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The Travelling Cat Chronicles by Hiro Arikawa, Philip Gabriel

The Travelling Cat Chronicles

by Hiro Arikawa, Philip Gabriel
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  • Oct 23, 2018, 288 pages
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Page 2 of 6
There are currently 37 member reviews
for The Travelling Cat Chronicles
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  • Ann B. (Kernville, CA)
    How to deserve the love of a cat
    A metaphorical journey wrapped in a lusciously evocative journey through Japan, this short, endearing novel is told from interwoven perspectives. Witty street cat Nana speaks to us in a chatty and intimate first-person voice, while a third-person POV fills us in on the relationships that Nana's human, Satoru, has built over the course of his young life.
  • Sandra C. (Rensselaer, NY)
    Charming read
    As an animal lover the relationship with Satoru and his cat was very real and meaningful. The way the author introduced all of the important people in Satoru's life enabled the reader to be aware of the life he led and how these people intersected in his life.
  • Elise B. (Macedonia, OH)
    Travelling Cat Chronicles
    I recommend this book for anybody who has always known that their pets were smarter than most people. Nana, the cat, has plenty of sarcastic comments throughout the book to keep you entertained; comments that truly fitting of a feline! This book is also a great blueprint for overcoming life's challenges without the bitterness, jealousy, and self-pity the sometimes accompanies people on their journey. Satoru, the main character, faces more challenges in his short lifetime than most, but he faces them with such dignity, that I was inspired. Throw in some insights on Japanese culture and you have an incredible book!
  • Priscilla M. (Houston, TX)
    Bittersweet tale of friendship
    I knew when I started this book that I would probably be in tears at some point in time. I have always had a cat or two and recognized many of the character traits in the main feline character, Nana. His wry, sometimes self-serving view of life, humans, dogs, and friendship is both hilarious and touching. He and his human, Saturo, embark on a journey that will explore, test, and define the bonds of friendship, trust, and devotion. During that journey, both of them will make new discoveries about themselves. Translated from the original Japanese novel, this story will break your heart and at the same time reaffirm your faith in humanity.
  • Carol N. (San Jose, CA)
    A Search for Love and Happiness
    In the Japanese culture and literature, cats hold an important place and appear as good luck charms capable of bringing blessings to their owners. This novel is narrated by Nana, a stray cat who, after being hit by a car, is taken in to recuperate by a young man named Satoru. He his provided with all he can eat, a warm bed, a friendly human and the occasional walk, He is always ready to leave but soon grows fond of his new master and, once recovered, decides to stay.

    Many years later, changes in Satoru's life appear that make it necessary to find Nana a new home. Together they begin their travels in search of the cat's new home. Why Satoru has to part with his beloved friend is a mystery but soon both the reader and Nana's understanding grows to understand his predicament.

    Anyone who's ever had a cat will be moved by this beautifully evoked road trip thus proofing the old adage. . . "It's not the journey that counts, but who's at your side." The author brings to the reader a powerful message about the value of friendship and solitude. It shows, above all, how acts of love, both great and small, can transform our lives. Expect this book to pull at your heartstrings – but in the best possible way, without becoming overly sentimental. This is a novel with wide appeal.
  • Donna Rae S. (Saint Joseph, MI)
    A Generous Cat's Care of its Introverted Charges
    The Traveling Cat Chronicles is about one cat's willingness to influence a handful of human lives. Facing a series of introverted people who contentedly live rather isolated lives, this self-contained cat chooses to accompany one human companion until the human realizes his cat will lose that one. His person, then, works to offer him a next person to know and be with. The cat takes on the care of this short string of rather isolated, contentedly unwed humans with an appropriately restrained warmth and calm dedication. This book's subtitle could be A Generous Cat's Care of Introverted Charges.
  • Susan S. (Salida, CO)
    Superb pet lover appeal!
    If you ever thought about cats and longevity and belonging, this is the book for you. As you move thru life, we will all take a few unexpected turns along the road. This lovely book is about some of those turns. The companion of the cat visits friends from his past and learns more about himself, about his friends and about his cat along the way. As more and more of the trip is revealed, his insights will have universal appeal for pet owners of all kinds. It has a slightly exotic feel with the Japanese setting and is more intriguing because of it. Loved it!

Beyond the Book:
  Cats in Japanese Culture

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