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.
