Another beautifully written set of short stories by the author. I’m not usually a fan of short stories but these stories manage to impart the perfect amount of wisdom and fun in just a small number of pages. I love the observations of the cats about humans and all the relationships in the stories that are very astutely observed.

Famous for her book The Travelling Cat Chronicles this is a mix of short stories by this much loved Author. Each story is set in Japan and all very different featuring a different cat (or cats) each time. They are of different lengths also.
I was drawn into some stories more than others. My favourite is the very first story.

The Author manages to mix human relationships with each other as well as human relationships with cats. Then we have cat relationships with other cats. Many scenarios in life feature in the stories. They are very broad from a struggling manga artist in a difficult marriage to a trip to the famous island in Japan known for all its cats for a special photo shoot.

I can’t place what age group this would suit. They have different maturity levels in each one in my opinion. Sensitive topics like the passing of an elderly cat and the grief of its cat companion is done gracefully and tenderly. We know the cat has passed to become a beautiful spirit in a special place. It’s not upsetting but does pull on the heartstrings.

Human struggles, births of babies, losing loved ones all feature. It’s very much a realistic mix of what goes on in life. Some stories are “spoken” by the featured cat, others not. So they are not all the same. I’ve not read The Travelling Cat Chronicles (it’s on my bookshelf, my bad!) but it seems others enjoyed that more. I personally can’t compare at this stage.

One story is very wordy and didn’t feature much feline content so I struggled with that one. Overall this was a charming read of very unique tales. If you like hearing of the joys of rescue cats finding loving new homes you’ll love this. Who doesn’t smile when a kitten is found in a cardboard box and taken in?

A nice collection for the cat and animal lover. Just know it’s short stories (which I enjoy) as some readers have not realised this and been disappointed. A solid 3 stars from me. Entertaining with some lovely moments. I really loved the first story. Touched my heart in a big way.

Of course, I cried. So, this might just be a very biased review. The Goodbye Cat is an absolute treasure. Each story pulls at your heartstrings (though not in a very blatant way), and it made me ache for all the cats I never had growing up. I am definitely going to check out every other book Arikawa Hiro has written now.

And probably cry my eyes out even more.

I have read many if the Japanese translated novels about cats and humans and find them strangely emotional maybe because I have 4 cats of my own. I also lived in Japan for 6 years I my 20s and feel.a real love for the culture there.
In the first story, kota the cat narrates the story and we feel his bond with the family.
A lovely set of stories about how cats really do enrich our lives.

This is a collection of 7 joyous Japanese short stories that celebrate the magic of cats by Hiro Arikawa, translated by Philip Gabriel, providing a glimpse into just how integral to a family a cat becomes, their devotion, wisdom, cat talk, loyalty and love, and the impact and grief of loss. They are the unforgettable 'goodbye' cats. Having read The Travelling Cat Chronicles which I loved, the final 2 stories bring back the adorable Nana and Hachi. We have a new apprehensive mother worried about how her inept husband, Kota, a manga artist, will be able to adjust and cope with the more demanding circumstances that come with parenthood. However, there is charm and serendipity as he find a fragile abandoned unweaned kitten, Spin, that he rescues.

He cares for Spin with the help and advice from an online community, it goes on to provide the perfect training for becoming a parent, as Schrodinger's kitten and baby form a remarkable lifelong unbreakable connection. Long suffering reject kitten, Tora, survives a life time of casual treatment, unwavering in its unconditional love, and a stray cat, Ten, is taken in. After losing his mum, Ryo now has a wonderful stepmother, Haruko, who he is struggling to refer to as mother. Along with his dad who has an assignment on Cat Island, they make a short trip, where he learns the valuable lesson of the wild, whilst Nana and Saturo in their silver van visit an old professor of his.

There are tears, joy and wonder to be found in this fabulous collection of cats with their humans stories, drawing attention to the differences in their ageing process. These are stories for everyone, including cat and other animal lovers, and fans of the author are likely to enjoy them too. Many thanks to the publisher for an ARC.

Enchanting and poignant tales for cat lovers

This book is full of stories that are by turn gentle, sensitive, enchanting and full of love for our feline companions. The stories are linked with characters flowing and meandering between them. Speaking largely from the cat’s point of view these beautiful and thoughtfully crafted tales take you through the whole range of emotions cat lovers feel about their felines.

The stories all contain an element of the ‘goodbye’ in the title in some form but not always the one you might think. By turn the tales are joyful, melancholic and poignant and all eloquently describe the bonds we form with our cats.

Anyone who has loved and lost will be touched by this book. I felt enriched by reading it and I will definitely be reading Hiro Arikawa’s other books.

I was given this book from the author via netgalley only for the pleasure of reading and leaving an honest review should I choose to.

When I started reading this, I didn't realise it was a series of short stories rather than one narrative. That's fine, the stories were good, but I did feel more invested in the first story and then slightly less interested in the rest. The last story that calls back to Arikawa's book The Travelling Cat was cute, but felt a little unnecessary considering we already had a whole book about Nana. This shorter story was an add on, not a retelling, which was interesting, but did make me wonder why it wasn't just in The Travelling Cat to begin with.

I did enjoy this book and I like what I've read from this author. The translation is good, too, which is important to note because a poor translation can really ruin the whole thing. It's hard not to compare it to The Travelling Cat and, in that regard, it fell a little short for me.

I cried when reading the Travelling Cat because I got to spend time learning all about the characters, but in The Goodbye Cat, I'm not given enough time to truly bond with anyone. Such is the fate of a short story, I suppose. Still a good read though. Cats are great.

A collection of 7 short stories, 2 of which make reference to Arikawa’s previous novel but all of which stand on their own as stories. I particularly enjoyed the second story, Bringing Up Baby, in which a mother returns home with her newborn to find that her man-child husband has acquired a kitten: who’s the baby in the title?

Each short story has a cover page with a gorgeous illustration by Yukata Murakami which are lovely to look at in their own right.

An easy read about the joys of cats as pets and the hole they leave in our lives after they die - you might need the odd tissue. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I am a cat person through and through so this book of short stories about cats and their humans was purrfect for me - sorry it had to be done!!
Some of the stories will definitely bring tears to your eyes, so grab some tissues before you settle down to read.
A memorable read

The Goodbye Cat is a collection of Japanese short stories about cats and their relationship with humans.

A beautiful book, I shed plenty of tears (both happy and sad!). It made me think about my own cats and what they bring to my life - and indeed about what they might be thinking and feeling!

It was a different style for me to read, and I'll definitely be looking out for The Travelling Cat Chronicles by the same author.

I liked the fact that this was a collection of short stories. A bit hit and miss and I enjoyed some more than others. An easy, enjoyable read but didn't reach me in the same way that The Travelling Cat Chronicles did.
Thanks to Netgalley.

A deeply moving, sweeping story about the unbreakable connections between people and cats. It speaks to my heart, showing us the soul of these beautiful creatures and what they can mean in the darkest times. It was so deeply moving and irresistibly endearing that I couldn’t help but read the entire thing with tears in my eyes.

Complete with seven beautiful illustrations to make a striking visual experience on top of poetic, lyrical prose full of metaphor and imagery. The storytelling was delicate, quiet and leisurely, almost dreamlike at times with vivid settings and rich details that made us really feel as though we were there. Every story invoked something so special and unique, following different lives but all of them changed by a feline friend.

Both the human and feline characters were stunning and engaging, each going through their own journeys of learning and growing but with absolutely beautiful relationships and connections that made me smile and were so touching I definitely shed a few tears. Family, loss, mortality, love — there were so many tender, authentic moments that just stayed with me and made me feel every single line. I loved their discussions into Japanese Folklore and the many ways cats have been a key part of beliefs and stories for countless years.

This entire book felt like a warm, comforting hug and it was absolutely delightful.

Published 12 October 2023. I am sad to say that I was a little disappointed with this short story collection about mainly cats that have been rescued. I usually adore Japanese translations, especially if cats are featured, but this just didn't 'grab' me. I think this is more down to me not really enjoying the short story genre - I prefer to let characters simmer in my mind over time. With a short story, there never seems to be enough time to really get under a character's skin and vice versa. These seven stories are charming and, as the title suggests, a goodbye features. Out of the seven, I liked Finding Hachi and Life Is Not Always Kind because of the connection between them. There was an emotional impact to these that I missed in the others, but I expect others will disagree with me. I really wish that I could have liked this more.

I haven't read the "Travelling Cat Chronicles", so was very new to this writer. As the owner (sorry, staff member!) of an elderly and dignified cat (and the previous human carer for several now departed cats), several of the stories resonated very deeply with me, and I shed more than a few tears.

The writing is beautiful, The author understands cats, their humans, and the interactions between them - and the seven stories in this lovely book clearly show that.

I particularly liked the fact that one of the human characters is featured in more than one story, and I understand that he is also in the "Travelling Cat Chronicles" - which I now hope to track down and read.

This is a beautiful book, but beware if you are a cat lover - you will need handkerchiefs nearby!

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for an ARC. All opinions my own.

Before reading this book I knew I will have to get ready mentally for it with the experience of The Traveling Cat's Chronicles but still not recommending reading it at work. Loved it a lot. I am so happy Nana and Satoru made a comeback. Loved all the stories because all celebrate cats in all their stages of life. Some stories can be sad but there are some happy stories too like The Night visitor which was really funny.

The Travelling Cat Chronicles is one of my favourite books of recent years, so I was delighted to hear that Hiro had written The Goodbye Cat. It's a collection of short stories, all cat themed, which touch on the circle of life for cats and humans.

Hiro clearly understands cats, it's evident in both her books.

We have a brand new kitten, Spin, found in a rubbish dump and rescued by a young family.

There's a story about a cat island in Japan, which is actually a place.
Get me a one way ticket, please!

Satouru, owner of Nana in The Travelling Cat Chronicles, also makes an appearance as his younger self, with a tale about his childhood pet.

There are deaths, human and feline, so tears were shed, but it is handled beautifully. The stories are all good and the translation by Philip Gabriel is seamless and elegant, no lost in translation here!

It's a short book, just over 200 pages and, combine that with the fact it's short stories, it's an easy read. Each chapter page is illustrated with a beautiful painting of a cat, which became part of the enjoyment for me. Purrfect!

Thanks to Netgalley and Doubleday for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

"The Goodbye Cat" by Hiro Arikawa is an absolute masterpiece that touched my heart in the most profound way. Against the backdrop of changing seasons in Japan, this book weaves a tapestry of heartwarming stories centered around seven cats and the lives they touch. From the very first page, I was enchanted by the magic that unfolded as these feline friends embarked on journeys of love, companionship, and growth.

I must admit, I had a box of tissues handy as I delved into the pages of this book. The tales of Spin, the rescued kitten who taught an anxious father to nurture his human baby, had me shedding tears of both sorrow and joy. The colony of wild cats teaching a young boy about the beauty of nature's rhythm left me with a warmth that echoed within my heart. And oh, the story of the devoted but enigmatic cat who connected a family to their charismatic yet distant father - that one truly tugged at my heartstrings.

But it was the narrative of the elderly cat, Kota, that truly left an indelible mark on my soul. His journey to pass into the next world as a spirit so he could remain with his beloved owner forever showcased the profound bond that exists between humans and their feline companions. It's a testament to Arikawa's mastery that even amidst the bittersweetness of goodbye, the book is imbued with an undeniable sense of hope and connection that resonates long after the final page is turned.

"The Goodbye Cat" doesn't just tell stories about cats; it delves into the intricate emotions that they inspire within us. Bursting with empathy and love, this book shines a light on the beauty of the cycle of life and the unwavering devotion of our four-legged friends. Every word is a brushstroke that paints a vivid picture of the joys and struggles of sharing our lives with these incredible creatures.

Hiro Arikawa's storytelling prowess shines throughout the pages, inviting readers to immerse themselves in a world where the line between human and cat blurs, and emotions are felt with every heartbeat. As I closed the book with a heart that felt simultaneously heavy and full, I knew that "The Goodbye Cat" had left an indelible pawprint on my soul. This book is not just a bestseller; it's a celebration of life, love, and the unbreakable bond between cats and humans. I wholeheartedly recommend it to anyone who craves a read that leaves them feeling truly alive.

In short, "The Goodbye Cat" is a symphony of emotions, a heartwarming and joyful journey that reminded me why our lives are so much richer with these furry companions by our side. It's a book that deserves not just five stars, but a galaxy of them. Arikawa's words have forever etched themselves into my heart, and I'll carry the lessons, the laughter, and the tears of this book with me for the rest of my days.

Thanks to NetGalley and Double Day publications for sending me an e-Arc in exchange for an honest review.

A lovely collection of short stories all to do with cats. If you are a cat person, some of the incidents and dialogues will resonate with you deeply. The writing was heartfelt, emotional and at times quite witty. I loved how in some stories, the writer used the cat's perspective as a narrative.

I was excited for this one, but it just didn’t grab me, and I found the stories simple and boring? Maybe boring is the wrong word, but I couldn’t gain an interest in them?

I’ve given it a three star however, as this is a me problem, not a story problem. The translation is excellent and it has captured the essence of Japan and its people incredibly well.

My thanks to Netgalley and Transworld for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

I didn't find this book quite as affecting as Arikawa's The Travelling Cat Companion but I did very much like the way the stories were interlinked and fed back to the initial story.