The Travelling Cat Chronicles by Hiro Arikawa

Publicated: 2nd Novemeber 2017

Genre: Contemporary Fiction, Culture – Japan

Format: Paperback

It’s not the journey that counts, but who’s at your side.

Nana, a cat, is devoted to Satoru, his owner. So when Satoru decides to go on a roadtrip one day to find him a new home, Nana is perplexed. They visit Satoru’s old friends from his school days and early youth. His friends may have untidy emotional lives but they are all animal lovers, and they also wonder why Satoru is trying to give his beloved cat away. Until the day Nana suddenly understands a long-held secret about his much-loved owner, and his heart begins to break.

Narrated in turns by Nana and by his owner, this funny, uplifting, heartrending story of a cat is nothing if not profoundly human….(from Goodreads)

My Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

My Review:

I have longed to read this book for quite some time but have put it off fearing it might not live up to expectations. In the past I have not done so well with books written in other languages translated into english, finding them disjointed and lacking in emotion. But I am pleased to say that this was not the case with this novel. The profound love of Satoru for his cat, Nana, was abundantly evident throughout, bringing an ache to my crazy cat lady heart.

Beginning when Satoru first meets the kinked-tail stray, a reminder of his childhood cat Hatchi, this story is one of such compassion, love and devotion. A charming and poignant tale, The Travelling Cat Chronicles details the way Satoru and Nana save each other in turns, bringing greater meaning to each other’s lives.

Streetwise Nana shares the narration with Satoru as they travel Japan in Satoru’s silver van, experiencing the changing of the seasons and the beauty of nature together. As the pair travel, Satoru recconects with childhood friends and the reader is given an indepth look at the influence these bonds have had on Satoru’s life up until now. Together they travel, content in each other’s company, as they seek a final resting place and a place to call home.

Highly recommend….but animal lovers beware – make sure you have tissues.