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dionneinpages 's review for:
The Travelling Cat Chronicles
by Hiro Arikawa
The Travelling Cat Chronicles
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
What a moving and heartwarming book.
Finishing the book has left me devastated yet at peace at the same time. The outcome is something I totally saw coming—yet I was still unprepared for mixed emotions it would bring upon me.
I wanted to read something about a warm, wholesome and comforting relationship. I didn’t know I'd find it with Satoru and his cat, Nana. I’ve heard this book would be heartbreaking but I didn’t expect to be welcomed with a narration from the perspective of a sassy cat—which captivated me and got me hooked on reading.
Nana is undoubtedly a DIVA—very natural from a cat—and it’s fun to see things from the viewpoint of a feline friend. He did not fail to make me laugh and made reading narrations more interesting. He might be fierce at times but you won’t deny the warmth he exudes and the fondness he has for Satoru and the people he loves.
Satoru, I’ve learned a lot from his optimism and good-natured attitude. For someone like him who had experienced difficulties in life at such a young age and still grew up to be a fine man—he has earned my respect. I would have started my villain arc, if it were me. Lol. He made me realize that it’s not the problems that should control the trajectory of our life—it’s us, we are the drivers of it. I aspire to stay positive and face life with full smiles, just like him.
His love for Nana was priceless and everlasting. He taught me how we should love animals and treat them as they deserve. I’ve never had my own pet so I often wondered how it felt to love and to be loved by a fur family and this book was the answer for me. Their bond was unique and incomparable.
I love getting to know Satoru through his friends’ eyes. Their arcs and backstories have resonated with me in some ways and I love seeing a glimpse of Satoru’s life on different stages. His feelings toward his friends might not be fully expressed in the book but you can feel his genuine kindness based on how he was described by his loved ones—through the words of admiration from those who got to know and experience his compassion and support. His good-natured character has evidently reflected through the selection of friends he had made.
The book might have ended on a heartbreaking note, but having Nana narrate it made it feel lighter and easier to carry. I treasure their journey a lot because I am part of it. I felt like I was the invisible third passenger of the van. After reading this book, I therefore conclude that this book holds a special space in my heart. ♥︎
“So you’ll be my cat?”
“Forever and ever I am your cat, Satoru”