We'll Prescribe You a Cat By Syou Ishida, Translated by E. Madison Shimoda

This short story collection was at the top of my to-read list, and it delivered. In five sections, We'll Prescribe You a Cat tells the story of several very different, troubled people who seek treatment at the Kokoro Clinic for the Soul, only to be told by a disinterested receptionist and an enthusiastic doctor that the cure for their issues is a cat (or two).

Each person's story explores deeply human experiences, from stressful work environments to elementary school social landscapes to grief and isolation from family. The cats prescribed don't solve these problems exactly, but they do help each person gain perspective. Plus, the cute cat illustrations at the start of each section made me eager to start the next story and discover the next prescriptive cat.

Of course, with such an odd prescription, there must be an odd doctor. The doctor and receptionist have their own woes, and the mystery of their clinic is slowly revealed throughout the book. (What kind of a mental health clinic prescribes CATS? I was dying to know). I was left wanting more, but only because Ishida wanted me to feel that way. The clues and hints build up questions that aren't quite fully answered, but Ishida sprinkled in enough information to make me feel satisfied.

I loved We'll Prescribe You a Cat — it was refreshing and intelligent. I felt deeply connected to the people in each story, even if their problems weren't personally relatable, I found myself able to empathize with them easily, even with their very human flaws. The writing was snappy and humorous, and the underlying mythos of the clinic and its employees kept me turning pages.

For anyone interested in character studies, deeply human tales, or the healing power of animals, I recommend We'll Prescribe You a Cat.

Ziggy assists me by chewing my bookmark

Book Info

• Title: We'll Prescribe You a Cat

• Publisher: Berkley/Penguin Random House

• ISBN: 9780593818749

• Author: Syou Ishida

• Translator: E. Madison Shimoda

• Pub date: Sept 2024

• Source: 9780593818749