I just finished the most heartwarming book – Nala’s World: One Man, His Rescue Cat, and a Bike Ride around the Globe.
It wasn’t on my radar at all, and I didn’t even know about Dean Nicholson’s very popular Instagram account (1bike1world – I am now a follower!) – my friend Valerie sent me this book because I love cats and love to workout.
And I’m so glad she did! This book was such an easy, quick read, and had me smiling for most of it*.
Dean is a Scot who is traveling the world by bike when he encounters a kitten in Bosnia in December of 2018. He decides to keep her (and name her Nala!) and take her with him on his cycling journey. He’s traveling the world to experience other cultures and see how people are different (and the same) but having Nala with him completely changes his experience – for the better. Dean describes himself as a big, loud, tatted-guy, someone he assumes most people won’t want to approach, but he becomes a people magnet with Nala with him, especially after The Dodo publishes a video about him (watch that video – it’s so cute!) and he goes viral.
And Nala completely changes him, and his priorities as well, also, he says, for the better.
The book ends in winter of 2020, while he’s staying at a home (maybe in Hungary?) and waiting out COVID-19. He’s been updating his and Nala’s story on Instagram, and I really hope he writes a second book!
I recommend reading this if you want something light, that will warm your heart and soul.
*I say most of it because there are a few tense parts, which you know will turn out fine because Dean and Nala regularly update their Instagram account, and because there is some sad animal treatment in some cultures (nothing graphic), and a sad part about a dog (again, nothing graphic)
I’ve read it twice and was sorely tempted to read through it again. Great book!
Completely!!! Have you been to some of the cities he and Nala visited?
What a sweet story! I’ll be honest, when I saw your asterisk, I was really worried the story ended with Nala dying. I am so relieved she is alive and well – knowing that would definitely help me to feel less anxious while reading it.
Right! I just wanted to warn about the sad dog part. There were some anxious parts with Nala in the book (like nothing bad BAD, but you know how we get!) but I felt better knowing I had just seen her on Insta! Do you think you’d like this book?