It is up to each individual to decide how they feel about the words of others and what action they wish to take.
Page 104
In a nutshell
In a magical cafe called Funiculi Funicula, it’s possible for patrons to travel back in time. But, they have had to have been there before and have to return before their coffee gets cold. There are rules and there are risks which the four new patrons will have to grapple with.
Book Club Notes
Before we say goodbye is the fourth novel in Toshikazu Kawaguchi’s ‘Before The Coffee Gets Cold’ series. Having not read the other three, I can say with confidence that they can be read standalone.
The format is short stories, with each patron’s visit forming its own chapter. They don’t intertwine, with only the cafe standing as the thread to tie them together.
Although the concept was interesting, the storyline sweet, the messaging meaningful and the writing thoughtful – something was missing for me. It was almost too simplistic, too stripped, too “a snapshot of a moment in time” for my taste. However, If you enjoy short stories, I think you will enjoy this.
Part of me wonders if some of the beauty was lost in translation. The original being written in Japanese and translated by Geoffrey Trousselot. But then I think of books like The Consultant and realise the story was just not layered enough for me.
Read If
You enjoy thoughtful short stories.
Rating
Writing – 7/10
Character Development – 5/10
Plot Twist – 2/10
Shareability – 5/10
The Nitty Gritty
A note on our book ratings
Storyline: How good is the storyline? Is it believable and complex or does it make you shake your head in its ridiculousness?
Writing: How well written is the book? Do you find yourself wowed by the writing or unimpressed?
Character Development: Do the characters evolve and grow through the book and are they multi-dimensional?
Plot Twist: Were you able to predict the end, or did the author give you some surprises along the way to keep you on your toes?
Shareability: How likely are you to share the book?
