Discover this utterly charming, vibrant celebration of the healing power of cats in the award-winning, bestselling Japanese novel that has become an international sensation.
Tucked away on the fifth floor of an old building at the end of a narrow alley in Kyoto, the Nakagyō Kokoro Clinic for the Soul can be found only by people who are struggling in their lives and who genuinely need help. The mysterious clinic offers a unique treatment to those who find their way there: it prescribes cats as medication. Patients are often puzzled by this unconventional prescription, but when they “take” their cat for the recommended duration, they witness profound transformations in their lives, guided by the playful, empathetic, and occasionally challenging yet endearing cats.
Throughout these pages, the power of the human-animal bond is revealed as a disheartened businessman finds unexpected …
A cat a day keeps the doctor away….
Discover this utterly charming, vibrant celebration of the healing power of cats in the award-winning, bestselling Japanese novel that has become an international sensation.
Tucked away on the fifth floor of an old building at the end of a narrow alley in Kyoto, the Nakagyō Kokoro Clinic for the Soul can be found only by people who are struggling in their lives and who genuinely need help. The mysterious clinic offers a unique treatment to those who find their way there: it prescribes cats as medication. Patients are often puzzled by this unconventional prescription, but when they “take” their cat for the recommended duration, they witness profound transformations in their lives, guided by the playful, empathetic, and occasionally challenging yet endearing cats.
Throughout these pages, the power of the human-animal bond is revealed as a disheartened businessman finds unexpected joy in physical labor, a middle-aged man struggles to stay relevant at work and home, a young girl navigates the complexities of elementary school cliques, a hardened handbag designer seeks emotional balance, and a geisha learns to move on from the memory of her lost cat. As the clinic’s patients grapple with their inner turmoil and seek resolution, their feline companions lead them toward healing, self-discovery, and newfound hope.
I loved the meandering, like a cat. How the cats throw a fluffy wrench in things, how the human characters unfurl back into who they truly are. Cats are always the purrfect cure; Ishida's book was preaching to the choir as I read <3
I loved the meandering, like a cat. How the cats throw a fluffy wrench in things, how the human characters unfurl back into who they truly are. Cats are always the purrfect cure; Ishida's book was preaching to the choir as I read <3
Easy going short stories with a hint of supernatural
4 stars
These five short stories offer a reflective look at life, inviting readers to consider their own experiences if they find themselves relating to the characters. I particularly resonated with the first story, about the challenges faced by a young salaryman, due to some of my own life experiences. Cats appear in each story, intertwined with the characters' troubles, but their presence is never supernatural or beyond what one would expect from a cat. I saw the cats as more of a supporting element, a helpful nudge prompting the characters to re-evaluate their lives. The hint of the supernatural, mentioned in the title, comes from the doctor and nurse and the sometimes accessible, sometimes inaccessible nature of their office. I shouldn't say more about this, to avoid spoiling the ending. I enjoyed the book and the writing, though I felt something may have been lost in translation. I suspect this type …
These five short stories offer a reflective look at life, inviting readers to consider their own experiences if they find themselves relating to the characters. I particularly resonated with the first story, about the challenges faced by a young salaryman, due to some of my own life experiences. Cats appear in each story, intertwined with the characters' troubles, but their presence is never supernatural or beyond what one would expect from a cat. I saw the cats as more of a supporting element, a helpful nudge prompting the characters to re-evaluate their lives. The hint of the supernatural, mentioned in the title, comes from the doctor and nurse and the sometimes accessible, sometimes inaccessible nature of their office. I shouldn't say more about this, to avoid spoiling the ending. I enjoyed the book and the writing, though I felt something may have been lost in translation. I suspect this type of literature translates better in its native Japanese, as I felt I was missing some cultural nuances and subtleties in the writing style. Still, a very enjoyable read.
