She and Her Cat

September 5, 2022
Filmmaker and writer Shinkai (Your Name) conceives a whimsical and moving linked collection about a group of cats who help their owners find the strength they are unable to see in themselves. In “Sea of Words,” a young admin worker is afraid to ask the man she’s dating about the status of their relationship, and finds comfort from a cat named Chobi, who calls her his “girlfriend.” In “First Blossoming,” Chobi’s cat friend Mimi befriends an art student who decides to drop out of school and work at a design office, but faces immense obstacles in pursuing her dream to be a painter. “Slumber and Sky” follows a manga artist who falls into a deep depression when her childhood best friend suddenly dies the day after they have an explosive argument, but she finds the strength to move forward with the help of Mimi’s kitten, Cookie. While some of the human characters’ backstories feel slightly rushed, the author’s earnest depictions of the friendships between people and felines produces genuine wonder. The stories are rather simple, but they’re sure to satisfy readers looking for a quick pick-me-up.

October 1, 2022
Multiple shes and cats populate this gratifying, slim novel, which arrives with a decades-long history that undoubtedly underscores its timeless appeal. Shinkai launched his career as one of Japan's most lauded animation and manga artists with the five-minute film, She and Her Cat (1999), later expanded into beloved, award-winning anime and manga series. Shinkai's stories are now adapted into a gentle prose novel by Nagakawa and smoothly translated by Takemori. In four interlinked chapters, each prefaced by a gorgeously intricate black-and-white drawing by Rohan Eason, lonely women find lifesaving company with feline companions. Miyu discovers a kitten in the pouring rain, her anxious isolation as a single (over-) working woman assuaged by Chobi's devotion. Chobi's furry new friend Mimi eventually becomes student Reina's greatest comfort. Mimi's daughter Cookie helps shut-in Aoi, who is mourning for her late best friend, re-enter the outside world. Reigning tomcat king Kuro reluctantly allows Shino to take adoring care of him in their golden years. A satisfying epilogue connects everyone. The greatest humanity, of course, is found in the complex, caring, and insightful four-footed characters.

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November 1, 2022

Originally published in Japan in 2013, this work by director, writer, producer, and animator Shinkai apparently began as a short film he created in 1999. Later adapted into a short anime series in 2016, his book has now been translated into English for U.S. audiences. Comprising four loosely interconnected short stories, it introduces readers to the cats Chobi, Mimi, Kink Tail, Kuro, and Cookie and a dog named John. The pets each narrate their own stories, which are interspersed with the tales told by "owners" Miyu, Reina, Aoi, and Shino. What results are heartfelt anthropomorphic accounts of the life experiences of these animals, which range from homelessness, rejection, motherhood, and loss to their friendships with one another and with humans. The accounts from the human characters are equally touching but on a slightly lesser scale as greater part of the storytelling come from the animals. VERDICT Reminiscent of the animated film The Secret Life of Pets, this work may be short, but it's a surprisingly engrossing and entertaining light read. Readers looking for a quick and overall uplifting work should consider picking up this title, and it's sure to be appreciated by pet lovers all around.--Shirley Quan

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