September 30th, 2020
The Guest Cat seemed like very classic Japanese literature/culture to me in that the tiniest thing became symbolic of very profound ideals on life. I feel like the culture really centers around that sort of concept, in that honour is to be found and imbued in everything.
The book basically centers on how Chibi, a neighbour's cat, impacts the day-to-day life of an average Japanese working-class couple.
I think the novel simply taught me not only how transcient life is, but also the lasting effects of what we surround ourselves with. How the quirks and missteps of life become the things that are most memorable. How the everyday is something to behold in and of itself.
I also had the brief privilege of living with a cat during my last year of university, which I do think left an effect on me. I think cats, in particular, teach you to be less imposing on others, and more unconditional with your affection. This reflects super well in the novel, when the couple decide to leave a small window open so that the cat can come in and out of its own accord. Even when Chibi had scratched the wife, she comes to forgive the cat anyway. When it comes to the point that Chibi is no longer a part of their lives, they trudge onwards. After all, there is no going back.
As with a lot of slice-of-life works, I really enjoyed the read. It felt like a breeze. Not simply because it was a short read, but... something about the book felt like the constant ticking of time, or the rustle of a tree. A natural presence in tune to the steady rotation of the earth (I suppose you can interpret this how you may).
4/5 fishies left out for Chibi