March 2025 Wrap-Up & Favorites

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March Wrap-Up & Favorites
Source: personal collection

Hi fellow readers! In March, I'm back with my comfort read. Although I'm a bit disappointed, I still read a good book afterward. I watch an excellent limited series on Netflix which I'm pretty sure you've heard of. I also continued my personal Academy Award Best Picture project and ended up loving the film. Anyway, here's the books I read in March.

February 2025 Wrap-Up & Favorites

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February Wrap-Up & Favorites
Source: personal collection

Hi fellow readers! Hope you all well. Since I have quite some time on my hands lately, I'm going to catch up on my monthly wrap-up post. Here's the book I read in February.

[Review] The Travelling Cat Chronicles - Hiro Arikawa

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Title of Book:
The Travelling Cat Chronicles
Author: Hiro Arikawa
Translator: Philip Gabriel
Publisher: Doubleday
Publication Year: 2017
Language: English
Format: Paperback
Pages: 256

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. TRAVELLING CAT has already demonstrated its power to move thousands of readers with a message of kindness and truth. It shows, above all, how acts of love, both great and small, can transform our lives.

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One day Satoru Miyawaki found a cat near his apartment. Being a cat lover, he feeds the cat everyday until the cat got in a car accident. He took care of it and adopted it. He named the cat Nana. Later on, Satoru found out that he couldn’t take care of Nana anymore so he contacted several of his old friends and asked them whether they could adopt Nana. Thus begin Satoru and Nana’s journey on a road trip visiting his friends.
The cat is the main reason why I picked this book. Little did I know that this book holds a tale that will stay with me after. The Travelling Cat Chronicles told from a third person point of view and Nana’s point of view. As a cat, of course Nana has some interesting take on things happening around him. This adds a bit humor into what turns out to be a sad story. Cat is notoriously known to be cold and arrogant towards its owner. However, through Nana’s point of view, we see how affectionate Nana actually is to Satoru. I find Nana and Satoru’s relationship cute and wholesome.
During their road trip, Satoru visited three of his friends before finally went to his aunt Noriko and stayed. Along the way, we learn bit by bit of Satoru’s childhood and his backstory with his friends. We learn that growing up Satoru had a rough childhood. But he has such a positive and pure look on life that inspire people around him. That’s actually what each chapter is about. How Satoru influenced the lives of his friends and aunt.
All in all, I highly recommend the Travelling Cat Chronicles to read. Regardless you are a cat lover or not, I think you will find Nana and Satoru’s story heartwarming and touching. Though the ending is sad, it gives that hopeful tone that will still make you smile and warm inside. This book has been adapted into a movie starring Sota Fukushi as Satoru. I have a feeling that I will cry while watching the movie but I will still watch it. 

January 2025 Wrap-Up & Favorites

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January Wrap-Up & Favorites
Source: personal collection

Hello and happy new year fellow readers! In 2025, I have a mission to finish those literal book stacks on my bed. Yes, I have book stacks ON my bed because I have nowhere else to put them. Those books won't be there if I read them already. I spent most of my 2024 trying to survive and stay alive (I'm not kidding but that's a topic for another day. When I'm ready to share about it) that I don't feel like having enough 'leisure time' to read even though that's one of the activities that gives me joy. So imagine how joyless I was. No more. The books I finished in January are books I started in December 2024 but didn't manage to finish. One is a holiday-themed fantasy book and another one is a short east-asian literature book. Can you see how desperate I was to complete my 2024 reading goal?

December 2024 Wrap-Up & Favorites

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December Wrap-Up & Favorites
Source: personal collection

Finally! One month left and that is it for 2024 wrap-up. Without further ado, here's the books I read in December 2024.