THE FULL MOON COFFEE SHOP

The three Japanese actors in this charming collection of linked short stories offer sympathetic and generally successful interpretations of everyone from heartsick people to talking cats. While actor Sadao Ueda's strong Japanese accent and halting rhythm can occasionally distance listeners from characters, he narrates with warmth and appreciation for the audiobook's wisdoms. Tomoko Komura, a London-based actor and interpreter, blends a gentle Japanese accent with sympathetically emotive character interpretations. Yuriri Naka, a London-educated Japanese actor, juxtaposes English and Japanese accents effectively to emphasize personality differences. This all takes place in the Full Moon Coffee Shop, a magical place that appears where and when it's required. Inside felines dispense common-sense wisdom, romantic advice, and astrological explanations for life's conundrums. Oh, for it to be real! A.C.S. © AudioFile 2024, Portland, Maine [Published: SEPTEMBER 2024]