Reviews

The Travelling Cat Chronicles by Hiro Arikawa

howlsbreakfast's review

emotional reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

jessica_kw_lam's review

hopeful lighthearted relaxing medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Loveable characters? Yes

4.25

peachybee53's review

2.0

Honestly I took months to read this book because it just didn't hook me, but it was quite sweet, amusing, even emotional at times. Anyone who has a cat will find a familiarity in the way Nana sees the world. Told mostly in the form of inner dialogue/stream of consciousness, this is a 'tail' of two soulmates on a journey, finding joy in the little things. It was a quiet & charming read.

"Satoru told me what everything was called. And that the mountain-ash berries are bright red. I remember some expert on TV saying once, 'Cats have a hard time distinguishing the colour red.' It no doubt appeared differently to Satoru, but I learned how what Satoru called red appeared to me. For the rest of my life, I would remember all the shades of red Satoru mentioned that day."

sfhtajroi's review against another edition

emotional fast-paced

• Loveable characters? Yes

5.0

I don’t know if it’s just because of where I am at in life at this very moment, but I don’t think I’ve had a book affect me quite this deeply in a long, long time. 

babsbee's review

emotional funny inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

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.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death and Terminal illness

noivy's review

emotional funny hopeful reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Loveable characters? Yes

5.0

literally so beautiful!! legit my favorite book I have read so far. just was very emotional and heart wrenching. surprisingly very humanistic for a book that's in the pov of a cat. just really is one of the greatest. 

lubmed's review against another edition

Me gustó mucho, muchísimo. Es una historia sencilla pero tan hermosa, y está contada de una manera extremadamente particular: son las crónicas del viaje de un gato y su humano, pero desde el punto de vista del gato (Nana).
Nana es sarcástico, orgulloso, práctico y brutalmente honesto sobre las idioteces humanas que nota y narra. Satoru, su humano, es mi personaje favorito, es lo más dulce y bueno que puede haber. Los demás personajes también me encantaron, y encontré que me interesaba sumamente por saber de ellos y su pasado con Satoru, aún al principio del libro. Hay algo en la historia que es tan acogedor, desde un principio. Las relaciones tan puras, los paisajes hermosos de Japón, la comedia que realmente te lleva a risas del narrador gatuno.
Lloré, me reí, sonreí y la pasé muy bien en el viaje con Satoru y Nana. Ojalá hagan una buena serie de este libro.
El único contrapunto que tengo para marcar (pasando por alto algunos comentarios un poco machistas, pero son muy muy pocos), es que la narración saltaba de la nada hacia un narrador omnisciente, y de vuelta a Nana. Al menos en la traducción al español, además, no había guiones ni marcas para indicar el diálogo entre Nana y otros animales, y se mezclaba constantemente con observaciones internas de Nana entre medio de estas conversaciones. Me hubiera encantado, además, si la traductora agregaba un par más de notas de traducción, explicando algunas cosas que se pierden entre culturas; sumado a eso, usaba demasiadas expresiones coloquiales de España, lo que se le suma a la diferencia cultural que le resta entendimiento y fluidez a la historia.

debbie_almeida_santos's review

adventurous emotional hopeful inspiring sad medium-paced

5.0

harompe's review

emotional reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

hedgebooks's review against another edition

5.0

This is my favorite book i have read this year, and I will highly recommend it. It is possible one of The best books i am goind to read ever. It is hard and moving tale about love, friendships, connections and the felling of beloning somewhere (or to someone)