5/5 Stars: 'The Travelling Cat Chronicles' is an Ageless-based, Japanese Contemporary by Hiro Arikawa and translated by Philip Gabriel.

Nana, the cat, is on a road trip with beloved owner, Satoru Miyawaki - to where is unknown. Arikawa is no less valuable for facing issues of friendship, family, loss, and grief with an optimistic and loving outlook. In fact, the book’s greatest strength is that it allows its readers to experience vicarious happiness even as a sense of impending loss begins to creep through the pages. Therefore, the predictability of the conclusion highlights and enhances the shared moments between owner and animal, emotionally. The latter half of the novel is beautifully crafted, and heavily tear-jerking. The plot consists of three journeys to friends, followed by a pilgrimage across the beautifully evoked landscape. All description is vivid, creating opportunities for extensive imagination through the simple writing style of Arikawa. The story boasts well-rendered characters in the midst of deciding what is best for those they love the most. The deceptively simple structure, with the alternating sections of third-person and Nana-narration, ennobles us, as readers to understand the unconditional-bond towards animals. The depiction of cats, in particular, is perfect as they are often misconstructed and given harsh-labels. As a fond cat-enthusiast, the novel resonates with admiration towards these creatures, how our connection is unique. I cannot fault the novel, and highly recommend as an easy-read – sentimental!