A magical coffee shop run by talking cats? I didn’t need to know more than that to want to read The Full Moon Coffee Shop by Mai Mochizuki, translated by Jesse Kirkwood.
From the publisher:
In Japan, cats are a symbol of good luck. As the myth goes, if you are kind to them, they’ll one day return the favor. And if you are kind to the right cat, you might just find yourself invited to a mysterious coffee shop under a glittering Kyoto moon.
This particular coffee shop is like no other. It has no fixed location, no fixed hours, and it seemingly appears at random.
It’s also run by talking cats.
While customers at the Full Moon Coffee Shop partake in cakes and coffees and teas, the cats also consult their star charts, offering cryptic wisdom, and letting them know where their lives veered off course.
This utterly charming novel reeled me in right from the start. The writing is descriptive and almost lyrical. The cosmic cats are larger than life and fantastic. As each of the human characters visits the cafe, the cats explain their situation in terms of astrology and birth charts to give them a deeper understanding of their challenges and how to move through them. I loved how all the stories eventually interconnected. Oh, and the coffee shop serves some utterly delicious sounding drinks and desserts!
There are so many elements to this book: magical realism, fascinating Japanese locales, detailed explanation of how astrology impacts human lives, and, of course, the wonderful cats. It is reflective and inspirational, but also lighthearted and whimsical.
With the exception of the sometimes for my taste too detailed sections on astrology, which I confess I skimmed at times, I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Ultimately, this is a book about change, acceptance and love, and it’s pure magic with a feline touch.
The Full Moon Coffee Shop is available from Amazon.
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I think I need this book!
Sounds like a VERY intriguing and original book! Excellent review!
This book sounds really good. I love the idea of talking cats and the wisdom they give people.
It sounds purrfect for an October book read! Thanks for reviewing!