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I Am a Cat

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About this listen

Written over the course of 1904-1906, Soseki Natsume's comic masterpiece, I Am a Cat, satirizes the foolishness of upper-middle class Japanese society during the Meiji era. With acerbic wit and sardonic perspective, it follows the whimsical adventures of a world-weary stray kitten who comments on the follies and foibles of the people around him.

A classic of Japanese literature, I Am a Cat is one of Soseki's best-known novels. Considered by many as the greatest writer in modern Japanese history, Soseki's I Am a Cat is a classic novel sure to be enjoyed for years to come.

©1972 Aiko Ito and Graeme Wilson (P)2020 Tantor Animals Asian Classics Fiction Genre Fiction Literature & Fiction Satire World Literature Comedy Cats Witty Japanese Cats
All stars
Most relevant
Full of philosophy, psychological insights and quirkiness. It is a long listen, best in supplements (a little how it was written). Enjoy!

This is a slow listening book

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Despite criticisms of the translation - what translation is ever perfect? - this classic of modern Japanese literature is both amusing and revealing of the society and culture of the country.

A classic worth your time

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who knew a cat had such insight? ;)
a chance discovery I was pleasantly surprised

delightful and insightful

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interesting narration about the life during the Meiji period narrated by an unexpected onlooker. Sometimes a bit slow, others incredible hilarious. If you like Japanese culture and history, it is worth your time

The scholar cat

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The Anglicization of this novels characters, food and animals attempts to add context to this story for a reader who knows nothing about Japan. The problem is that the draw of the original novel is the not the story, it is the Japanese play on words, flipping of social roles and jokes. None of these are conveyed by this translation. The only thing you get from this is the bare bones of the plotline which was never the draw of this book to begin with. If you are a Japanese fiction fan, a physical copy of this book with footnotes will do you so much better.

Terrible translation blunts already dull story

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