An Undesirable Friend

by Natsume Sōseki, Nick Bradley (Translator)

From Japan's most famous, classic novelist comes a remarkable gem of wit, irony, and feline observation

A stray kitten, catapulted to literary fame loudly observes the world of Meiji Japan in all its absurdity. But he’s not the only cat in the neighbourhood, and as he rallies against the stupidity of human habit, he grows closer to the sophisticated Miss Calico – but he can’t hide his own inadequacies for long.

BRIEF classic novellas and captivating stories, to be read in a single sitting or savoured over days

Genres: Japan, Fiction, Animals

112 pages, Paperback

Expected publication January 5, 2027

About the author

Natsume Sōseki (夏目 漱石), born Natsume Kinnosuke (夏目 金之助), was a Japanese novelist. He is best known for his novels Kokoro, Botchan, I Am a Cat and his unfinished work Light and Darkness. He was also a scholar of British literature and composer of haiku, kanshi, and fairy tales. From 1984 until 2004, his portrait appeared on the front of the Japanese 1000 yen note. In Japan, he is often considered the greatest writer in modern Japanese history. He has had a profound effect on almost all important Japanese writers since.

Reviews

[Carolyn]

Sōseki you will always be famous

[Zenab Khan]

A fantastic translation that gave me a good chuckle. I know Natsume sensei is poking fun of people, their duplicity, and stupidity, but I just found Meitei so funny and likeable. I would probs hate him irl tho.

[Patrícia Ľuptáková]

Suprisingly it wasnt the cat aspect I enjoyed most, it was the writing style. I love wordplay, clever idioms and it was so funny, yet profound when it needed to... The second half was amazing, although the first one was a bit slower diary-like.

Also I thought the cat was a bit harsh on the master but oh my that man is a BUM.

[Eline]

Mission terminer ma pile à lire : 21/103

[Mathias Karlsen]

Betraktinger om Japan fra tidlig 1900-tall, fra en katt. Litt absurd og tidvis komisk, interessante og treffende beskrivelser fra katten. Mennesker har alltid vært, og kommer ventelig alltid til å være, overfladiske. Oversettelsen er moderne og gjør historien mer «ekte» på en snål måte. En helt OK fortelling.

"At that very moment it occurred to me that, should the worst happen, it might be the perfect opportunity for me to perform my duty as a husband towards his wife - to explain at length the principles behind the fleeting shifts and changes of human life, and elaborate upon the Buddhist teaching that all living things must die - and that now was the right time for me to do this, for should things continue to deteriorate, this would be my last chance. I resolved to seize the moment, and immediately called her into my study.

[Olly Boston]

4.5 - adored this, loved the cats perception on human traits and comparing them to feline traits. Witty, dry, everything i love. As I loved the cat so much, there was a part which was about human conversation and didnt really flow (although I understood the point) hut i couldn't personally give this 4 stars.

[Jeane]

Wat een leuk geschreven, grappig verhaal dat door middel van woordspel en door de draak te steken met mensen, hun domheid toont. Door de ogen van het zwerfkatje krijgen we dit allemaal te zien en hoe hij dit allemaal verwoord, is hilarisch! Maar terwijl je best wat lacht, voel je ook dat dit verhaal dieper gaat. Echt om te genieten!

[Kumasama]

A cat observes an egotistical teacher through daily life interactions, while providing sarcastic commentary on humanity's contradictions and hypocrisy.

Not much happens, and the characters are not really very interesting.

Soseki did this premise in a much better and comprehensive approach in his novel "I am a Cat", so if this idea interests you, I recommend you pick up that book.

[Executionereniak]

An Undesirable Food

[Namrata]

3.5/5