Hiro Arikawa, author of The Traveling Cat Chronicles, returns with another heartwarming novel that feels just like a cat wrapping itself around you. In this novel, Arikawa introduces a collection of seven short stories about humans and their devoted cats in The Goodbye Cat. Through their thoughts and behavior, these cats offer a unique look into human life, from birth to death.
The Goodbye Cat begins with an emotional start. In the novel’s most touching story, it explores the deep bond between a boy and his cat, Kota, as they grow up together in a loving family. While the short story features the entire family, Arikawa masterfully depicts each character with distinct personality and charm. Fully embraced as a member of the family, Kota acts with an earnest devotion to protect and support his human family. His unconventional perspective and quirky actions as a cat are endearing, and his intentions are so well meaning to the point it aches. Sure to tug on heartstrings, this story is one that will stay with readers long after they close the book.
The final two stories bring readers back to Satoru, the titular human character of The Traveling Cat Chronicles. While it’s not necessary to read the aforementioned book to understand these stories, they give additional context to how cats have long impacted Satoru’s life, from his childhood with his first cat, Hachi, and his travels as an adult with Nana, a stray he picked up later in his life.
It’s not easy to pick yourself up after feeling like you’ve failed to be there for someone else in their time of need. That might be why you try even harder to protect those close to you from then on. As Satoru’s journey through life grapples with these sentiments, he crosses paths with Hachi and Nana. Hachi from his childhood is like a guardian who watches over and comforts anyone under his care. Meanwhile, Nana from his adulthood acts sassy and standoffish at times, but beneath it all is an unwavering loyalty.
There’s a lot of heart in these stories that will make readers reflect on how cats can offer us comfort and bring the best out of us. Even when it’s time for someone to say goodbye, it doesn’t have to mean that they leave forever. They’ve already left an indelible mark on our lives, and we will always have our memories to remember them by.
