A moving tale of loss and reaching out to the ones we love.
Our narrator's days are numbered. Estranged from his family, living alone with only his cat Cabbage for company, he was unprepared for the doctor's diagnosis that he has only months to live.
But before he can set about tackling his bucket list, the Devil appears with a special offer: in exchange for making one thing in the world disappear, he can have one extra day of life. And so begins a very bizarre week . . .
Because how do you decide what makes life worth living? In dealing with the Devil our narrator will take himself - and his beloved cat - to the brink.
Genki Kawamura's If Cats Disappeared from the World is a story of loss and reconciliation, of one man's journey to discover what really matters in modern life.
This beautiful tale is translated from the Japanese by Eric Selland, who also translated The Guest Cat by Takashi Hiraide.
'If you're a fan of The Guest Cat (or even just cats generally), you'll love this.' - Sunday Times
The Devil picked that moment to announce in his usual cheerful manner the next item he'd make disappear.
I couldn't think about anything anymore, so I said yes just like that.
At that point, the thought that it could happen to my cat Cabbage had never crossed my mind . . .
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.