A book that “speak[s] volumes about our need for connection—human, feline or otherwise” (The San Francisco Chronicle), The Travelling Cat Chronicles is a life-affirming anthem to kindness and self-sacrifice that shows how the smallest things can provide the greatest joy—the perfect gift for cat lovers and travellers!We take journeys to explore exotic new places and to return to the comforts of … places and to return to the comforts of home, to visit old acquaintances and to make new friends. But the most important journey is the one that shows us how to follow our hearts…
An instant international bestseller and indie bestseller, The Travelling Cat Chronicles has charmed readers around the world. With simple yet descriptive prose, this novel gives voice to Nana the cat and his owner, Satoru, as they take to the road on a journey with no other purpose than to visit three of Satoru’s longtime friends. Or so Nana is led to believe…
With his crooked tail—a sign of good fortune—and adventurous spirit, Nana is the perfect companion for the man who took him in as a stray. And as they travel in a silver van across Japan, with its ever-changing scenery and seasons, they will learn the true meaning of courage and gratitude, of loyalty and love.
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Story is told by the cat….very perceptive, very feline, very readable. It is easy to think you know the ending, and you will, but there is a emotional surprise. I am so glad I read this book. Both man and cat are extraordinary.
deserves even more than 5 stars. Books seldom make me cry, but this one has me in tears not once, but twice. Animal lovers will be especially moved by this stiry.
This book, translated from Japanese, is written with a characteristic Japanese cultural attitude. The narrators are both a Japanese young adult male and his adopted feral cat. Without the cat’s point of view, this book would be very mundane.
While I enjoyed the book and found it interesting, I also found it predictable so 4 stars.
This is a bit of a slow starter but by the first 100 pages the beautiful prose had me in it’s hands. Being a cat lover and owner I jumped at the chance to read and review this beautiful little book, I was not disappointed.
This is not a book to be rushed. It is best read when you have time to savor the story and the sentiment that is being relayed. The novel is told in alternating perspectives by Satoru Miyawaki and his much loved cat, Nana. Although a male, Nana was named for the Japanese character for the number seven, which is what the shape of his tale looks like.
Having had cats for over 48 years, the voice of this cat really sounded like something a cat would think. This probably sounds funny to anyone who has never had a relationship with a cat but they are indeed intelligent, gentle and very responsive to the feelings of the humans that they love and that is just how Nana comes across. So many of the things told from his perspective made me laugh and his love for Satoru was forever.
The beginning of their bond starts in the first half of the book, from Satoru starting to feed Nana who was then a stray until she is injured and needs help. Once taken in by Satoru, Nana is quite overcome with the kindness, comfort and love that Satoru offers. That’s why he is confused when they set off on a journey, apparently to find a new home for Nana. We will come to learn why later in the story.
The story of Satoru’s childhood and early life are revealed as we visit one friend after another looking for the perfect next home for Nana. Satoru doesn’t reveal his reasons for this, just states that he will no longer be able to take care of Nana. During their long journey they stop at many beautiful sites, the first of which is Mount Fuji. Nana states “I wonder how many cats in Japan have see the actual Mount Fuji . . . . .Our silver van was like a magic carriage. Every time I got into it, it carried me to a place I’d never been before. At that moment, we were without doubt the greatest travelers in the world. And I was the world’s greatest traveling cat.”
I will leave you to discover the rest of this beautiful story, there is much to be learned about friendship, love, family and relationships from this book. It is definitely one that I will purchase upon it’s release in October.
I received an ARC of this novel from Edelweiss.