I recently read the book, The Van Gogh Cafe by Cynthia Rylant. This book explains a small cafe where anything can happen. Clara, who's dad own the cafe has seen it all. Lemon meringue pies have been known to appear out of nowhere often in this book, anywhere where it fits. One of the most popular offerings on the menu is Clara's father's poetry, which tells the future. The possum that hangs from the tree outside the cafe window has the mysterious ability to turn customer's lives upside down. Whatever you order from the Van Gogh Cafe just might come with a side of magic.
Every afternoon in the Van Gogh Cafe, Clara helps around her dad with customer's orders or other needs such as cleaning. Everyday Clara would have the best manners as possible to every customer that visits the cafe. She would greet them at the door, show them to a table and serve their food very quick. I love the way how Clara treats her visitors. They all really do like her, most of them return often. They all enjoy going to the cafe and some adults have said they have been coming ever since they were younger.
There was this one day that occurred towards the middle of the book, saying a possum was spotted by Clara sitting peacefully on a tree right outside the cafe. Clara went to have a closer look at this animal, but it ended up being a daily routine. The possum would would return to the same tree every day for weeks, no matter the weather. Clara thought that the possum being there was a message of some sort, but she didn't know why the possum kept returning. Although, the day finally came where the possum did not show up. Clara didn't seem like she cared though. But that day was very bad weather. She had a feeling something was up. She just didn't know what.
In conclusion, I really enjoyed this book. It was quite magical, since it had personification twists here and there, but it was entertaining to read since it's based on an actual cafe in the world.
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