Ella y su gato

by Makoto Shinkai, Lilian Rodas (Narrator), Naruki Nagakawa

DEL GENIAL CREADOR MAKOTO SHINKAI, DIRECTOR DEL ÉXITO YOUR NAME

Cuatro mujeres, cuatro gatos, cuatro historias entrelazadas

En un lluvioso día de primavera, Miyu, una chica que vive sola en la gran ciudad, encuentra un gato acurrucado en una caja de cartón y se lo lleva a casa. A ella se le da mal expresar lo que siente. Él observa de cerca sus torpezas y rutinas. Cada uno en su universo propio, ambos dan el salto al mundo exterior, donde encontrarán a otros con distintos problemas, unas veces grandes y otras, pequeños. Reina, una chica que no reúne el suficiente valor para presentarse a unas pruebas de acceso a la escuela de Bellas Artes, y Aoi otra joven que vive atormentada por la muerte de su mejor amiga… Mientras sus gatos las observan con cariño, entre todos nacerá un vínculo especial, lleno de emociones.
Ella y su gato supone la novelización de una de las primeras obras del prestigioso director de animación Makoto Shinkai. Son cuatro historias engarzadas que giran en torno a los gatos recogidos de la calle, repletas del encanto y la belleza del mundo de este gran cineasta contemporáneo.

Genres: Fiction, Short Stories, Contemporary, Japan, Japanese Literature, Cats, Asian Literature

Audible Audio

First published June 21, 2013

About the author

SHINKAI Makoto
Name (in native language): 新海 誠
Associated Names:
СИНКАЙ Макото
Makoto Shinkai


Makoto Shinkai (新海 誠 Shinkai Makoto?), born as Makoto Niitsu (新津 誠 Niitsu Makoto?, February 9, 1973) is a Japanese director of anime and former graphic designer. A native of the Nagano Prefecture, Shinkai studied Japanese literature at Chuo University where he was a member of juvenile literature club where he drew picture books. He traces his passion for creation to the manga, anime, and novels he was exposed to while in middle school. His favorite anime is Castle in the Sky by Hayao Miyazaki. Shinkai has been called "The New Miyazaki" in several reviews including Anime Advocates and ActiveAnime, comparisons which he calls an "overestimation".

Reviews

[Jesse (JesseTheReader) · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was wholesome! I loved the parallels between the stories of the cats and the humans. It was also a nice reminder of how important pet companions can be. It's filled with chill stories that aren't too chaotic when it comes to the plot, but I enjoyed it as a whole.

[Liong · Rating 5 out of 5]

Because I like cats' stories therefore I read this book.

This book made me smile and my eyes glistened with tears unawareness.

The stories are about a few cats, a dog, and women pet owners.

It is a heartwarming and easy reading and a gentle story to read.

This novel is interconnecting with cats' and women's perspectives by turns.

We can understand intimate views from pets and people.

Fantastic and creative writing skills to present the stories.

I strongly recommend reading this book.

Calming with happy endings.

[aly ☆彡 · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think it only makes the most sense for my first five stars read of the year to go for a book on CATS.

You know the saying: if there are a million number of cat persons, I am one of them. If there are only ten cat persons, I am one of them. If there is only one cat person, that is ME, and if there is no longer a cat person on earth, that is because I am dead.

"I remember the happy time when there was no loneliness"

These four interconnected stories from Makarto Shinkai are brazenly whimsical and took place in a Tokyo suburb with office buildings, railroad tracks, and talking cats. These stories depict the kinship and relationships with animals with a beguiling lightness as they were recounted from the perspective of the owner and the pet. While the cats navigate their suburban neighborhood, dealing with the challenges of territory, friendship, and mortality — their owners deal with the challenges of daily life, seeing similarities and distinctions among them all.

The first story with Chobi is just my absolute favorite; where he was rescued by Miyu on a cold and rainy day. In all honesty, it somewhat makes me think of my cat. Chobi cares for his owner more than anything (he thinks she is his girlfriend 😂) and watches over her as she traverses the ups and downs of a challenging relationship and is there for her when she was desolated. While my cat is nowhere near Chobi, with his arrogant, grumpy, four-legged ass (the only similarity they had is that they both are strays 🤧) — but I would like to think that he too, thinks me as (at least) someone special (how dare he, if he's not, I feed you!)

And this effectively sets the tone for the remainder of the book, in which we see women from all ages and backgrounds with their faithful feline companions. We are later introduced to Reina and Mimi, Cookie and Aoi as well as Kuro and Jon's owner. I adore how seamlessly each scene blends into the next. The author skillfully transitions between the perspectives of the human and the cat, naturally building on one another and each perspective greatly enhancing the other. There was not one story that you will not come to enjoy as they are heart-stirring yet lighthearted.

She and Her Cat are essentially about the comfort a pet can provide and how adopting a stray cat may change their life. Such powerful and subtle wording that carries the reader from one scene to the next without interfering with the narrative is hard to overlook. She and Her Cat doesn't attempt to convey a complete story from start to finish. Instead, it encourages the reader to live in the present and, in doing so, makes the story more accessible to readers as a stream of consciousness. Although reading about the experience may seem strange at first, I found it to be quite meditative (duh, cat person here of course).

For the most part, She and Her Cat are highly enjoyable. Naturally, anyone who owns a cat will enjoy this book more, but hopefully, others will as well as you discover a new regard for cats' wisdom and compassion. It's a novel that, though it seems straightforward at first, requires reflection to be properly appreciated. It is comforting, just as what I need it to be.

[Sujoya - theoverbookedbibliophile · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5⭐

“It’s your life, and you have to make sure you keep enough of it for yourself.”

She and Her Cat: Stories by Makoto Shinkai, Naruki Nagakawa,(translated by Ginny Tapley Takemori) is a collection four interlinked short stories featuring cats and their humans. The narrative is shared from the alternating perspectives of the cat and his/her human. The cats have struggles of their own from dealing with territorial counterparts, separation from their own, and witnessing the ups and downs in the lives of their human(s) who in turn are dealing with their fair share of troubles relating to love, work, friendships and loss.

The first story Sea of Words features Chobi, who was rescued from a cardboard box by Miyu. His infatuation with Miyu (his referring to her as his “girlfriend” is adorable) and his concern for her when she is upset or heartbroken is beautifully portrayed as is his helplessness when he admits that all he can do to help her is stand by her when she is troubled. “I couldn’t do anything about her problems. I just lived my days at her side.”

We also get to meet Jon, a neighborhood dog, Shino’s pet who is wise and settles any dispute among the cats who also look up to him for knowledge and advice.

The second story First Blossoming features Reina a talented art student who is struggling and Mimi, a stray cat who was abandoned as a kitten. Weaker than the rest of the litter and hard of hearing, she is determined to make it on her own. She befriends Reina who names her Mimi after the cat she had as a child. In this story, we also meet Kink Tail with whom Mimi has a romantic encounter and Kuro, the feral cat who befriends the other cats. The story follows Mimi and Reina and the events that lead to Mimi becoming Reina’s cat.

The third story Slumber and Sky tells us the story of Aioi who is grieving the loss of her best friend Mari and Cookie, the kitten who her mother adopts. Initially, Aioi’s grief is all-consuming but gradually Cookie finds her way into Aioi’s heart.

The fourth story The Temperature of the World revolves around Kuro the feral cat who eventually gives up his independence to become a part of Shino’s household after the demise of her pet.

The authors have done a wonderful job of portraying how our furry friends can provide warmth companionship and comfort amid the trials and tribulations of modern life. The authors do an incredible job of blending the alternating narratives. I enjoyed the POVs of Chobi, Mimi, Cookie, Kuro and Jon I loved their observations on human behavior and relationships, their closeness and concern for the people around them and their opinions on the way humans go about their daily lives. Their POVs are rich in emotion, humor and wisdom. I loved how the stories come together in the end. Touching upon themes of loneliness, grief, depression and the significant impact that our furry friends can have in our lives, this is a lovely, heartwarming read that will strike a chord in your heart.

I paired my reading with the incredible audio narration by Hana Teraie-Wood, Nile Faure-Bryan, Jacqui Bardelang, Julia Strowski and Winson Ting.

“People who are too earnest can’t bring themselves to blame others, so they end up blaming themselves and suffering for it.”

[Judithrosebooks · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nunca había leído nada parecido y me ha sorprendido gratamente. Si os gustan los animales, sobretodo los gatos, este libro os gustará.

El libro está narrado por cuatro mujeres (aunque aparece alguna más) y cuatro gatos, ellas nos cuentan su situación actual, basada en sus sentimientos, y los gatos nos cuentan cómo ven a sus amas y cómo afrontan la vida cómo gatos.

Me ha gustado porque a pesar de no ser una gran historia y que hable en profundidad de los personajes, se centra mucho en los sentimientos y en cómo el hecho de adoptar a un animal nos puede ayudar a superar los malos momentos.

[Ashleigh (a frolic through fiction) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rated 4.5/5 stars!

These stories are so charming I could cry ;_;

This tiny book does such an incredible job at documenting the small magics of the world, the gentle moments of everyday life amidst the constant emotion. It really did feel like a precious reminder that things aren’t all bad.

though my longing for a cat may now be unbearable…

[Jodie✨ · Rating 5 out of 5]

A heartwarming and beautiful translated novel encompassing a neighbourhood in Japan and four women and their feline companions.

A story about human connection, loneliness, companionship and of course, cats.

I absolutely loved this book. Having previously read the manga I had a rough idea as to what to expect going in but the novelisation completely surpassed every expectation I had. And I have to say I much prefer this to the manga.

This a story told in four parts, following four different women in one neighbourhood in different stages in life dealing with various degrees of loss and loneliness. We are introduced to them and their circumstances in each story along with a cat who also lives within the neighbourhood who shows them the meaning of connection and companionship. One of the best things about this book is that we also get the pov of the featuring cat in each tale. This added so many more layers to the story in my opinion and had me wondering if my own cat has the same thoughts as these fictional cats!

I found this to be a very emotional little novel and I must admit by the end I teared up.

I would highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a lovely little read that is comforting and heartwarming as well as also discussing some darker moments in life and how companionship and connection can help heal us. And of course, I’d recommend it to any cat lover! One of my top reads of 2022!

[Iris ☾ (iriis.dreamer) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Makoto Shinkai, el prestigioso director de cine de animación, es el creador de esta historia que ha novelado Naruki Nakagawa. Me fascina la literatura japonesa y todo lo que me pueda aportar algo de esta cultura que tanto admiro siempre es bienvenido en mis estanterías. Por eso, y por su magnífica portada y mi amor hacia los gatos, decidí darle una oportunidad.

«Ella y su gato» reúne cuatro relatos entrelazados que giran entorno a los gatos. En cada una de estas historias conoceremos a una mujer protagonista que de una u otra manera conocerá a un gato y formará parte de su vida. También veremos la visión de estos animales de una manera muy curiosa y original. Formaremos parte de su día a día acompañándolos en sus pensamientos y conversaciones.

En conjunto, estos textos que tienen un nexo de unión, son entrañables y tiernos. La manera en la que se entrelazan sus personajes me ha parecido acorde al tono tranquilo de la novela. No encontraremos sobresaltos, es más una lectura que nos aportará paz y relajación. Aunque siendo justa, no he hallado esa intensidad y profundidad intimista que transmiten generalmente las obras japonesas.

La lectura es muy amena y sencilla, no cuesta adentrarse en la trama y no se pierde en detalles banales. Nos deja buenas enseñanzas a través de la importancia que tiene el apoyo incondicional de estos seres tan especiales. Muchas veces la gente encuentra mucho más apoyo y ayuda de ellos que a través de las personas.

En definitiva, estos relatos serán un auténtico disfrute para los grandes amantes de los gatos. La narración no nos brinda una experiencia única, ni pretende deleitarnos con una prosa exquisita pero cumple su función de ser una lectura entretenida y amena que se puede leer en una tarde.

[Alwynne · Rating 4 out of 5]

A bestseller in Japan, these interlinking stories grew out of director Makoto Shinkai’s first short anime, which became a television series and a popular manga. Set in a residential neighbourhood in Tokyo, each piece moves between the perspective of a cat and their human: a lonely office worker and the stray cat she decides to adopt; an aspiring artist who slowly bonds with a discarded local cat; a grief-stricken girl brought back to life by an inquisitive kitten; and an isolated woman who coaxes a feral cat into her home.

Despite some annoyingly sentimental passages - particularly the sections featuring Jon an aging dog who dispenses homespun wisdom to the surrounding cat community – these are incredibly charming. In these wistful, atmospheric, slice-of-life stories, the cats are definitely the stand-out characters, particularly Mimi, the diffident but feisty stray, who gradually bonds with painter Reina. Each chapter’s introduced by an arresting black-and-white drawing, and the collection’s smoothly translated by Ginny Tapley Takemori.

Thanks to Netgalley and publisher Doubleday for an ARC

[Nat K · Rating 5 out of 5]

ᓚᘏᗢ Gorgeous.

”Society is mostly made up words.”

Deceptively simple storytelling is found in this sweet novella, that shows the importance of friendship and love. How without it, like food or water, we cannot thrive. Yet when we have it, the world looks like a completely different place. And how true this need is of all living creatures, or in this case, humans and cats!

I couldn’t help but think of Naïve Art as I was reading this. Nothing is insinuated in these pages, there’s no reading between the lines as to the meaning. The brushstrokes are broad and bold. Clear primary colours are used for the words.

Four vignettes. Four women of varying ages live in the same neighbourhood. Each is at a crossroads in their lives. Into each of their homes and hearts wanders in a cat. The stories are told alternately by the women and their feline friends.

It’s a light, comforting read, which has sadness, longing and happiness all squished into 153 pages. Being a cat lover, I adored the sections where the cat’s thoughts were written on the page. The banter was super cute and amusing. And to see the concerns and care our little buddies have for us, melted my heart.

This shows that not only people have concerns and worries, but that life can also represent sets of challenges for our four legged, be-whiskered friends.

Regret, longing, wishing for more…Modern society and its’ demands and potential for misunderstanding and alienation are part and parcel of life. Bus so is also the potential for change, sometimes when you least expect it.

”I couldn’t remember what had happened or why I was here in a cardboard box getting drenched in the rain.

…she scooped me up into her arms…tucked me between her jacket and sweater. Her body was incredibly warm, and I could hear her heartbeat…

The heartbeats of she, me and the world pulsed together as one.

That was the day she took me in. I was now her cat.”

The connection between the stories - of both the women and the cats - is a nice touch. I really enjoy short stories that have a running theme throughout them, and this is done deftly. The illustrations add to the gorgeousness of the story.

WORDS: Makoto Shinkai
ILLUSTRATIONS: Makoto Shinkai

Seasons change, as do people. We move from the rain of Autumn to the joy of Spring, the crispness of dry grass in Summer, to the cold, fluttering snow of Winter. The light changes. People grow old, kittens grow into cats. The cycle continues.

Some of the lines in the story are so beautiful. I’m continually awed by the gentle grace that many Japanese Writers have:

* ”Puddles created by the evening shower reflected the blue sky.”
* "I gently licked away the teardrops running down her cheeks. They were warm and tasted of her life."
* "Spring came and the cherry trees blossomed. They were the most beautiful thing I’d ever seen."

This is such a gem of a book to read on a weekend, or an afternoon when you have the time to let the words flow over you, to ponder on.

"I recalled the rain day when I'd rescued Chobi - or so I'd arrogantly believed at the time. Actually, I was the one who'd been rescued."

This is definitely a warm book hug. All the meows. ᓚᘏᗢ

[Emily Coffee and Commentary · Rating 3 out of 5]

Adorable, charming, and relatable, She and Her Cat is a collection of stories that highlights the unparalleled joys of having a pet. From the perspective of three cats given a new lease on life, we see unconditional love and wonder, entertainment and contended boredom, hope and longing. We see that love is a language without limit, without borders, it forges bonds that are unbreakable, regardless of circumstances. As a rescue cat owner myself, these stories are so near and dear to my heart; there is so much comfort and motivation that comes from the nurturing of a pet, every day feels full of possibility with my beloved girls beside me.

[Patry Fernandez · Rating 4 out of 5]

Me lo he leído en 2 horas. Ha sido una lectura muy bonita y tierna. Ver como se entrelazan las vidas de los humanos con los gatos, y poder disfrutar de ambas perspectivas. Lo que sienten y sufren, pero pero sobre todo, ese lazo que los une de por vida.

[Lamaleluna · Rating 4 out of 5]

La verdad, estoy sorprendida

Ella y su gato fue un libro en el que caí de casualidad. Lo había visto en librerías pero no me había acercado a comprarlo y hace poco lo encontré en audiolibro y no dudé.

Es un libro muy cortito compuesto de 4 relatos. En cada uno de ellos nos encontramos a un protagonista humano y un protagonista gato distinto, y vemos como cada personaje busca superar miedos, deseos y salir de entornos de sus vidas que no están resultando bien.
De a ratos está para llorar y de a ratos es una caricia al corazón, se sintió muy lindo de leer (escuchar en mi caso) y lo voy a recomendar mucho. Más si están buscando algo cortito pero que les marque fuerte.
El libro me recordó un poco a "la biblioteca de la medianoche". Otra novela que recomiendo mucho.

Yo leyendo Ella y su gato: 🥺😞😭☺️🥰

[Liz • りず · Rating 4 out of 5]

"But I will always be by your side. After all, I am your cat.”
😻😽🐈
A heartwarming and charming tale set in a Japanese neighborhood featuring four women and their feline friends.
A narrative about human connection, loneliness, companionship, and as you would expect, cats. 
She and her Cat is an extremely endearing examination of the human condition, love, and loss. The cats are unquestionably the stand-out characters in these melancholy, atmospheric stories.
I found myself sighing with delight and glancing at my own kitty as I read through each chapter, imagining what fanciful thoughts he must have day-to-day. Does he wonder what I'm thinking too? Shinkai wonderfully conveys the deep, unspoken love that exists between cats and their owners with quirky dialogue and quaint scenery.
She and her Cat is an enchanting, wholesome slice of life story that is essential for dreamers and cat lovers.

[spillingthematcha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Poruszająca! Nie spodziewałam się, że takiego wzruszenia.

[Fanny Reads ♡ · Rating 3 out of 5]

"𝘕𝘰 𝘦𝘹𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘯 𝘩𝘶𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘰𝘴 𝘲𝘶𝘦 𝘴𝘦𝘢𝘯 𝘴𝘪𝘦𝘮𝘱𝘳𝘦 𝘧𝘶𝘦𝘳𝘵𝘦𝘴 𝘺 𝘧𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘤𝘦𝘴 𝘰 𝘴𝘪𝘦𝘮𝘱𝘳𝘦 𝘥𝘦𝘣𝘪𝘭𝘦𝘴."

Opinión: Una novela ligera y muy cozy, narra las vivencias de 4 chicas y 4 gatos distintos, cuyas historias acaban encontrándose casi sin querer, de forma muy casual. Si tienes un gato o tuviste uno en algún momento de tu vida, es una lectura muy recomendable, porque seguro te identificas en más de una ocasión. Cada gato tiene su propio carácter, y como humanos, con los años aprendemos a ver un poco a través de sus ojos, aunque ni nos acerquemos a entender la manera que tienen de percibir el mundo.
Las cuatro protagonistas, a su vez, representan problemas y situaciones relativamente comunes en la sociedad, desde la dificultad de independizarse y madurar hasta el síndrome del nido vacío. Cada una construirá con su gato una relación que la ayuda a sobrellevar esos problemas, aunque en muchas ocasiones ni siquiera son conscientes de ello. A la vez que suponen un sustento a nivel de supervivencia para los michis, pues por normal general les proporcionan comida y refugio, acaban recibiendo a cambio algo mucho más importante: un apoyo y un cariño auténticos y sinceros, una adoración que solo pueden profesarnos nuestras mascotas.
Al mismo tiempo, tendremos retazos alternativos narrados desde el punto de vista de los michis, donde nos relatarán qué opinan de la vida en el barrio y de las circunstancias que viven sus dueñas, desde una perspectiva muy seria. Desde su punto de vista, todo es mucho más simple, pero al mismo tiempo, más complejo. El paso del tiempo se representa con un marcador muy importante en la sociedad japonesa: las estaciones, que también son vitales en los ciclos felinos, pues marcan las épocas de apareamiento, de salir a explorar y marcar territorio…
También llegamos a toparnos con la historia de un personaje llamado John, que tal vez sorprenda un poco cuando lo conocemos, pues presenta unas ideas muy filosóficas y profundas para tratarse de un perro, pero que es un estupendo hilo conductor para la historia y para las etapas de madurez de alguno de los gatos protagonistas.
En definitiva, Ella y su gato nos habla del valor de la independencia, de lograr las cosas por nosotros mismos y de crecer aprendiendo de los errores y las vivencias. Labrarse su propio futuro y superar los problemas del pasado nos permitirá llegar a donde nos propongamos, si le ponemos ganas y esfuerzo.

Debo decir también que la portada es un obra de arte maestraaaa, pero que hermosa portada <3

[buket · Rating 5 out of 5]

ahh this was such a sweet, heartwarming book!! i will recommend this to anyone who loves cats which basically everyone because who wouldn’t love them 🥹😻

🫂 People who are too earnest can’t bring themselves to blame others, so they end up blaming themselves and suffering for it.

🌷 I love this world. This thought came to me with absolute clarity.
Suddenly, she laughed, and I looked up at her happy, glowing face. She’d picked up on my thoughts too.
I’m sure that she, too, loves this world.

[rachelle (m00dreads) · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 ⭐️ rounded up

A cozy little collection of interconnected short stories that chronicle the subtle transformational magic in the quotidian (via one of the most deeply tranquil relationships humans can have). Includes snapshots of daily human life captured from the lens of cats.

Recommended audio reading for those who feel like kicking their shoes off, lounging on a chaise with a cup of tea, and staring dazedly out the windows.

A quintessential lazy day read.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5/5

Time for another edition of Bookstagram Made Me Do It folks, and this time it comes in the form of She and Her Cat: Stories by Makoto Shinkai (translated by Ginny Tapley Takemori). Apparently, this was a short film by Shinkai before it was a book, and if it was this good as a book, I could see it being completely adorable as a film. I would guess there are some things that maybe I missed since it is translated from Japanese, but the overall themes of the stories seemed fairly easy to understand. I don't know that I felt FULLY connected to any of the characters but there was enough there that I could find relatable things about each one, and I thought the translation came through just fine thanks to Tapley Takemori.

It was a lovely thing to have all 4 stories be interconnected, and I had to look up the definition of vignette since I thought they might be the same thing as a short story. Turns out they are not the same, but for this book, I thought they basically had the same concept although returning characters and cats in each one meant this kind of felt like one long story. The audiobook for She and Her Cat was really good as well, and I loved that there were 5 different narrators. Winson Ting, Julia Strowski, Jacqui Bardelang, Hana Teraie-Wood & Nile Faure-Bryan all brought a great authenticity to the characters (and I guess the cats for that matter), and I would gladly recommend the audio to anyone. It was interesting to see how the audio varied to the actual book, and some of the verbiage was a touch different but only in terms of making it more American. If you are a pet lover, especially cats, I think it will be very easy to find something to love about She and Her Cat.

[Donatella Principi · Rating 4 out of 5]

4- Lei e il suo gatto è il cortometraggio d'esordio di Makoto Shinkai, autore ormai molto conosciuto grazie ai suoi recenti lavori come Your Name. Da quest'opera sono stati tratti prima un manga e ora un romanzo che non si limita a raccontare la storia "originale" ma aggiunge qualcosa di nuovo.

Mayu è una giovane donna che è andata a vivere per conto suo da poco e un giorno, tornando a casa, incontra un gatto randagio che decide di adottare e chiamare Chobi. Il loro rapporto viene esplorato alternando il punto di vista umano e quello felino. Si tratta di una storia molto leggera e quotidiana sulle difficoltà e le responsabilità della vita adulta a cui si affaccia Mayu. Non è una storia che punta a commuovere o raccontare qualcosa di estremamente profondo o nuovo, eppure è in grado di emozionare grazie alla sua semplicità e universalità. Penso che ognuno di noi si sia ritrovato in un momento di grandi cambiamenti in cui ha perso un po' la bussola, o in un momento di difficoltà. Così come può essere che anche noi abbiamo instaurato con il nostro gatto, o un altro animale, un rapporto speciale. Questa è secondo me la forza dell'opera.

In questo libro, come accennavo, la storia di Mayu non è però l'unica. Ci sono infatti quattro storie diverse, quattro donne e quattro gatti. Lo schema è sempre lo stesso: un incontro che cambierà sia la persona che l'animale, alternando le due voci. Può sembrare un po' ripetitivo ma a me non ha disturbato. L'ho trovata una lettura molto carina e piacevole, leggera ma non superficiale. Si parla di lavoro, famiglia e amicizia, tutti temi che riguardano la vita quotidiana di ogni essere umano.

La mia storia preferita rimane quella fra Mayu e Chobi che già conoscevo grazie al fumetto. È quella con cui ho trovato più affinità e che ha saputo emozionarmi maggiormente.

Consigliato se si sta cercando una lettura leggera, se si è un po' giù di morale o se si ha un rapporto speciale con il proprio animale perché sono certa che vi rivedrete

[Zari.Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

۴.۵از۵⭐️
داستان در مورد زندگی تعدادی دختر/پسر و گربه هست که همشون در توکیو زندگی می کنند که سیر داستان در طول یکسال اتفاق میافته و ما به واسطه ی گربه ها از زندگی اونا آگاه میشیم⚡️

یکی از دلایلی که شروع کردم به گوش دادن کتاب، وجود پیشی تو عنوان و جلد کتاب بود( وی یکcat person است🥺🐈❤️‍🔥)
خیلی کتاب شیرین و دلچسب و بانمکی هست و مفهوم زندگی رو به خوبی می رسونه✨️💓

[Alex Pler · Rating 2 out of 5]

Novela ligera sobre los destinos entrelazados de cuatro gatos y cuatro mujeres. Se queda en la superficie de las cosas, sin ahondar en los conflictos de los personajes ni explotar el mundo de los felinos. Correcta y funcional, sin más.

[Aubrei K (earlgreypls) · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5⭐️ I will always be a sucker for a good japanese translation written from a cats POV

[Coos Burton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Este libro es una novela coral donde todo se conecta de una forma muy amena, muy bien trabajada. Tiene sus momentos sensibles, y no voy a negar que lagrimeé un par de veces, pero creo que valió la pena. La historia es hermosa, muy conmovedora y esperanzadora. No sé si encontraré otra forma de describirlo. Tenía las expectativas en una especie de limbo porque leí varias reseñas negativas, sin embargo, creo en la importancia de leer y formar una opinión critica al respecto, aunque resulte subjetiva de alguna manera. A mí me encantó, y lo recomendaría a todo el mundo, sin ningún tipo de pretenciones.

Si te gusta la literatura japonesa y los gatos, no dejes de visitar mi video recomendando algunos títulos que me encantaron: https://youtu.be/vliD5QMJgO4

[Marta Fernández · Rating 4 out of 5]

Este ha sido mi plan de domingo, bueno en realidad parte de la tarde, porque lo he leído en nada. Me ha enganchado desde el principio, es el típico libro que dices: ¿cómo no se me ha ocurrido a mí? Una premisa sencilla y con gancho. El libro se divide en cuatro partes: cuatro historias con sus correspondientes cuatro gatos, y todas relacionadas entre sí. Lo más llamativo es que cada historia está contada por dos voces: la de la mujer y la de su gato. La perspectiva de los gatos es sin duda la mejor, y os prometo que el autor os acaba convirtiendo en un gato por unos instantes.

Mis historias favoritas han sido la segunda y la última. La división es la siguiente:

Chobi-Miyu (parte I: «Un mar de palabras»):
Mimi-Reina (parte II: «Primeras flores»)
Cookie-Aoi (parte III: «El sopor y el cielo»)
Kuro-Shino (parte IV: «La temperatura corporal del mundo)

Todas las mujeres protagonistas no están pasando por su mejor momento, digamos que la mayoría están atravesando una época existencial (a excepción de Aoi). Mientras que los gatos solo buscan un compañero mientras esperan ser rescatados de las calles.

Empezamos con Chobi y Miyu, su relación es entrañable. Miyu está pasando por un momento existencialista, su relación (si es que la tiene) no va a ninguna parte y no sabe cómo enfrentarlo. Chobi necesita ser rescatado de las calles y un día lluvioso se encuentran, y sin darse cuenta se rescatan mutuamente, me ha recordado a Oliver (de la película de Disney «Oliver y su pandilla») pero en blanco. Chobi nos describe a su dueña con adoración, habla con ella a través de maullidos y viviremos sus peripecias como gato. Son muy interesantes las conversaciones entre gatos, cómo se conocen y cómo presumen de sus dueños.

No puedo terminar la reseña sin mencionar al leal John, el único perro de este libro. Que da una gran lección en esta historia, es increíble cómo se preocupa por Shino.

Esta novela está basada en el comic (publicado por Planeta Comic). A pesar de la sencillez y de que puede resultar chocante la idea, en pocas páginas y con pocas palabras el autor logra traspasar al lector con temas reales, más aún en los tiempos que vivimos. La soledad, despedidas y la seguridad en uno mismo.

[Óscar Moreno (OscarBooker) · Rating 4 out of 5]

A ver, creo que este libro me pareció precioso.

Aquí se exploran las vidas de cuatro personajes diferentes y sus gatos. Todos se entrelazan entre sí y además se complementan.

Me parece increíble pues se abordan diferentes temáticas muy imponentes como muerte, duelo, soledad, amor, desamor, amistad, ambición, abuso, misoginia, solidaridad, etc. Muchas cosas con las cuales podrías empatizar de manera muy sencilla.

Sin embargo, creo que lo que más me gustó fue la voz narrativa de los gatos. Sus descripciones, acciones, pensamientos y motivaciones; todo me encantó pues realmente me imaginaba a un gato pasando por ello.

Claro que debo mencionar que la única razón por la cual no le di las 5⭐️ es porque al final sentí que se me cayó un poco el interés o al menos los personajes humanos, de los últimos dos relatos, jamás conecte con ellos ni su historia. Eran buenos pero por alguna razón no enlacé.

Claro que vale mucho la pena leerlo, en especial si te gustan los gatos, pues es muy bella y fácil de leer.

Creo que se puede notar mucho esa esencia japonesa de la descripción de la naturaleza, y su impacto en la vida, y me gusta mucho. Es un libro MUY japonés y me encanta.

Estoy seguro que en un futuro volveré a leer este libro, uno muy cercano, y me gustará más que en esta ocasión pues me tomaré más tiempo para leerlo con calma y apreciarlo más. Es un abrazo en el corazón.

[Sara Jesus · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quatro mulheres e seus respectivos gatos que nos ensinam a viver em pleno, não desperdiçando os momentos que podemos ser felizes e de aproveitarmos as oportunidades oferecidas
Um gato que é resgatado da rua e salva a sua dona da solidão; a gata Mimi devolve a vontade de lutar de Reina ; e Chobi permite com que Aoi ganhe esperança para viver depois de perder a sua melhor amiga.

Um livro para os amantes de gatos, mas que poderá agradar os não tão apaixonados por gatos por nos fazer refletir sobre a fragilidade da vida e como é fundamental estarmos conectados com o mundo para sermos verdadeiramente felizes.

[panna.marple · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5
Częściowa narracja z perspektywy kotów? Uwielbiam.

[Sara⋆ฺ࿐ · Rating 3 out of 5]

من عاشق داستان‌های کوتاه ژاپنی هستم. با اینکه خیلی هم کوتاه نبود، ولی به دلم نشست.
ترکیب گربه با روابط اجتماعی و احساسات انسانی شیرین بود.
نمی‌دونم پیشنهادش می‌کنم یا نه، خیلی داستان ساده‌ای داشت ولی اگه گربه دوست دارید برید بخونیدش. بین کتاب‌های سنگین گزینه خوبیه.

[Laubythesea · Rating 3 out of 5]

“Ella y su gato” es una historia de Makoto Shinkai (director del Your name, El tiempo contigo, 5 cm por segundo…) novelada por Naruki Nagakawa, a quien he conocido con esta obra.
 
Esta novela, que, por cierto, la edición no puede ser más bonita (olé @duomoediciones), se compone de cuatro relatos cortos protagonizados por mujeres y sus gatos 👩🏻🐈. Las cuatro historias están finamente unidas entre sí, creándose un universo dentro de la propia obra que se ambienta en el Japón actual.
 
Los gatos, y otros animales, tienen conciencia y raciocinio y, aunque no se entienden con los humanos, si se comunican entre sí, tienen sentimientos profundos y algunos hasta filosofan. De esta forma, algunas partes están narradas por humanos y otras por los gatos. Al inicio de cada parte no se indica nada, lo cual siempre te hace estar atento para ver quien te habla en cada ocasión. ¡Qué relación curiosa tienen siempre en Japón con los gatos! Uno de los grandes clásicos de la literatura japonesa es “Soy un gato” de Natsume Soseki, que realiza una crítica a la sociedad de la era Meiji desde los ojos de un gato.
 
“Ella y su gato” se centra en historias donde personas y sus mascotas se salvan la vida mutuamente. Cualquiera que haya tenido a su lado a un animal querido en un momento malo sabe de qué hablo. Este libro es una oda entre al fuerte vínculo que se crea entre mascota y humano (humanas en este caso).
 
Aquellos que hayáis visto alguna de las películas de Makoto Shinkai encontrareis en este libro ese sello tan suyo de incluir pinceladas fantásticas o místicas, que hacen de las historias algo aún más especial. ¿A quien no le gusta pensar que pueden pasar ciertas cosas que van más allá de la pura realidad? (No quiero poner ejemplos para no desvelaros nada).
 
Es una lectura totalmente perfecta para cuando buscas leer algo bonito, sin complicaciones. Un libro tierno (sin ser cursi ni romántico) que te alegra y te transmite calma y buenas sensaciones.