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?

https://www-sk.icrr.u-tokyo.ac.jp/en/sk/about/outline/

No Face from Spirited Away

https://ghibli.fandom.com/wiki/No-Face

Kitsune from Japanese folklore

https://www.britannica.com/topic/kitsune

The Art of Japanese Ceramics Repair - Kintsugi

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kintsugi

Water Moon themed Playlist on Spotify

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/25kdPSzyM0b9w6v0T7LYEV?si=DqPUE3jaSyefSQVK_PRDzQ

Barnes and Noble Monthly Pick - Guest Post by Samantha Sotto Yambao

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/blog/samantha-sotto-yambao-guest-post/