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

ANAM CARA

The waves are soft and frothy. Laced with gossamer frills tenderly kissing the tips of my toes covered with the grainy sand of the rugged seashore where I'm sitting, wistful. A gust of briny breeze tousles my hair as I gaze as far as my eyes can see. A flock of terns wheel overhead, their sharp, shrill cries punctuating the air as they dive and swoop over the surfs. A lone frigate bird , its crimson belly dazzling like a jewel skims majestically above, its long, slender wings outstretched as it rides the thermals high above the ocean. I absorb the sights and sounds of the late afternoon while absentmindedly scooping seashells beside me. As the afternoon phases, the furthest rim of the ocean is fringed in a gilded hem and the sleepy sun yawns, its dipping glow streaking the sky in a mellow tangerine and warm cherry. As I continue sitting there, the ships and yachts appear --specks of light from the portholes glimmering in the distance, reminding me of the phrase “That ship has sai...

ARIEL AND BLUE-BLOOD SHOES

The waves crashed violently against the craggy mountainside and the moonlight shone on the lacy froths. As I waded through the water and stepped on the wet sand, I remembered another night which was many moons ago. The same glinting lights through the palace doorways and windows, the fireworks adorning the night sky like shooting stars and meteors. A royal celebration with all the works and the guests dressed up in their best finery and aristocratic jewelry. Of noble births they all were. Blue blooded as the matriarch had pointedly told me once. That unholy night! That night of icy hearts and howling laughter, the echoes of cackling that followed me till I ran on wobbly legs to find my place of comfort where the land met water… Hot tears streaming down, I regretted those days when I lost my heart to a man so spineless. Had I not dragged him to the shore, he would have been a mangled mass after being torn apart by the piranhas and other monstrous maws. How I regret…Oh!...

HILANG

Chapter 2 Muay, the Maddening Scamp Seasons had gone by with vibrant autumns and chilling winters. Muay Thai had now become very outgoing and social. On a full moon night, this newly transformed scamp had bounded away on some nocturnal adventure. I waited for her return for almost a week. As I searched high and low for Muay Thai, my heart raced with panic with every passing moment. On one of my search treks, I spotted something that made my blood run cold. Lying on the ground, partially hidden by the underbrush on the curbside, was Muay Thai's collar. The vibrant fuchsia leather was faded and dirty, but the delicate zircon pendant still sparkled in the sunlight and that had caught my attention. Holding it gently in my hands, I examined it for any sign of what might have happened to Muay Thai. But there was nothing - no blood, dried or otherwise. Maybe, just maybe, Muay Thai was still out there, wait...

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...

ABERCROMBIE LOCKE MANSION

This post is part of the Blogchatter A2Z Challenge 2026. CHAPTER 1 ABERCROMBIE LOCKE MANSION The sky bled bruises of plum and cherry over the rolling hills. A full moon hung low against the mauve casting silver shards through the trees. The mansion made of cold greystone loomed large beyond the rusted iron gates. It grated on the gravel, rasping on the hinges and yawned open like a predator's jaw as Goldwynn booted it open with her foot. Her sneakers squished heavily on the mulch of dead leaves. Clutching her backpack, she looked up at the towering, grim structure forebodingly. "Are you sure you want to do this?" her friend Lexi whispered, hesitating by the gate. "This mansion's totally cursed, they say." Lexi's voice was a thin thread. A chill crept up her back and she tight...

Sangeetha Kamath

Search This Blog