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We'll Prescribe You a Cat

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We'll Prescribe You a Cat by Syou Ishida tells a collection of whimsical tales centered around a mysterious clinic in Kyoto. Each story follows individuals burdened by mental health challenges who discover they can "prescribe" a cat as a part of the unconventional treatment. As they care for their new feline companions, they experience transformations in their lives, relationships, and perspectives. The book explores how the bond between humans and animals can function as a healing force, offering comfort and hope to those in need.

The writing style is simple yet emotionally resonant, allowing readers to connect deeply with the characters’ journeys. While some may find the translations minimal, others appreciate the quiet simplicity that evokes strong feelings. The stories are carefully crafted, weaving together themes of grief, ordinary struggles, and the magic of companionship. Overall, it is an entertaining and heartwarming read that delves into the profound impact of pets on our lives.

Characters:

The characters are ordinary individuals dealing with mental health challenges, who undergo growth and transformation through their relationships with cats.

Writing/Prose:

The writing style is quirky and whimsical, using simple language that evokes strong emotions and a blend of humor and melancholy.

Plot/Storyline:

The plot involves imaginative stories where characters visit a clinic to receive a cat as therapy for their emotional struggles, leading to personal transformations.

Setting:

The setting is in Kyoto, Japan, centered around the mysterious Nakagyo Kokoro Clinic for the Soul, providing a whimsical backdrop for each story.

Pacing:

The pacing is moderate, allowing for reflective moments as each story unfolds while maintaining reader interest.

Notes:

The book features six imaginative stories about the bond between humans and animals, specifically cats.
Characters visit the Nakagyo Kokoro Clinic for the Soul when they feel anxious or sleep-deprived and leave with a cat.
Each cat serves as a form of therapy, helping individuals confront personal challenges.
The story revolves around two main characters, Shuta and Koga, who both receive cats as part of their prescribed treatment.
The cats in the stories often have distinct personalities and play crucial roles in their owners' emotional healing.
The book explores Japanese society and mental health, showing how pets can provide comfort and support.
After forming a bond with the cat, Shuta realizes its positive impact on his life and well-being.
The clinic where the characters receive their cats mysteriously disappears, leaving them questioning its existence.
The stories address themes of grief, work stress, and overcoming life's trials with the help of furry companions.
Overall, the book blends whimsical elements with deeper emotional themes, making it both entertaining and thought-provoking.

From The Publisher:

A cat a day keeps the doctor away…

Discover the award-winning, bestselling Japanese novel that has become an international sensation in this utterly charming, vibrant celebration of the healing power of cats.

Tucked away in an old building at the end of a narrow alley in Kyoto, the Kokoro Clinic for the Soul can only be found by people who are struggling in their lives and 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, occasionally challenging yet endearing cats.

Throughout the pages, the power of the human-animal bond is revealed as a disheartened businessman finds unexpected joy in physical labor, a young girl navigates the complexities of elementary school cliques, a middle-aged man struggles to stay relevant at work and home, a hardened bag designer seeks emotional balance, and a geisha finds herself unable to move on from the memory of her lost cat. As the clinic's patients navigate their inner turmoil and seek resolution, their feline companions lead them toward healing, self-discovery, and newfound hope.

Ratings (4)

Loved It (2)
It Was OK (1)
Did Not Like (1)

Reader Stats (11):

Read It (4)
Currently Reading (2)
Want To Read (4)
Not Interested (1)

2 comment(s)

It Was OK
1 month

It was not very engaging and I couldn’t finish it because the last 39 pages or so were out of order due to a printing error.

 
Loved It
2 months

Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC!

This was lovely. I really enjoy this genre of books that "prescribes" exactly what the person is looking for, in this case, a cat! I think my own experience with pet ownership, especially having a cat, has been such a huge mental boost for me. These little vignettes really highlight the love and care a cat can bring into so many different lives!

 
 
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