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Title: I Am a Cat by Soseki Natsume, Aiko Ito, Graeme Wilson ISBN: 0-8048-3265-X Publisher: Tuttle Publishing Pub. Date: 01 March, 2002 Format: Paperback Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $19.95 |
Average Customer Rating: 4 (8 reviews)
Rating: 4
Summary: Don't Be Put Off
Comment: I picked up I AM A CAT while browsing one day and almost put it back because I didn't feel like reading a book of its heft (it's over 600 pages) at that moment. But I read the first few pages and realized I had a gem and finished the book in a couple of weeks. The first person (cat) voice of the narrative is inspired. As other reviews have said, Soseki Natsume offers an amusing commentary human nature particularly of academics and hypochondriacs. However, he also offers a closely observed and humorous commentary on cat behavior that can come only from living in close proximity to a cat. Moments when the cat describes his shock on seeing his first human with it's horribly bald face, or his attempt to keep his dignity after finding the theft and eating of a sticky rice ball more difficult than he anticipated are priceless for their humor and vivid description. It is true, however, that as the book progresses the cat's stories become increasingly focused on the humans around him.
I am not in a position to offer an opinion on the translation, however, this book was my introduction to Soseki and I have since read several of his other works in various translations and find this book to be consistent with the style, tone and humor of that emerges from other translations of his writings.
I also found I AM A CAT highly readable. It was originally published serially over many years, and the short vignettes it offers allow one to pick it up and put it down without losing the thread of an overarching story. Additionally, the format of many short stories allows some to be more humorous and other to be more philosophical even poignant and in the best of the stories all three at once. It is a highly imaginative, thoughtful and funny set of stories about human foibles.
Rating: 4
Summary: intellectual snobs
Comment: This is an excellent book by one of Japan's best authors. It is satirical, imaginative, and insightful. It really does give you a unique impression of one of the most dramatic periods in Japan's history. The changes Japan was going through during the setting of this book were probably more dramatic than has ever happened in any other country.
The translation is also very good, not that I'm in any position to be able to compare to the original...unlike, evidently, some reviewers:
What bothers me about some of these reviews, as usually happens with translations, is how often people whine about the quality of the translation. Some great thinker on here has called this one "comically inept." did he actually sit around reading this book in public chuckling in the hopes that someone would ask him why? "oh, it is just this inane translation of a Soseki novel. such pedantic dribble. this charlatin translator is only revealing his ignorance. allow me to enlighten you..." Why doesn't HE make the REAL translation, correct verb uses and all, since everyone else is too stupid to get it.
Rating: 4
Summary: an rigorous but amusing read
Comment: this book took me over 8 months to complete, but it was certainly worth the time spent. it was immensely enjoyable although long-winded at times. there were some minor flaws in the translation -- i recommend this to high-level readers because of the vocabulary. i like cats & i like books about cats, especially if they are smart, and this is a very smart book. you would do well by reading it, i am sure!
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Title: Botchan by Natsume Soseki, Alan Turney ISBN: 0870113674 Publisher: Kodansha America Pub. Date: 01 September, 1992 List Price(USD): $10.00 |
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Title: Kokoro by Natsume Soseki ISBN: 0895267152 Publisher: Regnery Publishing Pub. Date: 01 May, 1996 List Price(USD): $14.95 |
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Title: Snow Country by Yasunari Kawabata, Edward G. Seidensticker, Edward Seidensticker ISBN: 0679761047 Publisher: Vintage Books USA Pub. Date: 01 January, 1996 List Price(USD): $12.00 |
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Title: Inside My Glass Doors by Soseki Natsume, Sammy I. Tsunematsu, Marvin Marcus ISBN: 0804833125 Publisher: Tuttle Publishing Pub. Date: 01 August, 2002 List Price(USD): $12.95 |
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Title: Breaking into Japanese Literature by Giles Murray ISBN: 4770028997 Publisher: Kodansha International (JPN) Pub. Date: 01 May, 2003 List Price(USD): $19.95 |
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