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Sue & Tai-chan 1 by Konami Kanata
Genre: Comics, Series, Cats
5 Stars
One-Liner: Cute, cute, and super cute.
Sue, an aging cat, wants nothing more than to spend her days sleeping as much as she can. When someone gives Natsuki a little kitten to care of a while, he is not sure if Sue will like it. However, he has no choice but to accept and brings the kitten inside.
The kitten, Tai-chan, is an energetic and curious fluff ball. He needs someone to watch over and train him to behave. The responsibility falls on Sue. The book shows how Sue and Tai-chan bond and the antics of Tai-chan that Sue has to deal with.
I knew I had to read the book when a friend reviewed it. Imagine a senior cat wanting to sleep and laze around when the little kitten is intent on exploring the house and messing things up. Luckily, my request was approved, and here is the review. ;)
The book isn’t a complete story but a series of daily incidents or (mis)adventures. Tai-chan refuses to let Sue sleep in peace, and most of the time, she has to drag herself around the house to make sure he doesn’t end up in trouble. Who said being a cat-sitter is easy for an aging cat?
The illustrations are adorable. The color scheme is just right enough to add warmth to the pages but not so bright that it hurts the eyes. Tai-chan looks so charming with those big round eyes that I wanted to grab him from the screen and hug him. Sue, the poor cat, shows all signs of aging.
The text size is good, and I had no trouble reading the dialogues (I can’t emphasize enough the importance of choosing the right text size). What got my attention was the types of meows and mews the book has. The cat sounds and their meanings were provided as dialogue.
Cat parents can look through the book to understand what the meow could mean. Now, that’s educative, right? *wink*
The layout is neat and clean. It makes the book even more pleasing to the eyes. It shows the care and effort put in by the publishing team to ensure that the ebook readers also find it convenient to read the manga.
Moreover, the dialogue is crisp and short. The book works well for young and older audiences. Kids won’t have a hard time understanding the words and are sure to have loads of fun reading about Tai-chan’s antics. The book almost ends without a warning. It’s pretty much a slice-of-life story of the cats. Since this one is marked as the first volume. I’m going to wait for the second and grab the ARC.
Oh, there’s a small note at the end of the story explaining the name tags chan and san. These are terms of endearment and respect used by the Japanese. This kind of information is quite helpful.
The author, Konami Kanata, is popular for her cat comics, and I can see why. Her manga series, Chi’s Sweet Home, hit the New York Bestsellers list. This is my first book by the author. I already marked the Chi Sweet Home series as to-read.
Thank you, NetGalley and Kodansha, for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.
*****
Additional Recommendation:
Since Feb is Black History Month, here’s a small recommendation-
The Dust Bowl Orphans by Suzette D. Harrison has a dual timeline and deals with the lives of African American people during The Dust Bowl. It’s a story of a fifteen-year-old Faith who has to take care of her five-year-old sister Hope as they get separated from their parents during a dust storm. It’s a heartwarming book.
About the Author: Srivalli Rekha is a blogger, writer, and amateur photographer. She got a degree in MBA and MA English Literature and chose to become a writer and a poet instead of a corporate professional.