Nekomonogatari (White)

Cat Tale

By: Nisioisin

Narrated by: Cristina Vee, Eric Kimerer, Erica Mendez

Length: 7 hrs and 35 mins

Publisher's Summary

Launching into new territory that the author hadn’t mapped out when he embarked on the series, Nekomonogatari (White) tells the tale of heroine Tsubasa Hanekawa from her own perspective, in her own voice - if that can hold true for a damaged soul who, depending on who you’re asking, suffers from a split personality or a supernatural aberration.

The bone-chilling brokenness of her household, where father and mother and daughter keep three separate sets of cookware in the same kitchen and only ever prepare their own meals, and the profound darkness nurtured in the genius schoolgirl’s heart, come to life, if that is the word, through her self-vivisection.

As for our customary unreliable narrator, Araragi, we seem to learn revealing tidbits about him now that we have an outside view of him at last, while his lady friends Senjogahara, Hachikuji, et al, freed from his predilection for proudly inane banter, show subtly new faces to us via their female interlocutor. Welcome to the second season. 

©2018 Nisioisin (P)2019 Random House Audio

More like this!!!

please keep making audiobooks like this for Japanese light novels. It was tremendous! I'll continue to buy and listen to every one, especially from the Monogatari series.

Finally after 3 years another one!

Listened to Kizumonogatari 3 times already and was hoping for more Monogatari audio books. Finally after 3 years another one is made. Hope they can continue adapting the rest of the Monogatari series.

Fantastic Performance of a Great Book

This book, like Kizumonogatari before it, makes an outstanding case for the need for more audiobook renditions of popular Japanese novels. The whole cast performs their rolls exceptionally, especially Christina Vee when she's voicing the mischievous Black Hanekawa.

Nekomonogatari White is well worth a listen, but it should be noted that you should listen to Kizumonogatari first. Also I highly advise you to read or watch the other stories in between as well. Unfortunately none of them have audiobooks, but it's worth the trouble to find the other stories and catch up to be able to listen to this version of Niso Isin's fantastic series.

Classic Nisioisin

An interesting perspective from the mind of Tsubasa Hanekawa. You get to see both a new side to her and to Araragi. It was strange that they didn't adapt Bakemonogatari next, but I just hope they get around to it.

More please

So I'm going to start this review off with a warning. This is not a standalone book. This is part of a series, if you've seen the anime or manga that are based off this book series, or read the hard copy versions you'll have all the context you need. If this is the first wander into the franchise, you'll be lost and likely give this a poor review, as it does require a good amount of background information to understand.
For the rest of us, yes us, if you have the slightest doubt if you'll enjoy this audio book, don't. It was well and truly worth it, with two different narrators. One for the MC's inner voice and one for her outer, yes her this is Hanekawa's story not Araragi's. Which, once you get used to her character fits quiet well and is almost inspired given the disconnect between the two. All the narrators do a remarkably good job, and this is one of the best narrated audios I've ever listened to.

Now for the rest of the review.
Pros:
As with everything in this series there is a remarkable streamline, refined prose told in a stream of thought like wording used to its full effects; and one of the reasons why I prefer the audio books to the books. This means the book is told in first person only so you have been warned.
The story is unquiec and interesting, it's fun to see how the characters interact without Araragi. It also further fleshes out the world and characters, which goes without saying.
The word jokes are enjoyable and funny. Ie Heart under blade, the name of a certain vampire in the series is quiet literally the meaning of the Japanese name Shinobu. Yes that means there are Japanese word play and pun jokes but not the annoying sort, at least not to me and I usually can't strand them.
All the characters, if you are familiar with the series, are well written and develop nicely.
This is a personal positives: it shows everything, the story rarely tells you how the characters are feeling or rather it shows and tells which is nice.
Lastly, another personal: but the translators really did an amazing job of carefully choosing the ideal word for each usage, and the audio director and editor did a fantastic job making sure the voice talent got it exactly right.

The Cons/still positives but I had to reach here since Nisioisin is one of the greatest Japanese novelist (you know the country that invented novels) alive:
There is really only two. One: this is in first person, so if you can't tolerate that point of view you won't like it, even if it's done extremely well.
You have to pay attention to everything. this is not a half listen half do something else book, you have to pay complete attention to what is happening.
The only other negative is one I have pointed out several times and that is that this is a bit of a spin off book for a lengthy series. You cannot just walk into this book and expect to know up from down, you have to be familiar with at least some of the franchise or you will be lost.

In the end I'd deeply recommend this book to anyone that is familiar with the series. this is a credit well spent. If you want to see what non-western novels are like or just a great series I'd suggest KIZUMONOGATARI the first book in the series this is a part of and start from the there to get to this book, they are worth it.

Great but strange choice

Book 7 so odd choice after Kizumonogatari but as a long time fan still enjoyable

Great book, minor quibbles

The story itself is fantastic, and the narrator/voice actors do a good job throughout. My only issues are that there was some weird editing at the start of each chapter, and towards the end there's like a minute of overlayed dialogue. A more tangential question is why they chose to adapt this book from the middle of such a long series, but long time fans will enjoy this audiobook. Please make more!

Give me More...!

love it! Give me more...! Please bring more of the Monogatari series to Audible. I will definitely buy them. Everyone should buy them. They are really well done. You won't be disappointed.

Please buy this.

Why? Because it's soo good. That should be reason enough. Also because i want them to continue the series and you buying it will make you happy, will make my happy, and will make vertical happy. As for the story i don't think it needs anymore praise. Nishio Ishin is a genius through and through. His style really shines here and any fan of the series will love this. I suspect even someone unfamiliar with it will fall in love. Vertical really blew it out of the park with this one. There's an unprecedented level of production quality that i haven't experienced in any other audiobook. It's extremely well made and enjoyable till the very end. And that right there is the problem. That it ended. That there are about 21 more amazing books and they haven't been made into an audiobook yet. So don't hesitate. BUY THIS BOOK. TELL YOUR FRIENDS AND FAMILY TO BUY IT. TELL STRANGERS TO BUY IT. AND TELL VERTICAL TO MAKE MORE OF THIS. ALSO BUY KIZUMONOGATARI.
THANK YOU.

I love Monogatari!!!

Please make more of these! I love them so much!! The actors reading do a fantastic job portraying characters that you used to only be able to experience in Japanese.

More please

The voice cast is exceptional.
Any fan of the series will love it.
Chronologically this story takes place after bake and nise, so its a bit odd why they did this one first.
Any fan of the anime, this was the first arc of (5 eps) of "Monogatari Series: Second Season".

Highly recommended, I love this and hope they adapt more.

Hanekawa journey goes on!

Good narrative and series story of monogatari.
Recommended to everybody.
I've watch bakemonogatari first season couple years ago and find it not to my liking because i don't like SHAFT Animation studio doing the animation of monogatari series. First time i watch it i feel like okay second time i rewatched it i just don't like the way they animated it, it just my preference alot of people like the unique style that SHAFT create monogatari series, to me i enjoy the book.

just amazing

I've read other books on the series. but wow... this audiobook... amazing! I wish that all the books were available.
the only thing is that it would be nice to get access to the ilustrations

we need more please

We now need the rest of this series. I know there seems to be a lot of interest for that to happen online. audible please make it happen!

I have to watch the anime.

I do hope that they make more audio books for this series as well as other light novels.

Meandering

Although released first this is the second story in the audio series so far and is more a tale of introspection than one of fast-paced action, like Kizumonogatari.

The voice acting remains top tier quality, and is worth listening for that alone, but the story felt a little long and a little meandering compared with Kizu, which I listened to first.