love this.' – Sunday Times

 Animals Fiction Genre Fiction Literary Fiction Magical Realism World Literature Fantasy Cats Magic Heartfelt

Critic reviews

A warm, quirky novel on life, love, family estrangement and what remains when we are gone with a surprising emotional charge.
If you're a fan of The Guest Cat (or even just cats generally), you'll love this.
This brief existential enquiry into life’s priorities is gently charming.
A moral tale.
A poignant, affecting story about facing up to one's mortality, taking responsibility for one's choices and deciding what truly holds value.
Reminiscent of Johnathan Livingston Seagull, this was a quick read – it only took me a few hours – but it will stay with you long after you finish it.
All stars
Most relevant
This is a wonderful book by Genki Kawamura (some people may know him as the producer of the film Your Name and he’s just as talented an author as producer!) -it’s touching and philosophical, and overall just a delight to read/listen to.

Beautiful story

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It's a melancholic story that made me smile, cry, and reflect on some things in my life. While the plot is simple, it surprises with some unpredictable turns. Overall, I enjoyed it, though some parts felt a bit lengthy.
This book will suit more for people who like thinking about life.

Melancholic & heart breaking

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Good points within the story… but could have had a lot more within this story .

Some good points

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We are all facing the inevitable, the death of someone we love. But when you have to face your own imminent ending, the feelings might be a bit different, introspective and quite overwhelming at times. I wholeheartedly recommend this book to everyone who lost a dear one, or is about to lose one, or even struggling with accepting his/ her/ their imminent ending. Absolutely magical, beautifully written and narrated. Tip: you don’t need to be a cat lover or a cat person to read/ listen to this book :) Thank you, Genki Kawamura!

A unique approach to the inevitable

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I wasn’t sure at first if I could enjoy this but I became engrossed, the narrator had a nice voice and I could visualise the story well. In the end especially in these difficult times it is good to think about the important things in our lives, it’s never too late.....

A Reflective listen

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