I'm unsure how to rate this book. I feel like I need time to digest it.
At the surface of it, the narrator is a pervert. And I didn't particularly enjoy the window view of it, I forgave it because I felt it might be slightly realistic of a hormone filled 18 year old with no sexual experience.

But, outside of him oogling every woman involved and giving us quite detailed information on what they're wearing. The story wasn't bad, it was captivating, I was glued to the pages and wondering wtf was going on because ALL THIS had happened and we were only 30% into the story. I didn't see how they'd drag this out. It was fine, it was great, Until it got a little ugly.

A little ugly I say, I almost dropped the book where the narrator witnesses the

Spoiler

torture and rape of a 14 year old and lusts after her.

Yeah, that wasn't very normal. That was a MAJOR flag and took me completely by surprise.

I guess, I should have seen the ending coming then. But the last few pages took my breath away. I went from being overly annoyed at the mere INCOMPETENCE of this boy and his inability to silently murder the bad guys simply because

Spoiler

one was a woman

to having my mind blown.

I should have seen it. Some certain behaviors makes so much more sense now. I'm still unsure if this deserves 5 stars of taking my breath away or 1 stars for being utterly disgusting.

I cannot tell you how much I disliked this book. I think whoever recommended me Autumn as a zombie series is having a joke on me.

Like, first of all, there weren't any actual zombie behavior until closer to 80% of the book. I mean, cool, they just died first, that's great. And then they started coming alive after a few days. Spooky, I like it. ... ... and.. and then nothing? We're just reading about a bunch of people crying about how there is no point in being alive anylonger because society is gone?

And secondly of all, alright, sure, I cannot predict how I'll react if the apocalypse comes and everyone turns into dead corpses around me. Maybe I'll go catatonic myself. But this entire book was filled with people with basically 0 survival instinct. And it annoyed me. Not one? not one person took charge (of themselves) and started stockpiling some food and cleared their surrounding area of dead bodies??

I won't even let leftovers sit in a garbage bag for a day before I take that shit out on the CHANCE it might start smelling and I'm just going to be TOTALLY COOL with three dead corpses a few meters away from me? My top priority would be to either remove them, or relocate to somewhere where there were no dead bodies.

I'm going to admit, I'm slightly embarrassed over how long it took me to complete this book. It was an extremely cozy slice of life read. But more importantly, it was all about eating good food and drinking good drinks.

I couldn't read a single chapter without wanting to go and make myself an fancy dinner. And I didn't even know what half the dishes was! But both the MC and her dining companion referred to as Sensei seemed to love the act of eating.

The ending was slightly bittersweet. Almost like the dark chocolate mousse you have as dessert after a good meal.

I wanted to like this book so much, but in the end I'm not even sure it deserve the 3 stars I'm giving it.

There is simply too many minor plot holes.

Like knowing who the bad guy is really early, in a small town where everyone knows everyone, and the bad guy has an actual job, and a persona, and is blending in with the locals but you (the very powerful witch) DON'T KNOW WHERE TO FIND THEM

Like.. SHOW UP AT THEIR WORK??? The entire book the MC was sitting in her trailer muttering about "it's war now" and "I'm not going to let this stand" and just sitting around waiting for something to happen when she KNEW WHERE THE BAD GUY WAS

There was no sleuthing, no spying, no following. Just sitting around proclaiming she doesn't know where the bad guy is when EVERY OTHER HUMAN KNOWS WHERE THE BAD GUYS IS! The bad guy got a job! IN A SMALL TOWN!

And lets not get started on this whole romance thing where the entire book it's "oh I have sexy feelings for this person but OH IM SO BROKEN"
"But lets

Spoiler

PROPOSE AFTER ONE BANG

"

Oooohh how mad I was when Baba Yaga blows her fuse about "he never told me he was

Spoiler

still married

" like BITCH HE DIDNT SAY HE WAS

Spoiler

DIVORCED EITHER! All he did say was that it ruined his marriage

and YOU DIDN'T ASK

But, no no, of course not.

Spoiler

One intercourse later and you're asking him to move in with you which both of you equal to getting engaged and where the hell is the logic in that? Why jump to that conclusion without even being asked? not to mention HOW IS HE GOING TO DIVORCE HIS WIFE when his wife isn't even on earth anymore??

I'm fuming just thinking about it

I have a hard time formulating my opinions on this book. Partly due to the fact I don't think I'm done processing the emotions the book left me with.

I've had cat companions my entire life, they have always been family. And this book hit like a truck, even when you saw the end coming. It was the way it was portrayed that caught me by surprise and hit me like a truck.

As a self proclaimed crazy cat lady, nothing peeves me more whenever I meet a cat in a book, and the cat is an asshole. That's the stereotype isn't it? Dogs are loyal, and cuddly. Cats are standoffish and dislikes cuddles.

And that IS true, strange cats rarely are cuddly with strangers, tho even here there is exceptions. But when authors use this stereotype with cats who have a major role, both in the book and in the MCs life, it annoys me. Because it isn't very realistic. If you love your cat, and respect it, it'll usually love you back.

I've found cats more cuddly, and more loyal, than any dog I've met. But of course, as a crazy cat lady, maybe I'm biased and you won't believe me.

But that is part of the joy of reading The Travelling Cat Chronicles. It portrayed realistic cat behavior, if sometimes a little too intelligent. (but even then, I've had some very smart cats)

Nana reminded me of cats I've had. Cats I've lost. Cats I've mourned. My current cat isn't anything like Nana, and is straight up the stupidest cat I've ever had. But even then, Nana made me look at my cat in a loving way.

And my heart breaks for Satoru, who was born an great and kind person. Far greater and kinder than me. And was handed bad cards in life, and greeted them with good humour.

So yes, this book made me cry. I hate crying. I loathe crying. But it wasn't a bad cry. It wasn't a sad one. This was the epitome of a bittersweet tale. It was cozy, and cute, and wholesome. It portrayed loss, and mourning. But also making new friends, and how those friendship stayed important, even if life gets in the way and you're no longer spending time together.

And more importantly, it portrayed the unique and strong bond between companions. Even if one of them doesn't have fur.