is the travelling cat chronicles sad

• Skip to main content
• Keyboard shortcuts for audio player

Book Reviews

'travelling cat' chronicles friendship, loss and life on the road.

Ilana Masad

The Travelling Cat Chronicles

Buy featured book.

Your purchase helps support NPR programming. How?

• Independent Bookstores

When I first started The Travelling Cat Chronicles — by Hiro Arikawa, translated by Philip Gabriel -- I was admittedly skeptical. I am a cat lover, obsessed with my own kitties as well as the myriad cat memes and wholesome videos that pepper my social media, but I wasn't sure how to react to what seemed, at first, like a schmaltzy novel partially voiced by a proud male stray. But soon I realized what the trouble was — and it wasn't with the book, but with me. My busy, cynical, constantly enraged mind didn't know what to do with a book that was, at its core, joyful. As a book critic, I tend to engage with so-called Serious Books that take on Big Issues. But The Travelling Cat Chronicles is no less valuable for facing issues of friendship, family, loss, and grief with an optimistic and loving outlook. In fact, the book's greatest strength is that it allows its readers to experience vicarious happiness even as a sense of impending loss begins to creep through the pages.

It was easy to stick with the book, as it's full of cat logic gems. When the novel's central character Satoru asks a cat he's just met, "I guess you want something in exchange for being stroked?" the cat responds with his signature haughty style: "Quick on the draw, this one. Quite right. Got to get something in return for having my sleep disturbed." When this cat is hit by a car, he crawls up to Satoru's silver van, hoping to be helped, and is rewarded not only with medical care but with a home, too. Satoru takes the cat in and names him Nana — seven in Japanese — because of how his tail crooks to one side and looks like that number. The pair live together happily for a few years before, due to unforeseen circumstances, Satoru is forced to try to find a new home for Nana, and sets off on a series of brief road trips to visit friends and loved ones from his past.

Here, Kitty, Kitty: Even Dog Lovers Should Read 'The Guest Cat'

'The Friend' Is No Shaggy Dog Story

Satoru first visits a childhood friend, Kosuke, whose wife has recently moved back in with her parents. It is during this chapter that we switch out of Nana's point of view — he narrates about half the book — and into an omniscient narrator who tells us about the boys' friendship and how they bonded with a cat called Hachi (which means eight) when they were both in elementary school. Soon after, though, during a school trip, Satoru was called home — his parents had both died in a tragic accident, and he was forced to move in with a childless aunt who couldn't take Hachi in as well.

The second friend Satoru visits is Yoshimine, now a farmer. Yoshimine and Satoru have been friends since their junior high days, where they were both new students who'd moved to the district due to family difficulties — Satoru's parents died, and Yoshimine's were both so busy with work that they sent him away to live with his grandmother. The third visit Satoru makes is to a couple he's been friends with since high school and university days, Sugi and Chikako. He once had a crush on Chikako, but Sugi, in love with her himself, begged Satoru to keep his crush to himself.

None of them — Kosuke, Yoshimine, Sugi and Chikako — are a good fit to take care of Nana, for a variety of reasons, all of which Nana contributes to, not wanting to be left behind. He's a proud cat, but he's loyal and loving. On a ferry trip, when he's forced to stay in an animals-only room, Nana is shamed by the other animals, accused of being pampered because of how often Satoru visits him, asking if he's lonely. Until, that is, a chinchilla cat tells them all to shut up: "Don't you understand? It's his master who's the lonely one?"

Indeed, Satoru is the lonely one, but with Nana by his side, it appears he can muster up the energy for one last tour of Japan, one last meeting with beloved friends. At each turn, in each history of friendship revealed to us readers, it's clear that Satoru has always been a cheerful person, despite his hardships. He's been loving and attentive and has always tried to do his best for those around him. He is a study in kindness, a true cat fanatic — as Nana correctly identifies him — and his story winds to an end in a beautiful, loving, heartbreaking way. I found myself sobbing through the last 40 pages or so, unable, unwilling, to let this joyful little book go. I doubt many readers — as cynical and hardened as they may be — will get through it dry-eyed themselves. And you know what? Sometimes a good happy-sad cry is just what the doctor ordered.

Ilana Masad is an Israeli-American fiction writer, book critic, essayist, and editor for hire.

• ADMIN AREA MY BOOKSHELF MY DASHBOARD MY PROFILE SIGN OUT SIGN IN

THE TRAVELLING CAT CHRONICLES

by Hiro Arikawa ; translated by Philip Gabriel ‧ RELEASE DATE: Oct. 23, 2018

Gentle, soft-spoken, and full of wisdom.

A wise and witty cat and his gentle master share an indomitable spirit that helps them survive and thrive in any situation in this Japanese bestseller.

The white cat with the crooked tail is happy with life as a stray. He is just fine without humans, thank you very much. But when a car hits him, breaking his leg, he thinks of the kind man who leaves him food and lets him sleep on the hood of his van. Satoru Miyawaki welcomes the stray that shows up at his door and nurses him back to health. He names the cat Nana, the Japanese word for the numeral seven, the shape of the cat’s crooked tale. Nana and Satoru form a bond of love and loyalty that grows deeper over the five-plus years they share their lives. So it’s a surprise when Satoru embarks on a road trip across Japan with Nana in an attempt to find a new home for the cat with childhood friends. The reason for the journey is revealed later, and we also learn details of Satoru’s life through conversations with his friends and Nana’s smart-alecky commentary. Despite its seeming simplicity, the novel contains surprising depth. Arikawa artfully portrays Nana’s “catness,” from the subtle flick of an ear to a lashing tail. He pairs Nana with the gentle soul of Satoru, who has learned to allow the trials of life to strengthen him and polish his spirit. And he leads readers to see what Satoru learned and Nana already knew: that the key to a well-lived life is acceptance.

Pub Date: Oct. 23, 2018

ISBN: 978-0-451-49133-6

Page Count: 288

Publisher: Berkley

Review Posted Online: July 30, 2018

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 15, 2018

LITERARY FICTION | FAMILY LIFE & FRIENDSHIP

Share your opinion of this book

THE NIGHTINGALE

by Kristin Hannah ‧ RELEASE DATE: Feb. 3, 2015

Still, a respectful and absorbing page-turner.

Hannah’s new novel is an homage to the extraordinary courage and endurance of Frenchwomen during World War II.

In 1995, an elderly unnamed widow is moving into an Oregon nursing home on the urging of her controlling son, Julien, a surgeon. This trajectory is interrupted when she receives an invitation to return to France to attend a ceremony honoring  passeurs : people who aided the escape of others during the war. Cut to spring, 1940: Viann has said goodbye to husband Antoine, who's off to hold the Maginot line against invading Germans. She returns to tending her small farm, Le Jardin, in the Loire Valley, teaching at the local school and coping with daughter Sophie’s adolescent rebellion. Soon, that world is upended: The Germans march into Paris and refugees flee south, overrunning Viann’s land. Her long-estranged younger sister, Isabelle, who has been kicked out of multiple convent schools, is sent to Le Jardin by Julien, their father in Paris, a drunken, decidedly unpaternal Great War veteran. As the depredations increase in the occupied zone—food rationing, systematic looting, and the billeting of a German officer, Capt. Beck, at Le Jardin—Isabelle’s outspokenness is a liability. She joins the Resistance, volunteering for dangerous duty: shepherding downed Allied airmen across the  Pyrenees to Spain. Code-named the Nightingale, Isabelle will rescue many before she's captured. Meanwhile, Viann’s journey from passive to active resistance is less dramatic but no less wrenching. Hannah vividly demonstrates how the Nazis, through starvation, intimidation and barbarity both casual and calculated, demoralized the French, engineering a community collapse that enabled the deportations and deaths of more than 70,000 Jews. Hannah’s proven storytelling skills are ideally suited to depicting such cataclysmic events, but her tendency to sentimentalize undermines the gravitas of this tale.

Pub Date: Feb. 3, 2015

ISBN: 978-0-312-57722-3

Page Count: 448

Publisher: St. Martin's

Review Posted Online: Nov. 19, 2014

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 1, 2014

HISTORICAL FICTION | FAMILY LIFE & FRIENDSHIP

More by Kristin Hannah

BOOK REVIEW

by Kristin Hannah

More About This Book

BOOK TO SCREEN

SEEN & HEARD

THE PERFECT COUPLE

by Elin Hilderbrand ‧ RELEASE DATE: June 19, 2018

Sink into this book like a hot, scented bath...a delicious, relaxing pleasure. And a clever whodunit at the same time.

A wedding on Nantucket is canceled when the bride finds her maid of honor floating facedown in the Atlantic on the morning of the big day.

One of the supporting characters in Hilderbrand's ( Winter Solstice , 2017, etc.) 21st Nantucket novel is Greer Garrison, the mother of the groom and a well-known novelist. Unfortunately, in addition to all the other hell about to break loose in Greer's life, she's gone off her game. Early in the book, a disappointed reader wonders if "the esteemed mystery writer, who is always named in the same breath as Sue Grafton and Louise Penny, is coasting now, in her middle age." In fact, Greer's latest manuscript is about to be rejected and sent back for a complete rewrite, with a deadline of two weeks. But wanna know who's most definitely not coasting? Elin Hilderbrand. Readers can open her latest with complete confidence that it will deliver everything we expect: terrific clothes and food, smart humor, fun plot, Nantucket atmosphere, connections to the characters of preceding novels, and warmth in relationships evoked so beautifully it gets you right there. Example: a tiny moment between the chief of police and his wife. It's very late in the book, and he still hasn't figured out what the hell happened to poor Merritt Monaco, the Instagram influencer and publicist for the Wildlife Conservation Society. Even though it's dinner time, he has to leave the "cold blue cans of Cisco beer in his fridge” and get back to work. " ‘I hate murder investigations,’ [his wife] says, lifting her face for a kiss. ‘But I love you.’ " You will feel that just as powerfully as you believe that Celeste Otis, the bride-to-be, would rather be anywhere on Earth than on the beautiful isle of Nantucket, marrying the handsome, kind, and utterly smitten Benji Winbury. In fact, she had a fully packed bag with her at the crack of dawn when she found her best friend's body.

Pub Date: June 19, 2018

ISBN: 978-0-316-37526-9

Page Count: 464

Publisher: Little, Brown

Review Posted Online: April 15, 2018

Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 1, 2018

FAMILY LIFE & FRIENDSHIP

More by Elin Hilderbrand

by Elin Hilderbrand

• Discover Books Fiction Thriller & Suspense Mystery & Detective Romance Science Fiction & Fantasy Nonfiction Biography & Memoir Teens & Young Adult Children's
• News & Features Bestsellers Book Lists Profiles Perspectives Awards Seen & Heard Book to Screen Kirkus TV videos In the News
• Kirkus Prize Winners & Finalists About the Kirkus Prize Kirkus Prize Judges
• Magazine Current Issue All Issues Manage My Subscription Subscribe
• Writers’ Center Hire a Professional Book Editor Get Your Book Reviewed Advertise Your Book Launch a Pro Connect Author Page Learn About The Book Industry
• More Kirkus Diversity Collections Kirkus Pro Connect My Account/Login
• About Kirkus History Our Team Contest FAQ Press Center Info For Publishers
• Privacy Policy
• Terms & Conditions
• Reprints, Permission & Excerpting Policy

© Copyright 2024 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.

Popular in this Genre

Hey there, book lover.

We’re glad you found a book that interests you!

Please select an existing bookshelf

Create a new bookshelf.

We can’t wait for you to join Kirkus!

Please sign up to continue.

It’s free and takes less than 10 seconds!

Already have an account? Log in.

Trouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.

Almost there!

• Industry Professional

Welcome Back!

Sign in using your Kirkus account

Contact us: 1-800-316-9361 or email [email protected].

Don’t fret. We’ll find you.

Magazine Subscribers ( How to Find Your Reader Number )

If You’ve Purchased Author Services

Don’t have an account yet? Sign Up.

“The Travelling Cat Chronicles” by Hiro Arikawa

T he Japanese are fascinated by cats, and it’s not difficult to find shrines dedicated to them. There are cats that live in train stations (one, at least, has a uniform and a “job”) and cat cafés, where people go to pet them and hang out with them. We are all familiar with the maneki-neko , the beckoning good-luck cat who appears in Asian shops everywhere, ensuring the success and prosperity of the enterprise. And they like to write about them, too; in Sei Shonagon’s Pillow Book (1002) the Emperor Ichijo, who was the earliest Japanese emperor (or anyone else of note in Japan) to own one, loses his cat at one point, and everyone has to go and look for it.

Centuries later Japan’s most eminent modern novelist, Natsume Sōseki, produced his three-volume masterpiece I Am A Cat over a period of two years (1904-06), and the reason it had three volumes is because the reading public wanted more than Sōseki had originally planned to write. The book is, among other things, a scathing critique of conformity and an attack on the pretensions of academics (he lives with one), all seen through the eyes of a ferociously intelligent, but sometimes pompous cat who, unlike Nana in Hiro Arikawa’s book, never manages to acquire a name and ends up getting himself drowned in a container of beer out of which he can’t climb. Jun’ichiro Tanizaki, famous amongst other works for The Makioka Sisters , wrote a novella entitled A Cat, A Man, and Two Women in 1936, where a cat named Lily is the focus for the relationship between the three characters.

There is even, courtesy of author Jiro Akugawa, a Japanese detective cat named Holmes who can understand human language and has strange deductive powers which he uses to team up with a policeman and solve crimes.

Arikawa has a knack for making cats believable.

This book is somewhat different from the others, featuring a cat who travels with his owner in a silver van, though I am pretty sure that Arikawa is very familiar with Sōseki’s cat, as Nana himself is one of the narrators and he can be quite critical of humans and their motives. The difference is that this book is very gentle and the humor doesn’t often bite; it’s a book about connection and communication, and about the nature of the relationship between cats and humans, or, by extension, animals and humans. Loving animals is one of the things that elevates human beings and endows them with a kind of nobility.

The book may be written in a simple and plain style, but don’t let that fool you; Arikawa may be disingenuous sometimes, but she does have some serious things to say in this book, and they are worth saying. It’s also a book about a journey; after Satoru adopts the stray cat and names him Nana, they embark together on a journey to various parts of Japan and visit people, some of them from Satoru’s past.

This traveling structure means that the book is a quest novel, but we don’t know exactly what is being looked for, which is why the ending is so poignant and I won’t spoil it by repeating it here. “As we count off the memories from one journey,” Nana says at the very end of the book

we head off on another. Remembering those who went ahead. Remembering those who follow after.

The book is about memories, as Satoru reunites with his aunt Noriko, who had a hand in raising him, and as Nana relives his past and learns to live side by side with another cat.

Nana does not know until the end of the book why Satoru wants to go on a long road trip and take him along for the ride, and neither does the reader. What we know is that for some reason Satoru himself feels that he can’t look after the cat for ever and needs to find him a home. He visits several old friends he hasn’t seen for a long time as well as his aunt Noriko. At one point, Nana stays with Satoru’s friends Sugi and Chikako, who own a bed-and-breakfast for pet owners.

This is the narrative framework as Satoru and Nana travel around Japan in the silver van, and through this we are filled in on their pasts and what their relationships were between themselves and other humans or cats. The link between Nana and Satoru turns out to be a cat called Hachi whose care Satoru and his family had taken over because his friend Kosuke’s father wouldn’t let him keep it. When Satoru’s parents are killed in an accident, he has to go and live with his aunt, but Hachi can’t go with him and Kosuke’s father still refuses to take him. This abandonment is what leads Satoru to adopt Nana, and the indestructible bonding begins. “I will never, ever leave him,” Nana says later in their relationship, and he never does, as the ending will demonstrate. Everyone needs a connection in life’s journey, and Satoru, a quiet and sensitive man, genuinely comes to love Nana, not just as a “pet” but as a genuine and empathetic companion.

Arikawa’s double narrative works very well in bringing this out. “Cats take quietly whatever comes their way,” muses Nana just before Satoru decides to take him on the journey,

as Satoru’s roommate I had been a perfect cat, so I should be a perfect companion on this journey he seemed intent on making.

And the cat, who is really the center of the novel, brings out not just the compassionate, caring and loving qualities of Satoru, but demonstrates that others have them, too. Satoru’s friends respond positively to both Nana and himself, and Noriko, the reluctant cat-minder, is won over to the extent that she allows another cat, also an abandoned one, which she calls Calico, into her house. Nana’s reaction is “Welcome. You’re the next cat, aren’t you?” He observes wryly a little later,

And so Noriko plunged into a life in which this demanding young kitten has her wrapped around her little finger every day.

In a rather moving twist at the end, Nana says of Noriko,

we live together, but I’m not Noriko’s cat. Forever and ever I am your cat, Satoru. That’s why I can’t become Noriko’s.

By that time, though, Satoru is dead.

The success of Arikawa’s novel is her knack for making cats believable. Of course, they can’t speak or speculate, so there’s always the danger of anthropomorphising them. Sōseki’s cat, for all the intelligence he displays, often seems just a little bit too observant and satirical in his commentary on humans, but Nana is much less formal and not as negative. He wonders at the things humans do; “humans are so easygoing,” he observes, but “a cat’s behaviour is controlled by real-life factors,” and he doesn’t like the way some of them stare at him. “Hey, you idiotic couple,” he “says” to two young people watching him eat, “how would you like it if somebody pointed at you when you’re eating?”

Nana is curious about other life-forms, too; he knows about dogs and cats, but horses are quite another thing.

Horses? Those things ? I’d seen them on TV, but this was my first time seeing the real thing. On TV, they looked much bigger.

These light touches are all over the book, because although Arikawa has some serious things to say about the relationship between people and animals, not to mention about human love and friendship, she knows that these episodes make the book warmer and more … human.

The book has an almost folkloric aspect, too, because it’s about those uncomplicated human traits such as friendship, loyalty, and even sacrifice, not just on the part of Nana, but from Satoru and Noriko, too. In spite of the ostensibly sad ending, this is a positive book because it suggests continuity over transience. “My story will be over soon,” Nana observes at the end, “But it’s not something to be sad about.”

John Butler recently retired as Associate Professor of Humanities at the University College of the North in The Pas, Manitoba, Canada, and has taught at universities in Canada, Nigeria and Japan. He specializes in early modern travel-literature (especially Asian travel) and seventeenth-century intellectual history. His books include an edition of Sir Thomas Herbert’s Travels in Africa, Persia and Asia the Great (2012) and most recently an edition of Sir Paul Rycaut's Present State of the Ottoman Empire (1667) and a book of essays, Off the Beaten Track: Essays on Unknown Travel Writers .

Share this:.

• Click to print (Opens in new window)
• Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on Google+ (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window)

Begin typing your search above and press return to search. Press Esc to cancel.

clock This article was published more than  5 years ago

Yes, this novel has a cat narrator. I’m not ashamed to say it had me at meow.

I love animals, and I love books, but I tend to avoid novels about animals because I don’t enjoy crying. The world has given us enough to sob about lately. No one needs to relive “Old Yeller” to induce catharsis.

Perhaps I’m still scarred by “Where the Red Fern Grows,” which made me bawl so unremittingly that my mother threatened to take me to a doctor. (Or was that “Charlotte’s Web”?) Those classics end sadly, but when you’re a kid, you’ve also got plenty of reading options in which the animals make it to the last page. Just look at almost any novel by Kate Di­Camillo, who gave us the adventures of Despereaux the mouse, Edward Tulane the rabbit, and Louise the very brave chicken. Sure, characters like these aren’t real animals so much as anthropomorphized stand-ins for humans. And okay, the reptiles and rodents of “The Wind in the Willows” wear pants, which has nothing to do with how real animals live. But when you read a story that takes place in a realm where a toad can drive a car, at least you know you’ll be spared a sad scene with an aging Labrador in a vet’s office.

When an animal shows up as a pet in a novel for adults, however, there’s a solid chance that critter is doomed. This is why I couldn’t make myself read “Lily and the Octopus,” Steven Rowley’s novel about a man’s relationship with his elderly dachshund, when it came out two years ago. I finally did read it recently, with one hand half-covering my eyes. It made me laugh many times and also made me cry just as hard as I did while reading Garth Stein’s “The Art of Racing in the Rain,” which is narrated by Enzo, the dog whom you know from the start is very old. Things never end well for old pets.

So at first I resisted “The Travelling Cat Chronicles,” by Hiro Arikawa — a novel for adults, narrated by a cat — because I didn’t want to suffer. Readers and booksellers kept talking about it, though. Its gorgeous cover art drew my attention again and again in my local bookstore. And then this newspaper asked me to review it. Here we are.

Elinor Lipman reviews ‘The Dogs of Littlefield’

To get on board with this reading experience, you need to be okay with a feline raconteur. The cat in this case is a former stray, adopted by a single man named Satoru, who names him Nana (based on the Japanese word for “seven,” a lucky number and the shape of Nana’s tail). Nana narrates much, but not all, of this novel, which is both his story and Satoru’s.

You need to believe animals have thoughts and feelings, and that they act according to personal values, such as loyalty. “I am Satoru’s one and only cat,” Nana says. “And Satoru is my one and only pal.” You also have to believe animals can understand language. It’s a sign of the strong bond between Nana and Satoru that they understand each other most of the time, even though Nana understands human words and Satoru can only guess what Nana’s gestures and meows mean.

If you can go for all that, you’re ready to enjoy this road trip story, which takes place as Satoru and Nana drive across Japan in a silver van for reasons I won’t spoil here. They visit Kosuke, Satoru’s best friend from grade school, who is having marital troubles; Yoshimine, a friend from middle school who now works as a farmer; and a couple, Sugi and Chikako, Satoru’s closest high school friends, who are now married to each other. The sections in which we find out how and why Satoru came to love these people provide more than incidental backstory. In fact, some of Arikawa’s best storytelling happens in these passages.

Occasionally, Nana’s understanding of the human world feels like a bit of a stretch. When Satoru takes his cat to visit a cemetery, for example, Nana knows the stone squares are grave markers “because I’d seen them on TV.” I could quibble, but I’m willing to suspend my disbelief. After all, at my house we have two dog narrators, a beagle named Eleanor Roosevelt and a mutt named Woodstock. Sometimes they “talk” to each other out loud, even if their voices are actually coming out of my mouth. It doesn’t take much for me to accept that a family pet has a story to tell.

As much as “The Travelling Cat Chronicles” is a novel about the family-like bond between people and their animals, it’s also a novel about friend families. As kids and teens, Kosuke, Yoshimine, Sugi and Chikako stood by Satoru in his darkest moments and cared for him in ways his own relatives could not. He might have been more deeply scarred by the events of his childhood had it not been for these people, and with their help he survived to adulthood with his gentle kindness intact.

Because many of us as children read books narrated by animals, we might assume that an adult reading a book narrated by an animal is an act of childish, cozy comfort, like cuddling up with an old blanket. But to rebut that, I’d offer this very novel, which shows that much of what has value in childhood — especially childhood friends — has continued value in our later years. It is not a sign of diminished maturity to revisit the lessons and memories of youth; rather, these remembrances can be a source of strength when adulthood most demands it.

50 notable works of fiction in 2018

While Arikawa did the imaginative work of translating from cat to human, Philip Gabriel, who has also worked with such authors as Haruki Murakami, translated the whole thing from Japanese to English. That’s a lot of translation, but only rarely does it get a little clunky. (During a scene when a cat gets into a disagreement with a dog, I felt a little like I was watching Sassy and Chance squabble in “ Homeward Bound .”)

Are you unlucky if you’ve experienced a lot of loss in your lifetime? Or are you lucky because you had people — and animals — to get you through it? This book comes down on the side of gratitude, a testament to the good fortune we all have in choosing how to honor those who matter to us most. And it does so with a fablelike charm, without turning too sweetly sentimental or gimmicky.

It may make you cry, just a little, but it will also make you take stock of your friendships and ask yourself: If you could take a road trip to be reunited with just a few people from your past, whom would you visit?

Mary Laura Philpott  is the author of “Penguins With People Problems” and the forthcoming memoir-in-essays “I Miss You When I Blink.”

The Travelling Cat Chronicles quotes

Enjoy the selection of my favorite quotes from Hiro Arikawa’s “The Travelling Cat Chronicles,”:

• In the cat world, good manners are a must.
• ‘Do you really want to see the cat that much?’ ‘He’s family, ’ Satoru replied.
• Always looking on the bright side.
• As I explained earlier, most animals are multilingual when it comes to listening, but reading is beyond us.
• 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 travelling cat.
• What can I tell you? Cats are realists.
• A waste of time. Cats the world over prefer to discover things they like on their own and rarely go for anything that’s been provided for them.
• Anybody who has a cat will understand.

The Traveling Cat Chronicles: FAQ

“The Travelling Cat Chronicles” by Hiro Arikawa is a touching story that follows the journey of a cat named Nana and his owner, Satoru. They travel together across Japan, seeking a new home for Nana. Through their travels the book explores themes of friendship, loyalty, and the unique bond between humans and their pets.

The main characters of “The Travelling Cat Chronicles” are Nana, a cat with a distinctive personality and charm, and Satoru, his owner.

Hiro Arikawa

“The Travelling Cat Chronicles” by Hiro Arikawa is an exquisite ode to the impact animals have on our lives, It reminds us of the amazing bond we share with our furry pals and the special moments we create together.

YOU MIGHT BE INTERESTED IN How to Live Like Your Cat By Stéphane Garnier

Disclosure: This page contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase after clicking on the links, Meowpassion will get a small commission. We are dedicated to finding the coolest products for cats, cat lovers and owners and we never recommend products that do not love or do not trust.

Oksana Kosachenko

Why doesn’t my kitten drink water, recommendations for proper cat nutrition.

What a cute book! I read a book a few months ago where an inter-dimensional “dog” was a narrator. I love reading books with less conventional narrators.

Hello Briana! The book you’re talking about sounds really interesting, I will definitely check it out! Books with less conventional narrators are unique and can be really beautiful.

Comments are closed.

Travelling Cat Chronicles, The – A book review

Cats scare me terribly! I have nightmares about them. I might have even walked around an entire block to avoid getting anywhere near them (more than once) .

Naturally, I was skeptical about picking The Travelling Cat Chronicles by Hiro Arikawa, thanks to a friend’s persistent recommendation. Read on to find how that turned out for me.

About the book

Book Name: The Travelling Cat Chronicles

Author: Hiro Arikawa, Philip Gabriel (Translator)

Genre: Fiction – Drama

Characters: Satoru, Nana, Kozuke, Yoshimine, Sugi and Chikako, Noriko

Setting: Tokyo , Japan

Satoru finds a feral cat with a crooked tail resting on his silver van and begins feeding it, regularly. They settle into an understanding that he would get to pet the cat for food. But then, the cat meets with an accident and it is Satoru that nurses him back. One thing leads to another, he adopts the cat and names him Nana, much to the indignation of the cat! 

Nana and Satoru settle into a comfortable companionship. After a few years, Satoru decides to give away Nana and they embark on a journey to find a suitable home among his friends. Read The Travelling Cat Chronicles to join the duo on their travel through Japan and Satoru’s childhood memories!

My initial thoughts

I LOVED THIS BOOK – there I said it! It might made me laugh. Had me heartbroken. Once I even got frowned upon for letting out a chuckle while on the treadmill at the gym. Despite having guessed the climax, I was not prepared for it. I didn’t want the book to end but I am glad it ended the way it did. 

Our cat Nana, is feisty, snarky and funny as a cat can be (sorry, Garfield). There are multiple POVs but I obviously, loved Nana’s version the best. His overconfident attitude and voice was how I imagined how pets to be like. Great work with the translation. I was able to feel how South East Asian the story was, yet could relate to it, cat lover or not.

Things that worked for me

• The easy writing style hooked me right from the beginning.
• It has a perfect balance between funny and heart breaking. 
• The book didn’t feel like a translated work at all, and kudos to the translator! 

Things that didn’t work for me

• The plot is pretty predictable and don’t look for anything “intense”.

Bottom-line

The Travelling Cat Chronicles is a feel good book, with a bittersweet ending. Be prepared to cry, laugh and snicker throughout!

Let us chat

Have you read this one? Have you read any other pet related books? If so which one would you recommend? Let us talk.

Related Posts

Mexican gothic by silvia moreno-garcia- a book review.

Book Review: Blood in the Paradise

• 23 Comments

Book Review: The Fourth Monkey Killer

• 30 Comments

22 Comments

[…] Travelling Cat Chronicles, The – A book review […]

I love cats, but I don’t like predictable plots, so I’m not sure about this one. Thanks for writing about it, though—it was interesting to hear. Are you participating in the Japanese Literature Challenge that runs from January to March?

Oh I totally miss that one. Serves me right for not keeping an eye on comments right?

Despite your fear of cats, I am glad you enjoyed the book. Great job.

Thank you!!

I find cats very scary too 😛 But this story is warm and adorable and I enjoyed every bit of it despite the predictability. Lovely review 🙂

Yes, I agree!

I’m a crazy cat lady – I wants

Oh you will love it!

I am not a cat lover.

Glad I have company!

I love cats, sorry to hear they scare you. This sounds like an interesting reason and one I could see myself enjoying.

Yes I enjoyed despite the phobia about cats!

I’m glad you enjoyed this one, but I don’t think it’s for me.

Yeah our reading choices are vastly different from what I see, Stormi!

Oh no! I grew up with cats. Sorry they scare you!!

Then you will enjoy this book!

Great review, this book looks and sounds like an amazing and fantastic book. I’m really glad you fully enjoyed reading this book. Thank you so much for sharing your awesome post.

Thank you for the kind words!

I’m not much of a cat lover myself. The book does sound good though. Great review.

Thank you! I am surprised I enjoyed it as much as I did!

Leave a Reply Cancel Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Name  *

Email  *

Add Comment  *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Post Comment

• Published: 31 October 2019
• ISBN: 9780857524195
• Imprint: Doubleday
• Format: Trade Paperback
• RRP: $26.00
• Translated works

The Travelling Cat Chronicles

The uplifting million-copy bestselling Japanese translated story

Hiro Arikawa

THE SENSATIONAL MILLION-COPY BESTSELLER: a tender, feelgood story of a journey around Japan with a streetcat. Translated by Philip Gabriel, a translator of Murakami.

THE PERFECT CURL-UP READ FOR CAT LOVERS

*** Includes a sneak preview from the author's new bestseller, The Goodbye Cat ***

'Bewitching... as self-possessed and comforting as - well, a cat' SUNDAY TELEGRAPH

'A book about kindness and love, and how the smallest things can provide happiness' STYLIST ___

It's not the journey that counts, but who's at your side.

Nana is on a road trip, but he is not sure where he is going. All that matters is that he can sit beside his beloved owner Satoru in the front seat of his silver van.

Satoru is keen to visit three old friends from his youth, though Nana doesn't know why and Satoru won't say.

Set against the backdrop of Japan's changing seasons and narrated with a rare gentleness and humour, Nana's story explores the wonder and thrill of life's unexpected detours. It is about the value of friendship and solitude, and knowing when to give and when to take.

At the heart of this book is a powerful message about the importance of kindness. It shows, above all, how acts of love, both great and small, can transform our lives. ___

Readers love THE TRAVELLING CAT CHRONICLES:

'Delightful, insightful, full of warmth with plenty of humour' 5 stars ***** 'Uplifting and heart wrenching in equal measure' 5 stars ***** 'It had me in floods of tears but filled me with hope too' 5 stars *****

About the author

HIRO ARIKAWA lives in Tokyo. A bestseller in Japan, THE TRAVELLING CAT CHRONICLES has become an unexpected international hit, and is due to be made into a live-action Japanese film.

Also by Hiro Arikawa

Praise for The Travelling Cat Chronicles

The Travelling Cat Chronicles is delightful. Like a tender feline companion the uniqueness of this book is its subtle yet persistent charm that insinuates itself into your heart long after the encounter has ended. FIONA MELROSE

The Travelling Cat Chronicles is why I read books. This beautiful story has everything. It's funny, heart-warming, heart-breaking and kind. FOREWORD BOOKS

This is the book I am giving everyone . . . the book I am recommending to anyone buying something Japan-related or cat-related, and, quite possibly, the book I am placing in someone's hand when they ask me what my favourite book is. For a bookseller, that is the highest accolade a book can ever receive WATERSTONES YORK

Stunningly beautiful. Tender, warm, sad and uplifting THE LAST WORD REVIEW

Heart-wrenching but uplifting RED MAGAZINE

Sweet, sad and lovely, this is a roadtrip novel with a difference PSYCHOLOGIES MAGAZINE

A book about kindness and love, and about how the smallest things can provide happiness STYLIST

Prepare to have your heart strings tugged by this quirky tale . . . It's a deceptively gentle story that you won't need to be a cat lover to fall for. SUNDAY MIRROR

Anyone who has ever unashamedly loved an animal will read this book with gratitude, for its understanding of an emotion that ennobles us as human being s , whether we value it or not LYNNE TRUSS, GUARDIAN

A beautiful travelogue SYDNEY MORNING HERALD

This story of a cat, a man, self-sacrifice and friendship will have you totally captivated ... An addictive tale of friendship and love. WOMAN'S WEEKLY

I would urge people not to dismiss this as a 'cat book'; it is too much about human interaction and relationships to be so simply defined. A novel with wide appeal. I predict it will make a popular Christmas gift. READINGS, BOOK GUIDE, AUSTRALIA

Bewitching… as self-possessed and comforting as – well, a cat SUNDAY TELEGRAPH

Arikawa has a lightness of touch that elevates this to a tale about loyalty and friendship ... while speaking to our basic human need for companionship JOHN BOYNE, IRISH TIMES

It has the warmth, painterly touch, and tenderness of a Studio Ghibli film - and it is a delight to read FINANCIAL TIMES

Fleet, funny and tender... Arikawa clearly knows cats as well as any human can. TIME

The Travelling Cat Chronicles is as much a loving tribute to Japan’s obsession with and reverence for cats as it is an endearing introduction for non-Japanese readers to the country’s ever-fascinating culture and deeply rooted traditions. SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE

I'm not ashamed to say it had me at meow. WASHINGTON POST

A book that stands out within the world of cat literature ... and it's a world worth exploring. TIME MAGAZINE

I found myself sobbing ... unable, unwilling, to let this little book go. NPR

A book that speaks volumes about our need for connection - human, feline or otherwise. SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE

This touching novel of a brave cat and his gentle, wise human will resonate with lovers of animal tales, quiet stories of friendship, and travelogues alike. PUBLISHERS WEEKLY

Gentle, soft-spoken, and full of wisdom KIRKUS REVIEWS

A delight to read FINANCIAL TIMES

Prepare to have your heartstrings tugged by this quirky tale SUNDAY MIRROR

i found myself sobbing ... unable, unwilling to let this joyful little book go NPR

Related titles

Our top books, exclusive content and competitions. straight to your inbox..

Sign up to our newsletter using your email.

By clicking subscribe, I acknowledge that I have read and agree to Penguin Books New Zealand’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy .

Thank you! Please check your inbox and confirm your email address to finish signing up.

Summary Book

“The Travelling Cat Chronicles” by Hiro Arikawa

“It’s not the journey that counts, but who is at your side.” Hiro Arikawa – The travelling cat chronicles

Estimated reading time: 5 minutes

Nana the cat is on a road trip. Sitting in the front seat of his favorite silver van with his beloved one, Satoru. But he has no idea about where he is heading to. Satoru is keen to visit his old friends from his youth. Though Nana doesn’t know why and Satoru won’t say anything.

Together they travel around Japan through the changing seasons. They meet Kosuke, a childhood friend from elementary school whose wife has just recently left him and moved back in with her parents. After that, they meet Yoshimine, a friend from his junior high school who is now a farmer. He is an unsentimental farmer for whom cats are just for catching rats. Finally, he meets Sugi and Chikako who have been friends of his since high school and university days. They run a hotel that allows pets to come along.

But what is the purpose of this trip? What will happen at the end of their journey? The story is mostly narrated from a cat’s point of view with a rare gentleness and striking humor. Nana’s story explores the wonder and thrill of life’s unexpected detours. It is about friendship, love, and how to experience happiness even in face of loss and grief.

The Travelling Cat Chronicles by Hiro Arikawa, translated into English by Philip Gabriel, is a both heart-warming and heart-breaking story that will take you to various emotional routes. The storyline of the opening chapters tends to be slow. But Nana’s sarcastic sense of humor won’t give you a chance to get bored. The story may seem simple and plain. However, you will encounter unexpected plot twists in the later chapters which will stay with you long after you’ve read the book.

“It’s not the journey that counts, but who is at your side”

Nana enjoys travelling with Satoru sitting in the front seat of his favorite silver van. All that matters for him is to stay beside Satoru no matter what. And he is ready to fight anything or anyone that would stop him from doing so. Also, he is a loyal cat willing to protect Satoru no matter what. He proved so by fighting with Sugi’s dog which is bigger in size compared to him.

I love how the story is portrayed from a cat’s point of view, Nana narrating most parts of the story. It’s hard for the readers to forget about Nana’s judgmental attitude, his attraction to warm objects, especially the TV from Sugi and Chikako’s place, and old cardboard boxes.

“Humans who think we don’t understand them are the stupid ones”

Nana being a former street cat, is so proud of his street smarts. Being a proud cat with particular survival skills, he believes that he is superior to any animals he meets, especially humans. He understands human language and criticizes humans whenever he has a chance.

The Travelling Cat Chronicles does have an enormously sad ending. However, it is one of those special kinds of sad endings that is beautiful, heart-warming, and teaches the readers how to move on with life after a loss. It’s all worth the tears. Honestly, I could hardly remember the last book that had me sobbing like this one. Nonetheless, I would read it again and recommend everyone to read this book like Satoru telling every passer-by why he named his cat Nana. There is no doubt that it’s a must-read book for cat lovers.

Author Information

Hiro arikawa.

Hiro Arikawa won the tenth annual Dengeki Novel Prize for new writers for Shio no Machi (Wish on My Precious) in 2003. Her 2006 light novel Toshokan Sensō (The Library War) became Hon no Zasshi ’s number one for entertainment for the first half of 2006 and came fifth in the Honya Taishō for that year.

She has written about the Japan Self-Defense Forces (JSDF); her first three novels concerning its three branches are known as the Jieitai Sanbusaku (The SDF Trilogy). She also wrote about the fictional Library Forces in the Toshokan Sensō series. Raintree no Kuni , which first appeared as a book within a book in Toshokan Nairan which Arikawa later published as a spin-off with another publisher. It was adapted into a film titled World of Delight released on November 21, 2015.

Her novel  Shokubutsu Zukan  became a film titled  Shokubutsu Zukan: Unmei no Koi, Hiroimashita  ( Evergreen Love ), released on June 4, 2016. Likewise, two other of her novels, i.e. Freeter, Ie wo Kau and Hankyū Densha were respectively in film or TV series in 2010 and 2011.

Tabineko Ripouto  was published in English as  The Travelling Cat Chronicles  in 2017. In it, the protagonist is a cat called Nana, which travels with his owner, Satoru, across Japan.

Philip Gabriel

Philip Gabriel received his doctorate in Japanese literature from Cornell University after studying in Japan under a Fulbright graduate fellowship. He published his first translation of a short story by Haruki Murakami in 1988. Since then, he has published many translations of Murakami ‘s works.

In addition, he has published translations of novels by Kenzaburo Oe , Senji Kuroi , Masahiko Shimada , and Natsuo Kirino . His translation of Kuroi ‘s novel  Gunsei (Life in the Cul-de-sac)  won the 2001 Japan-U.S. Friendship Commission Prize for the translation of Japanese Literature, and in 2006 he won the PEN/Book-of-the-Month Club Translation Prize for his translation of Murakami ‘s  Kafka on the Shore .

Leave a Comment Cancel reply

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Privacy Overview

• Literature & Fiction
• Contemporary Fiction

Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet or computer – no Kindle device required .

Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web.

Using your mobile phone camera, scan the code below and download the Kindle app.

Image Unavailable

• To view this video download Flash Player

Follow the authors

Travelling Cat Chronicles, The: The life-affirming one million copy bestseller Paperback – 2 November 2017

Save extra with 2 offers, 7 days replacement, replacement instructions.

Purchase options and add-ons

THE PERFECT CURL-UP READ FOR CAT LOVERS 'Bewitching... as self-possessed and comforting as - well, a cat' SUNDAY TELEGRAPH 'A book about kindness and love, and how the smallest things can provide happiness' STYLIST ___ It's not the journey that counts, but who's at your side. Nana is on a road trip, but he is not sure where he is going. All that matters is that he can sit beside his beloved owner Satoru in the front seat of his silver van. Satoru is keen to visit three old friends from his youth, though Nana doesn't know why and Satoru won't say. Set against the backdrop of Japan's changing seasons and narrated with a rare gentleness and humour, Nana's story explores the wonder and thrill of life's unexpected detours. It is about the value of friendship and solitude, and knowing when to give and when to take. At the heart of this book is a powerful message about the importance of kindness. It shows, above all, how acts of love, both great and small, can transform our lives. ___ What readers are saying: 'Delightful, insightful, full of warmth with plenty of humour.' 'Uplifting and heart wrenching in equal measure.' 'It had me in floods of tears but filled me with hope too.'

• Print length 256 pages
• Language English
• Publisher Doubleday
• Publication date 2 November 2017
• Dimensions 12.7 x 2 x 19.6 cm
• ISBN-10 0857524194
• ISBN-13 978-0857524195
• See all details

Frequently bought together

Customers who viewed this item also viewed

Product description

About the author, product details.

• Publisher ‏ : ‎ Doubleday (2 November 2017); Doubleday
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
• Paperback ‏ : ‎ 256 pages
• ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0857524194
• ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0857524195
• Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 220 g
• Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 12.7 x 2 x 19.6 cm
• Country of Origin ‏ : ‎ India
• Importer ‏ : ‎ Doubleday
• Packer ‏ : ‎ Doubleday
• Generic Name ‏ : ‎ Book
• #161 in Myths, Legends & Sagas
• #259 in Historical Fiction (Books)
• #272 in Action & Adventure (Books)

About the authors

Hiro arikawa.

Discover more of the author’s books, see similar authors, read author blogs and more

Philip Gabriel

Customer reviews.

• 5 star 4 star 3 star 2 star 1 star 5 star 73% 17% 7% 2% 1% 73%
• 5 star 4 star 3 star 2 star 1 star 4 star 73% 17% 7% 2% 1% 17%
• 5 star 4 star 3 star 2 star 1 star 3 star 73% 17% 7% 2% 1% 7%
• 5 star 4 star 3 star 2 star 1 star 2 star 73% 17% 7% 2% 1% 2%
• 5 star 4 star 3 star 2 star 1 star 1 star 73% 17% 7% 2% 1% 1%

Customers say

Customers find the book lovely, wonderful, and a must-read. They say the story is heartwarming, touching, and shows every emotion. Readers describe the storyline as beautiful, fascinating, and beautiful. They also find the humor witty and hilarious.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

Customers find the book lovely, wonderful, and a must-read for animal lovers. They appreciate the good print quality.

"Beautifull and heart touching story, A Must read book for All the cat lovers or even animal lovers as well , emotional yet profound book indeed...." Read more

"... Beautiful hardcover , received in good conditionCannot say about its binding🌼🌼🌼Story 5 ⭐..." Read more

"...What a lovely, lovely book !..." Read more

"This is one of the best books I have ever read. Cat, travel and the silver van❤️. I would recommend everyone to read this book...." Read more

Customers find the story heartwarming, beautiful, and empathetic. They say the book shows every emotion and is written in an evocative manner. Readers also mention the book is quirky, moving, and has a very deep bond.

"Beautifull and heart touching story , A Must read book for All the cat lovers or even animal lovers as well , emotional yet profound book indeed...." Read more

"...the way he leads his life, all this is written in such an empathetic and warm manner . And Nana, Satoru's sassy travel companion, was a sheer delight!..." Read more

"...🌼🌼🌼Story 5 ⭐The book not only shows a beautiful bond between animal and his master but also shows every emotions...the story is not abt..." Read more

"...A quirky, moving, and melancholy novel that was originally written in Japanese...." Read more

Customers find the storyline beautiful, fascinating, and heartwarming. They say it's narrated from a cat's perspective of his bond with his human. Readers also mention the book is fulfilling, quirky, and melancholy.

"...Heart Warming, beautifull, superb storyline and a kind of book with simple but significant life lessons as well ." Read more

"Oh my god, this book! It will make you laugh, wonder , and cry...." Read more

"...Otherwise I liked the story of the book ." Read more

"It's one of the best engaging book . I loved it." Read more

Customers find the humour in the book witty, hilarious, and well-written.

"...This book is sheer kindness, humour , love, and warmth on paper.P.S.: You will like it more if you are a cat lover." Read more

"Witty and hilarous " Read more

"...Very well written, hilarious, amusing , emotional. You will fall in love with Nana the cat and his human Satoru by the time u finish the book...." Read more

"...I loved every single word and loved every single page in this book. This book will make you cry and fall in love with cats at the same time...." Read more

Customers find the book beautiful and touching.

"Loved the book. Such a touching and heartbreaking story. Being an animal lover and especially a cat person this book resonated very well with me...." Read more

"Simple and rare but deep and touching . Must read." Read more

"Beautiful and Touching ! 💕..." Read more

Reviews with images

Nice storyline

• Sort reviews by Top reviews Most recent Top reviews

Top reviews from India

There was a problem filtering reviews right now. please try again later..

Top reviews from other countries

• Press Releases
• Amazon Science
• Sell on Amazon
• Sell under Amazon Accelerator
• Protect and Build Your Brand
• Amazon Global Selling
• Supply to Amazon
• Become an Affiliate
• Fulfilment by Amazon
• Advertise Your Products
• Amazon Pay on Merchants
• Your Account
• Returns Centre
• Recalls and Product Safety Alerts
• 100% Purchase Protection
• Amazon App Download
• Conditions of Use & Sale
• Privacy Notice
• Interest-Based Ads

Scan barcode

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 ...

Community Reviews

Content warnings.

Bookshop US

Bookshop UK Blackwell's

The StoryGraph is an affiliate of the featured links. We earn commission on any purchases made.

Browse similar books...

Start a readalong...

Start a buddy read...

View question bank...

Book Information

Report missing/incorrect information...

By using The StoryGraph, you agree to our use of cookies . We use a small number of cookies to provide you with a great experience.

Find out more

• Published: 31 October 2019
• ISBN: 9780857524195
• Imprint: Doubleday
• Format: Trade Paperback
• RRP: $22.99
• Translated works

The Travelling Cat Chronicles

The uplifting million-copy bestselling Japanese translated story

Hiro Arikawa

THE SENSATIONAL MILLION-COPY BESTSELLER: a tender, feelgood story of a journey around Japan with a streetcat. Translated by Philip Gabriel, a translator of Murakami.

THE PERFECT CURL-UP READ FOR CAT LOVERS

*** Includes a sneak preview from the author's new bestseller, The Goodbye Cat ***

'Bewitching... as self-possessed and comforting as - well, a cat' SUNDAY TELEGRAPH

'A book about kindness and love, and how the smallest things can provide happiness' STYLIST ___

It's not the journey that counts, but who's at your side.

Nana is on a road trip, but he is not sure where he is going. All that matters is that he can sit beside his beloved owner Satoru in the front seat of his silver van.

Satoru is keen to visit three old friends from his youth, though Nana doesn't know why and Satoru won't say.

Set against the backdrop of Japan's changing seasons and narrated with a rare gentleness and humour, Nana's story explores the wonder and thrill of life's unexpected detours. It is about the value of friendship and solitude, and knowing when to give and when to take.

At the heart of this book is a powerful message about the importance of kindness. It shows, above all, how acts of love, both great and small, can transform our lives. ___

Readers love THE TRAVELLING CAT CHRONICLES:

'Delightful, insightful, full of warmth with plenty of humour' 5 stars ***** 'Uplifting and heart wrenching in equal measure' 5 stars ***** 'It had me in floods of tears but filled me with hope too' 5 stars *****

About the author

HIRO ARIKAWA lives in Tokyo. A bestseller in Japan, THE TRAVELLING CAT CHRONICLES has become an unexpected international hit, and is due to be made into a live-action Japanese film.

Also by Hiro Arikawa

Praise for The Travelling Cat Chronicles

The Travelling Cat Chronicles is delightful. Like a tender feline companion the uniqueness of this book is its subtle yet persistent charm that insinuates itself into your heart long after the encounter has ended. FIONA MELROSE

The Travelling Cat Chronicles is why I read books. This beautiful story has everything. It's funny, heart-warming, heart-breaking and kind. FOREWORD BOOKS

This is the book I am giving everyone . . . the book I am recommending to anyone buying something Japan-related or cat-related, and, quite possibly, the book I am placing in someone's hand when they ask me what my favourite book is. For a bookseller, that is the highest accolade a book can ever receive WATERSTONES YORK

Stunningly beautiful. Tender, warm, sad and uplifting THE LAST WORD REVIEW

Heart-wrenching but uplifting RED MAGAZINE

Sweet, sad and lovely, this is a roadtrip novel with a difference PSYCHOLOGIES MAGAZINE

A book about kindness and love, and about how the smallest things can provide happiness STYLIST

Prepare to have your heart strings tugged by this quirky tale . . . It's a deceptively gentle story that you won't need to be a cat lover to fall for. SUNDAY MIRROR

Anyone who has ever unashamedly loved an animal will read this book with gratitude, for its understanding of an emotion that ennobles us as human being s , whether we value it or not LYNNE TRUSS, GUARDIAN

A beautiful travelogue SYDNEY MORNING HERALD

This story of a cat, a man, self-sacrifice and friendship will have you totally captivated ... An addictive tale of friendship and love. WOMAN'S WEEKLY

I would urge people not to dismiss this as a 'cat book'; it is too much about human interaction and relationships to be so simply defined. A novel with wide appeal. I predict it will make a popular Christmas gift. READINGS, BOOK GUIDE, AUSTRALIA

Bewitching… as self-possessed and comforting as – well, a cat SUNDAY TELEGRAPH

Arikawa has a lightness of touch that elevates this to a tale about loyalty and friendship ... while speaking to our basic human need for companionship JOHN BOYNE, IRISH TIMES

It has the warmth, painterly touch, and tenderness of a Studio Ghibli film - and it is a delight to read FINANCIAL TIMES

Fleet, funny and tender... Arikawa clearly knows cats as well as any human can. TIME

The Travelling Cat Chronicles is as much a loving tribute to Japan’s obsession with and reverence for cats as it is an endearing introduction for non-Japanese readers to the country’s ever-fascinating culture and deeply rooted traditions. SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE

I'm not ashamed to say it had me at meow. WASHINGTON POST

A book that stands out within the world of cat literature ... and it's a world worth exploring. TIME MAGAZINE

I found myself sobbing ... unable, unwilling, to let this little book go. NPR

A book that speaks volumes about our need for connection - human, feline or otherwise. SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE

This touching novel of a brave cat and his gentle, wise human will resonate with lovers of animal tales, quiet stories of friendship, and travelogues alike. PUBLISHERS WEEKLY

Gentle, soft-spoken, and full of wisdom KIRKUS REVIEWS

A delight to read FINANCIAL TIMES

Prepare to have your heartstrings tugged by this quirky tale SUNDAY MIRROR

i found myself sobbing ... unable, unwilling to let this joyful little book go NPR

Related titles

Our top books, exclusive content and competitions. straight to your inbox..

Sign up to our newsletter using your email.

By clicking subscribe, I acknowledge that I have read and agree to Penguin Books Australia’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy .

Thank you! Please check your inbox and confirm your email address to finish signing up.