Reflecting on Water Moon: A Journey Through a Magical Ghibli-esque World
Andrea and Elizabeth dive into their December book pick, Water Moon by Samantha Sotto Yambao. This listener voted book pick made it to the second round of the Goodreads Choice Awards, is discussed in detail, including its synopsis and thematic elements. The story follows Hana Ishikawa, the new owner of a mystical pawn shop in Tokyo, as she embarks on a journey to find her missing father. The hosts analyze the book's Ghibli-esque charm, poetic writing, romantic subplot, cultural references, and philosophical themes. They conclude with their ratings and comparisons to similar works, recommending it to fans of Japanese cozy fantasy and those intrigued by magical realism.
Spoiler Alert: We do go into spoilers mid-episode!
Content Note: This episode discusses themes of regret, reproductive choice (including implied abortion), and pregnancy/childbirth.
02:35 Meaning of the Title
05:49 Romance Sub-plot
10:15 Fictional Folklore
12:01 Japanese Vocab
14:26 Dreamlike Reflections of the Real World
18:47 Well, What About?
22:49 Spoilers and Interpretations
25:15 Flying Paper Birds
26:44 Folding the Cover
28:34 Ratings
29:53 Other Similar Books
31:16 Closing Remarks
Similar Book Recommendations
Daughter of the Moon Goddess by Sue Lynn Tan
The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern
The Full Moon Coffee Shop by Mai Mochizuki
Similar Movie Recommendations
Spirited Away
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
Inception
Other Books with Flying Paper Birds
The Girl Who Drank the Moon by Kelly Barnhill
The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna
When the Moon Hatched by Sarah A Parker
What is the Super-Kamiokande?
No Face from Spirited Away
Kitsune from Japanese folklore
The Art of Japanese Ceramics Repair - Kintsugi
Water Moon themed Playlist on Spotify
Barnes and Noble Monthly Pick - Guest Post by Samantha Sotto Yambao
