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The Soul Catchers: A Novel
Not yet published
Expected 12 Jan 27With the wisdom and heart that charmed readers of Before the Coffee Gets Cold, a magical novel in which eleven souls get the chance to return to the loved ones they left behind in a most unusual way.
What if you could come back after death to watch over a a beloved, your soul occupying an object special to them—a treasured mug, a mother's hearing aid, a diary, or even a jungle gym, climbed by the younger sister you will never meet?
Eleven recently deceased people, including a homeless man and a five-year-old boy, are offered the chance to remain on the earthy plane, near those they love. Made into a film in Japan in 2021, this heartwarming novel is a soothing, witty, and surprisingly sensual take on the Japanese folk belief that objects can contain the spirits of the dead. Down to earth with a touch of fantasy, The Soul Catchers is charming, profound, and immensely moving work of magical realism—a powerful and original exploration of our eternal need for comfort and connection with those we have lost.
What if you could come back after death to watch over a a beloved, your soul occupying an object special to them—a treasured mug, a mother's hearing aid, a diary, or even a jungle gym, climbed by the younger sister you will never meet?
Eleven recently deceased people, including a homeless man and a five-year-old boy, are offered the chance to remain on the earthy plane, near those they love. Made into a film in Japan in 2021, this heartwarming novel is a soothing, witty, and surprisingly sensual take on the Japanese folk belief that objects can contain the spirits of the dead. Down to earth with a touch of fantasy, The Soul Catchers is charming, profound, and immensely moving work of magical realism—a powerful and original exploration of our eternal need for comfort and connection with those we have lost.
Kindle Edition
Expected publication January 12, 2027
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
Review of advance copy
What an amazing series of stories by Naoko Higashi. They tell the story of individuals who have died but are given the opportunity to return to earth as an inanimate object. Their choices are interesting as are equally their experiences once they return here.
You don't have to "believe" in the concept of returning to the land of the living as an inanimate object to really appreciate these works.
I thoroughly enjoyed the stories and, overall, I think the underlying thread may well be to make the most of your life while you can, have no or little regrets as we often don't know how long we have here.
Don't worry, this is NOT a heavy allegorical book, just lovely interesting stories about relationships.
Not something I would normally read but SO GLAD I did!
Regards, Mark.
You don't have to "believe" in the concept of returning to the land of the living as an inanimate object to really appreciate these works.
I thoroughly enjoyed the stories and, overall, I think the underlying thread may well be to make the most of your life while you can, have no or little regrets as we often don't know how long we have here.
Don't worry, this is NOT a heavy allegorical book, just lovely interesting stories about relationships.
Not something I would normally read but SO GLAD I did!
Regards, Mark.
May 7, 2026
I liked these short stories for their lack of sugary tone which so many of the « cup of coffee » stories seem to exhibit. Some of these stories are quite eerie and stayed with me for quite a while. Excellent translation too.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews