Abandoning a Cat, by Haruki Murakami

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It's always exciting to hear about a new Haruki Murakami release, and I was delighted to have the opportunity to read his new short nonfiction book.

Abandoning a Cat is Murakami's attempt to illuminate for us and himself the essence of his father's life. Though he spent many years almost estranged from his father, Chiaki Murakami, there was obviously much love between them. The author explores his father's tastes and life experiences, contrasting them with his own, in an attempt to understand their distant relationship. 

Murakami's autobiographical exploration of his family's history and his father's accidental recruitment as a soldier in WWII are told in the author's signature style, which is always intriguing.  There is an undercurrent of sadness in this account, of course, since Chiaki Murakami is no longer here to help tell the parts of his life that his son will never know, though he has attempted to find out as much as possible.  Haruki Murakami has honored his father in an enduring, authentic way with this book.

Many thanks to Netgalley and Knopf Pantheon, Vintage,and Anchor, for this delightful experience. 







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