If you're ever wondered what a cat might be thinking, this is the book for you. Written from a cat's perspective, this tale is quite entertaining. Since I'm a cat lover I especially enjoyed this book. Recommended!

excellent book from the cat's point of view of his life with owner as that owner deals with some serious health problems and they go on road trips together looking for a new home. i cried in many parts but it was overall pretty uplifting. and the cat's internal voice is hilarious and wonderful. just in case it's a deal breaker for anyone who may have issues with animal cruelty, he does get a really graphically described broken leg early in the book but everything is fine! he heals right up.

Firstly, thank you to netgalley for the advance digital copy. I requested it on a whim, thinking, “that sounds...different,” and I was right. I don’t think I’ve ever read anything quite like this book, and I mean that in the most complimentary way.

For context, this is the story of a cat and his person, as they travel through Japan. The point of view alternates between first person (well, first cat), when the cat’s story is the focus, and third person, when the human characters are in the foreground. I enjoyed the alternation. The cat’s voice was sarcastic (I *really* want to say catty) at times, which thinly veiled his increasing emotional attachment to the main human character, and also allowed him to give a pretty believable cat’s-perspective on human behavior.

The only think that caused me to waver between 4 and 5 stars was the pacing, which I suspect some people will find to be slow, BUT that seems appropriate for the subject and for the theme. The unfolding of the story, and the development of the characters, felt natural and comfortable to me.

Lastly, fair warning: if you have a cat, you are going to give your cat a ton of hugs as you read this book.

The Travelling Cat Chronicles is a bittersweet Japanese novel about a young man, Satoru, and his cat, Nana.

Man and cat take to travelling in a van. You see, Satoru is trying to find someone to look after Nana. So he goes back to friends he made when as a child and teenager. And so, we find out a little bit about Satoru's life and how he came to be in the life of different people.

Satoru visits several of his old friends trying to find a suitable carer for Nana. For different reasons, they all turn out not to be able to look after his cat.

At first glance, this is a simple story, deceptively naive.

The cat's musings, interspersed throughout the novel, are witty and sharp as claws, and they add another layer to the story.

Satoru is a man with a heart of gold. Although his life was disrupted early on by an unfortunate event, he kept a positive attitude and carried on being a kind and extremely considerate person.

The Travelling Cat Chronicles is about kindness, companionship, loneliness and duty. Its slow pace and simple writing made this small novel even more powerful.
Tissues will be needed.

One of the best books that I have read this year. This is the sweet, beautiful story of Nana, the cat, and the trips he takes with his human, Satoru. The story is set in Japan and told from Nan's point of view. Translator, Gabriel, did an excellent job with the austere beauty of the prose in this short novel. You will need a box of tissue as you finish up, but Nana doesn't die at the end so it is safe for those who refuse to read books where the animal dies. I am sure pet lovers of all types will love this book, but so will non-pet people because this short work also delves into family and friendships.

I enjoyed the cat's humorous narrative. I found the story a little slow but I think cat lovers will really enjoy this.

Nana the cat is the narrator of this adventure, a road trip where Satoru, his owner, is looking for a place Nana can stay. Nana disagrees with the plan and makes his feelings known very clearly. I wish I were able to read the original Japanese story as I believe it would have a smoother flow. A lovely story, worth sticking through to the end.

Although I enjoyed the concept of these inter-connected stories narrated by a cat, I felt something may have been lost in translation, and the reading level was considerable lower than I'm used to in an adult title. I would consider buying this for my cat-loving friends, though! Since I am not particularly a cat person, there wasn't enough charm in the book to sway me in its favor. I receive an email from the publisher with a link to download this title, and I do appreciate that!

This was a touching and heartbreaking story! I feel I have to buy this book to keep forever and read again and again! Satoru adopts a stray cat, Nana, named because his tail resembles the Japanese symbol for the number 7. The story is written partly from the point of view of Nana and is so believable it is uncanny! Satoru and Nana become devoted to each other. But then Satoru starts travelling with Nana visiting old friends and people he knew when he was younger. He is looking for a new home for Nana and it is not clear why until near the end of the book. The story is so beautifully written and even though it will break your heart, it reminds us of the ties we have to past friends and our families, which includes our pets!

I received an invite, it sounded enticing and inviting, so I started reading.

Read a book told in a cat's view?!!

The cat, Nana, will tell you how he met a human. They travel from Tokyo in a van. The owner did not want to put him in a travel bin in an airplane. I giggled about him riding on a ferry. I agree that cat lovers have a special place in their hearts for kittens.

I loved the cat talk.
(did not enjoy the human talk and the flashbacks)

If you are a cat lover you may really enjoy this book.

I was not prepared for this book! It seemed to take me twice as long to read the last 15 pages, because the tears were streaming down my face. The story was a simple one, a man trying to find someone to care for his cat, but it pulled me in and I couldn't put it down. The last part was very emotional, but it ended in a satisfying way.

I found it slightly hard to get into this book, but once I was engaged in the story I could hardly put it down.
The author is able to take you on an marvellous adventures with the owner accompanied by his cat. As the story is mostly written from the cat's point of view--sometimes very humorous too!
Spoiler alert--you most likely will need Kleenex at the end of it.

This is a very quiet story that creeps up on you. It begins with the pleasant tale of a cat becoming befriended by a young Japanese man, Satoru, who names the cat Nana for his crooked tale. The cat resembles a beloved cat from his childhood, and the two quickly become best friends. The story is told from both the human and the feline points of view, with the cat speaking as the more experienced of the two, having survived as a stray for so long. But something changes in Satoru's life, and, as he had with his first cat as a child, he has to find a new home for his beloved Nana, and the two of them set out on a journey through Japan and his family and friends in search of the perfect new home. Thus we have multiple stories of his childhood friendships, and learn more about Satoru through the eyes of his friends and his experiences. And always Nana is there, nudging events in the direction he knows they should go. By the end, the story is no longer just pleasant, but quite rich and moving. Recommended.
Note: no cats were harmed in the course of this story. You know what I'm saying.

I absolutely loved this book. If you are an animal lover this book is for you. It is such a great read about a man and the relationship with his cat.

The Travelling Cat Chronicles was an enjoyable book. The author crafts a relationship between man and cat that is both realistic and fantastical. Traveling to visit old friends, renewing forgotten relationships becomes a quest that the man and cat must complete.

Anyone who has loved or been loved by an animal will adore this story. It’s about a man’s final journeys with his beloved cat but so much more. It’s about friendship and love and loss. It’s about loyalty and kindness. The storytelling was beautiful. I loved the changing Japanese seasons and locations incorporated into the story. Satoru, Nana and their friends will stay with me for a long time. Im stingy with 5 star ratings but this book earned it ❤️