"What initially reads like free association turns out to be a near-microscopic record of emotion and phenomena." -- Alan Gilbert - The Believer "The best novels are often the ones that change us. Over time, they stay with us- like small miracles. Takashi Hiraide, the Japanese poet and novelist, blindsided me- he shows himself to be a poet of the highest grade. A rare treasure, beautiful and profound; whether you're a cat lover or not, don't pass this one up. ultimately, it's about what it means to love and to lose. Even dog lovers will relate." -- Juan Vidal - NPR "A beautiful, ornate read, brimming with philosophical observation, humor and intelligence." -- Publishers Weekly "An unusually intimate, detailed and vivid picture of a place that is simultaneously private and open." -- V.V. Ganeshananthan - The New York Times Book Review "Its clear there is a tradition of literary works centering on or featuring cats in modern Japanese, and we now have from New Directions a translation of a splendid addition to that list. (...) a work of subtleties revealed only with repeated readings. I recommend it unreservedly to the general reader." -- Paul McCarthy - The Japan Times "The little feline sets off a chain of disquisitions on nature, destiny, joy, pleasure, and sorrow" -- Nina Sankovitch - Huffington Post "A wonderful tale about the desire to possess and the pain of absence. And such writing! Precise, delicate, enchanting." -- Atmospheres "Hiraide's work really shines" -- Kenzaburo Oe
