"Audition" By Ryu Murakami at Cat Cafe

Welcome to the Spooky Spooky Book Club!
Book talk is free! Cat cuddles cost extra ($15 for the cat room).

RSVP'ing here for 5PM ahead of time is highly recommended for the cat room, as space is limited.

Book of the Month: Audition by Ryu Murakami.

Book Summary
The long-awaited translation of the novel behind the cult classic Japanese movie.

In this gloriously over-the-top tale, Aoyama, a widower who has lived alone with his son ever since his wife died seven years before, finally decides it is time to remarry. Since Aoyama is a bit rusty when it comes to dating, a filmmaker friend proposes that, in order to attract the perfect wife, they do a casting call for a movie they don’t intend to produce. As the résumés pile up, only one of the applicants catches Aoyama’s attention―Yamasaki Asami―a striking young former ballerina with a mysterious past. Blinded by his instant and total infatuation, Aoyama is too late in discovering that she is a far cry from the innocent young woman he imagines her to be. The novel’s fast-paced, thriller conclusion doesn’t spare the reader as Yamasaki takes off her angelic mask and reveals what lies beneath.

You can check the trigger warnings at the bottom, or dive in blind if you prefer a surprise.

Don’t worry if you haven’t finished the book, we’ll start by chatting about whatever spooky (or not-so-spooky) reads we’re enjoying before diving into the featured title. Come for the eerie atmosphere, stay for the lively conversations and, of course, the cats, because let’s be honest, that’s why you’re really here, isn’t it?

Questions? Feel free to drop a comment or message me (Gonzalo) for more details. Hope to see you there!

Trigger Warnings: Audition delves into themes of:

• • Graphic violence and body horror
  Depictions of dismemberment, mutilation, and physical torture that are extremely vivid and may be disturbing.
  • Gore, death, and cruelty
  Explicit scenes involving murder, injury, and cruelty toward both humans and animals.
  • Psychological distress and mental illness
  Characters experience delusion, obsession, traumatic memory, and deteriorating mental states.
  • Grief and suicidal ideation
  Emotional collapse, loss, and passing mentions or implications of self harm.
  • Misogyny, sexism, and ageism
  Male entitlement is a core theme, often portrayed bluntly and uncomfortably.
  • Sexual content and nudity
  Contains sexual situations that may be explicit, unsettling, or intertwined with coercion or violence.

Please approach these topics with care and self-awareness as you read.