Before the Coffee Gets Cold
Ratings669
Average rating3.7
A little slow and repetitive at first. And the laconic style does make you feel as if you were watching a play, not reading a novel... but in the end, things tie together in a pleasing way. All in all, not too bad.
There's a cafe in Tokyo. Take a seat and you can travel in time. You must follow the rules, though. An important rule is that your visit to the past will not change what is going to happen. You cannot leave the cafe. And you must return to the present before the coffee gets cold.
Before the Coffee Gets Cold follows the lives of four different characters, each of whom uses time-travel for their own purposes. And, no, nothing changes. And yet everything.
A satisfying story.
I thought this book was beautiful and really thought-provoking - if you could travel through time despite all the rules and constraints and never being able to change anything, would it be worth it? The stories are sad but not too maudlin, and while I would have preferred the outcomes to be a little less conservative I can see how the characters came to those conclusions and really liked how even though they hadn't changed the past, the change in perspective changed their future.
This novel is an adaptation of a play of the same name, which explains why it's so dialogue-driven and all takes place in a single room.
I loved this book. The premise is interesting - what if there was a cafe that enabled you to travel through time, but only until your coffee gets cold? The book delivered on the premise, and so much more. What the characters find in their travels and learn about themselves make this a story that will stick with me and that I will think about for a while. Highly recommend!
‘'The cafe's name was Funiculi Funicula. It had become famous, with long queues each day, an account of time-travelling. But it wasn't possible to find anyone who had actually gone back in time, because of the extremely annoying rules that had to be followed. The first rule was: ‘'The only people you can meet while in the past are those who have visited the cafe.'' This would usually defeat the purpose of going back. Another rule was: ‘'There is nothing you can do while in the past that will change the present.'' The cafe was asked why that rule existed, but their only comment was that they didn't know.''
In a basement, somewhere in a busy neighbourhood in Tokyo, there is a special cafe that will allow you to travel back in time. And in the future under certain circumstances. But it isn't your run-on-the mill time-travelling. No. You need to follow a set of important rules. You can't meet any person you want. You cannot alter the present. You have to sit in a particular seat and you must never move from it while in the past. And there is a limit. You must say what you have to say before the coffee gets cold. Or else you will become a ghost in the corner.
So, many would wonder. Why bother to drink the special brew if you can't alter the present? What's the use? Well, let's listen to the stories of the five characters (yes, five, but you need to read the book to discover the fifth...) who travelled back and forth in time to settle their unfinished business.
The Lovers: A young woman falls in love with a young man. So far, so good. But when he decides to accept a job in New York, she realizes that there are certain things that need to be said.
Husband and Wife: A husband who is in the early stages of Alzheimer's and a wife who tries to live with the fact that he will soon forget her existence. A letter that needs to find its destination before it's too late.
The Sisters: Two sisters who loved one another had to go their separate ways when the eldest decided to distance herself from the family business and form her own path. When tragic circumstances arise, travelling in the past and a change of heart may be the only remedy.
Mother and Child: A woman travels to the future to meet her unborn daughter in the most moving moment of the book.
This tender, sensitive novel isn't about time-travelling as many have come to know it from ridiculous ‘'books'' that violate all sense of quality. It isn't about being ‘'married with children as some have stated. It is a story about feelings, about people like you and me, about love and regret and the sadness caused not by the lack of change but by missing the opportunity to unburden your soul. Sometimes you don't need to change the past or alter the future. Sometimes all you need is to finally say what was left unsaid...
‘'But Kazu still goes on believing that, no matter what difficulties people face, they will always have the strength to overcome them. It just takes heart. And if the chair can change someone's heart, it clearly has its purpose.But with her cool expression, she will just say, ‘Drink the coffee before it gets cold.''
My reviews can also be found on https://theopinionatedreaderblog.wordpress.com/
I wanted something light to read. This was so light it blew away. Seriously poor. 200 pages of my life I will never get back. Nothing more to add.
3.75 stars. Honestly the writing is pretty plain and simple. Perhaps some might say the characterisation is a bit flat. But it's merit is that it is relatable. You don't need deep characterisation for such a premise. I like how the theme of regret is handled. Often we wish we could change the outcome by changing what we did or said. But what if the outcome cannot be changed? Can we still right that regret? This is what this book is about. Warning: you might cry multiple times.
——
My Rating System:
5⭐️: Excellent book AND influenced a change in my views
4.5⭐️: Excellent read
4⭐️: Great read, will recommend
3.5⭐️: Enjoyable read but missing something that will make it great ⬅️⬅️⬅️
3⭐️: An okay read that I didn't regret spending time on it
2⭐️: Didn't enjoy
1⭐️: Didn't enjoy and had serious issues. Will suggest to avoid.