The Goodbye Cat

The uplifting tale of wise cats and their humans by the global bestselling author of THE TRAVELLING CAT CHRONICLES
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( 9,075 ratings, 1,565 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
The Goodbye Cat by Hiro Arikawa is a poignant exploration of the bond between humans and their feline companions. The story unfolds through a series of vignettes that reveal how these connections provide moments of joy and profound personal reflection. Each tale encapsulates themes of love, loss, and the enduring impact of these cherished relationships, all portrayed with a gentle narrative touch.
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Format: Paperback / softback
$3400
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

You might enjoy this book if you appreciate heartwarming stories that explore the bond between humans and their animal companions. The narrative beautifully delves into themes of love, loss, and the transient nature of life through the tender relationship between a person and their beloved cat. Fans of emotionally resonant tales that shine a light on the simple yet profound connections in everyday life will likely be captivated by this story.

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The Goodbye Cat

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

Seven uplifting tales of warm, wise and sarcastic cats set in modern Japan through the changing seasons.

The uplifting new cat novel from the million-copy bestselling author of The Travelling Cat Chronicles

'Quirky and life-enhancing' THE TIMES Biggest Books of the Autumn 2023


Against changing seasons in Japan, seven cats weave their way through their owners' lives.

  • A needy kitten rescued from the recycling bin teaches a new father how to parent his own human baby.
  • An elderly cat hatches a plan to pass into the next world as a spirit so that he and his owner may be together forever.
  • A colony of wild cats on a holiday island shows a young boy not to stand in nature's way.
  • A family is perplexed by their cat's devotion to their charismatic but uncaring father.
  • A woman curses how her cat constantly visits her at night.

Bursting with empathy and love, The Goodbye Cat explores the unstoppable cycle of life, showing how the steadiness and devotion of a well-loved cat never lets us down.

A huge bestseller in Japan, every page is a joyous celebration of cats and how we cannot resist sharing our lives with them.

'A book for every cat lover. An enchanting insight into the mysterious world of cats and their humans' CELIA HADDON, author of Being Your Cat

Includes seven beautiful cat drawings


READERS ADORE The Goodbye Cat

  • 'Wonderful! These cats are charming and truly come alive. The book is full of human β€” or rather, cat kindness' *
  • 'Irresistible. This is the first time since The Travelling Cat Chronicles that I cried my eyes out over a book' *
  • 'I'm glad I didn't read it outside because I couldn't stop crying. Truly life-enhancing' *

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

The Goodbye Cat by Hiro Arikawa is described as warm and witty, filled with wisdom that will particularly delight cat lovers, offering them a perfect literary experience. The writing style is noted for its light-heartedness and sense of humour, even while addressing weighty themes such as parenthood and mortality. Esteemed for its quirky and uplifting nature, the book is hailed as one of the essential reads of 2023.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780857529138

Publisher: Transworld Publishers Ltd

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 12 October 2023

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Doubleday

Contributors:

  • Translated by Philip Gabriel

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 19.0mm

Width: 127.0mm

Height: 197.0mm

Weight: 231g

Pages: 256

About the Author

Hiro Arikawa (Author) HIRO ARIKAWA is the multi-million-copy bestselling author of THE TRAVELLING CAT CHRONICLES and THE GOODBYE CAT. Passing through a scenic mountainous region of Japan, the famous Hankyu line is a privately run railway that connects Osaka and Kyoto and is famous for its maroon-coloured vintage-style carriages. One of its much-visited stops is the city of Takarazuka, where the author of this book lives. Published twenty years ago, this enduring Japanese classic has sold 1.4 million copies and has been published worldwide. Philip Gabriel (Translator) Philip Gabriel is the author of Mad Wives and Island Dreams- Shimao Toshio and the Margins of Japanese Literature and Spirit Matters- The Transcendent in Modern Japanese Literature and has translated many novels and short stories by the writer Haruki Murakami and other modern writers. He is recipient of the Japan-U.S. Friendship Commission Prize for the Translation of Japanese Literature (2001) for his translation of Senji Kuroi's Life in the Cul-de-Sac, and the 2006 PEN/Book-of-the-Month Club Translation Prize for his translation of Murakami's Kafka on the Shore.

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