Having to admire his animated works making me intrigued to read this one. A debut novel by Makoto Shinkai, which at first was released as a 5-mins animation vid (only the first story from the novel if not mistaken). It gets adapted to anime series and manga later, that soon the author decided to debut it as a novel with the extended fragments from the original 5-mins story arc.
Consists of four interrelated stories of four women living with their cats, the theme explores the beauty of connection and communication in between these characters adventuring their daily life together. Told alternatingly from both the cats and its owner, it was fast pacing and quite neatly written, love that pinch of ennui setting with vignettes of changing seasons in between and how each women having that twinge of personal worries in their stories—of finding love, losing a friendship, on grief or having that pain of absence as well as anxieties about their future.
The characterization was profound, even for the cats that I could see how the author managed to develop them into a solid and gripping characters with sly and whimsical commentaries of their surroundings and perspectives on their human. Love Chobi the most; he was grandiose and too cute when he adores Miyu as his girlfriend, Mimi was tough and cheeky, Kuro the haughty feral that I love how he ended up with Shino later. Appreciate that subplot of Jon the old, friendly and almost deaf dog the one that intertwined these cats together; his story was quite touching and sentimental but it hits reality a lot to delve into his way of thinking about life and death.
Such a simple and delightful premise to me. Love the four illustrated pages too as it charmingly represents the bonding between the cats and their owner (love Reina and Mimi the most). Would recommend if you want a quick and light read on slice of life in between your heavy plot books or if you’re new to English novel, then this would be a great catch. 4 stars to this!
Thank you Times Reads for sending me a proof copy to review ♡