Milena Michiko Flašar's Mr Katō Plays Family is an eccentric second-lease-on-life novel for fans of A Man Called Ove and Beautiful World, Where Are You.
Mr Katō—a curmudgeon and recent retiree—finds his only solace during his daily walks, where he wonders how his life went wrong and daydreams about getting a dog (which his wife won't allow). During one of these walks, he is approached by a young woman. She calls herself Mie, and invites him to join her business Happy Family, where employees act as part-time relatives or acquaintances for clients in need, for whatever reason, if only for a day.
At first reluctant, but then intrigued, he takes the job without telling his wife or adult children. Through the many roles he takes on, Mr Katō rediscovers the excitement and spontaneity of life, and re-examines his role in his own family. Using lessons learned with his "play families," he strives to reconnect with his loved ones, to become the father and husband they deserve, and to live the life he's always wanted.
At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.
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Creators
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Publisher
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Release date
June 20, 2023 -
Formats
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OverDrive Read
- ISBN: 9781250842480
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EPUB ebook
- ISBN: 9781250842480
- File size: 3132 KB
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Languages
- English
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Reviews
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Booklist
May 15, 2023
Flasar, an acclaimed author of German and Japanese descent, presents the tender story of a man who must reinvent himself after retirement. Mr Katō--not his real name--is struggling to find a rhythm. Without the job that kept him moving every day, he feels stuck at home with his indifferent wife. The passion that brought them together years ago has faded, and Mr Katō's children are distant, too. While walking in a cemetery one day, he comes across a woman called Mie. She describes herself as an actor who "plays family"--she's paid to pretend she's a long-lost daughter, a fianc�e, or a guest at a wedding. If there is a hole in a customer's life, she can fill it. She thinks Mr Katō can bring her more business, so she gives him that name along with an assignment. As he slips into different familial identities, he realizes how much he's been missing. But can he get back what he's lost? Readers will float along with the bemused Mr Katō through the dreamlike prose.COPYRIGHT(2023) Booklist, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
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