The Book Report #60
Episode #59
We’ll Prescribe You A Cat by Syou Ishida
The Book
First published in the UK in 2024 by Doubleday, an imprint of Transworld Publishers which is an imprint of Penguin Random House. Translated from Japanese to English by E Madison Shimoda with illustrations by Alissa Levy.
The original book is titled Neko Wo Shoho Itashimasyu and was first published in 2023 by PHP Institute, Inc.
The book has 252 pages with an advert which includes a preview for the sequel of this book.
What Did I Think
I didn’t know what to expect when I picked up this book. Generally, I find my books by looking at the covers. I went with this book when I saw it in the bookshop because it was just different. It didn’t match anything I normally pick up, and I also like cats.
The book felt similar to Before the Coffee Gets Cold and What You Are Looking For Is in the Library. Where the main hosts of the story are the background characters and the people that come to them are the main characters of each short story. And because of this, the book is a collection of short stories where they interact with what appears to be an unknown supernatural element of the book.
How it works: a person, having problems in their life, is recommended a place for help. The person believes they are going somewhere for mental health help from a psychologist. It turns out to be some “bloke” with a white coat on.
Some Spoilers
Further along in the story, you find out, that it seems that the clinic they go to is available when they need it. The clinic was originally a rental to a person selling cats but he couldn’t keep up with the rent did a runner and left the cats to die.
This is where I believe the supernatural element comes in. SPOILERS. I think that the room is haunted by the cats that died. Well two of them. And they help people by prescribing cats to those who need help, whilst waiting for certain people to turn up so they can help them.
Five short stories, helping people deal with their problems and most of the time they don’t even know, what their issues are or if they had difficulties in the first place. The “Doctor” seems to understand them by seeing through them and providing them with a cat to help deal with the situation.
It seems to be a simple set of stories but with an undertone of the unknown. Wondering who and what is going on. It was slowly revealed over time and It grew on me. Making me want a cat.
I liked how the story slowly broke down the problems that each of the patients had. But then how the use of the right cat went to help solve their issues. The connections made with new people also rekindle old friendships and become closer to family
I also enjoyed that they got drunk on catnip tea.
I will be keeping an eye out for the next book when it gets released sometime in 2025.
Would I recommend
Yes, I would recommend this book to whoever needs something relaxing to read with a hint of mystery and drama. And if you don’t like cats you may change your mind by the end of the book.
Please give this a go.
I want a cat!
Would you like to purchase your very own copy?
You could try these online stores: Amazon UK/USA. Waterstones. AbeBooks UK/ USA, Barnes and Noble and eBay UK/ USA.
Alternatively, you could try your local bookshop or even your local library.
