"The Travelling Cat Chronicles" by Hiro Arikawa is a heartwarming tale that celebrates the bond between humans and animals. Through the eyes of Nana the cat and his owner Satoru, readers embark on a journey across Japan that is both poignant and profound. Arikawa's simple yet evocative prose captures the essence of courage, gratitude, and love as Nana and Satoru encounter old friends and new experiences. This novel is a gentle reminder of the importance of kindness and self-sacrifice, leaving a lasting impression on readers long after the final page is turned. Perfect for cat lovers and anyone seeking a touching story of companionship.

A moving novel about a stray cat adopted by a young man who later takes him on a car tour through parts of Japan and the scenic northern island. The empathy of the main character comes through in his dealing with friends and with animals, in particular his cat Nana.

This is a book about beginnings and about endings.

Satoru visits his childhood friend Kosuke to see if he can take his cat, Nana. During the visit the story is narrated in parts by Nana, yes, the cat. We see how the two friends bonded over their love of a cat and how their lives unfolded through years.

While Satoru decides he can’t leave Nana with his friend, he also knows he has to find another place for Nana. The two take to the road to visit a couple of other people who may be options and slowly it becomes clear why Satoru is finding a place for Nana.

This could very easily be a story that could become overly sentimental, but Nana saves it from that. He’s a bit cranky and temperamental but you can’t help but love him. And, I couldn’t help but love this story too which was a surprise and delight to me.

A rare treasure. This tale of a cat and his owner is rather more than just that. If there was food for the soul, count this as one at the banquet. Told through the eyes of the stray cat Nana we inhabit his world and enjoy his tales of those he meets. Reminisces with an old school friend with whom Satoru had shared a cat as children are poignant, as are others we meet on the way.
A kind and affirming tale.

A Berkley Group ARC via NetGalley.

It's a simple book, but the simplicity doesn't detract from it at all. Like the Little Prince, the Travelling Cat Chronicles captures the imagination and welcomes readers into its world with open arms. The bittersweetness of it will stay with me for a long time.

I absolutely loved this book. As a mom of adopted kitties, the bond between human and feline warmed my heart in this beautiful and heartfelt novel, by the end of it I was full of smiles and tears. Satoru and Nana's trip was split between their individual perspectives and I fell in love with Nana as the story continued.

Life through a cat's eyes can be mystical, comical, and enigmatic, author Arikawa captures these moods in a first-cat account of life on a journey to renew friendships and retrieve an innocent past that hides tragedy and sorrow. The bond between Satoru and his rescued cat Nana is profound, as is the destination both discover at the end of the journey. Our journey.

“There are so many things in life that are beyond our control.”

I didn’t always love cats. But since my son’s girlfriend gave him a tabby that was no bigger than my fist when she came into our home, I have come to understand the attraction obsession.

Told largely from the point of view of the cat, Nana, we see the imagined perspective of the mostly white cat (“with the number-eight markings and the crooked tail like a seven”) who was found on the hood of a silver van and taken into the home of Saturo.

Because of unavoidable circumstances which make it impossible for him to keep the cat, he drives Nano to several possible homes in the hopes of finding a new owner. But, we know that neither one wants to leave the other. And, as Saturo’s character becomes revealed through the interactions between him and his friends, a mounting sorrow grows in my heart.

It is the longest time I have ever taken to read a book which is less than 300 pages. I set it down to let my feelings subside a bit until I can pick it up again…

My students gave me a tissue box decorated to look like the book Charlotte’s Web one year. “Because you always cry when you read it,” they said.

Perhaps the best books about people and animals are like that.

I KNEW this book was going to make me cry, and it DID. But I don't cry often and isn't it nice to read a book that evokes a powerful emotion that ISN'T rage?

This book was so sweet and powerful and peaceful. It went where you knew it was going, but it doesn't END, just like how life never really ends, the torch is picked up and carried on by those around us, even when we are no longer present.

Other than one slight issue with a word choice, referring to a Persian cat as a chinchilla, this book was perfect. And that word issue was in the ARC, so I am sure it was caught and fixed before the finished copy. If not, I believe there is a Japanese style of thought where nothing can be perfect, and having one flaw makes something more real. In which case, that one imperfection makes the rest of this book stand out.

It's a short, quick read, but emotional and hauntingly lyrical. 5, I can't give anything less than that, stars. Highly recommended, especially if you are a cat/animal lover.

My thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for an eARC copy of this book to read and review.

I absolutely loved this book and will highly and frequently recommend it to my customers! Thank you, NetGalley, for the advance copy!

The Travelling Cat Chronicles appealed to the cat lover in me, and I loved every minute of my time spent with Nana and Saturo. While the overreaching story arch belongs to Nana and Saturo, the side stories of his friends and Saturo's relationship with each of them, also plays major roles throughout the novel. I was especially touched by the time Saturo spends with his aunt, Noriko. I enjoyed getting to know Saturo, seeing different sides of him through the eyes of his childhoold friends. His kind heart and positivity are infectious. I found it especially comforting in the current climate of the world right now.

While not all, much of the novel is told from the perspective of Nana, the stray cat who Saturo wins the trust of and takes in. Saturo's love for his cat undeniable. I think most, if not all, animal lovers will be able to relate--especially if your animal companion is more than just a pet, but is also a part of your family. I liked how the author potrays Nana--somewhat aloof and yet not really. Because a cat cannot just outright admit to caring, can he? I adored Nana from the beginning, but even more so by the end of the novel having seen the many sides of him.

The Travelling Cat Chronicles is a beautiful story of the love and bond between a man and his cat, the strength of friendship and family, and also of letting go. I finished the novel with an overwhelming feeling of love for my cats--and I tortured one of them with extra cuddles. The other one was too fast to catch. Thank you again to everyone who voted for this book in my July TBR List poll!

I loved this book; it was approachable, unpredictable and explored themes of friendship. I highly recommend it.

I loved this story about the connections between people and cats. I plan to purchase this book for my library and promote it in reader's advisory to readers who love their pets. Thank you so much for allowing me to read this advanced reader copy.

For those who liked Murakami's Kafka on the Shore, but less weird.

It's a nice cozy read for those who love cats and nostalgia. As Saturo has befriended a stray cat and adopts him after an injury. For reasons not immediately explained, he must find a new home for the cat. He travels, meets old friends and we learn more about Saturo's life as seen through his cat's eyes.

It definitely reads like a Murakami book. You the cat's perspective, the needed to connect with old friends and the reasoning behind why they are no longer friends. The biggest hook is the ending when you find out why he has to give up the cat. It is a very satisfying read and a great ending.

I found this book difficult to finish. Characters were not developed well and the story line although interesting wasn't intriguing enough to want me to finish reading the book

Note to the publisher: I’m sorry, but this is not the review that you were expecting. My old phone broke, and all the titles that I had saved to it went too. Since NetGalley has archived the books, I am no longer able to access them. My sincerest apologies.

I didn’t grow up with cats and never thought I would raise them! 14 years ago, this week, I decided that it would be nice to have some company and a dog was too hard because I traveled. So, I researched cats and learned everything I could about them and went to a shelter to adopt one. Well turns out there were two very small kittens that had been dropped off and they were sisters. They only weighed 3lbs together! Now I can’t imagine life without them!

It is amazing how our pets become such an important part of our lives and this book, The Travelling Cat Chronicles, is exactly that story. Satoru takes his cat Nana on a journey throughout Japan to visit his longtime friends. In the story Nana has a voice, so you learn everything from a cat’s perspective. This is a story of friendship and loyalty.

The text is translated from Japanese, and they did a very good job of converting it to English. The end will bring tears to your eyes, but it is well worth the read, especially if you are an animal lover like me!

Hiro Arikawa's sweet story of a man and his cat is a gentle, slow read. Nothing earth shattering happens, and for that reason I thought it was entertaining. The book is partially narrated by the cat, and those sections were humorous. It's really a story of lifelong friendship between man and animal, and as an animal lover, I could relate. Did it make me cry? Why yes, in fact I did cry. The writing seems a little childish at times, perhaps due to being a translation. 3.5
I received my copy through NetGalley under no obligation.

A sweet book, a quick read but with lovely depth. Great for cat lovers and pet lovers alike. The story of a wonderful relationship between cat and man. Nice to see the growth in all involved and to see how a person can touch others lightly but significantly.

As a loving owner tries to find the right home for his beloved cat, they travel Japan and he reconnects with old friends. Touching and bittersweet