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HARPER COLLINS Chinese Whiskers : The Adventures Of Soyabean And Tofu In Beijing
Paperback
Published December 15, 2020
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
September 5, 2024
Rating - 3.75 stars
Review -
The world we know is rendered, a world where cats and men are so alike, yet so different, from a feline perspective, the POV of two cats, a golden, well-groomed cat Soyabean and a lean, black cat Tofu who hails from a dustbin, both taken in as pets by Mr and Mrs A, two foreigners staying in Old Beijing. The two cats are metaphors to men who have a decently comfortable upbringing and those extremely poor.
A pet food scam and sham development projects used by rich to mint money stand exposed even as the country reels under a viral epidemic, purportedly spread by cats as it readies itself for the Olympic games. Real and relatable issues play out with light humor and engaging prose entertaining us readers. It's quite funny when the author writes - on the other paw instead of 'on the other hand', this wouldn't have been your bowl of milk instead of cup of tea.
Let the illustrations and positive climax that little pessimistic or more pragmatic folks might dismiss with a smirk not mislead you into thinking that this book is for young readers. Enjoyed this one and looking forward to reading more by the author.
Review -
The world we know is rendered, a world where cats and men are so alike, yet so different, from a feline perspective, the POV of two cats, a golden, well-groomed cat Soyabean and a lean, black cat Tofu who hails from a dustbin, both taken in as pets by Mr and Mrs A, two foreigners staying in Old Beijing. The two cats are metaphors to men who have a decently comfortable upbringing and those extremely poor.
A pet food scam and sham development projects used by rich to mint money stand exposed even as the country reels under a viral epidemic, purportedly spread by cats as it readies itself for the Olympic games. Real and relatable issues play out with light humor and engaging prose entertaining us readers. It's quite funny when the author writes - on the other paw instead of 'on the other hand', this wouldn't have been your bowl of milk instead of cup of tea.
Let the illustrations and positive climax that little pessimistic or more pragmatic folks might dismiss with a smirk not mislead you into thinking that this book is for young readers. Enjoyed this one and looking forward to reading more by the author.
May 11, 2025
This book reminded me of animation movie " the secret life of Pets". Every Pet lover especially feline lover will enjoy this book. The book has beautiful illustrations . The cats soyabean and tofu are very much anthromorphized in their behaviour which justify their dialogues while retaining key behavioral characteristics of felines. There is also little social commentary about changing lives of Chinese people amidst economic development.(which could also apply to India).
The book is intended for ailurophiles and kids. Also both these cats Soyabean and tofu are inspired from real pet cats of author called Caramel and Tofu.
This book has very much potential to be turned into a animation movie btw.
The book is intended for ailurophiles and kids. Also both these cats Soyabean and tofu are inspired from real pet cats of author called Caramel and Tofu.
This book has very much potential to be turned into a animation movie btw.
July 2, 2025
Light-hearted, sweet and surprisingly heart-touching.
March 30, 2022
4.5 Stars
I seldom read anything other than fantasy, but I am so glad I read this.
Chinese Whiskers isn't just a cute story about two kitties, it's a commentary on humans and humanity, narrated by the creatures most close to us. It is a tale of friendship and kindness and morality, and it has become one of my comfort books.
Really, it was just beautiful, from the writing style to the lovely illustrations.
The plot is relatively simple, but you never feel bored. The characters are all lovable (I know you're thinking, 'they're cats- of course they're lovable') and well fleshed-out.
The book is also quite personal to me as not long after I read it, my own cat passed away... I miss her so much, but rereading this book helped me manage my feelings and make my peace with what happened.
Another noteworthy accomplishment of this book is the way it's woven Chinese culture through it. Unlike some books I've read, this did not feel forced or out of place at any point. It was an absolute delight to read.
Crying over books is also something I rarely do. In fact, the closest I've come to crying is my eyes misting over. BUT THIS ONE ACTUALLY GOT TEARS TO RUN DOWN MY CHEEKS. [Mild spoiler]
I have always believed that one of the most important aspects of literature is the way it can connect us to the world. Through stories, we live a thousand lives, see a thousand sights. We learn morals, values and about each other. In my opinion, the best stories are those which teach us something in an enjoyable way, and Chinese Whiskers definitely delivers.
I seldom read anything other than fantasy, but I am so glad I read this.
Chinese Whiskers isn't just a cute story about two kitties, it's a commentary on humans and humanity, narrated by the creatures most close to us. It is a tale of friendship and kindness and morality, and it has become one of my comfort books.
Really, it was just beautiful, from the writing style to the lovely illustrations.
The plot is relatively simple, but you never feel bored. The characters are all lovable (I know you're thinking, 'they're cats- of course they're lovable') and well fleshed-out.
The book is also quite personal to me as not long after I read it, my own cat passed away... I miss her so much, but rereading this book helped me manage my feelings and make my peace with what happened.
Another noteworthy accomplishment of this book is the way it's woven Chinese culture through it. Unlike some books I've read, this did not feel forced or out of place at any point. It was an absolute delight to read.
Crying over books is also something I rarely do. In fact, the closest I've come to crying is my eyes misting over. BUT THIS ONE ACTUALLY GOT TEARS TO RUN DOWN MY CHEEKS. [Mild spoiler]
I have always believed that one of the most important aspects of literature is the way it can connect us to the world. Through stories, we live a thousand lives, see a thousand sights. We learn morals, values and about each other. In my opinion, the best stories are those which teach us something in an enjoyable way, and Chinese Whiskers definitely delivers.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews