A review by colormecaro
The Travelling Cat Chronicles by Hiro Arikawa

lighthearted sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

From reading the blurb, you know exactly what’s going to happen. Read this book for the cosy vibes, not the plot. But because the plot was so predictable, I was hoping for emotional depth which to me just wasn’t there. The last two chapters redeemed it a bit but overall it fell a bit flat for me. 

I’m not writing this because I’m a heartless person who doesnt understand pet relationships. I’ve had some very strong bonds with cats in my life (part of the reason I picked up this book) so I understand what the book was trying to do. But I think as charming as it is to have a cat narrate the book, the fact that the cat is a bit self-involved (in a very fitting cat-like manner) means that some depth had to be sacrificed along the way. Especially throughout the earlier chapters. 

I’ve ugly sobbed at other books ('Mornings in Jenin' by Susan Abulhawa is a prime example), but this book left me quite neutral. Given that it is a book about
a very close pet relationship, death, grief and the friendships one builds over a lifetime
I just think it should not have left me as cold as it did. Based on other reviews this isn’t the case for everyone, so maybe my expectations were just a bit too high.
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