"Mooncakes" by Suzanne Walker and Wendy Xu (BR)

[Meredith]

Welcome to the buddy read of Mooncakes, by Suzanne Walker and illustrated by Wendy Xu.

Please use spoiler tags and indicate page/chapter/percentage as you share your thoughts!

[Cheryl]

I gave this 4 stars over a year ago... I'll see if I can get it to reread.

[Anna]

I very clearly remember reading this. Where I sat, what the weather was like, what kind of pic I sent Allison as proof I was reading it, what the kid looked like who threw a rock at me (accidentally) when I was about halfway. I remember absolutely nothing about the story though. But I've given it four stars so I must've liked it :)

edit: Here's the pic. That's my library patio and the other side of the fence is a kindergarten playground, hence the rock.

https://i.postimg.cc/4ygf249Y/mooncak...

[Meredith]

I started this tonight and read the first two chapters. So far, it’s delightful and has an interesting mystery developing, though mostly I’m in love with the characters.

Also, while I hope this is a memorable read, I hope no one throws a rock at me.

[Allison, Fairy Mod-mother]

this day of Anna's was memorable for me as well, because I was trying to figure out where she was and why rocks were involved for several hours between when I saw her post and when she added context

but i also recently read the book, no projectiles were involved and i recall it fondly

[Anna]

You're probably safe if you stay away from young humans! :D

I've just added Tidesong by Wendy Xu, the artist of Mooncakes, to my TBR, because the blurb says it's "Perfect for fans of Studio Ghibli and The Tea Dragon Society" <3

[Meredith]

I finished this a couple days back and I've been going back over it again to appreciate the art some more. I thought the story was ultimately quite sweet. Overall, on one hand, I wish some aspects of the story had a bit more meat to them, (view spoiler)[ especially Tam's personal history and Nova's family dynamics. Plus, it took me a while to realize that Nova and Tam were in their 20s, not their teens. (hide spoiler)] On the other hand, I liked the art a lot (view spoiler)[ especially the forest spirits that I pretty much fell in love with (hide spoiler)], which is why I ultimately gave it 4 stars.

[Raucous]

I read this in mid-2020 and was surprised when I saw the buddy read pop up to realize that, like Anna, I recalled very little about the story. I do remember being totally taken with the art, though - and especially with that amazing cover.

Having just read it again (end) (view spoiler)[I see now where my hazy memory of "sweet" came from. It wasn't just the cover. But I had trouble at times really buying into the decisions and motivations of Tam and, to a lesser extent, Nova. More on their families and earlier on may have helped there. (hide spoiler)]

[Kaa]

Meredith, I'm really sorry, I still haven't gotten this from my library.

[Allison, Fairy Mod-mother]

I was so delighted with the sweetness. I loved the blend of cultures and stories...I wish it had taken a bit more time with the story.

[Meredith]

Kaa wrote: "Meredith, I'm really sorry, I still haven't gotten this from my library."

No worries! Check in when you can! :)

[Nicol]

I’ll be getting to it in the next couple of days. I was hoping someone would throw cookies (instead of rocks) at me while I read it but more than likely my doggies will just loudly sigh at me instead. 😂😂

[Megan]

I'm going to join in reading this! I haven't read a graphic novel in a long while, and I'm excited.

[Megan]

Okay, I finished, and I experienced no unexpected projectiles, but I agree with the overall consensus that this was a sweet read.

(view spoiler)[* I loved the combination Sukkot & mid-autumn festival celebration. The artwork here was some of my favorite! (My other favorite artwork was the forest spirits and their very adamant reactions.)

* I liked that one of the reactions of Nova's grandmothers to the task in front of Nova & Tam was the encouragement to experiment to figure out what they had to do. Way too often in fantasy with young-ish~ characters, they're told to follow some already-set tradition, or they're researching arcane traditions and they need to discover some obscure & forgotten thing, or the idea of experimenting & finding their own way is framed as rebellious and extreme. I liked that here, experimenting & finding their own way was just part of the process (as well as a teasing joke) that was encouraged by the older characters. (hide spoiler)]

[Nicol]

This was the warm and fuzzy I needed right now 😊 I agree that parts could have been more fleshed out but it was soooooooo cute and I loved the illustrations. I need books like this in my life, especially since I read a lot of more serious (and depressing) stories.

[Cheryl]

I wonder how much an understanding of the Tam Lang/Lin corpus would help. I've read several 'adaptations' but I can't grasp his core nature or reason for existence or whatever.

[Raucous]

Megan wrote: "Okay, I finished, and I experienced no unexpected projectiles, but I agree with the overall consensus that this was a sweet read.

(view spoiler)[Ah. Right. Thanks for the reminder about Nova's grandmothers encouraging Nova and Tam to experiment. That was so refreshing and also, sadly, surprising. I took classes for a few years at a local studio and loved that attitude in the instructors that had it. I really chafed at the "you must do it this (my) way" instructors. One was, unfortunately, the head of the studio so it wasn't a good long-term fit for me.

Anyway... That long aside was to observe that it's not just kids in fantasies that get this and that this interaction was probably my favorite part of the book. Such wise grandmothers. (hide spoiler)]

[Cheryl]

I enjoyed this second read but still feel no special attachment to the book. I think a sequel would be better, as it could flesh out the world, and the main characters, and give them a more complex quest.

[Stephanie]

I thought this was super sweet. Loved the characters, especially the grandmothers and the forest spirits! Also loved reading about mid-autumn festival, which was not part of my life growing up but which is celebrated where I live now. Glad I read this one!

Re: Tam and the ending (view spoiler)[ I was sad that someone they trusted betrayed them. :( It seemed like they didn't have anyone they could trust at all, aside from Nova and family, unless I missed someone. (hide spoiler)]

[Kaa]

Hooray, I finally got the book! Looking forward to starting it this evening!

[Cheryl]

It's short... are you not done yet? ;)