We’ll Prescribe You a Cat by Syou Ishida – a Review

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Description:
A cat a day keeps the doctor away…
Discover the award-winning, bestselling Japanese novel that has become an international sensation in this utterly charming, vibrant celebration of the healing power of cats.

Tucked away in an old building at the end of a narrow alley in Kyoto, the Kokoro Clinic for the Soul can only be found by people who are struggling in their lives and genuinely need help. The mysterious clinic offers a unique treatment to those who find their way it prescribes cats as medication. Patients are often puzzled by this unconventional prescription, but when they “take” their cat for the recommended duration, they witness profound transformations in their lives, guided by the playful, empathetic, occasionally challenging yet endearing cats.

Throughout the pages, the power of the human-animal bond is revealed as a disheartened businessman finds unexpected joy in physical labor, a young girl navigates the complexities of elementary school cliques, a middle-aged man struggles to stay relevant at work and home, a hardened bag designer seeks emotional balance, and a geisha finds herself unable to move on from the memory of her lost cat. As the clinic’s patients navigate their inner turmoil and seek resolution, their feline companions lead them toward healing, self-discovery, and newfound hope.

Review:

We’ll Prescribe You a Cat by Syou Ishida is a Japanese novel that became an international sensation.  The story is a vibrant and charming celebration of the powerful healing of cats.   The mysterious clinic is an old building in a narrow alley, that offers unique treatments, especially for patients who are struggling in their lives. The doctor is kind of weird, as well as the receptionist; depending on the patient’s situation, they prescribe a cat for their wellbeing. Each of the patients are given a cat, for two weeks or more, and surprisingly they do begin to reach their own self-discovery and healing.

Each cat is different, as they become wonderful therapeutic companions that help guide the owners with comfort, warmth and hope; with many of the patients wanting to keep their cat.  Each of the patients were had different issues; an unhappy businessman finds himself enjoying physical labor; a young girl at school having problems; a middle age man who struggles, a bag designer tries to control her emotions and another woman who tries to find her lost cat.

Each of the cat have their own interconnected short stories:

 Bee, female gray cat – around 8 years old
Margot,  female mixed breed – 3 years old
Koyuki – white kitten – 2 ½ months old
Tank – Male shorthair – 2 years old
Mimita – male Scottish fold – 5 months old

 Each of the owners will find their way to happiness and comfort; though some of the cats will be given back to the clinic, and eventually find their own cat.

We’ll Prescribe You a Cat was a cute story line, with people finding transformations in their lives, guided by the playful, adorable, and endearing cats.  We’ll Prescribe You a Cat was very well written by Syou Ishida.  This is a different kind of read, which has become an International sensation in Japan.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher