Book Recommendation: The Goodbye Cat by Hiro Arikawa

Posted On January 9, 2024

Hi Readers! It is too early in the year to be already reading heart-warming books. I usually read them after I read intense and depressing books. But, I think my 2024 Reader mantra is to pick up the book that calls out to me and to just start reading it before allowing my brain to second guess. And voila! I read The Goodbye Cat in two days! I enjoyed reading this collection of short stories, and I am sure any reader would find it a worthwhile read. More below!

~~GOODREADS DESCRIPTION~~

In the much-anticipated follow-up to the bestselling and beloved The Travelling Cat Chronicles , seven cats weave their way through their owners’ lives, climbing, comforting, nestling, and sometimes just tripping everyone up in this uplifting collection of tales by international bestselling author Hiro Arikawa .

Against the backdrop of changing seasons in Japan, we meet Spin, a kitten rescued from the recycling bin, whose playful nature and simple needs teach an anxious father how to parent his own human baby; a colony of wild cats on a popular holiday island show a young boy not to stand in nature’s way; a family is perplexed by their cat’s undying devotion to their charismatic but uncaring father; a woman curses how her cat will not stop visiting her at night; and an elderly cat hatches a plan to pass into the next world as a spirit so that he and his owner may be in each other’s lives forever.

Bursting with love and warmth, The Goodbye Cat exquisitely explores the cycle of life, from birth to death—as each of the seven stories explores how, in different ways, the steadiness and devotion of a well-loved cat never lets us down. A huge bestseller in Japan, this magical book is a joyous celebration of the wondrousness of cats and why we choose to share our lives with them.

~~THOUGHTS~~

I read Hiro Arikawa’s first book translated from Japanese to English by Philip Gabriel last year. The Travelling Cat Chronicles was a delight to read. Even with the inevitably sad doom looming in the background, I cherished the story of Satoru and Nana, especially all their road trips. What I also loved was how the writing was simple yet profound. The Goodbye Cat had that effect too, although in seven short stories rather than one long story. Some stories are meant to be novels, while some are meant to be short stories. (When it comes to cats, I prefer novels over short stories. When it comes to modern relationships, I prefer short stories over novels.) Nevertheless, The Goodbye Cat did not fail to create a sweet place in my heart.

In the first story, ‘The Goodbye Cat’ (5/5) we read the cat Kota narrating the story, which is the most endearing way to read cat literature, in my opinion. We see how Kota is treated like a member of the family as the youngest of the three brothers. We see Kota and Hiromi grow up together and because of the cat to human lifespan, we say goodbye to the cat.

The second story ‘Bringing Up Baby’ (4/5) was quite unique where a manga artist prioritises his pet over his newborn child. But, what is needed for the cat is also needed for the child, so his wife rolls with it. The third story ‘Good Father – Bad Father’ (5/5) talks about a disgruntled father’s relationship with the cat he never wanted, where the cat always prefers to be with him over any other member of the family, until the very end.

The fourth story ‘Cat Island’ (5/5) is among my favorites where a father, his son and the son’s step mother take a trip to the cat island, which is exactly as amazing as it sounds. This story not only talks about cats, but also about finding a meaning in life and valuing the people in your life. The fifth story ‘The Night Visitor’ (3/5) is barely a 4-page story but still cute to read through.

All the readers of The Travelling Cat Chronicles will be biased towards the sixth and seventh stories because they remember Satoru, Kosuke, Hachi and Nana. In the sixth story ‘Finding Hachi’ (5/5), we learn about Satoru’s childhood and the time he spent with his first cat Hachi. Quite a long one but just as beautiful to read. Lastly, the seventh one ‘Life is Not Always Kind’ (5/5) feels like a prologue to The Travelling Cat Chronicles, where Satoru and Nana visit his old professor to see if he can take Nana.

Aside from the ‘awww’ moments where cats make the characters’ lives all the better, there is also so much more to this book. It’s the naïve hope of always hoping. It’s giving your best selves to your family. It’s about loving your people and pets with actions rather than words. It’s about making new connections. It’s about being afraid of falling in love but choosing it anyway. It’s about doing everything in your power to let an innocent life live even a day longer. It’s about making it a better place for everyone to live even if you might not benefit from it. It’s about love, selflessness, hope, connection and the child in all of us that wants to come out every now and then. I have rated The Goodbye Cat by Hiro Arikawa, translated by Philip Gabriel at 4/5 stars!

Until next time,