Our hearts have a world of their own and sometimes along the ways of these world we meet some other worlds in the form of books that merge into ours and bring us a beautiful kind of solace and company.
This here is one such book.

On the surface Mornings without Mii is a person’s experience of living with and without their precious companion, a cat named Mii.

As one goes further into it one realizes that the little moments, the huge moments and the details in between are just another world within themselves. Reading this book was much like life where seasons change, places change, people change and even feelings change too. One does realizes another thing, that throughout these changes so much remain same and we learn so much.

If you are looking for a cozy read then I would definitely recommend it to you.

I would like to say thanks to NetGalley for providing me an eARC of Mornings without Mii, a Farrar, Straus and Giroux title by McMillan publishing

Cozy read about the narrator and her cat. <3 What a gorgeous cozy little novel. Quick read, but I enjoyed savoring it in a slower paced. Good for a nice Sunday morning in the rain curled up with tea type of book!
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC

Trigger Warnings: cat in distress, missing cat, aging cat

In 1977, Mayumi Inaba heard tiny cries carried by the breeze of the river. When she follows the sound she finds a small newborn kitten dangling high in the fence - clearly placed there by someone. Overcome with affection, Inaba takes the kitten back to her apartment, names her Mii, and thus the inseparable bond begins.

Over the next twenty years Inaba talked about her life as she goes through changes and compromises, but the one thing that is always there is her cat, Mii.

So, I have mixed feelings about this book. Some parts of it I absolutely loved and related to; like Inaba straight up buying a condo because finding one to rent with Mii was too hard, cause that’s something I would absolutely do, and the midnight walks through the hallway with her cat - I absolutely did that with my cat, Mushi, in college when I needed a break from homework.

Then when Inaba talked about Mii getting stuck up in a tree and how she let her be stuck there so she could hear her little cries slightly broke me, because I hear one off pitched cry from either of my cats, I’m running to them to see what’s going on. My heart also ached for Mii at the end of her life - her quality of life was horrible and as much as I desperately want my cats to be with me for as long as time allows, they shouldn’t be suffering like Mii. Oh - and not getting Mii spayed!

Overall I both enjoyed and had my heart break while reading this. I do understand this was Inada’s first cat and it’s also set in 80’s/90’s Japan, but some things I think she could have handled so much better.

Thank you NetGalley and Farrar, Straus and Giroux for the ARC! I enjoyed reading this beautifully tender reflection on one woman's journey with her pet rescue cat. Quick touching read.

Mornings Without Mii by Mayumi Inaba; great! A classic. I love cats and I love Japanese literature, so I expected to be a big fan of this.

e-ARC from NetGalley.

I often struggle with memoirs. Generally, if I learn that a book is about the author's own life, I won't pick it up in the first place because I don't want to negatively review someone's experiences.

This book was a rare exception. Mornings Without Mii is more than just Inaba's life story. It was a testimony to the importance and constancy of animals. It highlights the things humans have in common with our fellow beings - our shared resilience, loyalty, forgiveness.

If you had told me this was literary fiction, I would have believed you. The prose was lovely and hypnotic. The events were equally banal and overflowing with the daily tragedies of life. The life arc of an abandoned kitten named Mii and how it aligned with the life adventure of her human was both inspiring and devastating.

And the love and devotion, the growth from mistakes, the genuine love and acceptance? Well those... Those were everything.

This is a book many cat lovers will relate to because it's really more about the owner and her relationship with her pet. This is definitely a different society, and as someone who has volunteered in animal rescue here I wouldn't do things the same way. But this is about her love for her pet.

Mornings without Mii was an excellent read. The writing was propulsive and the character development was rich. I would read more from this author.

This was a difficult read, but not for the reasons I thought it would be. The title suggests that the book will be focused on the author's grief after losing her beloved cat Mii. Most of the memoir addresses Inaba's time spent with her cat and describes several moments of neglect and disregard for the animal's wellbeing. I understand people have differing perspectives on whether animals should be kept inside, outside, or both, so that's not what I mean. Inaba allows Mii to wander around an apartment complex and is surprised when she gets lost. She refrains from spaying her cat until Mii is already pregnant and almost dies from sepsis. Ultimately, the author lets Mii suffer rather than putting her down out of selfishness. I can't say I'd recommend this book, as it was painful to read and frankly disturbing at times.

“Mornings without Mii” it's an autobiographical book from author Mayumi Inaba and the 20 years she spent with her cat Mii, which she rescued as a kitten until the moment she died.

The writing is poetic and beautiful, it shows us the beauty of the mundane and the fascination of day to day life.

A lot of the things the author portrays could be crude and difficult to read and process, we could even find ourselves with a culture shock in regards to the typical care of a pet, and even more if we take into account that this takes place on the 70’s and a lot of information we possess now about the care or basic knowledge about pets and specifically about cats, where not as common or known as it is now.

And because of these complicated themes, this can cause a difficulty at times in reading, as it could be triggering or reminiscing of situations with our own pets. If you are willing to read it, please, do it weary.

--- Spanish

“Mornings without Mii” es un libro autobiográfico de la autora Mayumi Inaba y sus 20 años en compañía de su gata Mii a quien rescató siendo pequeña y hasta el momento que ella falleció.

La escritura es bella y poética, nos presenta la belleza en lo mundano y la fascinación en la vida cotidiana.

Muchas de las cosas que la autora nos relata pueden ser crudas y difíciles de leer y procesar, incluso nos podemos encontrar con un choque cultural en cuanto a los cuidados típicos de las mascotas y más aún tomando en cuenta que esto ocurre durante la década de los 70s y muchas cosas que ahora consideramos cuidados o conocimiento básico de las mascotas, y más específicamente de los gatos, en aquel entonces no eran un conocimiento tan conocido.

Debido a estos temas complicados, si presenta cierta dificultad a momentos en su lectura ya que podrían ser desencadenantes o recordar situaciones con mascotas propias, si les interesa leerlo, por favor haganlo con cautela.

Beautiful writing, but the premise of this book definitely had me fooled into thinking that it would be a wholesome and loving story about cats and pet ownership. Super unfortunate that that was not the case here.

This was not what I expected when starting this one. It was not the cozy feel-good read about a cat and her care taker and their life together. I found that I have very little in common with our narrator and the way she talked and often treated her cat was not my idea of a caring owner. She was downright irresponsible most of the time, which just made me sad. It felt like she used her cat as a plot device for most of this book. It felt like it was really all about her and Mii was just her emotional support animal, but I don't know if Mii's best interests were really met especially towards the end of her life.

I received and ARC of this book via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

First published in 1999, Mornings Without Mii chronicles the author's 20-year relationship with her cat, Mii. As a cat lover myself, I was immediately hooked by this book's cover and description. Unfortunately, it did not turn out to be the heartwarming memoir it was marketed as, and instead left me heartbroken for Mii and the way she was treated. I would not recommend this book to anyone, especially if you are triggered by pet illness or loss.

Perhaps some of the author's original thoughts were lost in translation, or not as much was known about the proper treatment of pets when this was first written more than twenty years ago, but I found the author to be distant and irresponsible in her care for Mii. She writes in sometimes graphic detail about Mii's health issues, which often went unaddressed for far longer than they should have. I could not imagine putting my cats through some of the things described in this book. Beyond a few bittersweet moments, this book left me reflecting on some of my most devastating memories with pets I have lost, which made it even more difficult to finish.

This was such aheartwarming read. I like that we see glimpses of what it feels like to have a pet cat, their antics, the sadness when we parted from them and how our love bloomed for these littls animals. By the accounts from the authors, it made me feel so much closer to the cat Mii when i never knew the cat personally. There is something so poignantly relatable to the stories in here.

A Japanese woman basically gets to tell the story of her life via telling the story of how she found her cat Mii and their life together. Reflective, sweet, and with some gorgeous poetry at the end of each chapter.

This Japanese modern classic tugged on my heartstrings! A meditative and unique memoir of animal connection, grief and writing that is a tribute to a pet and much more. A lovely and insightful book that will touch your heart and stay with you.

Mornings Without Mii by Mayumi Inaba is a tender and thought-provoking novel that explores themes of love, loneliness, and the complexities of personal relationships. The story centers on a young woman navigating life after the loss of her beloved cat, Mii, and reflects on the deep bond they shared. Inaba’s writing is quiet yet powerful, capturing the subtle emotional shifts that come with grief and healing. The book offers a heartfelt meditation on the small, often unnoticed moments that shape our lives, making it a touching read for anyone who has experienced the profound connection between humans and their pets.

Mornings Without Mii by Mayumi Inaba is a quiet, deeply heartfelt meditation on love, companionship, and the passage of time. Inaba’s bond with Mii is tender and profound, capturing the unspoken connection between humans and the animals who share our lives. The writing is delicate yet evocative, weaving together moments of solitude, creativity, and the quiet comfort of a beloved pet’s presence.

This book brought me to tears more than once, reminding me of the pets who have walked beside me through different chapters of my life. It’s a beautifully written tribute to the way animals become part of our souls, leaving paw prints long after they’re gone. Poignant, gentle, and utterly moving—this is a book that lingers.

I knew what I was getting into when I chose this book to read. I'd fall in love with Mii and ultimately, my heart would be broken. I was correct.

I love how the author shared her own personal story, her poems, and the story of one little kitten all in one book. She perfectly described how a little creature can consume your heart and home.

My oldest cat, Vincent, turns 15 this September. He has been dealing with cancer off and on for the past 3 years. Every day feels like a blessing. I was reminded of how hard times can be with an ill cat while reading this book. I loved (though it was heartbreaking) how much Inaba was willing to do to help Mii feel better. This book is a beautiful tribute to Mii's spirit.

Thank you to NetGalley, Mayumi Inaba, little Mii, Farrar, Straus and Giroux | FSG Originals for the opportunity to read Mornings Without Mii. I have written this review voluntarily.

This was a nice read, mostly because I love reading about interactions with cats. I would definitely recommend this "cozy" memoir read for anyone who needs a break from the intensity of life, and wants a moment in the simplicity of life.