If Cats Disappeared from the World

By Genki Kawamura

A dying man trades worldly disappearances for extra days. What will he sacrifice?

3.8/5 Goodreads · 155,406 ratings

176 pages

$16.99Save 6%

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Bookroo's summary

Facing a terminal diagnosis, a lonely postman is offered extra days to live by making things vanish from the world. As he contemplates each choice, he must decide what truly matters, all while his beloved cat, Cabbage, remains his only companion. Will he find meaning in what he chooses to erase, or will the cost be too great? This poignant journey explores love, loss, and the essence of life itself, as the postman navigates a week of profound decisions and unexpected revelations.

From the publisher

New York Times Bestseller The international phenomenon that has sold more than two million copies, If Cats Disappeared from the World–now a Japanese film–is a heartwarming, funny, and profound meditation on the meaning of life. This timeless tale from Genki Kawamura (producer of the Japanese blockbuster animated movie Your Name) is a moving story of loss and reconciliation, and of one man’s journey to discover what really matters most in life. The young postman’s days are numbered. Estranged from his family and living alone with only his cat, Cabbage, to keep him company, he was unprepared for the doctor’s diagnosis that he has only months to live. But before he can tackle his bucket list, the devil shows up to make him an offer: In exchange for making one thing in the world disappear, the postman will be granted one extra day of life. And so begins a very strange week that brings the young postman and his beloved cat to the brink of existence. With each object that disappears, the postman reflects on the life he’s lived, his joys and regrets, and the people he’s loved and lost.

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