THE SMILING DOG CAFE

A magical New York City cafe helps people reconcile with their struggles in this collection of two novellas by Plakcy.

In the first story, “Code of Silence,” Jeff,a software developer,watches his life gradually unravel after he breaks up with his beloved girlfriend, Madeline. Struggling with insecurity and his overbearing father’s expectations, he has trouble keeping a job or maintaining a steady romantic relationship. One day, he finds himself alone, desperate, and living in a hotel. A chance encounter with a golden retriever named Cooper leads him to the Smiling Dog Café and its owner, Betty, and his conversations with her allow him to confront his memories of his ex, understand his fears, and find a path forward—with a little help from Betty’s magical powers. Cooper, for instance, is actually a painting of a dog that she’s brought to life, and the cafe’s furniture and music transform memories into therapeutic experiences. In this way, the novella effectivelytakes readers on Jeff's journey from isolation and self-doubt to self-acceptance and hope. The second novella, “A Mother’s Heart,” does something similar; it features Sophia Greenwood, a single mother whose 9-year-old daughter, Emma, is diagnosed with a genetic heart condition. Painful memories of her own mother’sbattle with heart disease haunt Sophia, and as she navigates Emma’s difficult treatment, she calls on memories of women who raised her after her globetrotting mom’s death. Each caregiver—Keiko-san in Tokyo, Lakshmi in Mumbai, Marie-Claude in Paris, and Isabella in Rio—taught Sophia different ways of coping with grief. Sophia ultimately also ends up at the Smiling Dog Café, and its magic helps her to embrace a legacy of love and strength, passed down through generations of women. These two heartfelt, crisply written novellas wear their sadness on their sleeve and take their earnest messages of healing seriously. A reference to Michael Cunningham’s bestselling novel The Hours (1998) points to Plakcy’s clear intentions; at their best, these stories tackle their characters’ suffering with skill.

Sometimes-grim but ultimately hopeful stories of redemption.