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The Cat with Three Passports: What a Japanese cat taught me about an old culture and new beginnings.
‘A heartwarming memoir.’ –Australian Reader’s Digest
A girl struggling to fit in. A homeless kitten. An unexpected job offer in an unfamiliar country that changes everything.CJ had a long history of escaping places and people she wasn't fond of. But for the sake of a silver tabby, she decided to stay in Japan for a while. This decision helped her open up her heart and mind, revisit her way of thinking, and reconnect with her estranged family. Let this heartwarming memoir take you to the land of cats and cherry trees as you read about CJ's adventures - from the craziness of Furukawa's naked men festival, the experience of forest bathing and the significance of finding a life purpose or ikigai, to the temples of Takayama, and wonders of Cat Island - you'll see what a homeless kitten found outside a temple in Japan taught her about an old culture and new beginnings.
Award winner in the Animals/ Narrative Non-Fiction Category at the 2021 International Book Awards, USA
‘The author’s warmth of personality comes across so strongly that I felt totally enraptured by her responses to the evolving scenes and events.’ –Reader’s Favorite, USA
‘CJ has excelled in her craft with her wondrous writing skills. The book is said to be a memoir, but it is as interesting as a fiction novel.’ –Inertia Speaks, India
‘An uplifting memoir that will probably make you want to visit Japan.’ –Emma B Books, UK
‘This is a delightful book that will be especially appreciated by pet lovers and travelers. I loved that the book is whimsically enhanced by Japanese proverbs about cats at the beginning of each chapter.’ –Heather Diamond, author of Rabbit in the Moon
‘I thoroughly enjoyed this heartwarming memoir.’ –Conscious Cat, USA
‘By sharing her journey of self-discovery, CJ elevates her memoir beyond that of simply a travel log or a cat tale.’ –Lincoln Pet Culture, USA
A girl struggling to fit in. A homeless kitten. An unexpected job offer in an unfamiliar country that changes everything.CJ had a long history of escaping places and people she wasn't fond of. But for the sake of a silver tabby, she decided to stay in Japan for a while. This decision helped her open up her heart and mind, revisit her way of thinking, and reconnect with her estranged family. Let this heartwarming memoir take you to the land of cats and cherry trees as you read about CJ's adventures - from the craziness of Furukawa's naked men festival, the experience of forest bathing and the significance of finding a life purpose or ikigai, to the temples of Takayama, and wonders of Cat Island - you'll see what a homeless kitten found outside a temple in Japan taught her about an old culture and new beginnings.
Award winner in the Animals/ Narrative Non-Fiction Category at the 2021 International Book Awards, USA
‘The author’s warmth of personality comes across so strongly that I felt totally enraptured by her responses to the evolving scenes and events.’ –Reader’s Favorite, USA
‘CJ has excelled in her craft with her wondrous writing skills. The book is said to be a memoir, but it is as interesting as a fiction novel.’ –Inertia Speaks, India
‘An uplifting memoir that will probably make you want to visit Japan.’ –Emma B Books, UK
‘This is a delightful book that will be especially appreciated by pet lovers and travelers. I loved that the book is whimsically enhanced by Japanese proverbs about cats at the beginning of each chapter.’ –Heather Diamond, author of Rabbit in the Moon
‘I thoroughly enjoyed this heartwarming memoir.’ –Conscious Cat, USA
‘By sharing her journey of self-discovery, CJ elevates her memoir beyond that of simply a travel log or a cat tale.’ –Lincoln Pet Culture, USA
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First published November 9, 2020
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About the author
C.J. Fentiman
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 100 reviews
April 8, 2021
I was kindly gifted a physical copy by the author, so a massive thank you to C.J. for letting me read your travel memoir!
The Cat With Three Passports follows C.J. and her partner Ryan who travel to Japan to take up new teaching jobs. It is when they find a stray cat (who they later name Gershwin) and take him into their care that the adventure really begins. There was a lot of travelling detail about Japan which for someone who has A, never been and B, don't know a lot about made for interesting reading. I laughed about one of the stories of Gershwin having to be hidden in their accommodation during one of their teaching experiences. It is not easy to hide away a cat that shouldn't be there! Travel Memoirs are not books I typically pick up to read, but I thoroughly enjoyed this one.
The Cat With Three Passports follows C.J. and her partner Ryan who travel to Japan to take up new teaching jobs. It is when they find a stray cat (who they later name Gershwin) and take him into their care that the adventure really begins. There was a lot of travelling detail about Japan which for someone who has A, never been and B, don't know a lot about made for interesting reading. I laughed about one of the stories of Gershwin having to be hidden in their accommodation during one of their teaching experiences. It is not easy to hide away a cat that shouldn't be there! Travel Memoirs are not books I typically pick up to read, but I thoroughly enjoyed this one.
January 28, 2023
What a misleading title. I expected a cat being central to the story, but no, it's just another book about a human and her 2 year stint as a teacher in Japan. There's only like 10-15% story about Gershwin the cat - I didn't get to know him because there was so little written about him! I felt cheated. The writing was average, and there were errors in translations here and there. She even spelt Studio Ghibli as Studio Gigli, but managed to spell it right when it was mentioned again towards the end of the book.
I know there's a high rating for this book, but it just didn't work for me. But maybe it will for you.
I know there's a high rating for this book, but it just didn't work for me. But maybe it will for you.
December 30, 2021
3.5 stars rounded down to 3 stars.
C J Fentiman’s memoir about her time in Japan teaching English is an inspiring read. Filled with myriad emotions, it presents a beautiful picture of a nation that often leaves first-timers in a state of culture shock. That Fentiman incorporates her life in Japan as an English teacher with her personal journey of self-discovery gives the book a lot of heart. Of course, there is oodles to love about the book if you are particularly fond of cats. I am not too much of a cat person, but I still enjoyed reading about all the cat antics. In the end, The Cat With Three Passports is a travelogue, memoir, and cat appreciation book, all rolled into one.
Being somewhat of a Japanophile and knowing a little more about the country than the average person, I truly appreciated how descriptive Fentiman was about the local environment, culture, and traditions. Sadly, at times she was a little too descriptive. And because Fentiman changes her jobs a few times during the book, things often seem a bit repetitive. I read the book in a month, but every time I would pick it up, I’d be amazed by how little progress I had made. By the end of it, it felt like I'd been reading the book for months.
Nevertheless, The Cat With Three Passports is an excellent, well-written book. It will especially appeal to someone interested in knowing more about Japan, who has very little or no prior knowledge about the country.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
C J Fentiman’s memoir about her time in Japan teaching English is an inspiring read. Filled with myriad emotions, it presents a beautiful picture of a nation that often leaves first-timers in a state of culture shock. That Fentiman incorporates her life in Japan as an English teacher with her personal journey of self-discovery gives the book a lot of heart. Of course, there is oodles to love about the book if you are particularly fond of cats. I am not too much of a cat person, but I still enjoyed reading about all the cat antics. In the end, The Cat With Three Passports is a travelogue, memoir, and cat appreciation book, all rolled into one.
Being somewhat of a Japanophile and knowing a little more about the country than the average person, I truly appreciated how descriptive Fentiman was about the local environment, culture, and traditions. Sadly, at times she was a little too descriptive. And because Fentiman changes her jobs a few times during the book, things often seem a bit repetitive. I read the book in a month, but every time I would pick it up, I’d be amazed by how little progress I had made. By the end of it, it felt like I'd been reading the book for months.
Nevertheless, The Cat With Three Passports is an excellent, well-written book. It will especially appeal to someone interested in knowing more about Japan, who has very little or no prior knowledge about the country.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
September 26, 2024
I thoroughly enjoyed this - I don't often read memoirs etc but the concept of this one really resonated with me (to the point it's the choice for the work book club).
I love the honesty and vulnerability of CJ as she explores her life choices ans behaviours that led her to Japan and her very chill partner. It's almost too close to my own experiences in Korea (even down to the degree I studied) and honestly this was such a lovely, gentle read with a reminder to take in the world around you and pause.
Loved it.
I love the honesty and vulnerability of CJ as she explores her life choices ans behaviours that led her to Japan and her very chill partner. It's almost too close to my own experiences in Korea (even down to the degree I studied) and honestly this was such a lovely, gentle read with a reminder to take in the world around you and pause.
Loved it.
September 24, 2021
Why the good reviews is beyond me! She showed absolutely no depth or humor in her writing or her own story. Who doesn’t love an animal and is changed by it one way or another. Her writing was a bit cliche and contrived. If I had her experience, I could’ve done a much better job of creating a real story that captures the heart—this did not cut it. I gave 2 stars because she actually wrote it and lived in a different culture.
December 28, 2020
This is a truly wonderful story! It takes through such a life, such an adventure. You go with the author on a journey through another country, through so many different sights. I really enjoyed it and highly recommend it.
December 7, 2020
Japan based memoir with suspense and cats
An uplifting memoir that will probably make you want to visit Japan.
CJ and her boyfriend arrive in Osaka to teach at one of the largest language schools in Japan. They return to the UK after a week. A month later they return to Japan, this time to the mountain area of Takayama and they stay in Japan for 2 years – partly because of Gershwin the cat. This is CJ’s story of her time in Japan, plus the cats she meets/adopts along the way.
It is also CJ’s story about changing the way she reacts to life, and how her stay in Japan , the culture, the people she met (and the cats) enabled her to grow within herself.
CJ takes the reader through an earthquake, along to festivals, introduces different ideas, and of course the different culture, customs and foods of Japan. This is a fast moving, uplifting and fascinating read. No lengthy over detailed sections here on anything! CJ concentrates on the present, glancing back to her past, and looking for her “reason for being”.
There are some references to tourist spots, but mostly this book is about the experience of living and working in Japan. Also of course about rescuing Gershwin the kitten, and their life together and with other cats.
A memoir with suspense and loads of interest, – nearing the end it was as gripping as any thriller as I wondered how it was all going to work out. Although under 300 pages, it took me a long time to read this book as I was so immersed in what was going on.
5*s from me, as I was enthralled by CJ’s life and experiences in Takayama, and later at a school in Shirakawa. CJ’s writing style was relaxed, very open and upbeat (also referring to, but not dwelling on, difficult times). I felt CJ was living “the dream”, but of course there was also the reality, and CJ blends these two together perfectly.
I enjoyed this memoir so much that I have already looked into visiting Japan and visiting the places that CJ talks about. She breathes such life into the country and the people, that, for the first time, I have realised Japan is a “must visit” country.
This book would be a great gift to anyone thinking of moving abroad (I found many comparisons with my own experiences of moving to Europe), anyone thinking of teaching English abroad and of course anyone with a love of cats and/or an interest in Japan. Actually this book is for everyone who wants a great read!
I do hope there will be a follow up memoir, so I can find out how CJ, Ryan and Gershwin get on in the next chapter of their life. I’ve have been thrilled to find Gershwin on Instagram: The Cat with 3 Passports, and CJ is on Twitter: @CJFentiman
An uplifting memoir that will probably make you want to visit Japan.
CJ and her boyfriend arrive in Osaka to teach at one of the largest language schools in Japan. They return to the UK after a week. A month later they return to Japan, this time to the mountain area of Takayama and they stay in Japan for 2 years – partly because of Gershwin the cat. This is CJ’s story of her time in Japan, plus the cats she meets/adopts along the way.
It is also CJ’s story about changing the way she reacts to life, and how her stay in Japan , the culture, the people she met (and the cats) enabled her to grow within herself.
CJ takes the reader through an earthquake, along to festivals, introduces different ideas, and of course the different culture, customs and foods of Japan. This is a fast moving, uplifting and fascinating read. No lengthy over detailed sections here on anything! CJ concentrates on the present, glancing back to her past, and looking for her “reason for being”.
There are some references to tourist spots, but mostly this book is about the experience of living and working in Japan. Also of course about rescuing Gershwin the kitten, and their life together and with other cats.
A memoir with suspense and loads of interest, – nearing the end it was as gripping as any thriller as I wondered how it was all going to work out. Although under 300 pages, it took me a long time to read this book as I was so immersed in what was going on.
5*s from me, as I was enthralled by CJ’s life and experiences in Takayama, and later at a school in Shirakawa. CJ’s writing style was relaxed, very open and upbeat (also referring to, but not dwelling on, difficult times). I felt CJ was living “the dream”, but of course there was also the reality, and CJ blends these two together perfectly.
I enjoyed this memoir so much that I have already looked into visiting Japan and visiting the places that CJ talks about. She breathes such life into the country and the people, that, for the first time, I have realised Japan is a “must visit” country.
This book would be a great gift to anyone thinking of moving abroad (I found many comparisons with my own experiences of moving to Europe), anyone thinking of teaching English abroad and of course anyone with a love of cats and/or an interest in Japan. Actually this book is for everyone who wants a great read!
I do hope there will be a follow up memoir, so I can find out how CJ, Ryan and Gershwin get on in the next chapter of their life. I’ve have been thrilled to find Gershwin on Instagram: The Cat with 3 Passports, and CJ is on Twitter: @CJFentiman
February 26, 2022
“All this made me wish that someone would just let me borrow a cat to soothe my anxiety…or at least give me directions to the nearest cat café.”
And 2 cats adopted her and she adopted one!
I love how the author (C.J) described the Japanese culture. One that I am totally not aware of was how KFC (Kentucky Fried Chicken ) is related to Christmas!
Since it is a memoir , the author (C.J) explain quite in detail about the settings in the book. One needs to read each word to fully experience her journey. Some might find it hard if they are speed readers. But for those who wants to experience the journey together with the C.J , you should read this amazing book. I am not sure if I will ever visit Japan but C.J gave me the opportunity to experience Japan and it’s cultures from her point of view. Thank you so much! Plus if you love pets especially cats, read this book.
I have 2 cats and a kitten living with my hubby and I. I was a teacher for 17 years before I retired ( Yes I retired early - at the age of 40 years old) These two things made C.J’s journey so relatable to me. Her concerns about uncertainties in life made me feel ‘normal’
Iko & Niko ( the two cats that came with the house she lived in with her partner, Ryan ) grounded her. I know how it feels to have felines soothing me when I am overwhelmed. When the two cats first met the new kitten ( Later named as Gershwin) , it reminded me of my new kitten ( Adik ) and my two cats ( Boy& Girl ) I guess most cats have the same characteristics. I felt contented when I read how C.J , Ryan and the three cats bonded.
I agree with C.J that when we experience other culture we learn a lot of things. Some are good and some are bad. But the good one often outweighs the bad ones. We will start to appreciate things and see things differently.This encourages me to learn about other cultures.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Merged review:
“All this made me wish that someone would just let me borrow a cat to soothe my anxiety… or at least give me directions to the nearest cat café.”
And 2 cats adopted her and she adopted one!
I love how the author (C.J) described the Japanese culture. One that I am totally not aware of was how KFC (Kentucky Fried Chicken ) is related to Christmas!
Since it is a memoir , the author (C.J) explain quite in detail about the settings in the book. One needs to read each word to fully experience her journey. Some might find it hard if they are speed readers. But for those who wants to experience the journey together with the C.J , you should read this amazing book. I am not sure if I will ever visit Japan but C.J gave me the opportunity to experience Japan and it’s cultures from her point of view. Thank you so much! Plus if you love pets especially cats, read this book.
I have 2 cats and a kitten living with my hubby and I. I was a teacher for 17 years before I retired ( Yes I retired early - at the age of 40 years old) These two things made C.J’s journey so relatable to me. Her concerns about uncertainties in life made me feel ‘normal’
Iko & Niko ( the two cats that came with the house she lived in with her partner, Ryan ) grounded her. I know how it feels to have felines soothing me when I am overwhelmed. When the two cats first met the new kitten ( Later named as Gershwin) , it reminded me of my new kitten ( Adik ) and my two cats ( Boy& Girl ) I guess most cats have the same characteristics. I felt contented when I read how C.J , Ryan and the three cats bonded.
I agree with C.J that when we experience other culture we learn a lot of things. Some are good and some are bad. But the good one often outweighs the bad ones. We will start to appreciate things and see things differently.This encourages me to learn about other cultures.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
And 2 cats adopted her and she adopted one!
I love how the author (C.J) described the Japanese culture. One that I am totally not aware of was how KFC (Kentucky Fried Chicken ) is related to Christmas!
Since it is a memoir , the author (C.J) explain quite in detail about the settings in the book. One needs to read each word to fully experience her journey. Some might find it hard if they are speed readers. But for those who wants to experience the journey together with the C.J , you should read this amazing book. I am not sure if I will ever visit Japan but C.J gave me the opportunity to experience Japan and it’s cultures from her point of view. Thank you so much! Plus if you love pets especially cats, read this book.
I have 2 cats and a kitten living with my hubby and I. I was a teacher for 17 years before I retired ( Yes I retired early - at the age of 40 years old) These two things made C.J’s journey so relatable to me. Her concerns about uncertainties in life made me feel ‘normal’
Iko & Niko ( the two cats that came with the house she lived in with her partner, Ryan ) grounded her. I know how it feels to have felines soothing me when I am overwhelmed. When the two cats first met the new kitten ( Later named as Gershwin) , it reminded me of my new kitten ( Adik ) and my two cats ( Boy& Girl ) I guess most cats have the same characteristics. I felt contented when I read how C.J , Ryan and the three cats bonded.
I agree with C.J that when we experience other culture we learn a lot of things. Some are good and some are bad. But the good one often outweighs the bad ones. We will start to appreciate things and see things differently.This encourages me to learn about other cultures.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Merged review:
“All this made me wish that someone would just let me borrow a cat to soothe my anxiety… or at least give me directions to the nearest cat café.”
And 2 cats adopted her and she adopted one!
I love how the author (C.J) described the Japanese culture. One that I am totally not aware of was how KFC (Kentucky Fried Chicken ) is related to Christmas!
Since it is a memoir , the author (C.J) explain quite in detail about the settings in the book. One needs to read each word to fully experience her journey. Some might find it hard if they are speed readers. But for those who wants to experience the journey together with the C.J , you should read this amazing book. I am not sure if I will ever visit Japan but C.J gave me the opportunity to experience Japan and it’s cultures from her point of view. Thank you so much! Plus if you love pets especially cats, read this book.
I have 2 cats and a kitten living with my hubby and I. I was a teacher for 17 years before I retired ( Yes I retired early - at the age of 40 years old) These two things made C.J’s journey so relatable to me. Her concerns about uncertainties in life made me feel ‘normal’
Iko & Niko ( the two cats that came with the house she lived in with her partner, Ryan ) grounded her. I know how it feels to have felines soothing me when I am overwhelmed. When the two cats first met the new kitten ( Later named as Gershwin) , it reminded me of my new kitten ( Adik ) and my two cats ( Boy& Girl ) I guess most cats have the same characteristics. I felt contented when I read how C.J , Ryan and the three cats bonded.
I agree with C.J that when we experience other culture we learn a lot of things. Some are good and some are bad. But the good one often outweighs the bad ones. We will start to appreciate things and see things differently.This encourages me to learn about other cultures.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
August 3, 2023
Seguire le avventure di CJ e Gershwin in Giappone è stato veramente bello.
Questo è un libro che, a differenza di altri, oltre alle meraviglie di quella terra, mette in luce le tante difficoltà e “stranezze” che uno straniero che decide di trasferirsi lì incontrerà.
Lo stile di scrittura è davvero leggero e scorrevole, mi è sembrato di sentire il racconto di un’amica che non vedevo da tanto tempo.
Se siete amanti dei gatti e del Giappone, e come me vi preoccupate sempre troppo per tutto, questa è una lettura super consigliata.
Questo è un libro che, a differenza di altri, oltre alle meraviglie di quella terra, mette in luce le tante difficoltà e “stranezze” che uno straniero che decide di trasferirsi lì incontrerà.
Lo stile di scrittura è davvero leggero e scorrevole, mi è sembrato di sentire il racconto di un’amica che non vedevo da tanto tempo.
Se siete amanti dei gatti e del Giappone, e come me vi preoccupate sempre troppo per tutto, questa è una lettura super consigliata.
March 22, 2024
The writing is poor quality and juvenile in style. Bad editing too - the book is riddled with spelling mistakes and typos.
The depictions of Japanese culture were interesting, but Fentiman’s observations were often simplistic, based on stereotypes, and bordering on ridiculous. It’s a memoir, but nothing much memorable actually happens.
The depictions of Japanese culture were interesting, but Fentiman’s observations were often simplistic, based on stereotypes, and bordering on ridiculous. It’s a memoir, but nothing much memorable actually happens.
May 7, 2024
I couldn’t finish this book. Poorly written. I can’t believe the editor allowed this book to be published with so many typos and misspelling. I wanted to like the book but conflicts ended too quickly and felt like it had no flow. Disappointed I spent my own money on this.
December 10, 2021
Negatives
. I dislike people using their initials as their first names.
. The title The Cat With Three Passports was misleading:
- The cat Gershwin with the passports does not feature in the book as much as I expected.
- He did not travel to three countries but stayed in Japan throughout the book. He was expected to leave for the UK with the author but she changed her mind and moved to Australia with him in the end.
• The author refers to her oldest friend Karina, with whom she visited Cat Island, as ‘Karen’. Was this a typo or a mistake? Why wasn’t this caught by the editor?
Positives
• The author and her partner Ryan travel to Japan to take up teaching jobs. They are entrusted with looking after two cats by their predecessors in those jobs. They also take in a stray cat and name him Gershwin.
• The book refers to some difficult times in CJ's life but it is a comfortable and easy read. The writing style is frank and upbeat.
• You get to see how the author’s experiences in Japan and her interactions with the people she meets there—both Japanese and expatriates—bring about a positive change in her outlook towards life.
• The book has a lot of interesting tidbits about living, working, and traveling in Japan. It would be of great help to anyone thinking of visiting Japan.
• Each chapter starts with a Japanese saying about cats. I loved this (I am a typical cat person).
To summarize, a heart-warming, entertaining book despite the negatives.
Note: I received an advance review copy from BookSirens for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
. I dislike people using their initials as their first names.
. The title The Cat With Three Passports was misleading:
- The cat Gershwin with the passports does not feature in the book as much as I expected.
- He did not travel to three countries but stayed in Japan throughout the book. He was expected to leave for the UK with the author but she changed her mind and moved to Australia with him in the end.
• The author refers to her oldest friend Karina, with whom she visited Cat Island, as ‘Karen’. Was this a typo or a mistake? Why wasn’t this caught by the editor?
Positives
• The author and her partner Ryan travel to Japan to take up teaching jobs. They are entrusted with looking after two cats by their predecessors in those jobs. They also take in a stray cat and name him Gershwin.
• The book refers to some difficult times in CJ's life but it is a comfortable and easy read. The writing style is frank and upbeat.
• You get to see how the author’s experiences in Japan and her interactions with the people she meets there—both Japanese and expatriates—bring about a positive change in her outlook towards life.
• The book has a lot of interesting tidbits about living, working, and traveling in Japan. It would be of great help to anyone thinking of visiting Japan.
• Each chapter starts with a Japanese saying about cats. I loved this (I am a typical cat person).
To summarize, a heart-warming, entertaining book despite the negatives.
Note: I received an advance review copy from BookSirens for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
February 7, 2022
Who doesn't love a book thats focused on animals?
I'm more of a fantasy girl so its not usually my cup of tea and perhaps that's why I didnt rate it higher, but I enjoyed this book on self reflection and discovery and I loved that the central theme is how animals are synonymous with helping people to heal and find comfort. I have my own cat and I very much agree that he is such a comfort.
It was a book of two halves for me, the first quarter particularly I felt was almost more of a guidebook than anything else with the couple visiting and describing many festivals while I was just sitting there like "where are the cats??" The second half I enjoyed more though as I came to know the characters and it became quite a heartwarming story.
I felt a lot of nostalgia and homesickness reading this book. I saw myself in it as I was also fortunate enough to spend time in Japan and meet so many people from so many countries. That time really changed my life and it made me miss that part of my life so much 😩 CJ and Ryans experience is pretty synonymous with all foreign English language teachers.
Overall this was a nice read and I'm happy that CJ found those cats and that they helped her to overcome her past 💜 Thanks to booksirens and the author for this ARC.
I'm more of a fantasy girl so its not usually my cup of tea and perhaps that's why I didnt rate it higher, but I enjoyed this book on self reflection and discovery and I loved that the central theme is how animals are synonymous with helping people to heal and find comfort. I have my own cat and I very much agree that he is such a comfort.
It was a book of two halves for me, the first quarter particularly I felt was almost more of a guidebook than anything else with the couple visiting and describing many festivals while I was just sitting there like "where are the cats??" The second half I enjoyed more though as I came to know the characters and it became quite a heartwarming story.
I felt a lot of nostalgia and homesickness reading this book. I saw myself in it as I was also fortunate enough to spend time in Japan and meet so many people from so many countries. That time really changed my life and it made me miss that part of my life so much 😩 CJ and Ryans experience is pretty synonymous with all foreign English language teachers.
Overall this was a nice read and I'm happy that CJ found those cats and that they helped her to overcome her past 💜 Thanks to booksirens and the author for this ARC.
November 20, 2022
A gentle read with a relatable protagonist that made me want to return to Japan. Nice to see pets and animals in general written about with such genuine warmth - made me empathise with the writer greatly to the point I honestly hope she and her cat(s) are doing well in real life.
June 20, 2023
C.J. Fentiman’s The Cat With Three Passports is a lovely book for any cat lover or owner uh I mean servant. It details Fentiman’s life in Japan when after a time of fruitless wandering and searching for meaning, she finds it in a new country with her partner and an excitable bundle of feline fur and nonstop energy.
Fentiman’s first time in Japan was in her mind a disaster. She and her partner, Ryan, were hired to teach English in one of the largest multi language schools in Osaka. What she hoped for was an opportunity to get to know the city, interact with students, and find some purpose. What she got instead was a dehumanized approach to education which lumped Fentiman with the other “Anglo” teachers, remote teaching without connecting with the students, and a school whose administration practically owned her time away from campus. Fentiman wrote that she and Ryan didn’t stay even a week before they packed their bags and returned to their native England. Unfortunately, Fentiman was beginning to realize that running away was a distinct pattern in her life from a troubled youth in England, to Australia, then to Japan. She realized that she wasn’t looking for something so much as she was constantly leaving at the first sign of trouble.
As she describes it she and Ryan were “lured back to Japan by two cats.” Feeling guilty about leaving so quickly, Ryan and Fentiman found another opportunity to teach English in a more remote location Hida-Takayama, about 312 km north of Osaka. As if the fact that there would be more human interaction wasn’t enough of a draw, what really turned them around was the fact that their potential apartment was housed by two cats. The former owners had to leave and they couldn’t find anyone to take care of their small gray kittens, so Fentiman and Ryan found new teaching opportunities and two furry roommates named Iko and Niko (one and two in Japanese). Iko, the cuddler, and Niko, the timid one, made their human’s lives more colorful and friendlier as they adjusted to their new lives of working and living in a foreign country.
Iko and Niko were great companions and stress relievers for their humans. When Fentiman hit a rough patch in her teaching, she considered once again packing up and leaving but one look at those two precious faces gave her anchors to remain, smooth out the edges, and work alongside the students, staff, and community.
After she chose to remain in Hida-Takayama, Fentiman found another responsibility. Ryan rescued a small kitten from trying to cross a busy street. The couple took the little guy home and he became a permanent fixture in the household. The couple originally had a hard time introducing their new little friend to his future roommate and adjusting to the new apartment. At first the couple tried to lure him out with toys which he liked to play with but when they wanted to pet him, he hissed and scratched at them. It took about two weeks before he accepted his new human friends. They separated the cats letting them spend small amounts of time together so they could grow used to each other. The older cats at first hissed at him but grew accustomed to their new brother (or at least knew that bribing him meant food was present). The kitten accepted his new home and upon realizing that music soothed the tiny beast, Fentiman and Ryan named their newest fur baby Gershwin or G for short.
Gershwin may have adjusted to his new home, but he was not exactly the easiest cat to live with. Unlike the older and slower moving Iko and Niko, Gershwin was young, feisty, mischievous, and sometimes considered trouble on four legs. Many times, he would leap up and attack anyone who approached, earning the moniker “Ninja Attack Kitten.” He also wasn’t above attacking anything twice his size needing Fentiman and Ryan to discipline him. Fentiman wasn’t kidding when she described Gershwin as “kawaii” for cute but also “kowaii” for scary. Gershwin was a lot of both.
Their cat circle grew wider as they took in Takashi, a sickly kitten that they had examined for Feline HIV. Thankfully, Takashi didn't. The newcomer caught the cat flu and made a full recovery thanks to the care and devotion of the human companions.
The Cat With Three Passports is a great guide for anyone living with one or several cats, especially a sometimes troublesome cat who makes life “interesting” for the humans unfortunate enough to be caught up in their presence. It’s not exactly a guide for pet owners, but it does lead by example to show how a pair of loving pet owners loved and managed the felines in their lives.
Besides a wonderful book about caring for and loving pets, it’s also a great travel book. Fentiman captures Japan’s natural beauty, customs, and technology . When they first arrived in Osaka, it was spring and the blossoms were present and fragrant. The flowers were such a part of the people’s lives that their football team was called The Blossoms.
Fentiman and Ryan witnessed various festivals such as the Fertility Festival in which some create effigies of men's umm little friends. (Don't worry in keeping with Shinto's themes of balance, they have a festival to honor women's little hidden friends as well). Fentiman's descriptions of the festivals including the colorful decorations and graceful floats make the festivals come alive.
The festivals also gave Fentiman a sense of closure in her own life. During the Obon Festival, which people honor their deceased ancestors, Fentiman thought of her own difficulties with her family, such as her deceased mother and distant father and began the process of letting go of her hurt and angry feelings towards them. Later she contacted long lost relatives. Even though reconciliation and moving on were long processes, the festival allowed Fentiman to stop focusing on her past and live solely in the present to become a better teacher, partner, and pet mother.
Fentiman indulged in many activities like mountain climbing and community bathing. In one chapter, Fentiman was talked into getting a traditional makeover complete with kimono, obe, and updo. Far from looking like an elegant geisha, Fentiman felt self-conscious and unattractive until she went outside and got caught up in bystander's enthusiasm. Wearing those clothes also gave her insight into the daily lives of Japanese women and how restrictive some traditions were.
Fentiman and Ryan found their time in Takayama cut short because of increasing expenses and debt. They had to accept better paying teaching jobs in a school called British Hills, an English training center and resort, in Fukushima. That meant saying goodbye to the friends and village that they had grown to love and especially the breakup of their cat haven home. They made sure that Iko, Niko, and Takashi had good homes. The constant interviewing and inspection of each future cat owner is one that many will relate to as well as the tearful goodbyes when the end comes.
However, Fentiman and Ryan opted to keep Gershwin because they weren't sure if the feisty little guy would adjust to a new home and even though he was a mischief maker, the Ninja Attack Cat was their favorite.
Readers will understand the difficulties of making pets ready for travel including getting them used to a long trip,making sure they have their vaccinations, and getting them spayed and neutered. It's a stressful ordeal alongside the packing, getting rid of things, and saying goodbye to friends.
Cats are notorious for having difficulties with change. It was no doubt a miracle that Gershwin became used to his new home and being an only cat. The exploring of his new domain and the cuddling and spoiling by his humans certainly helped with the transition. Gershwin's adjustment also allowed Fentiman and Ryan to make a bigger move to Australia with cat in tow.
Ikigai is a strong theme throughout this book. It means finding one's purpose. In the past, Fentiman was always wandering, running away when things got hard, and looking for something to belong to. Her time in Japan and taking care of the cats, especially Gershwin, revealed her purpose. Teaching, traveling, and caring for cats was her ikigai and if not for Gershwin and Japan, she never would have found them.
The Cat With Three Passports is a wonderful book about travel, animals, and finding one's true purpose. It has plenty of beauty and plenty of cat-itude.
Fentiman’s first time in Japan was in her mind a disaster. She and her partner, Ryan, were hired to teach English in one of the largest multi language schools in Osaka. What she hoped for was an opportunity to get to know the city, interact with students, and find some purpose. What she got instead was a dehumanized approach to education which lumped Fentiman with the other “Anglo” teachers, remote teaching without connecting with the students, and a school whose administration practically owned her time away from campus. Fentiman wrote that she and Ryan didn’t stay even a week before they packed their bags and returned to their native England. Unfortunately, Fentiman was beginning to realize that running away was a distinct pattern in her life from a troubled youth in England, to Australia, then to Japan. She realized that she wasn’t looking for something so much as she was constantly leaving at the first sign of trouble.
As she describes it she and Ryan were “lured back to Japan by two cats.” Feeling guilty about leaving so quickly, Ryan and Fentiman found another opportunity to teach English in a more remote location Hida-Takayama, about 312 km north of Osaka. As if the fact that there would be more human interaction wasn’t enough of a draw, what really turned them around was the fact that their potential apartment was housed by two cats. The former owners had to leave and they couldn’t find anyone to take care of their small gray kittens, so Fentiman and Ryan found new teaching opportunities and two furry roommates named Iko and Niko (one and two in Japanese). Iko, the cuddler, and Niko, the timid one, made their human’s lives more colorful and friendlier as they adjusted to their new lives of working and living in a foreign country.
Iko and Niko were great companions and stress relievers for their humans. When Fentiman hit a rough patch in her teaching, she considered once again packing up and leaving but one look at those two precious faces gave her anchors to remain, smooth out the edges, and work alongside the students, staff, and community.
After she chose to remain in Hida-Takayama, Fentiman found another responsibility. Ryan rescued a small kitten from trying to cross a busy street. The couple took the little guy home and he became a permanent fixture in the household. The couple originally had a hard time introducing their new little friend to his future roommate and adjusting to the new apartment. At first the couple tried to lure him out with toys which he liked to play with but when they wanted to pet him, he hissed and scratched at them. It took about two weeks before he accepted his new human friends. They separated the cats letting them spend small amounts of time together so they could grow used to each other. The older cats at first hissed at him but grew accustomed to their new brother (or at least knew that bribing him meant food was present). The kitten accepted his new home and upon realizing that music soothed the tiny beast, Fentiman and Ryan named their newest fur baby Gershwin or G for short.
Gershwin may have adjusted to his new home, but he was not exactly the easiest cat to live with. Unlike the older and slower moving Iko and Niko, Gershwin was young, feisty, mischievous, and sometimes considered trouble on four legs. Many times, he would leap up and attack anyone who approached, earning the moniker “Ninja Attack Kitten.” He also wasn’t above attacking anything twice his size needing Fentiman and Ryan to discipline him. Fentiman wasn’t kidding when she described Gershwin as “kawaii” for cute but also “kowaii” for scary. Gershwin was a lot of both.
Their cat circle grew wider as they took in Takashi, a sickly kitten that they had examined for Feline HIV. Thankfully, Takashi didn't. The newcomer caught the cat flu and made a full recovery thanks to the care and devotion of the human companions.
The Cat With Three Passports is a great guide for anyone living with one or several cats, especially a sometimes troublesome cat who makes life “interesting” for the humans unfortunate enough to be caught up in their presence. It’s not exactly a guide for pet owners, but it does lead by example to show how a pair of loving pet owners loved and managed the felines in their lives.
Besides a wonderful book about caring for and loving pets, it’s also a great travel book. Fentiman captures Japan’s natural beauty, customs, and technology . When they first arrived in Osaka, it was spring and the blossoms were present and fragrant. The flowers were such a part of the people’s lives that their football team was called The Blossoms.
Fentiman and Ryan witnessed various festivals such as the Fertility Festival in which some create effigies of men's umm little friends. (Don't worry in keeping with Shinto's themes of balance, they have a festival to honor women's little hidden friends as well). Fentiman's descriptions of the festivals including the colorful decorations and graceful floats make the festivals come alive.
The festivals also gave Fentiman a sense of closure in her own life. During the Obon Festival, which people honor their deceased ancestors, Fentiman thought of her own difficulties with her family, such as her deceased mother and distant father and began the process of letting go of her hurt and angry feelings towards them. Later she contacted long lost relatives. Even though reconciliation and moving on were long processes, the festival allowed Fentiman to stop focusing on her past and live solely in the present to become a better teacher, partner, and pet mother.
Fentiman indulged in many activities like mountain climbing and community bathing. In one chapter, Fentiman was talked into getting a traditional makeover complete with kimono, obe, and updo. Far from looking like an elegant geisha, Fentiman felt self-conscious and unattractive until she went outside and got caught up in bystander's enthusiasm. Wearing those clothes also gave her insight into the daily lives of Japanese women and how restrictive some traditions were.
Fentiman and Ryan found their time in Takayama cut short because of increasing expenses and debt. They had to accept better paying teaching jobs in a school called British Hills, an English training center and resort, in Fukushima. That meant saying goodbye to the friends and village that they had grown to love and especially the breakup of their cat haven home. They made sure that Iko, Niko, and Takashi had good homes. The constant interviewing and inspection of each future cat owner is one that many will relate to as well as the tearful goodbyes when the end comes.
However, Fentiman and Ryan opted to keep Gershwin because they weren't sure if the feisty little guy would adjust to a new home and even though he was a mischief maker, the Ninja Attack Cat was their favorite.
Readers will understand the difficulties of making pets ready for travel including getting them used to a long trip,making sure they have their vaccinations, and getting them spayed and neutered. It's a stressful ordeal alongside the packing, getting rid of things, and saying goodbye to friends.
Cats are notorious for having difficulties with change. It was no doubt a miracle that Gershwin became used to his new home and being an only cat. The exploring of his new domain and the cuddling and spoiling by his humans certainly helped with the transition. Gershwin's adjustment also allowed Fentiman and Ryan to make a bigger move to Australia with cat in tow.
Ikigai is a strong theme throughout this book. It means finding one's purpose. In the past, Fentiman was always wandering, running away when things got hard, and looking for something to belong to. Her time in Japan and taking care of the cats, especially Gershwin, revealed her purpose. Teaching, traveling, and caring for cats was her ikigai and if not for Gershwin and Japan, she never would have found them.
The Cat With Three Passports is a wonderful book about travel, animals, and finding one's true purpose. It has plenty of beauty and plenty of cat-itude.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 2, 2021
This book is like a soft and gentle wind, detailing the life of a British ex-pat teaching English in Japan for two years. From a year teaching in a village where she gives insider highlights to traditions and festivals, CJ moves on to teaching at a resort compound that is made to look like an English village (rather eerie to tell you the truth).
With her on this journey is cats, especially one she finds along the way that they name Gershwin. Each chapter is headed with a local cat proverb, as we join CJ on her spiritual journey of understanding herself better, how to leave worry behind, and open herself to new ideas.
I loved the descriptions of the countryside and the traditions, especially those little things that you would never know unless you were living in the country. CJ grows from a withdrawn, compulsive worrier and disaster thinker, to someone who is willing to try new things and immerse herself with more freedom with new people and activities.
This is a gentle, slow, moving with the seasons book. It does not build to any large conflict that is resolved like you see in a fiction novel, and reads more like a travel article, a field which the author now writes about, so those interested in Japan or other cultures will enjoy this novel a lot. I found myself being drawn forward and read the entire book in one sitting.
However, there are some things somewhat strange is that we don't know the author's name until several chapters in the book, and her partner Ryan is never given a description. Indeed, Ryan's presence seems to be an add-on and I found myself wondering if she would break up with him since he takes it upon himself to make life-changing decisions for them both without consulting her.
There are also unresolved issues with her family and what eventual decisions she made about her life aligning with her love of animals. These themes which I felt were major in the book, are quickly wrapped up with a few lines in the epilogue and didn't give me full reader satisfaction.
The title of the book is rather misleading also. I was expecting a book where the cat traveled to three countries, but it focuses upon the two years in Japan, with the author leaving at the end to another country. I was fine with this but readers coming in cold might want to know this book is really about living in Japan.
This book will greatly appeal to cat lovers and those who want to know more about what everyday life is in Japan.
With her on this journey is cats, especially one she finds along the way that they name Gershwin. Each chapter is headed with a local cat proverb, as we join CJ on her spiritual journey of understanding herself better, how to leave worry behind, and open herself to new ideas.
I loved the descriptions of the countryside and the traditions, especially those little things that you would never know unless you were living in the country. CJ grows from a withdrawn, compulsive worrier and disaster thinker, to someone who is willing to try new things and immerse herself with more freedom with new people and activities.
This is a gentle, slow, moving with the seasons book. It does not build to any large conflict that is resolved like you see in a fiction novel, and reads more like a travel article, a field which the author now writes about, so those interested in Japan or other cultures will enjoy this novel a lot. I found myself being drawn forward and read the entire book in one sitting.
However, there are some things somewhat strange is that we don't know the author's name until several chapters in the book, and her partner Ryan is never given a description. Indeed, Ryan's presence seems to be an add-on and I found myself wondering if she would break up with him since he takes it upon himself to make life-changing decisions for them both without consulting her.
There are also unresolved issues with her family and what eventual decisions she made about her life aligning with her love of animals. These themes which I felt were major in the book, are quickly wrapped up with a few lines in the epilogue and didn't give me full reader satisfaction.
The title of the book is rather misleading also. I was expecting a book where the cat traveled to three countries, but it focuses upon the two years in Japan, with the author leaving at the end to another country. I was fine with this but readers coming in cold might want to know this book is really about living in Japan.
This book will greatly appeal to cat lovers and those who want to know more about what everyday life is in Japan.
August 21, 2023
Un memoir carino che si divide tra il racconto della quotidianità di una londinese in Giappone, dove lavora per due anni, e la spiegazione di usanze, usi, costumi e tradizioni giapponesi. Il tutto condito con tanti gatti, l'amore dell'autrice/protagonista per questi animali e la sua crescita personale.
Ho trovato alti e bassi, perché non sono mai riuscita ad empatizzare fino in fondo con la protagonista. Nonostante sia anche io una gattara.
Ho trovato alcune incongruenze nelle sue azioni, alcune scelte che non condivido e in generale la sensazione che non potrei andare d'accordo con lei.
Inoltre alla fine non spiega se e come ha trovato il tanto decantato "Ikigai".
Comunque una lettura carina, scorrevole, adatta a questo agosto rovente.
Ho trovato alti e bassi, perché non sono mai riuscita ad empatizzare fino in fondo con la protagonista. Nonostante sia anche io una gattara.
Ho trovato alcune incongruenze nelle sue azioni, alcune scelte che non condivido e in generale la sensazione che non potrei andare d'accordo con lei.
Inoltre alla fine non spiega se e come ha trovato il tanto decantato "Ikigai".
Comunque una lettura carina, scorrevole, adatta a questo agosto rovente.
June 24, 2021
I loved the journey through Japan with CJ. A lovely woven story, subtly imparting travel details throughout while discovering self along the way. The culture and philosophy described within the pages were little takeaway gems that can be applied no matter where one lives in this world.
CJ's love and connection with animals is evident and her relationship with Gershwin the Cat with 3 Passports is so special. This memoir is full of catnip moments and revelations, authentically expressed.
Now all I need is my passport renewed for when travel to Japan is daijoubu :).
CJ's love and connection with animals is evident and her relationship with Gershwin the Cat with 3 Passports is so special. This memoir is full of catnip moments and revelations, authentically expressed.
Now all I need is my passport renewed for when travel to Japan is daijoubu :).
December 13, 2023
So heartwarming
July 15, 2025
Un bel memoir dell'autrice, una giovane laureata inglese che viaggia prima in Australia e poi in Giappone per lavori a tempo determinato che le servono per ripagare il debito universitario in attesa di trovare la propria strada nella vita, o ikigai, come si dice in giapponese. Nella casa in cui lei e il suo compagno Ryan - che sta facendo il suo stesso percorso di vita - vanno ad abitare ci sono due gatte, ma ben presto C.J. adotterà altri due gatti, di cui uno, Gershwin, salvato dalla strada, diventerà il gatto con tre passaporti, perché fin da subito C.J. comincerà tutta la trafila per poterlo portare in Inghilterra con sé, ma poi è in Australia che la piccola famigliola andrà a stare alla fine. Perché, alla fine dei conti, sono proprio i gatti - e Gershwin in particolare - ad aiutare C.J. a cambiare vita sconfiggendo il parassita che abita dentro di lei e che le impedisce di affrontare i problemi, facendola fuggire.
In realtà, ogni volta che le cose si erano fatte difficili quel parassita mi sussurrava all’orecchio dal suo disgustoso nido nel mio cervello. Una sola parola. Una parola familiare, pronunciata così piano, in modo così insidioso che quasi non la sentivo. Sentivo solo l’urgenza.
Fuggi.
Nel frattempo, per tutto l'arco del memoir, seguiamo C.J. nelle sue esperienze in Giappone, scoprendo abitudini e riti che mi erano sconosciuti e luoghi magici. E quando C.J. parlava dell'ordine e della disciplina giapponesi, pensavo: E meno male che sei inglese e sai come si fanno le file! Se fossi stata italiana, allora? XD
Avevo appena aperto il mio libro – I figli della mezzanotte, di Salman Rushdie – desiderosa di perdermi in quella prosa colorata, quando sentii una musica per pianoforte uscire dagli altoparlanti disposti intorno alla piscina. Con mio infinito stupore, tutti i presenti smisero immediatamente di fare quello che stavano facendo per precipitarsi fuori dall’acqua. E come se si fossero esercitati per settimane, si misero disciplinatamente in fila lungo il bordo della vasca. Che diavolo sta succedendo?, pensai.
Mi guardai attorno, e mi resi dolorosamente conto di essere l’unica persona fuori dalle file. Per non passare per la solita gaijin ignara degli usi e costumi locali, saltai su dalla panca e mi introdussi nella fila più vicina, dietro uno degli uomini che poco prima avevo visto fare gli esercizi di stretching.
Con esattissima precisione, uomini, donne e bambini, si misero sull’attenti, e quando gli altoparlanti dissero “Uno” eseguirono all’unisono il famoso rajio taiso – ginnastica calistenica di riscaldamento – andando a tempo con la musica che la stazione radiofonica NHK diffondeva dagli altoparlanti.
In realtà, ogni volta che le cose si erano fatte difficili quel parassita mi sussurrava all’orecchio dal suo disgustoso nido nel mio cervello. Una sola parola. Una parola familiare, pronunciata così piano, in modo così insidioso che quasi non la sentivo. Sentivo solo l’urgenza.
Fuggi.
Nel frattempo, per tutto l'arco del memoir, seguiamo C.J. nelle sue esperienze in Giappone, scoprendo abitudini e riti che mi erano sconosciuti e luoghi magici. E quando C.J. parlava dell'ordine e della disciplina giapponesi, pensavo: E meno male che sei inglese e sai come si fanno le file! Se fossi stata italiana, allora? XD
Avevo appena aperto il mio libro – I figli della mezzanotte, di Salman Rushdie – desiderosa di perdermi in quella prosa colorata, quando sentii una musica per pianoforte uscire dagli altoparlanti disposti intorno alla piscina. Con mio infinito stupore, tutti i presenti smisero immediatamente di fare quello che stavano facendo per precipitarsi fuori dall’acqua. E come se si fossero esercitati per settimane, si misero disciplinatamente in fila lungo il bordo della vasca. Che diavolo sta succedendo?, pensai.
Mi guardai attorno, e mi resi dolorosamente conto di essere l’unica persona fuori dalle file. Per non passare per la solita gaijin ignara degli usi e costumi locali, saltai su dalla panca e mi introdussi nella fila più vicina, dietro uno degli uomini che poco prima avevo visto fare gli esercizi di stretching.
Con esattissima precisione, uomini, donne e bambini, si misero sull’attenti, e quando gli altoparlanti dissero “Uno” eseguirono all’unisono il famoso rajio taiso – ginnastica calistenica di riscaldamento – andando a tempo con la musica che la stazione radiofonica NHK diffondeva dagli altoparlanti.
December 23, 2020
As an avid traveler, I have numerous places on my bucket list to visit; Japan was never one of them. After reading this remarkable memoir by CJ, I am craving to go and visit this marvelous country of disciplined citizens, delightful festivals, and unique ethnicity. Going through every chapter, I have seen a part of Japan through the eyes of CJ. I sensed I am roaming around the city of Takayama with cute kittens around.
One of the main perks of travel is that you are a better person as the trip ends. CJ shared her journey of being a person who wants to run away from everything to a responsible person taking control of her life. She gave the credit for her transformation and finding her "ikigai" to her cat that she found on the streets. Being from an Asian country, I could relate to most cultural things like family bonding, yet many were surprising, like a common day to switch to summer attire, common baths, and extremely polite citizens.
CJ has excelled in her craft with her wondrous writing skills. The book is said to be a memoir, but it is as interesting as a fiction novel. Each chapter tells the story of a different place and a different episode. The reader gets immersed in the lanes and cities of Japan.
Generally, in my reviews, I mention a few points of improvement but with this book, I couldn’t find any. It is so perfect. Whether you are a traveler or not, memoir is your genre or not, you are a pet lover or not, still this book is recommended for all. It is not wrong to say this is not just a book but an elaborated experience in itself.
One of the main perks of travel is that you are a better person as the trip ends. CJ shared her journey of being a person who wants to run away from everything to a responsible person taking control of her life. She gave the credit for her transformation and finding her "ikigai" to her cat that she found on the streets. Being from an Asian country, I could relate to most cultural things like family bonding, yet many were surprising, like a common day to switch to summer attire, common baths, and extremely polite citizens.
CJ has excelled in her craft with her wondrous writing skills. The book is said to be a memoir, but it is as interesting as a fiction novel. Each chapter tells the story of a different place and a different episode. The reader gets immersed in the lanes and cities of Japan.
Generally, in my reviews, I mention a few points of improvement but with this book, I couldn’t find any. It is so perfect. Whether you are a traveler or not, memoir is your genre or not, you are a pet lover or not, still this book is recommended for all. It is not wrong to say this is not just a book but an elaborated experience in itself.
January 24, 2022
I really enjoyed this book. I received a copy of it from BookSirens for a review, and I'm over the moon that I chose this book.
First, I could really identify with the author and her characters. I have never lived in Japan, but I have had long term stays in other countries and after reading this, next time, I'm going to adopt a cat. This was an amazing story of the power of the love for animals and the bridges it can build.
Second, the characters were endearing and fluid, it was easy to imagine yourself being their friend or beside them as they grew from their experiences. I would highly recommend this story for someone who likes an unusual take on living abroad. The author was able to paint a picture of the characters and their difficulties as well as triumphs. Loved it!
My only negative about this is that the author really needed a good proof reader or editor, depending upon who did the read through. There were grammatical errors and punctuation errors, and yes, everyone knows I'm tough on those.
First, I could really identify with the author and her characters. I have never lived in Japan, but I have had long term stays in other countries and after reading this, next time, I'm going to adopt a cat. This was an amazing story of the power of the love for animals and the bridges it can build.
Second, the characters were endearing and fluid, it was easy to imagine yourself being their friend or beside them as they grew from their experiences. I would highly recommend this story for someone who likes an unusual take on living abroad. The author was able to paint a picture of the characters and their difficulties as well as triumphs. Loved it!
My only negative about this is that the author really needed a good proof reader or editor, depending upon who did the read through. There were grammatical errors and punctuation errors, and yes, everyone knows I'm tough on those.
May 7, 2025
The Cat with Three Passports: What a Cat Taught Me About an Old Culture and New Beginnings by C.J. Fentiman is a sweet and interesting story about a young couple, their experiences teaching English abroad, and some cats that come into their lives.
Unfortunately, the story becomes muddled and stalled by the robotic tone of the virtual voice narration. It is strange that the virtual voice makes so many mistakes in inflection, timing, pausing, and pronunciation. One might expect that an app or a program might have correct pronunciations built into it, but not in this instance. The lack of natural vocal cadence was particularly injurious to the material.
The story and overall descriptions are strong enough that it held my interest long enough for me to finish listening until the end. The use of Virtual Voice instead of a trained actor was definitely a missed opportunity to elevate and enhance the impact of the book. I would recommend this to fans of the author. It might be a nice, light read for cat lovers, as well.
Unfortunately, the story becomes muddled and stalled by the robotic tone of the virtual voice narration. It is strange that the virtual voice makes so many mistakes in inflection, timing, pausing, and pronunciation. One might expect that an app or a program might have correct pronunciations built into it, but not in this instance. The lack of natural vocal cadence was particularly injurious to the material.
The story and overall descriptions are strong enough that it held my interest long enough for me to finish listening until the end. The use of Virtual Voice instead of a trained actor was definitely a missed opportunity to elevate and enhance the impact of the book. I would recommend this to fans of the author. It might be a nice, light read for cat lovers, as well.
July 13, 2021
I came across this book on Instagram and being a huge fan of books featuring our feline friends decided to buy it.
I have been fascinated by Japanese culture since discovering Reiki many years ago, so was intrigued to read about an English woman going to work and live there.
From the first chapter I was captivated and didn’t want to put the book down.
I love the authors honesty about her anxiety and self doubts in her life often made harder by living and working in a country so different to other places the author had lived previously. I admire her bravery for getting stuck in and forming many new and lovely friendships along the way. The authors feelings about her relationships with family members especially her Father’s, resonated with my own life experiences and was heartfelt.
I had no favourite part of the book as I was interested in all of it and it all flowed so well.
But let’s not forget the cats! I loved how the author bonded with Gershwin and how he was family and was definitely going with her in the next adventure in Australia. The trip to Cat Island was very enjoyable and now on my bucket list. The cat rescue stories were lovely too.
I recommend this book to people interested in cats or Japan and hope that there is a sequel soon!
I have been fascinated by Japanese culture since discovering Reiki many years ago, so was intrigued to read about an English woman going to work and live there.
From the first chapter I was captivated and didn’t want to put the book down.
I love the authors honesty about her anxiety and self doubts in her life often made harder by living and working in a country so different to other places the author had lived previously. I admire her bravery for getting stuck in and forming many new and lovely friendships along the way. The authors feelings about her relationships with family members especially her Father’s, resonated with my own life experiences and was heartfelt.
I had no favourite part of the book as I was interested in all of it and it all flowed so well.
But let’s not forget the cats! I loved how the author bonded with Gershwin and how he was family and was definitely going with her in the next adventure in Australia. The trip to Cat Island was very enjoyable and now on my bucket list. The cat rescue stories were lovely too.
I recommend this book to people interested in cats or Japan and hope that there is a sequel soon!
December 24, 2021
I like this book! It’s NOT fiction, but is a pleasant, charming tale of a young British couple who moved to Japan to teach English for a year, adopted a stray cat, and fell in love with the Japanese lifestyle. Part travel tale, part culture study, part cozy cat lover’s story, this is above all a memoir of personal growth, hopeful and uplifting as it traces a young woman’s transformation from timid to strong. In the author’s words:
“In England, I had been obsessed with material things, ignoring the beauty and many basic pleasures that were in my world. In Japan, I realised, I had not only started enjoying the simple things – good health, drinking green tea, going for walks – I had absorbed that enjoyment.”
REVIEWER'S NOTE: I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
“In England, I had been obsessed with material things, ignoring the beauty and many basic pleasures that were in my world. In Japan, I realised, I had not only started enjoying the simple things – good health, drinking green tea, going for walks – I had absorbed that enjoyment.”
REVIEWER'S NOTE: I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
November 24, 2022
Enlightening, inspiring, and beautifully written
Travel broadens the mind, and this wonderfully honest account of two years teaching in Japan captures not only the author’s travels, but a journey to the centre of her soul. The author’s philosophical observations often reminded me of Paulo Coelho.
The truly stunning descriptions of countryside, Japanese festivals, and the hospitality of the people leapt off the page. Japan is a country I long to visit, and the author really brought it to life.
I had not realised the importance of cats in Japanese culture, and loved the way each chapter started with an appropriate proverb. I love all animals, but err towards the canine side of the dog/cat divide. However, I was captivated by Gershwin’s black-rimmed green eyes!
I received a review copy of this book free of charge, but am voluntarily leaving an honest review
Travel broadens the mind, and this wonderfully honest account of two years teaching in Japan captures not only the author’s travels, but a journey to the centre of her soul. The author’s philosophical observations often reminded me of Paulo Coelho.
The truly stunning descriptions of countryside, Japanese festivals, and the hospitality of the people leapt off the page. Japan is a country I long to visit, and the author really brought it to life.
I had not realised the importance of cats in Japanese culture, and loved the way each chapter started with an appropriate proverb. I love all animals, but err towards the canine side of the dog/cat divide. However, I was captivated by Gershwin’s black-rimmed green eyes!
I received a review copy of this book free of charge, but am voluntarily leaving an honest review
July 5, 2025
This book was like a walk down memory lane in some ways for me, since I taught English in Japan. I laughed remembering some similar experiences I had to the author, like change of seasons day, when suddenly all the Japanese people switch to wearing the clothes for that season. Like the author, I didn't get the memo! I also enjoyed the differences between her experiences and mine--she lived in a rural area as opposed to my city suburbs. I'm a big fan of Japan narratives that include cats, like the Traveling Cat Chronicles, so I enjoyed the inclusion of cats here. I appreciated the author sharing how much cats mean to her and how they contributed to her growth. I also liked the author's candid sharing about her search for ikigai, the idea of finding work that combines your passion and purpose.
March 16, 2021
CJ and her partner Ryan travel to Japan to teach English and their first apartment has two resident cats (hooked right there). Along the way they find a stray cat and name him Gershwin. As they move from their first teaching job to their second, they can't part with Gershwin so plan to smuggle him into their new school housing.
I enjoyed this book and learning about Japan and CJ's experiences. Their friendships with other staff and neighbors were so nice and I wish the visit to Cat Island had been longer. We get a good look at the culture, the cities, the festivals, and eventually the growth CJ goes through during her time in Japan. It really is a lovely story.
I'm not much of a memoir reader, but CJ contacted me to review her book, I think, because I showcase my cats in my Bookstagram photos. I was happy to read this and thank her for the copy.
I enjoyed this book and learning about Japan and CJ's experiences. Their friendships with other staff and neighbors were so nice and I wish the visit to Cat Island had been longer. We get a good look at the culture, the cities, the festivals, and eventually the growth CJ goes through during her time in Japan. It really is a lovely story.
I'm not much of a memoir reader, but CJ contacted me to review her book, I think, because I showcase my cats in my Bookstagram photos. I was happy to read this and thank her for the copy.
June 12, 2023
The perfect book to take to Japan!
I was gifted this book by my dear mum and it was the perfect book to accompany me on my travels to Japan. I resonated with Carla and her life as an English teacher in Japan so much as I did the same many years ago. She included references to uniquely "only in Japan" things that I really related to. It was such a beautiful story of how her time in Japan with her partner helped her learn more about herself and what she loved doing. The cats played a big part in this self discovery and falling in love with Japan. I'm so happy I read this in places like tucked up in bed in my delightful Japanese style Air BNB in Kyoto, riding the bullet train to Mount Fuji and back and more! Thank you!
I was gifted this book by my dear mum and it was the perfect book to accompany me on my travels to Japan. I resonated with Carla and her life as an English teacher in Japan so much as I did the same many years ago. She included references to uniquely "only in Japan" things that I really related to. It was such a beautiful story of how her time in Japan with her partner helped her learn more about herself and what she loved doing. The cats played a big part in this self discovery and falling in love with Japan. I'm so happy I read this in places like tucked up in bed in my delightful Japanese style Air BNB in Kyoto, riding the bullet train to Mount Fuji and back and more! Thank you!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 100 reviews