IF CATS DISAPPEARED FROM THE WORLD

Brian Nishii narrates this imaginative tale set in Japan about the complexities of death, life, and cats. At the outset, an unnamed 30-year-old man receives a terminal diagnosis. As imminent death looms, he receives a visit from the devil (cheekily named Aloha). The young man must decide if Aloha's offer to extend his life is worth the alternative losses he'd have to endure. As the young man, Nishii offers a sensitive portrayal, moving from disbelief and despair to growing acceptance and resolution as he reckons with past relationships. As the devil, Nishii employs a gregarious attitude, lightening the character's macabre sensibilities. Then there's Cabbage, the cat, whose specific opinions, offered in a posh accent, prompt deeper insight into the meaning of life. A brief, charming parable. A.S. © AudioFile 2019, Portland, Maine [Published: MAY 2019]