Sunday 24 September 2017

Book Review: The Travelling Cat Chronicles by Hiro Arikawa

Title: The Travelling Cat Chronicles
Author: Hiro Arikawa
Publisher: Transworld Digital
Publication Date: 2 November 2017
Pages: 255
Format: eBook - PDF
Genre: Literary Fiction
Source: ARC via NetGalley




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. (Goodreads Synopsis)


As a cat lover, The Travelling Cat Chronicles held great appeal for me, and I am glad to say that it completely lived up to my expectations. With a quirky yet relatable narrative voice, it offers a tale of friendship, love, and loss seen through the eyes of a cat who watches his human companion interact with those around him, reliving memories of his youth. It was a supremely poignant piece and I shed a few tears as it reached its conclusion. I came to care deeply for the characters, both human and feline, and it was wonderful to go on the journey around Japan with them. This is a beautifully written work that will certainly resonate with readers of Haruki Murakami.

2 comments:

  1. I know a reader than definitely needs a copy of this for Christmas!! :) Wonderful review!!

    ReplyDelete