If Cats Disappeared From the World by Genki Kawamura – A Gentle, Philosophical Tale of Love and Loss

 

You can live forever if you get rid of.....

A short summary:

When a young postman learns he has only days left to live, the devil appears with an unusual offer: for every thing the man agrees to erase from existence, he will gain an extra day of life. Phones. Movies. Clocks. Each disappearance seems manageable, until the devil suggests something far more personal: his beloved cat.

Through this quietly profound fable, Genki Kawamura explores what truly gives life meaning and how loss can illuminate love. It’s a meditation on mortality, connection, and the value of even the smallest joys in a finite world.

My favorite quote from the book:

"I wonder why people always expect things from others that they themselves can't or won't do."

-Genki Kawamura, If Cats Disappeared From the World

Questions to ponder while reading:

What would you give up first?

What wouldn't you give up at all?

My review:

This book is tender, whimsical, and deeply philosophical, one of those rare stories that sneaks up on you with humor and leaves you reflecting long after the last page. Kawamura takes a simple premise and turns it into an emotional exploration of love, memory, and what it means to live fully, even when time is running out.

The narrative feels almost like a modern parable. While there’s magic and fantasy, the emotional truth rings completely human. The devil’s bargains are clever, but it’s the narrator’s quiet reflections, and, of course, his loyal cat, that anchor the story in heart and honesty. It’s funny, sad, and utterly endearing. And personally? No deal is worth losing the cat (or the dog).

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a.d. elliott is a wanderer, photographer, and storyteller living in Salem, Virginia. 

In addition to her travel writings at www.takethebackroads.com, you can also read her book reviews at www.riteoffancy.com and US military biographies at www.everydaypatriot.com

Her online photography gallery can be found at shop.takethebackroads.com

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