"The Travelling Cat Chronicles" by Hiro Arikawa
Review by Ann Ford, Library Assistant at Pioneer Park Library
Hiro Arikawa, author of "The Travelling Cat Chronicles," brings us this collection of seven short stories about cats and the humans in their care.
One such cat is Kota, a watchful guardian who cares for newborn Hiromi. Over the cat’s lifetime, Kota teaches Hiromi about the importance of family and tradition. We also meet the hapless human, Kaori, who learns to parent his newborn child by caring for an abandoned kitten, all with a little help from the internet.
These warm-hearted stories touch upon key experiences in life, such as birth, death, grief, love and forgiveness. Arikawa is a skilled writer who deftly illustrates the connection between cats and their owners. She highlights the comfort we humans receive from our pets and the sadness we experience when they are gone. She also describes exactly what many of us have always suspected — cats are very aware of how essential they are in our lives, and they do not take their responsibilities lightly.
"The Goodbye Cat" is perfect for reading with a friendly feline companion at your side. You may be surprised with the emotions and memories this book evokes.