REVIEW BOOK 3 OF 2024: THE TRAVELLING CAT CHRONICLES

If you've ever loved an animal more than your self, then, this book is for you!

This story about a cat disposes all the infamous myths about them being insensitive, beyond control and incapable of loving their owners. They reach into the deepest recesses of your heart you never knew existed and make a place there for all of eternity.

Nana, is a street cat who always naps atop Satoru's silver van below his apartment and is adopted by him when, on an unfortunate day he is run over by a vehicle.

Two months in Satoru’s tender loving care and healing from a broken bone in his leg, Nana finds his forever home with Satoru as he has a strong resemblance to Hachi, a cat Satoru had during his childhood.

The story told from the perspective of Satoru paints his own detailed traumatic and heart rending backstory. And also from the perspective of Nana, quite a sassy feline who brightens this tale with his shenanigans, bravado, mischief and haughty personality.

At heart, he's a softie though and Satoru is his world.

There are various characters who have their place in the sun too as Satoru decides to go on a road trip in his silver van along with Nana to visit all his childhood buddies and close friends from school. His request to all them is to take in his cat while he has to go away.

From Tokyo to Hokkaido to Sapporo the story documents a heartwarming journey of them together where Nana sees unending fields of purple chrysanthemums and goldenrods, a double rainbow which he points out to Satoru by meowing at the sky, herds of deer along the way, free roaming horses and all ‘the amazing things’ which his most beloved master had promised him.

While at stay overs at various friends', Nana also makes friends with their pets and they have an entire chain of events and ‘dialogues’ between themselves.

To cut a long story short, things don't work out in Satoru's favour with this arrangement and things always go haywire when the pets in the house turn against Nana which ultimately makes him rethink his decision and takes him further along on the journey.

**SPOILER ALERT**

Nana makes a deal for things to play out in this manner with the house pets because he can't bear to be separated from Satoru and stay with strangers. As they take their leave from every place, Nana, sadly, always watches all his newly made friends in the rearview mirror as they diminish from view.

**End of spoiler alert**

Nana’s internal thoughts add to the charm of the story.

As they continue along the winding road, down the hill, and the picturesque landscapes of Japan, Nana also thinks he's the happiest cat to travel with Satoru and the luckiest one too to have seen the enormous Mt.Fuji. As it is Nana refuses to sit in the carrier and is always on the passenger seat pressing his front paws on the window whenever he sees something interesting.

When they reach their final destination to Aunt Noriko’s the story unfolds and is high, very, very high on the emotional roller coaster.

This story is an arrow straight to the heart ! And Nana makes sure to tug at your heartstrings or 'sharpen his claws' on them like none other. Whoever said cats are emotionless, never really loved a cat.

******

Takeaway from the story:

As we count up the memories from one journey, we head off to another.

Remembering those who went ahead. Remembering those who will follow later.

And someday, we will meet all those people again, out beyond the horizon.

Comments

'OWL'TASTIC

' OWL' TASTIC He sits in solitude as the sun slips by Rousing from deep sleep as the moon rises high Now is his time to party and play With a hoot of delight he's set out to catch his prey Swooping on rats and cubs of tiny critters His noiseless wings span the fields, woods and pastures Wise old owl is his title to this day Black, white or brown, they're endearing creatures so I say Keeping him as a pet is a hearts delight When they cuddle up to you in the blinding sunlight Turning his head all the way, he's powerful and elegant—an acrobat of the skies! ©️ Sangeetha Kamath Pic Courtesy:Pixabay

FAIRY ROSE AND THE THREE WISHES (DAY 5, POST 2)

While there was no dearth of dispiriting news floating around during the pandemic, this was one unexpected blow! How deeply I was mourning the passing of my former school headmistress, even as I put one more chapter to rest in the confines of my treasured memories. I was fortunate to have 'Sister' as my headmistress in primary school. Although I feared her greatly, I was also one of those lucky few who got to see her nurturing side. She had made it a point to give me company every evening while I waited for my father to pick me up from school, which would inevitably be long after dismissal time due to his work constraints. We're talking of the '80s here when there were no after-school facilities in my beloved hometown. I would constantly be the lone student in the portico and it meant a lot to have an authoritarian figure looking out for my safety and well-being. I was one those painfully shy nerds who by default went into the good books of the teachers and was in th...

TAKEN (NaNoWriMo Day 8 )

TAKEN The floor boards creaked and my footsteps echoed in the vast emptiness. Shafts of moving lights filtered through a skylight from the high ceiling. In the dim murkiness, I could only see towering silhouettes. Unrecognisable. Unidentifiable. Where was I and how did I come here? Was I in an accident or had I bumped my head, lost my memory and wandered off to this abandoned structure? I only had questions and not a single answer. I felt about in my pockets for a phone. I could do with some light in here. Luck was on my side. I turned on the flashlight and saw a litter of weathered wooden crates, soggy cardboard boxes and newspapers littering the floor. I picked one up. The print was smudged and illegible. What on earth! It seemed to be a warehouse. Paint and plaster was peeling off the walls. Where was the door? I need to get out of here! I turned my flash...

A BRIDGE ACROSS

A BRIDGE ACROSS In the floating autumn leaves that glide and fall Through the crimping mists from the valleys that roll Hobbling on rough-hewn paths and treacherous terrain I craved for solitude but in vain Under sailing summer skies, strolling along the boulevards tree lined A harbor to anchor the moiling, searched my fevered mind Heaven spun stars were swaddled by lurching clouds No light escaped from this infinite shroud Black velvets and dark laces cocooned my inner dragon A soothing comfort was this sable, inky beacon 'Twas the kind of black where I was at peace In the protective arms of the night which painted my lovely dreams Shut out by turbid fabrics were muted hues Not a fuchsia, sepia or even diluted ecrus… Amidst monochrome shadows and metronome chatter Where was the light I wondered ! Not a tingle of frost nor a smudge of the moon I bided my time to emerge in...

GATOS MEUS QUERIDOS

Chapter 1 Muay The Warrior Cat Muay Thai came to be called so for the feisty and spirited little thing she was, reminiscent of the intense and energetic martial art of Muay Thai . Her bold personality inspired me to give her a name that reflected her sass and vigor. Muay Thai's antics were the stuff of legends. She was a buzz of energy, always getting into mischief and mayhem. Whether she was chasing invisible bugs, leaping over furniture like an acrobat or wrestling with toys, Muay Thai was a force to be reckoned with. Her favorite pastime was "attacking" my hands and feet, using her lightning-fast reflexes and razor-sharp teeth. It was a game she loved, and one that always left me in stitches. Despite her tough-as-nails persona, Muay Thai was also a total softie at heart. She loved nothing more than curling up in my lap and purring contentedly, her eyes gleaming with adoration before snoozing into the deepest of sl...

Sangeetha Kamath

Search This Blog