"Coffee was introduced to Japan in the Edo period, around the late seventeenth century." ~ pg. 81
In a small back alley of Tokyo, there is a café that serves a special cup of brewed coffee. Local legend says it offers the chance to time travel...with rules of course! Four customers visit the café in hopes of going back in time (The Lovers, Husband & Wife, The Sisters, Mother & Child). The strict rules make it almost pointless but the most problematic rule of all is the trip must end before the coffee gets cold.
This international bestseller was first published in 2015. I was able to get my hands on a brand new library copy published in November 2020. Already it has a long hold list. But don't worry, I will return my copy well before the due date so the next reader can enjoy its wistful story.
Although this book is 272 pages, it is a very quick read. I read the compact hardcover edition so was able to carry it around easily to read the 4-in-1 stories. It is odd at first but the common theme of missed opportunities and relationships made the stories interesting as I read further. Traveling in time is not a new concept in fiction—particularly science fiction genre—but Before the Coffee Gets Cold offers it with a twist. Well done!
Author: Toshikazu Kawaguchi
Published: November 2020
Pages: 272
Edition: Hardcover
Rating: 🖤 🖤 🖤
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