A book by Hiro Arikawa, translated by Philip Gabriel.

One of my favorite books, The Traveling Cat Chronicles, had me going through a roller coaster of emotions.

The book is about a man who finds an injured stray cat, bringing him to a vet and looking after the cat. After five years of living together, the man has to rehome the cat, visiting different friends, trying to find someone who will take care of this cat.

The reader goes through the story from the cat’s point of view, who definitely gave me laughs as I read the book. The sarcastic cat made me fall in love with this book and I enjoyed going through the owner and cat’s life.

The owner reminisces on some of his old, impactful memories which is certainly hard to read for those overly sentimental. As we go through the lives of both the owner and the cat, we see how attached and connected they are.

The end of the book had me drenched in tears, I had to close the book for a few minutes and stare at the ceiling with tears falling down my cheeks. The book was beautifully written and it was the first book that made me cry. I would love to experience the same feeling reading this book again, and having no idea what I’m getting into, and re-experience the same laughter and tears when I first read the book.

I loved how the author developed the characters and the relationships within the story, and at the end of the book, what was supposed to be a joyful ending, made my heart sink in inexplicable emotions.

It’s an easy read, short book, and highly recommended for anyone looking for a heartwarming book.

Don’t miss it! The Traveling Cat Chronicles by Hiro Arikawa, translated by Philip Gabriel, is available to checkout from the Mission Viejo Library. It is also available to download for free from Libby.

– Preston L.