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Deplorable Conversations with Cats and Other Distractions
A man finds himself the unwitting companion of a talking cat . . .Lucky Lee has everything—wealth, charm, money, good looks—and does very, very little with it. He’s content. He’s happy. He takes for granted that life is good and always will be. But then his sister, the go-getting, successful, famous TV chef Pearl Lee, dies, horribly and suddenly. Lucky is devastated. As he struggles to live without the big sister who’s always been the dominant, often relentless force in his life, the inconceivable happens—her cat begins to talk to him. It wants to know where Pearl is. It questions his eating habits, his outfit choices, his life. It hogs the TV. It tells him stories. Now grief-stricken Lucky has a major he may very well be mad.‘A surreal road trip embarked upon by a man and his enigmatic but voluble cat transforms into a metaphorical journey from grief and loss, to the wonders of self-discovery and unexpected healing. Their surprising travel adventure from Joo Chiat in Singapore to across the causeway inspires not just the protagonist but any sensitive reader in understanding how the things that matter are seldom the things we thought we desired.’—Cyril Wong, poet and fictionist
392 pages, Paperback
Published April 30, 2024
12 people are currently reading
356 people want to read
About the author
Yeoh Jo-Ann
6 books14 followersYeoh Jo-Ann is the author of Impractical Uses of Cake, winner of the 2018 Epigram Books Fiction Prize. Formerly a features editor, she is currently eyebrows deep in digital media/marketing. Her fiction has been anthologised in We R Family, In Transit and Best New Singaporean Short Stories: Volume Three.
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
April 7, 2024
Full review: https://tinycl0ud.substack.com/p/depl...
This is another favourite to gush about to everyone I know. I took my time with this book because I didn’t want it to end. It’s perfect for long commutes but I must say, the descriptions of delicious Southeast Asian food made me hungry.
The protagonist is a lucky-go-happy man called Lucky Lee who’s had to put up with being teased about his name since forever. His name seems to have worked though, as he leads quite a charmed life and gets by on generational wealth. Even though he got a degree in architecture, he works at a cafe for fun with his friends and the building is owned by his family. His sister, Pearl Lee, is a famous food critic with her own recipe books and TV show. They have been very close since childhood. One day, Pearl dies in a plane accident, leaving behind her cat, Coconut. Lucky spirals into a slump and stays there, completely paralysed by grief and his memories of the childhood they shared. One day, Coconut starts talking to him and his world is turned upside-down.
Structurally, this was an interesting take on the bildungsroman. Usually, protagonists in coming-of-age novels are children or teenagers on the cusp of entering adulthood. They go through hardship and traumtic events to emerge stronger in the end. Here, Lucky is already approaching middle age but has been stuck in his own Neverland, enabled by his family and background. When he loses his parents, then sister, then his family home to a fire, it forces him to reevaluate who he is outside of the privileges he was born with. His search for the self brings him to places outside his comfort zone where he must confront and take accountability for his past actions.
This is another favourite to gush about to everyone I know. I took my time with this book because I didn’t want it to end. It’s perfect for long commutes but I must say, the descriptions of delicious Southeast Asian food made me hungry.
The protagonist is a lucky-go-happy man called Lucky Lee who’s had to put up with being teased about his name since forever. His name seems to have worked though, as he leads quite a charmed life and gets by on generational wealth. Even though he got a degree in architecture, he works at a cafe for fun with his friends and the building is owned by his family. His sister, Pearl Lee, is a famous food critic with her own recipe books and TV show. They have been very close since childhood. One day, Pearl dies in a plane accident, leaving behind her cat, Coconut. Lucky spirals into a slump and stays there, completely paralysed by grief and his memories of the childhood they shared. One day, Coconut starts talking to him and his world is turned upside-down.
Structurally, this was an interesting take on the bildungsroman. Usually, protagonists in coming-of-age novels are children or teenagers on the cusp of entering adulthood. They go through hardship and traumtic events to emerge stronger in the end. Here, Lucky is already approaching middle age but has been stuck in his own Neverland, enabled by his family and background. When he loses his parents, then sister, then his family home to a fire, it forces him to reevaluate who he is outside of the privileges he was born with. His search for the self brings him to places outside his comfort zone where he must confront and take accountability for his past actions.
April 2, 2024
My cat, Yeti, is camera-shy and refuses to share his wisdom directly with other people but me. Just like Coconut, the main protagonist of Conversations with Cats and Other Distractions. The new novel released by Penguin SEA shares the story of Lucky Lee, a Singaporean who finds himself in a peculiar situation where Coconut becomes his sole confidant, much to the disbelief of those around him (to whom Coconut refused to talk).
Lucky’s life takes a tragic turn with the loss of his sister Pearl, which leaves him adrift in a sea of grief and solitude. The narrative follows him drifting through life with little direction and responsibility, supported by his father’s wealth and, after his father’s passing, his sister’s. Being alone, only under the critical eye of aunties from his mother’s side (the stereotypical tough-love-Chinese-aunties), Lucky starts a self-discovery journey aided and guided by Coconut.
Lucky is portrayed as a privileged man-child. Having grown in wealth, he finished architecture but never practised, started multiple business ventures that always ended somehow, and had multiple girlfriends, each one “the one”. Only one thing in his life is actively working, and that’s the coffee shop that he started with two of his friends from architecture college, where he also works a few days a week.
After Pearl’s death, he embarks on a journey of self-discovery and healing, which takes him from Singapore to Kuala Lumpur, Ipoh and the small village in Malaysia where his father grew up. Coconut is his spiritual guide and emotional support and the two bond deeply during their journey.
While the premise holds promise, the execution falls a bit short for me. At almost 400 pages, the story meanders, and I found it hard to maintain interest, as, despite his grief and self-growth journey, Lucky remains an unlikeable protagonist, displaying a concerning lack of maturity. His inability to take charge of his life becomes grating, overshadowing the potential for character growth (I am not certain the interesting conclusion of the book signifies growth).
However, amidst the narrative flaws, there are glimpses of charm. The vivid descriptions of Singaporean and Malaysian locales, coupled with tantalising discussions on coffee offer a sensory escape for readers. For enthusiasts of coffee and feline companions, this book will be a joy. I recommend the books for lovers of coffee and cats, ready to take a literary journey through Singapore and Malaysia!
Lucky’s life takes a tragic turn with the loss of his sister Pearl, which leaves him adrift in a sea of grief and solitude. The narrative follows him drifting through life with little direction and responsibility, supported by his father’s wealth and, after his father’s passing, his sister’s. Being alone, only under the critical eye of aunties from his mother’s side (the stereotypical tough-love-Chinese-aunties), Lucky starts a self-discovery journey aided and guided by Coconut.
Lucky is portrayed as a privileged man-child. Having grown in wealth, he finished architecture but never practised, started multiple business ventures that always ended somehow, and had multiple girlfriends, each one “the one”. Only one thing in his life is actively working, and that’s the coffee shop that he started with two of his friends from architecture college, where he also works a few days a week.
After Pearl’s death, he embarks on a journey of self-discovery and healing, which takes him from Singapore to Kuala Lumpur, Ipoh and the small village in Malaysia where his father grew up. Coconut is his spiritual guide and emotional support and the two bond deeply during their journey.
While the premise holds promise, the execution falls a bit short for me. At almost 400 pages, the story meanders, and I found it hard to maintain interest, as, despite his grief and self-growth journey, Lucky remains an unlikeable protagonist, displaying a concerning lack of maturity. His inability to take charge of his life becomes grating, overshadowing the potential for character growth (I am not certain the interesting conclusion of the book signifies growth).
However, amidst the narrative flaws, there are glimpses of charm. The vivid descriptions of Singaporean and Malaysian locales, coupled with tantalising discussions on coffee offer a sensory escape for readers. For enthusiasts of coffee and feline companions, this book will be a joy. I recommend the books for lovers of coffee and cats, ready to take a literary journey through Singapore and Malaysia!
September 16, 2024
This is a long-ass meandering book, but it meanders so beautifully. I'm going to try to write as beautiful a review soon.
Review up at Penang Monthly.
Review up at Penang Monthly.
Read
November 25, 2024DNF………. really cant get into it :/ perhaps its the writing, or the setting, but i just cant keep myself interested!
June 2, 2024
Book review feat cats of Istanbul during my visit last few months!
The primary topics of “Deplorable Conversations with Cats and Other Distractions” are loss and sibling relationships. Given that it is set in Singapore and Malaysia and that food is discussed almost constantly, you can be sure that reading this will make your stomach turn.
Lucky Lee is the major subject of our attention here. To be honest, he seems like a really spoiled, ungrateful, and entitled person. When his sister unexpectedly passed away in a terrible accident, his life abruptly changed. He must also look after Coconut, her sister’s cat, as he is the only heir to the assets. Everything appeared usual up until the point when he realised the cat was speaking to him while his grieving continued.
The support network Llucky Lee has is one of my favourite things about this novel. His friends are invaluable in helping him identify his challenges, to express to him how his views disturbed his surroundings. If you’re interested, I really adore how this book discusses coffee and architecture, particularly in the context of Southeast Asia.
It’s a consoling read about grieving and coping mechanisms. Even for the fortunate, loss transforms us; there is no correct or simple way to grieve, regardless of wealth. Your only option is to identify and overcome it with your support system. Thank you @penguinbookssea for the review copy. I really appreciate it.
The primary topics of “Deplorable Conversations with Cats and Other Distractions” are loss and sibling relationships. Given that it is set in Singapore and Malaysia and that food is discussed almost constantly, you can be sure that reading this will make your stomach turn.
Lucky Lee is the major subject of our attention here. To be honest, he seems like a really spoiled, ungrateful, and entitled person. When his sister unexpectedly passed away in a terrible accident, his life abruptly changed. He must also look after Coconut, her sister’s cat, as he is the only heir to the assets. Everything appeared usual up until the point when he realised the cat was speaking to him while his grieving continued.
The support network Llucky Lee has is one of my favourite things about this novel. His friends are invaluable in helping him identify his challenges, to express to him how his views disturbed his surroundings. If you’re interested, I really adore how this book discusses coffee and architecture, particularly in the context of Southeast Asia.
It’s a consoling read about grieving and coping mechanisms. Even for the fortunate, loss transforms us; there is no correct or simple way to grieve, regardless of wealth. Your only option is to identify and overcome it with your support system. Thank you @penguinbookssea for the review copy. I really appreciate it.
May 11, 2024
A thing lost is a thing gained, and grief not grieved is a stab in the resuscitation of one’s whole— the lines that repeatedly play on my mind throughout my reading and reckoning of this heart-wrenching yet moving novel entitled “Deplorable Conversations with Cats and Other Distractions” by Yeo Jo-Ann.
As the first chapters of the novel start revolving around two siblings named Lucky Lee and Pearl Lee, the latter encountering a tragedy that leads to her missing for months and considering her as already dead, the pain, the feeling of being lost, and the loneliness of Lucky begins. With the only living member in his family, he found a companion in a most unexpected thing—her sister’s cat named Coconut.
Along the journey in the chapters are episodes of his numbness in everyday life, denial in grief and insanity, letting go of sentimental, frustrations in coping with people’s expectations, and the need to stand up and move on with the uncertainty. Insanity battled with Lee when he started to hear the cat Coconut talking and conversing with him debating if it was just his alter ego and hallucinations. But not… and so he sailed and believed in that idea which helped him survive in his everyday life despite everyone’s contradictions about his mental capability.
I, on my end struggle to be tight-lipped as well in all of the conversations and experiences with his sister’s cat, how companionship became ownership and a reason to live, and how he withstand his mountain of grief for it is yours, dear future readers of this novel, to grapple with.
An ample resonation has come up with my journey in this, especially in Lucky as being with the same profession; and my pain and grief of loss in slumber has woken up again. Yet despite the nonchalant and melancholia, the way it evolves to acceptance and finding purpose once again in life through Coconut gives the wholesomeness on top. Pain, grief, and loss are not just a word but a process with no manuals to overcome. Nobody can dictate when and how it will end to someone but one thing’s for sure and that is to sail with it until the tides go calm but never to end with it.
To Lucky Lee, I understand your numbness and decisions together with Coconut. It is fine to listen to someone and at the same time, contradict the people who only see the tip of your iceberg, dressed in empath’s clothing, and eat you alive because you and you alone understand yourself the most. Life is not a one-path thing. Your re-routes are your gained strengths and I am proud of you despite what you’ve been through.
Sometimes, the calmness and empathy we crave the most are felt in people, animals, or things we expect least to encounter and consider; and in finding oneself is to be lost in a place somewhere only we know.
As the first chapters of the novel start revolving around two siblings named Lucky Lee and Pearl Lee, the latter encountering a tragedy that leads to her missing for months and considering her as already dead, the pain, the feeling of being lost, and the loneliness of Lucky begins. With the only living member in his family, he found a companion in a most unexpected thing—her sister’s cat named Coconut.
Along the journey in the chapters are episodes of his numbness in everyday life, denial in grief and insanity, letting go of sentimental, frustrations in coping with people’s expectations, and the need to stand up and move on with the uncertainty. Insanity battled with Lee when he started to hear the cat Coconut talking and conversing with him debating if it was just his alter ego and hallucinations. But not… and so he sailed and believed in that idea which helped him survive in his everyday life despite everyone’s contradictions about his mental capability.
I, on my end struggle to be tight-lipped as well in all of the conversations and experiences with his sister’s cat, how companionship became ownership and a reason to live, and how he withstand his mountain of grief for it is yours, dear future readers of this novel, to grapple with.
An ample resonation has come up with my journey in this, especially in Lucky as being with the same profession; and my pain and grief of loss in slumber has woken up again. Yet despite the nonchalant and melancholia, the way it evolves to acceptance and finding purpose once again in life through Coconut gives the wholesomeness on top. Pain, grief, and loss are not just a word but a process with no manuals to overcome. Nobody can dictate when and how it will end to someone but one thing’s for sure and that is to sail with it until the tides go calm but never to end with it.
To Lucky Lee, I understand your numbness and decisions together with Coconut. It is fine to listen to someone and at the same time, contradict the people who only see the tip of your iceberg, dressed in empath’s clothing, and eat you alive because you and you alone understand yourself the most. Life is not a one-path thing. Your re-routes are your gained strengths and I am proud of you despite what you’ve been through.
Sometimes, the calmness and empathy we crave the most are felt in people, animals, or things we expect least to encounter and consider; and in finding oneself is to be lost in a place somewhere only we know.
October 15, 2024
Reading this book is like sitting with a talkative bestie who digresses so much that it's difficult to focus, let alone stay invested because there are too many "by the way ah".
Don't get me wrong, I love Jo-Ann's writing style but I frequently found myself feeling exasperated, "Aiyo, get to the point!"
I also found myself not being able to relate with the main character because we both come from extremely different socioeconomic backgrounds.
This book is certainly not for me. But it could be for you because Jo-Ann is an amazing writer. Her story is sweet, fresh and unique but omg, like a cat, the story curves, curls, bends forwards, backwards, sideways, a lot. If you're okay with this, please get your hands on the book because it is adorable - this I can't dispute.
Don't get me wrong, I love Jo-Ann's writing style but I frequently found myself feeling exasperated, "Aiyo, get to the point!"
I also found myself not being able to relate with the main character because we both come from extremely different socioeconomic backgrounds.
This book is certainly not for me. But it could be for you because Jo-Ann is an amazing writer. Her story is sweet, fresh and unique but omg, like a cat, the story curves, curls, bends forwards, backwards, sideways, a lot. If you're okay with this, please get your hands on the book because it is adorable - this I can't dispute.
October 27, 2024
Impeccably researched coffee, magical realism, road trip to Malaysia, and a sassy cat. Coconut is the best character in the book and MVP, I don’t care if she’s.not real.
Seriously though, coconut is the perfect cat. Cute, funny, tapped into the cat network for when you need it and therapist some more eh. Even got homing feature, will still find you across Malaysia. 5/5 star cat, would recommend.
(Ok my friend Amy has an actual review of this book, can go read if you want actual thoughts on the book rather than me fanboying about coconut, WHO IS STILL THE BEST CAT…)
link 👇
https://substack.com/home/post/p-1432...
Seriously though, coconut is the perfect cat. Cute, funny, tapped into the cat network for when you need it and therapist some more eh. Even got homing feature, will still find you across Malaysia. 5/5 star cat, would recommend.
(Ok my friend Amy has an actual review of this book, can go read if you want actual thoughts on the book rather than me fanboying about coconut, WHO IS STILL THE BEST CAT…)
link 👇
https://substack.com/home/post/p-1432...
April 9, 2024
Quite a disappointment after Yeoh's impressive first novel. The protagonist is dull and charmless, the plot is limp, and all the swooning over cats (a talking cat, no less) is silly and tiresome. A couple of times it almost manages to say something about grief and loneliness, but it always shies away from it in the end.
August 3, 2025
Jo-Ann's prose is an utter delight, meandering at times but brimming with wit and the astute observational humour I remember so well from Impractical Uses of Cake!
I feel that this is a book best read in chunks rather than all in one sitting. It took me a while to get invested in this novel (which I initially mistook for a short story collection based on the cover and title); it was only after Lucky and Coconut embarked on their trip to Malaysia that the story really sank its claws into me like a cat kneading biscuits.
Although Lucky was undoubtedly the star of the show (we stan a Care Bears fashion icon!!), every character in this book felt like they could've been the protagonist of their own spin-off, from worrywart Dinah to the wise Raja Kuching to Meixi the cafe employee with a crush on her boss. I initially found the sudden switches in perspective from third-person limited to third-person omniscient a bit jarring, but this gradually came to be one of the most enjoyable features of the book for me. I especially enjoyed Jo-Ann's depiction of the co-dependent brother/sister relationship between Pearl and Lucky. Despite her death early in the book (I figured this wasn't really a spoiler, since it appears on the synopsis on the back of the book), Pearl looms large in the margins of subsequent chapters, reminding us that it's possible to miss/love someone who held us back developmentally for their own convenience (and honestly, seemed a bit like a bully from third-person observers). Unlike every other character in the story, we never really get to hear Pearl's inner monologue - which I think was for the best in this book, but I thought it would be really cool if we got a subsequent book where we get to learn more about Pearl from her own perspective instead of what everyone else had to say about her.
Perhaps because I had been primed by Impractical Uses of Cake, I kept waiting around for a twist with regards to Pearl's mysterious death. But this twist never materialised. I think the lack of a twist was in itself a twist (along with numerous other red herrings like the Teluk Intan house, which I thought might point towards Lee Joo Meng having a secret family in Ipoh, and Mit and Lucky's "will they won't they" reunion in KL) which ultimately made the story's resolution more satisfying.
Unexpectedly, I also learned a lot about architecture and coffee from reading this book.
I feel that this is a book best read in chunks rather than all in one sitting. It took me a while to get invested in this novel (which I initially mistook for a short story collection based on the cover and title); it was only after Lucky and Coconut embarked on their trip to Malaysia that the story really sank its claws into me like a cat kneading biscuits.
Although Lucky was undoubtedly the star of the show (we stan a Care Bears fashion icon!!), every character in this book felt like they could've been the protagonist of their own spin-off, from worrywart Dinah to the wise Raja Kuching to Meixi the cafe employee with a crush on her boss. I initially found the sudden switches in perspective from third-person limited to third-person omniscient a bit jarring, but this gradually came to be one of the most enjoyable features of the book for me. I especially enjoyed Jo-Ann's depiction of the co-dependent brother/sister relationship between Pearl and Lucky. Despite her death early in the book (I figured this wasn't really a spoiler, since it appears on the synopsis on the back of the book), Pearl looms large in the margins of subsequent chapters, reminding us that it's possible to miss/love someone who held us back developmentally for their own convenience (and honestly, seemed a bit like a bully from third-person observers). Unlike every other character in the story, we never really get to hear Pearl's inner monologue - which I think was for the best in this book, but I thought it would be really cool if we got a subsequent book where we get to learn more about Pearl from her own perspective instead of what everyone else had to say about her.
Perhaps because I had been primed by Impractical Uses of Cake, I kept waiting around for a twist with regards to Pearl's mysterious death. But this twist never materialised. I think the lack of a twist was in itself a twist (along with numerous other red herrings like the Teluk Intan house, which I thought might point towards Lee Joo Meng having a secret family in Ipoh, and Mit and Lucky's "will they won't they" reunion in KL) which ultimately made the story's resolution more satisfying.
Unexpectedly, I also learned a lot about architecture and coffee from reading this book.
January 8, 2025
🥥☠️🐈⬛☕️⏲️
my rating: 4.3/5
cw / tw: curse words, death of family member, grieving, panic attack, substance abuse
opinion (beware of spoiler):
it's a book for coffee-lover, cat-lover, architecture-lover, journey-in-finding-yourself lover, a little bit of everything for everyone. it's also for those who realises that they have taken everything in their lives for granted and now trying to learn how to live on your own after something significant happened to you.
choosing this book as my first read of 2025 certainly is the right choice. yes, i sobbed TWICE at some point of the book because grief is never the easiest thing to experience, either for both lucky lee (mmc) or coconut (pearl lee's [lucky's sister] cat) and jo's writing has made me "feel" the grief really well. the flashbacks from lucky's memories spent with pearl were also definitely helpful in making me SOB.
real life does not stop even when your life is flipped upside down, realistically, so please, learn to communicate when you're having a hard time. it's to avoid any misunderstanding and miscommunication with your loved ones too. though some actions by lucky lee (mmc) is slightly unfathomable; bad with communication and indecisiveness, example at third slide, he tried working on it in his own pace on the second half of the book.
thank you yeoh jo ann for letting me tag along on the journey from singapore to segamat to kuala lumpur to taiping to ipoh from the immersive sentences and wonderful foods and coffee.
wardah ꨄ
my rating: 4.3/5
cw / tw: curse words, death of family member, grieving, panic attack, substance abuse
opinion (beware of spoiler):
it's a book for coffee-lover, cat-lover, architecture-lover, journey-in-finding-yourself lover, a little bit of everything for everyone. it's also for those who realises that they have taken everything in their lives for granted and now trying to learn how to live on your own after something significant happened to you.
choosing this book as my first read of 2025 certainly is the right choice. yes, i sobbed TWICE at some point of the book because grief is never the easiest thing to experience, either for both lucky lee (mmc) or coconut (pearl lee's [lucky's sister] cat) and jo's writing has made me "feel" the grief really well. the flashbacks from lucky's memories spent with pearl were also definitely helpful in making me SOB.
real life does not stop even when your life is flipped upside down, realistically, so please, learn to communicate when you're having a hard time. it's to avoid any misunderstanding and miscommunication with your loved ones too. though some actions by lucky lee (mmc) is slightly unfathomable; bad with communication and indecisiveness, example at third slide, he tried working on it in his own pace on the second half of the book.
thank you yeoh jo ann for letting me tag along on the journey from singapore to segamat to kuala lumpur to taiping to ipoh from the immersive sentences and wonderful foods and coffee.
wardah ꨄ
March 26, 2024
Lucky Lee, a man who seemingly has it all, has his life upended by the sudden death of his sister, Pearl Lee. He must now navigate life without her with Pearl's cat who begins to talk to Lucky, questioning his choices and even his sanity.
The book intricately delves into the theme of grief and portrays how Lucky tries to cope with the profound loss of his sister while simultaneously rediscovering himself. Amidst it all, Lucky tries to find solace in reconnecting with himself and finding meaning in his life beyond the shadow of his sister's legacy. Throughout the narrative, we see Lucky and Coconut form an unexpected bond that becomes instrumental in helping them cope with their grief.
I found it hard to fully connect with Lucky as a character. While his experiences were relatable, there were moments where his actions felt somewhat… stagnant? I was rooting for him throughout the story but the turning point that never came. Now, let’s talk about Coconut. I absolutely ADORED her. Coconut's straightforward and hilarious commentary on Lucky's shenanigans were amusing and entertaining. It served as a distraction from his pain.
Deplorable Conversations with Cats and Other Distractions teaches us how even the most unlikely of companions can provide comfort and companionship in times of need. Lucky needed Coconut, and Coconut needed Lucky. Perhaps, in each other's company, they had unknowingly saved one another.
The book intricately delves into the theme of grief and portrays how Lucky tries to cope with the profound loss of his sister while simultaneously rediscovering himself. Amidst it all, Lucky tries to find solace in reconnecting with himself and finding meaning in his life beyond the shadow of his sister's legacy. Throughout the narrative, we see Lucky and Coconut form an unexpected bond that becomes instrumental in helping them cope with their grief.
I found it hard to fully connect with Lucky as a character. While his experiences were relatable, there were moments where his actions felt somewhat… stagnant? I was rooting for him throughout the story but the turning point that never came. Now, let’s talk about Coconut. I absolutely ADORED her. Coconut's straightforward and hilarious commentary on Lucky's shenanigans were amusing and entertaining. It served as a distraction from his pain.
Deplorable Conversations with Cats and Other Distractions teaches us how even the most unlikely of companions can provide comfort and companionship in times of need. Lucky needed Coconut, and Coconut needed Lucky. Perhaps, in each other's company, they had unknowingly saved one another.
April 15, 2024
Reading this book made me realize there's a reason overused review clichés such as "I laughed and then I cried" or "[Place] is the [nth] character of [Title]" are overused -- because sometimes there's no better way to articulate how effective prose can make us feel.
I am rarely so enamored by details but Yeoh writes about everything -- that area in Singapore that's Joo Chiat or perhaps it's Katong and honestly who knows anymore, coffee, architecture -- with so much love and knowledge (so much to make you wonder if she'd perhaps been an architect in the past, or maybe a barista, or both) that I found myself suddenly craving for whatever she's describing at the moment, whether it be a walk around the East side of Singapore (even though I am, as it stands, a proud West Coaster), or maybe a plate of chee cheong fun.
Somehow, all that never weighs the book down, because it's dripping in personality. Yes, it's largely a slice-of-life for a good part of the book, but I nevertheless felt compelled to read page after page (unlike 'Oh, Tama!', although I would attribute my disinterest in that book to Japanese slice-of-life just not being my thing). There's so much backstory imbued in the pages that doesn't so much feel like lore as it does noodle incidents (or shall I say, Oodles of Noodles... incidents) that serve to remind us that these are whole people with such depth in their lives and that we could only be so lucky to scratch the surface. (Yeoh's habit of switching POVs has the same effect, and also serves as a (gut-punching) reminder that cats don't talk, unfortunately.)
In my opinion, leaving the book as a slice-of-life (sorry for having used this phrase three times already) would have been a much better plot (or non-plot, as it were), because about halfway through when the book switches gears into a (honestly pretty meta) fantastical hero's journey, it feels like going from Park to 5th Gear, and the cup of coffee you forgot you'd left on the roof of your car comes careening off, and, well, you know. It almost feels like someone read a draft of the first half and told Yeoh, "And then what?" And then nothing! Is a perfectly fine answer.
I would read an entire book of just Lucky unlearning (or learning?) the privilege he's had his entire life, by way of cat. But I suppose all this -- the "boring" stuff, the fantastical stuff -- needed to happen for that to, well, happen.
I am rarely so enamored by details but Yeoh writes about everything -- that area in Singapore that's Joo Chiat or perhaps it's Katong and honestly who knows anymore, coffee, architecture -- with so much love and knowledge (so much to make you wonder if she'd perhaps been an architect in the past, or maybe a barista, or both) that I found myself suddenly craving for whatever she's describing at the moment, whether it be a walk around the East side of Singapore (even though I am, as it stands, a proud West Coaster), or maybe a plate of chee cheong fun.
Somehow, all that never weighs the book down, because it's dripping in personality. Yes, it's largely a slice-of-life for a good part of the book, but I nevertheless felt compelled to read page after page (unlike 'Oh, Tama!', although I would attribute my disinterest in that book to Japanese slice-of-life just not being my thing). There's so much backstory imbued in the pages that doesn't so much feel like lore as it does noodle incidents (or shall I say, Oodles of Noodles... incidents) that serve to remind us that these are whole people with such depth in their lives and that we could only be so lucky to scratch the surface. (Yeoh's habit of switching POVs has the same effect, and also serves as a (gut-punching) reminder that cats don't talk, unfortunately.)
In my opinion, leaving the book as a slice-of-life (sorry for having used this phrase three times already) would have been a much better plot (or non-plot, as it were), because about halfway through when the book switches gears into a (honestly pretty meta) fantastical hero's journey, it feels like going from Park to 5th Gear, and the cup of coffee you forgot you'd left on the roof of your car comes careening off, and, well, you know. It almost feels like someone read a draft of the first half and told Yeoh, "And then what?" And then nothing! Is a perfectly fine answer.
I would read an entire book of just Lucky unlearning (or learning?) the privilege he's had his entire life, by way of cat. But I suppose all this -- the "boring" stuff, the fantastical stuff -- needed to happen for that to, well, happen.
December 22, 2024
There are a lot of pages, a lot of blah blah blah, talking to himself, talking to the cat, the cat talking back, and blah blah blah. And blah again. Surprisingly, due to the humor, the blah, and funny narratives, I was getting to understand how a brother who loved his sister so much was grieving for having lost her.
And you have to allow someone the time to go through the grief, no matter how long. And it’s a novel with almost 400 pages.
That’s why I read the novel as it is—word by word, slowly, enjoying the thoughts that go into creating this story. Understanding it, embracing it, empathy, the patience. This, to me, is what this story is about.
And you have to allow someone the time to go through the grief, no matter how long. And it’s a novel with almost 400 pages.
That’s why I read the novel as it is—word by word, slowly, enjoying the thoughts that go into creating this story. Understanding it, embracing it, empathy, the patience. This, to me, is what this story is about.
September 20, 2025
A loving story between a middle aged boy man and his dead sister’s cat.
Jo-Ann’s text feels like you’re taking a walk in the park. Although I didn’t quite know where the story would go, I grew more fond of the relationship of the cat and the man.
Sassiness in a cat? Who would have thought! If you ever wondered what may cats be thinking about, this 400-paged book would take you on a journey.
Also shout out to local Singapore authors. This book touches on the character of the local neighborhood cat feeding ground, as well as the taste of rich and creamy Ipoh white coffee in Malaysia.
Jo-Ann’s text feels like you’re taking a walk in the park. Although I didn’t quite know where the story would go, I grew more fond of the relationship of the cat and the man.
Sassiness in a cat? Who would have thought! If you ever wondered what may cats be thinking about, this 400-paged book would take you on a journey.
Also shout out to local Singapore authors. This book touches on the character of the local neighborhood cat feeding ground, as well as the taste of rich and creamy Ipoh white coffee in Malaysia.
April 21, 2025
Stars for the interesting idea. The execution was not for me. I read about 1/4 or less and then skimmed and skipped the rest of it. All I wanted to do was get a big marker and chop through screeds of unnecessary verbiage. It was painful. Having skipped a lot of it, I don't even feel like I missed anything.
June 8, 2024
A thoughtful read which flows seamlessly from surrealism to dark humour with travel and great food.
Themes of social class, mental health, relationships and cats. Complex themes treated with depth and humour.
Highly recommend!
Themes of social class, mental health, relationships and cats. Complex themes treated with depth and humour.
Highly recommend!
July 1, 2025
Fun book. Sometimes, you just need to refocus your energy on pets instead of drowning in sadness? ahaha, I really hope at the end it showed the illustrations of how the Coconut's mountain. Alas, I am hopeful for Lucky.
June 12, 2025
This book is brilliant! Hilarious, moving and very relatable.
If only cats could talk.. we should all be so lucky ;)
If only cats could talk.. we should all be so lucky ;)
September 15, 2025
Love. 😻
May 11, 2024
fun and made me so hungry with all the food descriptions! Refreshing because it was a Singaporean book, so it was gentle and easy on the brain. Didn't realise how much imagination I usually need to stir up when reading non-sing lit. Tho the ending was a little confusing and anti-climatic :/ But maybe that's the point, the point at which you start to move on from grief won't appear in dramatic strokes but in ordinariness.
The main character: Lucky Lee started out pretty quirky and funny! But slowly started to realise he was a man-child, think the author suceeded in making me feel more sympathetic but also more realness about him - it did seem like he was a man-child which was mostly sad (as many people fall into this category). But glad that he got some character development! Enjoyed the Singaporean landscape but really enjoyed the Malaysian landscape too.
The main character: Lucky Lee started out pretty quirky and funny! But slowly started to realise he was a man-child, think the author suceeded in making me feel more sympathetic but also more realness about him - it did seem like he was a man-child which was mostly sad (as many people fall into this category). But glad that he got some character development! Enjoyed the Singaporean landscape but really enjoyed the Malaysian landscape too.
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