This is a book I got from a friend as a Christmas present. She knew I love cats and thought I would enjoy it. I did! It’s the perfect gift for a cat lover. I hadn’t heard of this author before but I understand he is also a poet. I could really tell that he was a poet because his prose is beautiful. From reading other works by poets who also write fiction, I’ve come to the conclusion that poets make wonderful fiction writers because they have a certain way of looking at the world and somehow their poetry skills seem to help them describe things in so much intricate detail yet in such a simple way.
This book will probably appeal most to people who love cats and have experience of owning cats, but it will also appeal to anyone who loves to get lost in great literature. There’s something about the fluid prose that pulls you in from the start. I was hooked almost as soon as I started reading.
The book is written in the first person and in such a way that it’s hard to tell whether it’s a memoir or a novel. This is the story about a cat who lives in a neighbouring property but visits a young couple regularly. The descriptive quality of the writing really brings the cat, Chibi, to life so that you can imagine her being a real cat. The couple form a bond with the cat and when circumstances change it is difficult for them to leave her behind. I won’t give away too much of the story but will say that it’s an enchanting read.
It explores relationships, not just between people and cats but in general. It’s about the beauty of nature and of the lessons to be learned from cats and other animals about freedom and love.
I’d highly recommend this book and will probably be buying it as a gift for others.
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