The Travelling Cat Chronicles
Ratings110
Average rating4.3
This was my favorite read of 2022. It is a gentle, bittersweet read that manages to be sad and inspiring at the same time. I absolutely loved this story as it unfolded and revealed the great love of one man for his friends and one cat for this man.
I listened to the audiobook narrated by George Blagden whose nuanced reading really enhanced the text of the book. I particularly enjoyed the snark he added to the cat's voice. It was perfect. I particularly loved this line from the cat: “Humans who think we don't understand them are the stupid ones.”
This book is the story of a journey, both physical and emotional. It is filled with humor, wonder, and beauty. As the cat says of the journey: “At that moment, we were without doubt the greatest travellers in the world. And I was the world's greatest travelling cat.”
This book is something that you should not miss if you've ever been loved by a cat. Perhaps even if you haven't.
I never wanted a cat but this book came the closest to convincing me otherwise.
I only read this because my bookclub was reading it. It wasn't even on my radar. But I love cats so I thought I'd give it a try. I absolutely LOVED it. I love how you get the cats thoughts and having owned cats I can see it. It's just a beautiful story of a man who takes in a stray. It is beautifully translated and flowed so nicely. Just have some tissues towards the end of the story when you realize Satoru is not going to make it. I cried so hard when Nana was crying in the courtyard for Satoru. .
I am dedicating this review to our bookclub member who has just passed away recently. Jenny Colvin aka Reading Envy.
Abandoned at 30%. The cat parts are too cutesy for me; the kid parts too unengaging, the adult parts too lifeless. I'm sure this is a fine book.
Our silver van was like a magic carriage. Every time I got into it, it carried me to a place I'd never been before. At the moment, we were without a doubt the greatest travelers in the world. And I was the world's greatest travelling cat.
I don't really know how to write this review. Anything I say about it beyond the superficial summary you can find here or on the book's back cover would spoil things that I think shouldn't be spoiled. Nana's no-nonsense view of the world, so typical for a cat, was really the best vehicle for a story of closure like this. Their Japan-hopping tour of Satoru's friends was extremely satisfying from a storytelling perspective; each friend had just a little more to add to Satoru's personality and past that made me want to keep reading in a way that a book hasn't in a long time.
Funny, bittersweet, sad, this book hit all the right notes for me. Books don't make me cry ever, and this one did. An easy add to my favorite physical books shelf where space is at a premium.
Let's just say there were some tears shed. Such a touching story of a quirky cat and a caring human companion as they travel to different places and find joy in each other's company. A must-read!
I didn't know it was possible to cry from beginning to end while reading a book but this book succeeded in that task. Still, even with the crying, it's a beautiful, heart-felt book and there are moments in the book the chapter where Satoru and Nana take their trip to Sapporo together and travel slowly through Hokkaido is so beautiful that I felt as though as I waws there that show such beauty that I felt was there. I recommend reading this with a cat (or even a dog) curled up on your lap to help you get through it.
Satoru must find a new home for his cat, Nana. But who would be best to leave Nana with? Satoru and Nana head out on a travelling adventure in which Satoru gets to reconnect with his old friends and remember his life.
The gentlest of stories, perfect for anyone who loves cats.
I've been reading many books with cats in them this past month or so. When I started this one with a cat as the protagonist, I wasn't aware of how it would affect me. It sounded all fluffy and light to me.
This book is perfectly poignant and beautifully written. The bond between a pet and its owner is so wonderfully described. Arikawa captures the love of a feline for its owner so masterfully that you're left ‘awwing' at all the cuteness and bawling at all the sadnesses, all the while gaining a perspective that you might not have had otherwise.
I would recommend this book to animal lovers (specifically cat) as I'm unsure if others would enjoy it just as much as I did.
p.s. This book also helps restore some faith in humanity
I wanted to like this so badly because of all the great reviews, however I had a really hard time getting through it. Just didn't catch my interest. I think I'll give it another shot in the future.
First and foremost, “[b:The Travelling Cat Chronicles 40961230 The Travelling Cat Chronicles Hiro Arikawa https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1532711745l/40961230.SX50.jpg 50618763]” by [a:Hiro Arikawa 4823030 Hiro Arikawa https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1553387795p2/4823030.jpg] is a tranquil novel that narrates the tale of Satoru and his feline companion, Nana. While the main plot revolves around Satoru searching among his friends for someone who can care for Nana, we are enlightened through flashbacks about the origins of these friendships.»Yoshimine changed the subject.“What's your name?”“Satoru Miyawaki. Nice to meet you.”He didn't have to say anything like Let's hang out, for by this time they were already friends.«From primary school to university and beyond, the amiable and empathetic Satoru effortlessly forges friendships wherever he ventures. However, it is beyond doubt that the most profound and significant bond in his life is with Nana. They share a mutual trust and affection that transcends words and species. They also support each other through difficult times and enjoy each other's company.»Whenever he stayed overnight at Satoru's, sleeping on the futon beside his bed, he'd often be woken in the early hours by four feet clomping over him. Feeling the weight of a cat's paws pressing into your shoulders in the middle of the night—not much beats that.«As is often the case, in this splendidly serene yet vibrantly colourful narrative, the journey, the quest for Nana's new owner, and the unique experiences shared by Nana and Satoru take precedence. I also liked how the novel gradually reveals the reason for their road trip, and how it connects to Satoru's past and present. It is a bittersweet and moving twist that makes the reader appreciate their journey even more.Through five episodic chapters, we organically acquaint ourselves with Satoru as we witness his warm-hearted and understanding interactions with his friends. Each character is granted ample time and space to unfold, wherein every friend, every companion possesses a well-rounded nature, and the diverse and distinctive relationships with Satoru take centre stage.Intelligently and occasionally laced with sarcasm and irony, the present is commented upon by Nana, who comprehends every word, yet can only respond to a limited extent.»“Oh, look—it's eating. How sweet!”“So sweet!”Hey, you idiotic couple. How would you like it if somebody pointed at you while you were eating? And today happens to be a chicken-breast-and-gourmet-seafood blend.How come cat lovers spot me every time? Whenever we take a break, they swarm around me. Pretty amazing, if you think about it.If you guys were the ones who fed me, then I'd be as sweet to you as the quality of the food merited, but Satoru's the one who feeds me. So let me focus on my food. Okay?«However, Nana exhibits exceptional ability in communicating with the animals belonging to his potential new owners...Arikawa delivers a beautiful, poignant, and utterly cohesive narrative. However, I must confess that my freshwater pool now contains a substantial saline component. Despite occasionally tugging at the heartstrings, the “Chronicles” never become overly sentimental.I also enjoyed the illustrations at the beginning of each chapter that fit the narration stylistically perfectly. Together, they create a magnificent piece of art. I think the book is a beautiful tribute to the power of friendship and love, and how they can overcome any obstacle or hardship.Five stars out of five!Blog Facebook Twitter Mastodon Instagram Pinterest Medium Matrix TumblrCeterum censeo Putin esse delendam
A slow paced, but endearing story about a cat and his human and their bond while traveling around Japan for reasons that will break your heart, but also make you appreciate the things that really matter. The story isn't super profound, but I did find it heartwarming and thoughtful. Nana the cat is definitely the star of the story and most of it is from his perspective. How he views humans, their relationships and the world is the best part and an interesting take on viewing things. The book is short and sweet and will touch animal lovers the most, but still worthwhile for anybody in the mood for a sweet heart warming tale.
I'm a cat lover, so I'm im biased, but this book made me tear up. It's such a heartwarming and sweet story. Love that it's told from the cat's pov.
Sometimes, you happen across a book at a library or bookstore you might not otherwise find. “The Traveling Cat Chronicles” was sitting on an end cap and I thought, why not?
The book is at times hilarious, keenly, observant of life, poignant, sad, and uplifting. Each character is so well drawn from our hilarious (and I think accurate) cat narrator, Nana, to the friends and family of deer Satoru, who we meet along the way.
I was drawn into the book right away and didn't read it as quickly as I thought I would because I accidentally misplaced the book for two weeks and found myself, not wanting to leave the world of this book. A day after finishing the book, I find myself thinking back to different portions of the story. My Mom also read this book because she saw it sitting on my coffee table and absolutely loved it.
I highly recommend this book for older kids and up and look forward to reading more books by this author. For people who enjoyed this book, I recommend “Sweet Bean Paste” by Durien Sukagawa.