When Dean Nicholson set off from Scotland to ride his bicycle around the world, he expected to learn more about our planet, maybe have some adventures. What he didn’t expect was that he would meet a cat who would change his life as much as he changed hers. In Nala’s World, Nicholson shares his incredible journey as the pair travel through Europe and Asia.
Co-written by Garry Jenkins, James Bowen’s ghost writer of the mega-bestselling A Street Cat Named Bob, this heartwarming book is one of the best cat books I’ve read in a long time. The story begins when Nicholson rescues a tiny kitten by the side of the road in Bosnia. The video of his rescue went viral when it was picked up by The Dodo, and the pair became an internet sensation. To date, they have more than 900,000 Instagram followers.
I admit that I’m not a fan of the “adventure cat” trend. You’ve probably seen them online: cats who hike, camp, rock climb and surf. They seem to be fearless and accompany their adventure loving humans everywhere. While I’m all for providing stimulation and entertainment for cats, there’s always a part of me that gets really nervous when I watch videos of these intrepid explorer cats, and I worry about their safety. This book may have started to change my mind.
From the time Nicholson first heard a faint meow while biking through Bosnia, his trip became all about what’s best for Nala. It didn’t matter whether ensuring her comfort at all times meant overthrowing long held plans, changing his route, or staying put in places he hadn’t planned on staying. Nala’s well being was a priority in everything he did. As the two travel together, they experience the kindness of strangers, visit refugee camps, and rescue other animals along the way. Nicholson turned their unexpected internet fame into impressive fund raising for animal related charities.
Cat books aren’t usually the kinds of books you can’t put down, but that was not the case with Nala’s World. I found myself spell-bound by the story. The bond between Nicholson and Nala melted my heart. The pair’s adventures sometimes left me with my heart in my throat, even after I realized that Nicholson would never do anything that put Nala at risk. The final chapter had my heart race (and I can’t tell you why without spoiling the book for you.)
Uplifting, inspirational, heartwarming, and just about every other adjective you can think of that expresses a superlative, this beautiful book is ultimately an extraordinary love story. At a time when life seems so heavy for so many of us, this book is a bright spot sure to lift your spirits.
The video that started it all.
Nala’s World is available from Amazon.
*The Conscious Cat is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. This means that if you decide to purchase through any of our links, we get a small commission. We only spread the word about products and services we’ve either used or would use ourselves. I received this book from the publisher. Receiving the complimentary copy did not influence my review.
