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Guest Cat
Guest Cat | Takashi Hiraide
102 posts | 81 read | 4 reading | 70 to read
A bestseller in France and winner of Japan's Kiyama Shohei Literary Award, The Guest Cat, by the acclaimed poet Takashi Hiraide, is a subtly moving and exceptionally beautiful novel about the transient nature of life and idiosyncratic (…more)
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Susanita
The Guest Cat | Takashi Hiraide
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1. Baseball, doctor appointments, and hosting our friends‘ cats while they chase the eclipse.
2. Goodreads says 394…
3. Horror
#motivationalmonday

Cupcake12 No.2 wow 🤩 Thanks for joining in x 9mo
28 likes1 comment
review
Rachiiebookdragon
The Guest Cat | Takashi Hiraide
Mehso-so

An interesting translated book.

Read for reading challenges.

Library book 📖

3.75/5

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iread2much
The Guest Cat | Takashi Hiraide
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Mehso-so

This reads more like essays than a novel, so it‘s a so-so for me, but if you like essays you‘d like this.
A couple in Japan has a guest cat whom they come to love and the book is a meditation on a changing Japan and the ways we try to hold onto things, people, and pets. 2/5 for me. Read this if you like poetry and want a series of essays about Japan‘s economic boom and bust.

DinoMom Your reading partner is gorgeous 🥰 3y
iread2much @DinoMom thank you. She puts up with me 😌 3y
23 likes2 comments
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Onioons
The Guest Cat | Takashi Hiraide
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Pickpick

My guest cat seems to have a different world view. His humans are scattered in different houses around his patch. And he bestows his time generously among his people. I completely understand the disproportinate effect the guest cat had on the lives of the protagonists. Gentle and slow, this simple story rang true for me.

Leftcoastzen I liked it a lot! Cute kitty !😻 3y
36 likes1 comment
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Onioons
The Guest Cat | Takashi Hiraide
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Next up!

LoverOfLearning Ha love the cover! 3y
35 likes1 comment
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Onioons
The Guest Cat | Takashi Hiraide
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@thearomaofbooks I'd love to join #bookspin for May if it's not too late in the year! Love the idea of getting through some of these books in May.

TheAromaofBooks Yay!!! Never too late to BookSpin!! Glad to have you along - I'll add you to the tag list so you should get a notification when I draw the numbers on Monday morning!! 3y
Onioons @TheAromaofBooks Thank you, it's such a great idea! Looking forward to it 🙂 📚 3y
TheAromaofBooks You may also be interested in the #Roll100 challenge hosted by @PuddleJumper - similar concept, bigger list! 😂 3y
Onioons @TheAromaofBooks followed! Thanks, love a challenge or I'll just read whodunnits all day long 😆 3y
20 likes4 comments
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Susanita
The Guest Cat | Takashi Hiraide
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1. Cats!
2. Cats are obligate carnivores. That‘s why they sleep so much. 😴
3. Tagged and stacked!
#sundayfunday

BookmarkTavern I definitely had to look up obligate carnivores! Thanks for teaching me something! 3y
32 likes1 comment
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KaraAnn90
The Guest Cat | Takashi Hiraide
Pickpick

Really liked it. Simple but good.

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ONH
The Guest Cat | Takashi Hiraide
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Just a little resemblance :,)

Enjoyed this one… it‘s more of an image of a changing Tokyo, a transition period in the life of a young couple, and a meditation on loss and remembrance than a heart-warming pet story (you‘ve been warned!) Very soothing and relaxing; I felt like I was in the light greenery of Japan with the author and his wife. Reminded me of past memories with other cats my family has loved. A nostalgic and thoughtful book!

11 likes1 stack add
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TiminCalifornia
The Guest Cat | Takashi Hiraide
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Pickpick

Soothing is the best way to describe this book. The chapters are gently philosophical reflections on the life of a young, childless couple. The book is about the cat that visits them, true, but the story is more a memorial of that time in the couples‘ lives, observing their aging landlady, the gentrification of their neighborhood, how nextdoor neighbors can be strangers even after years. Prose writing from a poet.

IuliaC Great review! 3y
34 likes1 comment
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Shae_Purcell
The Guest Cat | Takashi Hiraide
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Mehso-so

Ultimately, I just did not like this book. Perhaps I lost something in the translation or maybe there was just a cultural disconnect. The writing style was lovely, really descriptive and poetic. I adore cats, but there simply wasn't enough mention of them for a book supposedly written about a cat! I don't see myself reading this again, but I don't see myself forgetting it either.

Full review here - https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4086488442

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LostInSpace
The Guest Cat | Takashi Hiraide
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Pickpick

Such a sweet and touching story of a cat who befriends a young couple.

I feel like this book had so many layers to it, even though it‘s really short, it touched on many sensitive subjects such as love, grief, resentment, and death.

I really enjoy these kinds of books, I find them thought-provoking, they always stay with me for a while after I‘ve finished them 🐈‍⬛

IuliaC I finished reading it last week and loved it, indeed it stayed with me 4y
33 likes2 stack adds1 comment
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LostInSpace
Guest Cat | Takashi Hiraide
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So I‘ve gone from Books of Blood by Clive Barker, (read the first volume and decided to take a break)

To the Guest Cat by Takashi Hiraide

Variety is the spice of life I suppose 😂🤷🏻‍♀️

#variety #whynot #guestcat #booksofblood

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IuliaC
The Guest Cat | Takashi Hiraide
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Pickpick

A delicate and charming story on longing and the pain triggered by the absence of the loved one, set in Japan at the end of the Showa era, during a time of turmoil caused by the end of the real estate market bubble, which accelerated urbanization and social changes

rachaich I loved this and have passed it on to many people🐈🐱🤗 4y
IuliaC @rachaich I feel like doing the same and not only to cat lovers 😻🤗 I'm glad I discovered this book thanks to Litsy 4y
33 likes1 stack add2 comments
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IuliaC
The Guest Cat | Takashi Hiraide
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A bit of reading as a short break from work always feels like a breath of fresh air 📖☕

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rachaich
The Guest Cat | Takashi Hiraide
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Pickpick

Sweet and heart warming whilst also offering interesting insight into Japanese residential areas!

15 likes2 stack adds
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rachaich
The Guest Cat | Takashi Hiraide
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Teeny novel, about a cat who goes visiting in a Japanese house.

10 likes1 stack add
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TheEllieMo
The Guest Cat | Takashi Hiraide
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I typed #Mellow books into Google and this one turned up on a Goodreads “Popular Mellow Books” list. I read this some years ago, and have forgotten the finer details, but I remember thinking it was absolutely delightful

#BoundTogetherJune
@Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks
@OriginalCyn620

Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks 😽😽😽 5y
OriginalCyn620 Aww! 😻 5y
36 likes2 comments
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Lexica10
The Guest Cat | Takashi Hiraide
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Perhaps the main reason for her anger was the fact that we had been affectionate with Chibi and had become close to the cat without her knowledge and without her permission. But on the other hand, would the mere fact of shared affection lead directly to resentment? If the issue involved permission, then would things have been different if permission had been given?

5 likes1 stack add
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Bookwomble
The Guest Cat | Takashi Hiraide
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“The noble-minded do not thrust others aside in order to make their way in the world. But then they themselves are ultimately thrust aside by the advancing tide.”

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Bookwomble
The Guest Cat | Takashi Hiraide
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“I wonder where it all comes from - this need to go to the place where the body has been laid to rest. It's the need to reconfirm how precious someone was and how irreplaceable, and the desire to reconnect with them on a different plane.”

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Bookwomble
The Guest Cat | Takashi Hiraide
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A lovely story about the bond that can form between humans and other animals. Doubtless anthropomorphicising, but treating other living things as people seems both ethical and moral to me, not to mention enriching and life affirming.

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Bookwomble
The Guest Cat | Takashi Hiraide
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"Cat lovers always believe their own cat is better looking than anyone else's."

??❤ Naturally!
#catsoflitsy

Leftcoastzen 😻 5y
diovival I love black kitties! 😍 5y
Eyelit True story 😹 5y
See All 7 Comments
LauraJ But my cat is better! 5y
Bookwomble @LauraJ That's just, like, your opinion 😄 5y
LauraJ @Bookwomble Actually, it‘s my cat‘s opinion. He‘s very vain. 😉 5y
Bookwomble @LauraJ I'm sure he's deservedly body-positive 🙂 5y
27 likes7 comments
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Bookwomble
The Guest Cat | Takashi Hiraide
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I just finished my 2018-19 tax return with an unusually comfortable three days in hand, on top of which I'm owed a rebate of £180! I've got work tomorrow (today, actually: local time is 02:30), but I'm determined to celebrate by getting at least a few pages into this lovely 📖🐱😊

Leftcoastzen I enjoyed this book ,a meditation on living. 5y
Bookwomble @Leftcoastzen I think I stacked it from you 😸 5y
32 likes1 stack add2 comments
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Leftcoastzen
The Guest Cat | Takashi Hiraide
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Pickpick

Still working on #24B42020 readathon pretty sure this will be my last book finished this year.A beautiful little novella about a shared cat,a beautiful garden, the circles of life and of nature.Like a little meditation.
My Goodreads total was 95 , made it!

KarenUK I just read this too! It‘s lovely... 💕🐱 5y
Andrew65 Well done on reaching your target. 👏👏👏🥳🍾🥂 5y
Leftcoastzen @Andrew65 Thank You! I love your posts , Happy New Year! 5y
Leftcoastzen @KarenUK I needed something thoughtful and kind😸Happy New Year! 5y
Andrew65 @Leftcoastzen I love seeing your posts too. HappyNew Year. 🥳 5y
47 likes1 stack add5 comments
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KarenUK
The Guest Cat | Takashi Hiraide
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#bookreport #adaylate 🤦‍♀️

Another December week with very little reading....

- Finished The Guest Cat which was thoughtful, quiet and lovely...
- Made progress with The Gentleman which I‘m enjoying, lovely writing...
- Started the Lisa Jewell for Book club, which I‘m hoping to finish as my last book for 2019.
So excited to start my 2020 challenges. Been sitting on so many great books that fit challenge prompts!
#booknerdproblems 😂

Cinfhen Exactly 😜 5y
53 likes1 stack add1 comment
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KarenUK
The Guest Cat | Takashi Hiraide
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Pickpick

A beautiful, quiet little Japanese novella that has so many gorgeously captured moments, touching on how we relate to each other, to our surroundings and to the world. This story of a young couple visited by a neighbor‘s spirited cat, was so touching and felt very intimate. I loved it.

Crazeedi Did you send me the beautiful book? Thank you sooooo much I sat down as soon as I opened and read it. Now I'm going to go page by page and savor it. Merry Christmas Karen to you and yours, 🤗🥰❤😘 5y
Crazeedi And this book sounds delightful 💞💞 5y
squirrelbrain This sounds right up my street.... 🐱 5y
See All 6 Comments
KarenUK I did! @Crazeedi I‘m so glad you loved it 💕 5y
rubyslippersreads Sounds lovely. 😻 5y
ValerieAndBooks I have this in my TBR! Should pick it up very soon. 5y
54 likes1 stack add6 comments
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KarenUK
The Guest Cat | Takashi Hiraide
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#weeklyforecast @Cinfhen
Let‘s see if I do better this week!
But to be honest, I‘m not getting much reading time, and I‘m so exhausted after each day in retail hell that I‘m falling asleep to Midsommer Murders instead of reading! (being a bad bookworm!🤦‍♀️)
- I hope to finish The Guest Cat 🐱🤞
- I hope to start the Lisa Jewel for B&N bookclub in January 📚🤞
- I hope to make some progress with the Count 🎧🤞

BarbaraBB Hopefully you will have some rest from retail soon 🤞😘 (edited) 5y
Cinfhen Echoing at what @BarbaraBB Hoping you get some down time xx Happy Holidays, my sweet dear friend ❤️💚 5y
KarenUK Christmas Day can‘t come soon enough! Happy holiday my lovelies 😘💕📚 @Cinfhen @BarbaraBB 5y
Andrew65 Great choices. 5y
41 likes4 comments
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KarenUK
The Guest Cat | Takashi Hiraide
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#bookreport @Cinfhen

-Finished ‘Tell me Everything‘ .... really good
thriller-ish debut, but the cover has LITERALLY nothing to do with the book!
- Started ‘The Guest Cat‘ which is lovely so far, quiet and whimsical....
- A couple of hours into ‘A gentleman in Moscow‘ (which is 17 hours long!😳) and so far I‘m really enjoying the sense of place, and the main character just sparkles... 🌟

squirrelbrain I‘ve got A Gentleman in Moscow on the list for next year, for #readingeurope2020. 5y
Cinfhen Looks like you had a good week, nice to escape from the mayhem 😘 5y
TrishB @squirrelbrain I‘ve got it ready for hat on the cover for #booked2020 could you use for both (assuming you‘re doing the other challenge!) 5y
squirrelbrain Yes, I have it down for both @TrishB ! I need to revisit my spreadsheets over Christmas to decide what I‘m reading when so I can fit them all into the right challenges. 😁 5y
TrishB @squirrelbrain I‘ve had a very first go at the planning! 5y
39 likes5 comments
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ReadingEnvy
The Guest Cat | Takashi Hiraide
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Pickpick

I am cycling off a Postal Book Group I participated in from 2015-2019, and The Guest Cat by Takashi Hiraide was my last read.(I need to mail it tomorrow!) It started through the Books on the Nightstand Goodreads group, and if you listened to that podcast (R.I.P.) you know that started a while ago! ⤵️

ReadingEnvy A married couple lives in a guest house on a larger estate and the slim novel is more about how they relate to the architecture and light of their house, the seasons, other people, Chibi the cat, and so on. 5y
Cathythoughts Sounds really good 👍🏻❤️stacking 5y
39 likes2 stack adds3 comments
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KarenUK
The Guest Cat | Takashi Hiraide
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#weeklyforecast @Cinfhen
- Really enjoying Tell me Everything 😊💕
- just started Gentleman in Moscow on Audio and loving it so far 🎧👍
- hoping to start The guest cat, a little Japanese novella that looks lovely 🐱
- I may get to Lisa Jewell for January work bookclub 🤷‍♀️

But who am I kidding!? It‘s holidays and I work retail at B&N! This week will be bonkers! 🤦‍♀️

gradcat Take care of yourself—don‘t work too hard! ♥️ 5y
Cinfhen I‘m happy to know people are still buying books as gifts/ although B&N sell EVERYTHING theses days 😂😂 5y
squirrelbrain The Guest Cat sounds lovely! 😻 5y
See All 6 Comments
Sace Oh I cringe just to think about retail this time of year. My heart goes out to all retail workers! 5y
KarenUK @Sace I LOVE my job and feel lucky to work in a bookstore.... except, these two weeks of the year! People get really mean and crazy! 5y
Sace @KarenUK I'm very grateful for retail workers as I love shopping. 😁 I've done stints at bookstores and fast food and know what you mean about people. 5y
52 likes6 comments
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whatrebeccasread
The Guest Cat | Takashi Hiraide
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Mehso-so

“The Guest Cat” is a short and sweet book that I‘d recommend for cat-lovers but also for fans of Japanese literature. It wasn‘t one of my favourites, but it‘s a short, quick read that‘ll warm your heart. 3 stars from me.

My full review is up on my blog now 📚

69 likes1 stack add
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llwheeler
The Guest Cat | Takashi Hiraide
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1. The Grace of Kings
2. The Guest Cat (tagged)
3. The first time the heater turns on... Going for walks while the trees are changing... The inevitable in-between days where within a few mins you will see people out in everything from t-shirts and shorts to parkas 😛

#weekendreads @rachelsbrittain

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llwheeler
The Guest Cat | Takashi Hiraide
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Dipping into one of my new acquisitions while dinner cooks.

36 likes3 stack adds
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Susanita
The Guest Cat | Takashi Hiraide
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So I heard some commotion in the living room, and then I saw this fella on the patio just as chill as could be. #notmycatsoflitsy

Tamra 😍 5y
emz711 Love the hashtag 5y
brit91 😻😻😻😻 5y
Crazeedi Awww, my heart is crying, I hope he has a home!? 5y
Susanita @Crazeedi I hope so too! He/she was pretty bold and didn‘t have that furtive skinny look of a feral. 5y
47 likes5 comments
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lauraisntwilder
The Guest Cat | Takashi Hiraide
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Pickpick

A thoughtful rumination on life, art, and cats.

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lauraisntwilder
The Guest Cat | Takashi Hiraide
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"I'd say one's thirties are a cruel age."

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Bradley.benjamin26
The Guest Cat | Takashi Hiraide

The noble-minded do not thrust others aside in order to make their way in the world. But then they themselves are ultimately thrust aside by the advancing tide.

quote
Bradley.benjamin26
The Guest Cat | Takashi Hiraide
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“Once the arrangement of objects had settled down, I felt that I was finally ready to establish myself in this place. ‘This is where I will live,‘ I thought to myself. Perhaps it was because I‘d developed a feeling for the passing of the seasons in our new abode—as if each new house, each new neighborhood contained its own unique experience of the passage of time.”

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kgriffith
The Guest Cat | Takashi Hiraide
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Bailedbailed

I suppose that‘s what I get for trying to sneak in those last two books to hit 100 in 2018 😋 I was hoping for something as moving as The Travelling Cat Chronicles, but this is definitely more about the author‘s journey into middle age and less about the cat. Next! #24B42019 #readathon #readin2018 #goals

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ardismargrethe
The Guest Cat | Takashi Hiraide
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Mehso-so

Think a lot was lost in translation on this one, maybe I will read it in English in the future. It's a cute and charming book, but details in the Norwegian one was nagging me and I don't know if it's this book or just the translation

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WellReadCatLady
The Guest Cat | Takashi Hiraide
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Fefe approves. #caturday #catsoflitsy

Lcsmcat 😻 7y
17 likes1 stack add1 comment
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WellReadCatLady
The Guest Cat | Takashi Hiraide
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New tattoo cemented my cat lady status.

TommieMarie74 Love this!!! I have a “cat lady” tattoo planned too. 😻 7y
shadowspeak17 Cute! 😻 7y
WellReadCatLady @TommieMarie74 can‘t wait to see it! 7y
15 likes3 comments
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WellReadCatLady
The Guest Cat | Takashi Hiraide
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20 likes1 stack add
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jen_hayes7
The Guest Cat | Takashi Hiraide
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My Waterstones haul!! Unfortunately, this copy of The Guest Cat has a very large tear that I hadn‘t noticed in the store. Not sure if it happened during purchase or while being carried back to the flat. Poor kitty might lose his left ear! #waterstones

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TheWellAccompaniedBook
The Guest Cat | Takashi Hiraide
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I have reinstated the End Of The Bed Bookshelf. I got rid of it a couple of years ago in a decluttering whirl. All the unread books at the time just felt like pressure so I cleaned out many and put the rest in a cupboard. I‘ve missed looking at books so back they go.

britt_brooke 😍 7y
Jhullie All my book shelves are in my bedroom. I like having them surrounding me. 7y
Joanne1 Think hygge, books as decoration and homeliness as much as functional objects. Takes the pressure out. Plus I like that your shelves look uncluttered. 7y
62 likes3 comments
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jhod
The Guest Cat | Takashi Hiraide
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Boyf got me this book, which I'm sure I've seen on someone else's feed today, great unusual pick! He also got me the photo frame, he did well :-)

LeahBergen Nice! 😍 7y
TheLibrarian How sweet!! 7y
AlaMich I love that frame! Much more interesting than the ones you usually see. 7y
Dulcinella Lovely! 7y
110 likes1 stack add4 comments