The Guest Cat by Takashi Hiraide
A wonderful sui generis novel about a visiting cat who brings joy into a couples life in Tokyo
"What initially reads like free association turns out to be a near-microscopic record of emotion and phenomena" -- Alan Gilbert - The Believer
"The best novels are often the ones that change us. Over time, they stay with us- like small miracles. Takashi Hiraide, the Japanese poet and novelist, blindsided me- he shows himself to be a poet of the highest grade. A rare treasure, beautiful and profound; whether you're a cat lover or not, don't pass this one up. ultimately, it's about what it means to love and to lose. Even dog lovers will relate." -- Juan Vidal - NPR
"A beautiful, ornate read, brimming with philosophical observation, humor and intelligence." -- Publishers Weekly
"An unusually intimate, detailed and vivid picture of a place that is simultaneously private and open." -- V.V. Ganeshananthan - The New York Times Book Review
"It’s clear there is a tradition of literary works centering on or featuring cats in modern Japanese, and we now have from New Directions a translation of a splendid addition to that list. (...) a work of subtleties revealed only with repeated readings. I recommend it unreservedly to the general reader." -- Paul McCarthy - The Japan Times
"The little feline sets off a chain of disquisitions on nature, destiny, joy, pleasure, and sorrow" -- Nina Sankovitch - Huffington Post
"A wonderful tale about the desire to possess and the pain of absence. And such writing! Precise, delicate, enchanting." -- Atmospheres
"Hiraide's work really shines" -- Kenzaburo Oe
"The best novels are often the ones that change us. Over time, they stay with us- like small miracles. Takashi Hiraide, the Japanese poet and novelist, blindsided me- he shows himself to be a poet of the highest grade. A rare treasure, beautiful and profound; whether you're a cat lover or not, don't pass this one up. ultimately, it's about what it means to love and to lose. Even dog lovers will relate." -- Juan Vidal - NPR
"A beautiful, ornate read, brimming with philosophical observation, humor and intelligence." -- Publishers Weekly
"An unusually intimate, detailed and vivid picture of a place that is simultaneously private and open." -- V.V. Ganeshananthan - The New York Times Book Review
"It’s clear there is a tradition of literary works centering on or featuring cats in modern Japanese, and we now have from New Directions a translation of a splendid addition to that list. (...) a work of subtleties revealed only with repeated readings. I recommend it unreservedly to the general reader." -- Paul McCarthy - The Japan Times
"The little feline sets off a chain of disquisitions on nature, destiny, joy, pleasure, and sorrow" -- Nina Sankovitch - Huffington Post
"A wonderful tale about the desire to possess and the pain of absence. And such writing! Precise, delicate, enchanting." -- Atmospheres
"Hiraide's work really shines" -- Kenzaburo Oe
Takashi Hiraide was born in Moji, Kitakyushu in 1950. He has published numerous books of poetry as well as several books of genre-bending essays, including one on poetics and baseball. He currently lives in the west suburbs of Tokyo with a cat and his wife, the poet Michiyo Kawano. Eric Selland lives in Tokyo. He is the author of The Condition of Music, Inventions, and Still Lifes.
| SKU | Unavailable |
| ISBN 13 | 9780811221504 |
| ISBN 10 | 0811221504 |
| Title | The Guest Cat |
| Author | Takashi Hiraide |
| Condition | Unavailable |
| Binding Type | Paperback |
| Publisher | New Directions Publishing Corporation |
| Year published | 2014-03-11 |
| Number of pages | 144 |
| Cover note | Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary. |
| Note | Unavailable |