2025 & 2026 Reading Challenge discussion

This thread is to discuss The Travelling Cat Chronicles by Hiro Arikawa.

Pages: 288 pages

Length: 1 month (October)

Participants: Valerie, Lorraine, Lynn, Michelle, Saha

Everyone reads at their own pace during a Buddy Read. Because participants can be at different parts of the book at different times, it is extremely important to mark spoilers so that the book is not ruined for someone who is not as far along as others!!!

Mark spoilers by placing {spoiler} before the text and {/spoiler} after the text but use the < and > instead of the { and }.

Hi all, I’m planning to read this in the second half of the month.

I am fine with the half of the month. Thanks

Works for me as well.

Perfect, see you then.

That works for me!

Confession: I made the mistake of picking this one up last night as I was headed to bed and reading for a bit. Now I'm hooked and am going ahead and finishing it today or tomorrow.

I don't know if any of you live with felines, but this first portion, The Prologue and Part I The Husband Without a Wife, are so very poignant and yet also contain gentle humor. I think the humor from Nana is especially enjoyable to me because having lived with anywhere from 1 to 5 cats over the past 25 years, his comments/thoughts seem very realistic to me. I can easily imagine my own cats thinking the same things. :)

(view spoiler)[Part I: I appreciate the fact that Satoru is able to help Kosuke realize that he and his wife would probably be best served by adopting a cat of their own choice, rather than taking Nana out of a loyalty to Hachi from the past... In addition Satoru is able to provide Kosuke with some additional motivation and insights regarding his photography business and his father's overbearing interference with the same... I can only hope Kosuke puts these insights to good use and finally fights his way free from this father's abusive behaviors. (hide spoiler)]

Lynn wrote: "Confession: I made the mistake of picking this one up last night as I was headed to bed and reading for a bit. Now I'm hooked and am going ahead and finishing it today or tomorrow.

I was thinking of starting next week but now that I see your comments, I feel like starting it earlier! I also had cats for many years. The last one died in August this year and I am missing her a lot. So maybe Nana humor will help. 😁

Lorraine wrote: "Lynn wrote: "Confession: I made the mistake of picking this one up last night as I was headed to bed and reading for a bit. Now I'm hooked and am going ahead and finishing it today or tomorrow.

I..."
I have just finished a book and could start Chronicle tomorrow (right after I get back from my volunteer job at the local cat sanctuary and feed my own two darlings). Let me know what you want to do Lorraine. This week or next, I don’t mind.
It’s a reread for me so I’ll be especially careful with spoilers!

Valerie wrote: "Lorraine wrote: "Lynn wrote: "Confession: I made the mistake of picking this one up last night as I was headed to bed and reading for a bit. Now I'm hooked and am going ahead and finishing it today...

I have just finished a book and could start Chronicle tomorrow (right after I get back from my volunteer job at the local cat sanctuary and feed my own two darlings). Let me know what you want to do Lorraine. This week or next, I don’t mind.
It’s a reread for me so I’ll be especially careful with spoilers!"
I'm not a huge rereader, but I can imagine this may prove to be one I will want to reread in the future...

Lorraine wrote: "Lynn wrote: "Confession: I made the mistake of picking this one up last night as I was headed to bed and reading for a bit. Now I'm hooked and am going ahead and finishing it today or tomorrow.

I was thinking of starting next week but now that I see your comments, I feel like starting it earlier! I also had cats for many years. The last one died in August this year and I am missing her a lot. So maybe Nana humor will help. 😁"
I'm so sorry you are currently without a feline roommate! I still grieve for my very first kitty roommate... It's tough to let them go...

I'll start this book later today. I've lived with many cats over the past 25 years or so. Looking forward to the humor.

Lynn, so sorry for your loss.

Ok I’ll start tomorrow then.

Valerie wrote: "Ok I’ll start tomorrow then."

Perfect. I will start too.

Read just the prologue today. I love the way the writer conveys Nana’s character just through his thoughts. And like Lynn, I can imagine a cat thinking exactly those thoughts. I’m sure my cats have a similar sense of humour!

Through Part 2: The Unsentimental Famer
Pretty tricky of Nana (view spoiler)[to teach the orange tabby to hunt and then to be aggressive toward him, making Satoru and Yoshimine believe they truly did not/would not get along. Ah, I love Nana for wanting to stick with Satoru! (hide spoiler)]

I keep thinking I know why Satoru is wanting to rehome Nana, but I also keep hoping I am wrong...

I finished the book today. Started crying last night so put it aside hoping that reading it in the day light would help…I was wrong! I loved that book. Thank you Lynn for your confession. I needed to cry my heart out!
I loved the book even though I do not think it is perfect. I feel it is really easy to relates to Nana but not the same for the humans characters around her.
We lost our 18 years old cat in August 2022.Reading that book wasn't easy but I felt that we were there for her all the way. I had fantasy she would be like Nana and live after me but that wasn’t the case.
Thank you all for reading this book with me.
And «  Genouille, I miss you every day »

Through Part 3: Sugi and Chikako's Hotel for Pets
Ah, yes, (view spoiler)[at the end when Sarotu admits he "liked" Chikako in high school, we learn that secrets are rarely useful and typically it is better to be truthful... Sarotu is obviously an extraordinarily considerate and genuinely kind person who never puts himself first, but is always aware of others' feelings, etc. (Maybe a little bit too good to be true?)

We haven't had a TV in our house for more than 20 years, but I could understand Nana's obsession with the older tube-type TVs! They were warm! I could appreciate Momo's generosity in allowing her guest to literally have the "best seat in the house"! :)

I had to laugh at Nana's observation of the three humans when drunk: "I really hope I don't look like that when I sniff a bit of catnip." :)

Ah, so Tora was simply trying to protect his master from his own unhappy/fearful thoughts regarding Satoru and Chikako--his jealousy of their innately compatible personalities. That was thoughtful. But then Tora also let slip a comment regarding Satoru that I believe Nana either didn't hear or simply ignored. Unfortunately, I think I may be correct about Satoru's need to rehome Nana. For this reason, I suspect Sugi may never have the opportunity to be a better friend to Satoru in the future.
:( (hide spoiler)]

Michelle wrote: "I'll start this book later today. I've lived with many cats over the past 25 years or so. Looking forward to the humor."

Valerie. Looking at the picture you have , I was wondering if this was one of your cats? And if yes, is this cat a Maine Coon?

Lorraine wrote: "Michelle wrote: "I'll start this book later today. I've lived with many cats over the past 25 years or so. Looking forward to the humor."

Valerie. Looking at the picture you have , I was wondering..."

Yes the picture is of our cat Ginger but he’s just a large, handsome Ginger tabby who basically moved in with us five years ago (we gained Sugar the same way) basically our cats adopted us rather than vice versa.

Lynn wrote: "Confession: I made the mistake of picking this one up last night as I was headed to bed and reading for a bit. Now I'm hooked and am going ahead and finishing it today or tomorrow.

I don't know i..."
Part 1
I liked the child logic of their little adventure (view spoiler)[ but yes the dad is a bit of an unfeeling ogre so Kosuke could definitely use a bit of catlike resilience and self esteem. (hide spoiler)]

Lynn wrote: "Through Part 2: The Unsentimental Famer
Pretty tricky of Nana [spoilers removed]

I keep thinking I know why Satoru is wanting to rehome Nana, but I also keep hoping I am wrong..."
Part 2. Another exploration of friendship and child/parent relationships which seems to be a theme for this writer. (view spoiler)[ yes clever trick by Nana who definitely has his own plan (hide spoiler)]

From Part 3 1/2 Between Friends to the end:
I love it when Satoru takes Nana onto (view spoiler)[a ferry, silver van and all.
Nana thinks I must say humans really do create some amazing things....No other animal in the world would try to defy the laws of nature, but humans are a very peculiar species.
So true! :)

Then when Nana is discussing cats' typical fear of water, stating there are exceptions and these are simply due to "spontaneous feline mutation." LOL

I must admit I was a bit grossed out by Nana's description of hunting and killing cockroaches. Though he is correct. Why are we so scared of them? :)

I love Nana's determination to not repeat the fiasco of Hachi's leaving Satoru. Although it means he must return to the life of a stray cat, he is determined NOT to abandon Satoru.

I could NOT believe Noriko was so heartless as to reveal to Satoru his biological roots immediately after his "parents'" death! Yikes! And she was a social worker! I've worked as a social worker and would have never been so cruel and heartless. I agree that Satoru should be informed, but not then and not in such a heartless manner! This woman. She means well, but jeeminy!

I could understand Noriko's hesitancy to place her hand anywhere near Nana's mouth, having been badly bitten by a cat in the past. However, if she had bothered to tell Satoru about that, perhaps he could have helped he more quickly adapt to a cat who wouldn't bite. Noriko just was not an effective communicator. It made me feel sorry for her social work clients. :(

I could relate so completely about the box! I used to get all kinds of boxes from the grocery store every 6 months or so for my sons to play with. They made cribs for their Cabbage Patch kids, created trucks and cars, etc. And my cats, especially the one who I'm sure is ADD, love boxes!

I was in the hospital to see him off. But he's still here, in my heart, so I don't need a ceremony to remember him.
I firmly believe in this as well. I have forewarned my three sons that if they ever put my body on display after I die I will haunt them severely for the rest of their lives. :)

Nana to Sarotu: Noriko named the kitten Calico, after her looks. When it comes to giving the most obvious, second-rate names, you and Noriko are like two peas in a pod, I must say. (hide spoiler)]

Simply put. I adored this book! Even if it did make me cry! I would definitely read more of Arikawa's writing if more of her books were translated into English, but I haven't seen any...

Valerie wrote: "Lorraine wrote: "Michelle wrote: "I'll start this book later today. I've lived with many cats over the past 25 years or so. Looking forward to the humor."

Valerie. Looking at the picture you have ...

Yes the picture is of our cat Ginger but he’s just a large, handsome Ginger tabby who basically moved in with us five years ago (we gained Sugar the same way) basically our cats adopted us rather than vice versa"
I know what you mean. Our fourth and most recent addition was stuck in our heating duct work system and we could hear it (So could the other three cats who were crowded around the register in the kitchen!) meowing on Christmas Eve. My husband removed the register cover and tried to grab it but couldn't get it. The next morning (Christmas morning!) I removed the register cover and held food down to lure it in and was able to grab it behind its neck and start pulling it up. He's pretty good sized, larger than any of our other current feline housemates, and it was a tussle for me to get him out. He was literally nothing but skin and bones and I didn't think he'd live. I shut him in the bathroom we rarely use with food and water and a litter box and texted my vet, who fortunately, is also a very close friend.

They examined him the next day. He's FIV-positive but regained his weight and after two months' isolation in the bathroom (I got him out for at least 20-30 minutes both before and after work and right before I went to bed at night, just holding him so he and the other 3 feline residents could become familiar with each other and I could see how domesticated he was or wasn't...) he integrated into our household beautifully. He is our biggest kitty and is a gorgeous ginger tabby with a HUGE loud purr and the smallest tiniest whiniest meow ever! He definitely chose us! :) And I'm thrilled he did!

Thanks to whoever suggest this book as a Buddy Read! I've been wanting to read it in forever!

Lorraine wrote: "I finished the book today. Started crying last night so put it aside hoping that reading it in the day light would help…I was wrong! I loved that book. Thank you Lynn for your confession. I needed ..."

So very sorry, Lorraine, to hear of your loss. Never easy.

Just finished. Good book!

(view spoiler)[Loved the interaction by Nana and everyone. Loved the way Nana got out of living situations by his wits! (hide spoiler)]

Lynn wrote: "Through Part 3: Sugi and Chikako's Hotel for Pets
Ah, yes, at the end when Sarotu admits he "liked" Chikako in high school, we learn that secrets are rarely useful and typically it is better to be ..."

Lynn wrote: "Through Part 3: Sugi and Chikako's Hotel for Pets
Ah, yes, at the end when Sarotu admits he "liked" Chikako in high school, we learn that secrets are rarely useful and typically it is better to be ..."
Part 3. Yes people not saying what they really feel seems to be another of the writer’s themes throughout the book. In this case for Satoru it’s a now or never moment I guess.
I liked the catnip/alcohol bit too!
Poor Sugi, jealousy and insecurity are a lethal mix. I agree that Sarotu is a little too good to be true. I’m sure most of us would feel resentful about his bad luck but I suppose acceptance is better for peace of mind.

Lorraine wrote: "I finished the book today. Started crying last night so put it aside hoping that reading it in the day light would help…I was wrong! I loved that book. Thank you Lynn for your confession. I needed ..."

I’m glad it was a positive experience for you, Lorraine, even if it did make you cry. I was a bit worried that you might find it too sad.

I agree that Nana is the strongest character. I think the writer mainly uses the humans to explore themes of friendship and loss. Certainly they are all rather socially awkward and need the help of Satoru and their various cats (and dog) to find a way forward.
Thanks for reading this with me.

Lynn wrote: "From Part 3 1/2 Between Friends to the end:
I love it when Satoru takes Nana onto a ferry, silver van and all.
Nana thinks I must say humans really do create some amazing things....No other animal..."
Finished. Glad you enjoyed it even if it did make you cry. I like Nana’s asides on life - Sugar and I were chasing one of the local large flying cockroaches this morning and it made me smile.
Thank you for reading this with me.

Michelle wrote: "Just finished. Good book!

[spoilers removed]"

Finished too. Yes Nana has an original and devious little mind - just like most cats I know.

Glad you liked it and thanks for reading with me.

Michelle wrote: "Just finished. Good book!

[spoilers removed]"

He was very resourceful!

Valerie wrote: "Lynn wrote: "Through Part 3: Sugi and Chikako's Hotel for Pets
Ah, yes, at the end when Sarotu admits he "liked" Chikako in high school, we learn that secrets are rarely useful and typically it is ...

Poor Sugi, jealousy and insecurity are a lethal mix. I agree that Sarotu is a little too good to be true. I’m sure most of us would feel resentful about his bad luck but I suppose acceptance is better for peace of mind."
Agreed.

Thanks all!!