Name: Lettuce Wrapped Cabbage Cat's review of The Travelling Cat Chronicles by Hiro Arikawa
Item: The Travelling Cat Chronicles
Rating: 5
Author: Lettuce Wrapped Cabbage Cat

Hiro Arikawa

THE PERFECT CURL-UP READ FOR CAT LOVERS 'Prepare to have your heartstrings tugged by this quirky tale' Sunday Mirror 'A book about kindness and love, and how the smallest things can provide happiness' Stylist ___ It's not the journey that counts, but who's at your side. Nana is on a road trip, but he is not sure where he is going. All that matters is that he can sit beside his beloved owner Satoru in the front seat of his silver van. Satoru is keen to visit three old friends from his youth, though Nana doesn't know why and Satoru won't say. Set against the backdrop of Japan's changing seasons and narrated with a rare gentleness and humour, Nana's story explores the wonder and thrill of life's unexpected detours. It is about the value of friendship and solitude, and knowing when to give and when to take. At the heart of this book is a powerful message about the importance of kindness. It shows, above all, how acts of love, both great and small, can transform our lives. ___ What readers are saying: 'Delightful, insightful, full of warmth with plenty of humour.' 'Uplifting and heart wrenching in equal measure.' 'It had me in floods of tears but filled me with hope too.'

The most uplifting book of the year

The Travelling Cat Chronicles

karina

Instead of sobbing like that, it would be better to keep a smile on your face till the end. And I’m sure you’ll be happier. 

Tell me, Satoru. What’s out there beyond this field? A lot of wonderful things, I’m thinking. I wonder if I’ll be able to go on a trip with you again. 

Selina 

One of my siblings was like that. Overshadowed by the rest of us, it was the kind of kitten you were never sure was there or not, and one day we suddenly noticed it was gone, as if it had never existed.

ally

Satoru's closed eyelids quivered. As if fighting against gravity, they slowly lifted.

Unable to move his head, his eyes searched from side to side.

Noriko clasped Satoru's hand and placed it gently on the top of Nana's small head.

Satoru's lips moved faintly. She thought she heard him say, 'Thank you.'

Mari

had me in tears at 5 in the morning thinking about my cats

Lettuce Wrapped Cabbage Cat

cried. laughed. then cried again. isn’t that life

We take journeys to explore exotic new places and to return to the comforts of home, to visit old acquaintances and to make new friends. But the most important journey is the one that shows us how to follow our hearts... An instant and international bestseller, The Travelling Cat Chronicles has charmed readers around the world. With simple yet descriptive prose, this novel gives voice to Nana the cat and his owner, Satoru, as they take to the road on a journey with no other purpose than to visit three of Satoru's longtime friends. Or so Nana is led to believe... With his crooked tail--a sign of good fortune--and adventurous spirit, Nana is the perfect companion for the man who took him in as a stray. As they travel in a silver van across Japan, with its ever-changing scenery and seasons, they will learn the true meaning of courage and gratitude, of loyalty and love.

Natasha Mok

maryam

this is one of the best book i've read in a long time, and one of my favorite books in the world

i don't know how much i can say, because i've literally just finished and can't stop crying my eyes out but this book is everything. i don't think i've cried so hard over a book before. nana's and satoru's love for each other is the purest kind of love, and being able to witness that was such a special thing. i am so grateful for this book.

a real tearjerker! PLEASE, i have a weak spot for this kind of plot 😩 i didn't have an ugly cry since reading the wish—which btw was last year. so, 5 stars for making me cry like a child

Alexander Sandberg

Jessica Biwang

A very heartwarming novel 💜

As a cat lover, I can relate to Satoru in so many levels. I just hope that I also have his heart for forgiveness and understanding. I finished this book while crying my heart out and I will definitely recommend this book to everyone. One of my best books this year 💜🥹

i’ll adore you til the end of time the travelling cat chronicles by hiro arikawa.. i will, i swear it

(missed my gym appointment, i was too busy being a blubbering mess) 

cats teach us how to love. 

(missed my gym appointment, i was too busy being a blubbering mess) 

revesjrnal

nothing just a book about a cat and the owner relationship as they travel together and I just thought that’s very sweet also the ending is soo bittersweet…

Kate

cat mom found dead on a ditch

cause of death: this book

jess

I cried. This book, which i spend only 3 hours because I am too engrossed reading this,,,,, i cried. So good, touching and meaningful. Definitely recommend to anyone, everyone. (Honestly ive been recommending to all of my friends about this book its just so good). 5 out of 5

This is one of the best books I've read recently. It's written rather simply but the message behind the story is so deep and meaningful. Having the book be written from the perspective of a cat is really something unique and not common. The ending broke my heart  and I wish I could comfort the cat myself.

Ksenija 

my best read this year. satoru has a gentle soul, no wonder nana immediately warmed up to him and fiercely loved him until his last days (and i, too). 

I've wept at the end. Have read it while commuting earlier this summer and it was so easy to fall into the described landscapes of the book... It was a really enjoyable read, I like the style, read it very fast and oof all the feels. It's worth a read!

A JAPANESE BESTSELLING SENSATION TRANSLATED BY PHILIP GABRIEL, A TRANSLATOR OF MURAKAMI TO BE PUBLISHED IN OVER TEN LANGUAGES 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.

Daniel Kilby

For a novel told largely from the perspective of a cat, this manages to remain far less twee than one might expect (although there may be a couple of moments where it skirts dangerously close to the edge), saved by a somewhat elegiac tone that leavens this.

altlovesbooks

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.

this book has an unwavering hold on me. deals with nostalgia, growing up, loss, and the love of an owner and his beloved cat. highly recommend 

🫶🏽

"A life-affirming anthem to kindness and self-sacrifice, The Travelling Cat Chronicles shows how the smallest things can provide the greatest joy.  We take journeys to explore exotic new places and to return to the comforts of home, to visit old acquaintances and to make new friends. But the most important journey is the one that shows us how to follow our hearts...  An instant international bestseller, The Travelling Cat Chronicles has charmed readers around the world. With simple yet descriptive prose, this novel gives voice to Nana the cat and his owner, Satoru, as they take to the road on a journey with no other purpose than to visit three of Satoru's longtime friends. Or so Nana is led to believe...  With his crooked tail--a sign of good fortune--and adventurous spirit, Nana is the perfect companion for the man who took him in as a stray. And as they travel in a silver van across Japan, with its ever-changing scenery and seasons, they will learn the true meaning of courage and gratitude, of loyalty and love"--

The travelling cat chronicles

Karis Ryu

i wish i understood japanese better so that i could cry harder

charisa

i don't think i'll ever get over this book. thank you edgewater nj kinokuniya.

Beatrice

During the Christmas season, I often tend to turn to feel-good stories, which is one of the reasons why I picked up this book. I was definitely not disappointed. The Travelling Cat Chronicles delivers exactly what it promises: a heartwarming story about a street-cat and his new human friend, and the way in which life can be enjoyed, even when it doesn't quite go as planned.

Nana has always been proud of his ability to survive on the streets and his complete independence. When an accident leaves him in need of help, it is human Satoru who steps in, welcomes Nana in his home and nurses him back to health. Touched by Satoru's behaviour, and impressed by his ability to understand feline needs, Nana decides to stick around. Everything seems to be going really well for this unlikely pair of friends, until Satoru takes Nana on a trip around the country to visit old childhood friends, hoping one of them will become Nana's new owner.

Narrated from Nana's point of view, this book lets us delicately in on Satoru's character and his past. Through his encounters with old friends, we gradually develop a full picture of this young man, gaining an understanding of the choices he made, and how he influenced the lives of those around him. As Nana starts to understand the complexities of his owner's life, and worries about the reasons underlying their imminent separation, we too grow closer to both of them, which makes the parting definitely harder.

Nana is a funny and highly sarcastic narrator, and I deeply enjoyed seeing the world through his eyes. It was a refreshing experience and definitely added depth to the story. I really enjoyed how all the characters were developed and exposed gradually, with the complexities and contradictions typical of humans. I have to say, for the beginning I was pretty sure of what "the big reason" for Satoru having to give Nana up would be, and I was right. This, however, did not make it any easier for me when everything was eventually revealed, and I did tear up a little towards the end, notwithstanding the fact that I had figured it out before.

Bittersweet and deeply poetical, this is the perfect read for you if you love animals or travel, or if you're simply looking for a cozy book to curl up with on a cold winter night.

For this and more reviews, visit Book for Thought.

I received an e-arc of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. This did not affect my opinion of the book in any way.

Emma Wärnberg

DNF

Maybe i will give this book another chance, but right now I just cant seem to pick it up.

I love to hear the cats thoughts. It is soo funny!
But the rest of the story did not capture my intrest enough to finish the book.

I am an absolute wreck after reading this book 📖 beautiful, heart-wrenching and un-put-downable!

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The Travelling Cat Chronicles by Hiro Arikawa

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