Part of my dislike of this probably comes from the translation. I found the prose of this book to be uninspired at best, and completely pedestrian at worst. Perhaps turns of phrase were more natural in the French.

But I think it's also the book itself. Even the bits that were supposed to be touching I simply found hackneyed. At least three times (which in a small book is a lot) Laurain chooses to describe in some detail the oyster quivering when someone squeezes some lemon onto it. And I really don't think there's anything symbolic to be read into this.

The concept was nice but ultimately self-limiting. A magical hat? Or perhaps there's a physical explanation for all of these weird events?

Who cares?? Not me. Won't be rereading this one.