The Travelling Cat Chronicles by Hiro Arikawa

I was not suppose to read this book because I don’t like cats. But it’s a book written by Hiro Arikawa, a Japanese author whose works I haven’t ventured on yet so I thought it’s unfair not to give it a try after seeing lots of good reviews about it and just because I don’t like cats. Plus, it was translated by Philip Gabriel so I know the translation would be a good one.

So… Nana was a stray cat and was soon taken in by a kind-hearted guy named Satoru after he found it injured by a car. They lived together for years until one day, Satoru can no longer take care of Nana so they found themselves traveling together to find a new home for her. They visited several of Satoru’s friends and slowly Satoru’s story unfolds. The more they travel, the more their love for each other grew.

Well, there’s not much of a plot here and the writing was slow for my taste but simple and engaging which I like. I love Satoru and Nana and cared enough what will happen to them so it was okay that the story went a bit slow for me.

This is a beautiful story of friendship, companionship, love and kindness. The part towards the end of the book was quite lovely. Tissues required while reading.

Quotable Quotes:

“My story will be over soon. But it’s not something to be sad about. Remembering those who went ahead. Remembering those who will follow after. And someday, we will meet all those people again, out beyond the horizon.”

“If you have to consider what’s going to happen after you die, life becomes doubly troublesome.”

Rating: 4/5 stars

 

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CATurday

If you don’t believe cats have souls, you haven’t looked into their eyes long enough.

Here’s Why I Don’t Like Cats

I don’t like cats. I don’t hate them. Hate is such a strong word. I just don’t like them. We had cats growing up because my younger brother adores them but I never really cared about them, didn’t play with them, didn’t feed them at all. I once gave away one of my brother’s most evil feline without them knowing at home (not until after a few days, that is!) because the evil cat broke the aquarium (which was also my brother’s) while trying to catch a fish. I was the primary suspect to the crime because I was caught many times killing fish from the same aquarium but I swear, it wasn’t me on that occasion! It was the darn pussy cat! But hey, the moment I got rid of that evil cat, my heart was in the right place! Anyhow, I really didn’t like cats even before that happened. The only cats I like are Garfield (of course!) and Sassy from the movie Homeward Bound.

Alright, alright. I know cats can be pretty damn cute, innocent-faced murderers that they are, right? Who’s not to like their big round eyes and their furry bodies? Well, I think there are still a number of people who find them irritating or boring as much as I do. I was once gifted a shirazi cat a few years ago, however, it was proven and tested that we have a great amount of enmity for each other, so I gave it away too, to avoid killing it or be killed by it!

So why don’t I like cats?

First of all, I really think they’re possessed by the devil. One minute they’re so cute and nice then totally different the next. One moment they’re quiet then they’ll be growling like crazy all of a sudden. They’d even stare at me like I did them wrong at one point then starts acting like they love me too much a few minutes later. Sometimes, too, they’d just bit or scratch me out of nowhere!

Second, they’re creepy. Do cats really have to stare at me when I eat, read, watch TV or when I pee?

Third, too much of their fur comes off. Cleaning cat hair off on almost everything at home specially the sofas is just another added chore.

Fourth, they don’t have social skills. They just lurk in wherever they want at home and no matter how I persuade them to come to me, they’d just stare at me blankly like “what’s your problem?” then walk away!

Fifth, cats are mean. I don’t know how many times I’ve been scratched by my brother’s pet cats. I was also bitten once. I mean, come on, why? I didn’t do anything to them. They even scratch my books, the sofa, my pillow, the door even! And they break pots and aquariums! Pure evil!

Sixth, I think they’d eat or kill me at any given chance!

Seventh, they think/act like they own everything they see.

So how about you? Do you or do you not like cats? Why and why not?

Meowday

The problem with cats is that they get the exact same look on their face whether they see a moth or an axe-murderer.