ashbash_'s review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Really fun!! I liked how it seems to be a semi-anthology following the cat which then turns into the cat bringing all of the characters together- and it is a lovely cat! It did get a little difficult to follow who's who but apart from that it was really enjoyable to read
winyeemichelle's review against another edition
5.0
Thanks to Atlantic Books and NetGalley for my ARC!
I thoroughly enjoyed The Cat and the City. Originally I fell for the description; a story, about a cat in Tokyo, that unfolds in a series of interlocking narratives. The plot begins with Naomi asking for an unusual tattoo — that of a map of the city — and the tattooist noticing that a cat he’d added into the design appears to move every time they meet for a tattoo session. Thus begins a series of short stories that fluidly connect through characters. Part of the fun is certainly in trying to guess or anticipate the next connection, and about two-thirds through, you get a brilliant twist where things wonderfully slot into place as well as throw others out of whack. Having visited Japan twice and stayed in Tokyo for three weeks, I found Bradley’s storytelling of the city to be true and not at all gratuitous. It’s done in such a way that newcomers to the city and those who already know Japanese culture through-and-through could equally find its magic. Moreover I really appreciated the thematic pillar of the 2020 Olympics running throughout.
I thoroughly enjoyed The Cat and the City. Originally I fell for the description; a story, about a cat in Tokyo, that unfolds in a series of interlocking narratives. The plot begins with Naomi asking for an unusual tattoo — that of a map of the city — and the tattooist noticing that a cat he’d added into the design appears to move every time they meet for a tattoo session. Thus begins a series of short stories that fluidly connect through characters. Part of the fun is certainly in trying to guess or anticipate the next connection, and about two-thirds through, you get a brilliant twist where things wonderfully slot into place as well as throw others out of whack. Having visited Japan twice and stayed in Tokyo for three weeks, I found Bradley’s storytelling of the city to be true and not at all gratuitous. It’s done in such a way that newcomers to the city and those who already know Japanese culture through-and-through could equally find its magic. Moreover I really appreciated the thematic pillar of the 2020 Olympics running throughout.
hadia_00's review against another edition
5.0
For a debut novel, this hit real hard. The motif of this story is the dark and not-so-perfect backdrop of one of the most beloved megacities; Tokyo.
The author masterfully weaves seemingly disparate stories, that feature weirdly interesting and realistic characters, who are also disturbing at times. As you read on, you realise that the stories are not so individualistic after all. In fact, the characters and the stories overlap in a mesmerising way.
Reading about the dark reality of Tokyo was eye-opening. I am honestly surprised how much I learned from this book. Learned about different types of people, their past, the reason behind certain behaviours. The neko's mysterious appearance throughout the book, and the impact it had on the lives of some characters was truly marvellous. This book is a true masterpiece, and I will definitely revisit my annotations even if I can't reread the book for a while.
The author masterfully weaves seemingly disparate stories, that feature weirdly interesting and realistic characters, who are also disturbing at times. As you read on, you realise that the stories are not so individualistic after all. In fact, the characters and the stories overlap in a mesmerising way.
Reading about the dark reality of Tokyo was eye-opening. I am honestly surprised how much I learned from this book. Learned about different types of people, their past, the reason behind certain behaviours. The neko's mysterious appearance throughout the book, and the impact it had on the lives of some characters was truly marvellous. This book is a true masterpiece, and I will definitely revisit my annotations even if I can't reread the book for a while.
bobblegom's review against another edition
inspiring
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
clarence1999's review against another edition
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
charanasaur's review against another edition
challenging
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
I feel like this book had a lot of promise, but fell short with how the author objectified womens bodies.
Content Warnings
Minor: Cultural appropriation, Alcoholism, Toxic relationship, and Abortion
angiolettoliz's review against another edition
5.0
Head empty, no thoughts apart from about this book. An absolutely delightful read and will remain one of my all time favourite books. Please just read this. I love every single story and was so pleased when I realised they all joined up. The writing was astounding, every paragraph felt so real and I could imagine the beauty of Japan in each word.
5/5 recommend to all of you
5/5 recommend to all of you
nellyisreading's review against another edition
3.0
classing this as 'finished' although i technically didnt finish bc someone told me that its actually okay to only want to read certain stories from a short story collection. i feel like there were maybe too many in this book for what i actually wanted to be reading yknow? but overall, the writing was fun and it was engaging