A review by knightylight
The Travelling Cat Chronicles by Hiro Arikawa

challenging emotional funny hopeful lighthearted relaxing sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

This book was absolutely a lovely journey, and also a tear jerker. It's about the exploration of a person's life through flashbacks and also through the point of view of his cat that he found as a stray. This story goes into the different kinds of love and friendships we create through our lives, with people and with animals. Loved ones can enter our lives for forever, or for a season- but ultimately the connections we make are never a waste. 

This is a must read for not only cat lovers, but for any pet lover; however it is an emotional journey so tissues are a must. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Terminal illness

Moderate: Animal death, Death, and Medical content

the book follows the main human character going from place to place, visiting old family and friends to look for someone to leave his cat with. We learn this is because the main human has a terminal illness and will need to be hospitalized, with not long to live. It's hard seeing the character who was so lively in flashbacks and at the beginning start to deteriorate, especially from the perspective of his cat who doesn't fully understand what is happening. The illness isnt specifically mentioned by name or described, but the main human character dies from it. The final chapter also has the cat die of old age. The sweet thing is they get to reunite at the end of the story. For anyone triggered by terminal illnesses, cancer, or animal death, I advise some caution even if it isn't super explicit.