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コーヒーが冷めないうちに #2
Tales from the Café
In a small back alley in Tokyo, there is a café which has been serving carefully brewed coffee for more than one hundred years. But this coffee shop offers its customers a unique experience: the chance to travel back in time...
From the author of Before the Coffee Gets Cold comes a story of four new customers each of whom is hoping to take advantage of Cafe Funiculi Funicula's time-travelling offer.
Among some faces that will be familiar to readers of Kawaguchi's previous novel, we will be introduced to:
The man who goes back to see his best friend who died 22 years ago
The son who was unable to attend his own mother’s funeral
The man who travelled to see the girl who he could not marry
The old detective who never gave his wife that gift...
This beautiful, simple tale tells the story of people who must face up to their past, in order to move on with their lives. Kawaguchi once again invites the reader to ask themselves: what would you change if you could travel back in time?
From the author of Before the Coffee Gets Cold comes a story of four new customers each of whom is hoping to take advantage of Cafe Funiculi Funicula's time-travelling offer.
Among some faces that will be familiar to readers of Kawaguchi's previous novel, we will be introduced to:
The man who goes back to see his best friend who died 22 years ago
The son who was unable to attend his own mother’s funeral
The man who travelled to see the girl who he could not marry
The old detective who never gave his wife that gift...
This beautiful, simple tale tells the story of people who must face up to their past, in order to move on with their lives. Kawaguchi once again invites the reader to ask themselves: what would you change if you could travel back in time?
192 pages, Paperback
First published March 14, 2017
About the author
Toshikazu Kawaguchi
13 books4,357 followersToshikazu Kawaguchi (in Japanese: 川口 俊 和) was born in Osaka, Japan, in 1971. He formerly produced, directed and wrote for the theatrical group Sonic Snail. As a playwright, his works include COUPLE, Sunset Song, and Family Time. The novel Before the Coffee Gets Cold is adapted from a 1110 Productions play by Kawaguchi, which won the 10th Suginami Drama Festival grand prize.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 10,689 reviews
November 16, 2022
wtf is this author doing to me ? 🥲
September 29, 2022
tears have been shed. knees have fallen to the ground. hijabs have been tightened and sobs have been sobbed.
August 16, 2022
4.5⭐
“People tend to feel happy when spring arrives, especially after a cold winter. When spring begins, however, cannot be pinpointed to one particular moment. There is no one day that clearly marks when winter ends and spring begins. Spring hides inside winter. We notice it emerging with our eyes, our skin and other senses. We find it in new buds, a comfortable breeze and the warmth of the sun. It exists alongside winter.”
“clang-dong”
Welcome back to Café Funiculi Funicula, where patrons can embark on a journey into the past and/or future as long as they follow a list of rules among which is that nothing done in the past would impact the present or the future and you must return to the present before your coffee gets cold!
“If it is not possible to change the present no matter how hard you try while in the past, then why bother?”
A question that defies rational thought but the answer of which lies in the hearts of those who are grieving for the people they have lost, regretting all that was left unsaid, those experiencing guilt over past actions or words that haunt them and prevent them from leading their lives to the fullest and those who want to see their loved one(s) just one more time.
“We can never truly see into the hearts of others. When people get lost in their own worries, they can be blind to the feelings of those most important to them.”
This time we meet four new time –travelers. We have a man who visits a dear friend who was killed in a car crash 22 years ago and whose daughter he has raised as his own. Her impending wedding evokes guilt as he has never told her the truth about her parentage. We also meet a man, who was unable to attend his mother’s funeral and travels back in time to see her once again. The son hasn’t had an easy life and meeting his mother proves to be a cathartic experience, giving him a new lease on life. A terminally ill man travels to the future to see the woman he loved and to ensure that she leads a happy life and not allow his death to prevent her from finding happiness. The final time traveler is a policeman nearing retirement who meets his late wife on her birthday – a day he missed on account of work- to give her a gift.
With simple prose, endearing characters (old and new) and stories that touch your heart, “Before the Coffee Gets Cold: Tales from the Café” by Toshikazu Kawaguchi (translated by Geoffrey Trousselot) is an impressive sequel. Though I did enjoy reading the first book in the series, Before the Coffee Gets Cold, I must say that this book is an improvement over the first. Not only is the writing more fluid and less disjoint, but the characters are very well fleshed out and the stories are characterized by much more emotional depth and nuance. We get to know more about the café owner and his family and we finally get to know the story of the mysterious woman who occupies the time-travel chair in the café, vacating it only once a day, opening up an opportunity for others to embark on their journeys. Yes, there is a certain amount of repetitiveness (with each of the patrons being reminded of the rules) but that can be easily forgiven on account of how beautifully written these interconnected stories are. This book made me smile and yes, I did shed more than a few tears. I’m eagerly awaiting the third book in the series.
“Life too, passes through difficult winters. But after any winter, spring will follow.”
“People tend to feel happy when spring arrives, especially after a cold winter. When spring begins, however, cannot be pinpointed to one particular moment. There is no one day that clearly marks when winter ends and spring begins. Spring hides inside winter. We notice it emerging with our eyes, our skin and other senses. We find it in new buds, a comfortable breeze and the warmth of the sun. It exists alongside winter.”
“clang-dong”
Welcome back to Café Funiculi Funicula, where patrons can embark on a journey into the past and/or future as long as they follow a list of rules among which is that nothing done in the past would impact the present or the future and you must return to the present before your coffee gets cold!
“If it is not possible to change the present no matter how hard you try while in the past, then why bother?”
A question that defies rational thought but the answer of which lies in the hearts of those who are grieving for the people they have lost, regretting all that was left unsaid, those experiencing guilt over past actions or words that haunt them and prevent them from leading their lives to the fullest and those who want to see their loved one(s) just one more time.
“We can never truly see into the hearts of others. When people get lost in their own worries, they can be blind to the feelings of those most important to them.”
This time we meet four new time –travelers. We have a man who visits a dear friend who was killed in a car crash 22 years ago and whose daughter he has raised as his own. Her impending wedding evokes guilt as he has never told her the truth about her parentage. We also meet a man, who was unable to attend his mother’s funeral and travels back in time to see her once again. The son hasn’t had an easy life and meeting his mother proves to be a cathartic experience, giving him a new lease on life. A terminally ill man travels to the future to see the woman he loved and to ensure that she leads a happy life and not allow his death to prevent her from finding happiness. The final time traveler is a policeman nearing retirement who meets his late wife on her birthday – a day he missed on account of work- to give her a gift.
With simple prose, endearing characters (old and new) and stories that touch your heart, “Before the Coffee Gets Cold: Tales from the Café” by Toshikazu Kawaguchi (translated by Geoffrey Trousselot) is an impressive sequel. Though I did enjoy reading the first book in the series, Before the Coffee Gets Cold, I must say that this book is an improvement over the first. Not only is the writing more fluid and less disjoint, but the characters are very well fleshed out and the stories are characterized by much more emotional depth and nuance. We get to know more about the café owner and his family and we finally get to know the story of the mysterious woman who occupies the time-travel chair in the café, vacating it only once a day, opening up an opportunity for others to embark on their journeys. Yes, there is a certain amount of repetitiveness (with each of the patrons being reminded of the rules) but that can be easily forgiven on account of how beautifully written these interconnected stories are. This book made me smile and yes, I did shed more than a few tears. I’m eagerly awaiting the third book in the series.
“Life too, passes through difficult winters. But after any winter, spring will follow.”
December 19, 2022
Who is the gentleman in his early old age who was sitting in the chair?
To be continued……???
To be continued……???
June 7, 2021
حكايات من المقهى هى حكايات آسرة..هادئة...ودافئة...
تلقيت دعوة في إحدى الصباحات الشتوية الباردة من مقهى " فونيكولي فونيكولا " لتناول فنجان من القهوة اللذيذة الساخنة...يبدو أن صاحب المقهى علِم بأنني لا يمكنني أن أرتشف رشفة واحدة من القهوة الباردة أو الفاترة....
هناك جلست بإحدى الطاولات التي تنزوي بعيداً...ترقبت مدخل المقهى ساكنة في مقعدي ، تزوغ عيناي كلما دخل أحد الزبائن ، وقد تناهى إلى مسامعي صوت مُنطفئاً خافتاً يأمل في السفر عبر الزمن...!!
ثلاثة منهم أراد السفر إلى الماضي...
رجلٌ أراد أن يلتقي صديقه الذي توفي قبل اثنين وعشرين عاماً...
الابن الذي لم يتمكن من زيارة والدته المريضة بالمستشفى ولم يتمكن من حضور جنازتها..
والمحقق الذي لم تسمح له الأقدار بأن يهدي زوجته هدية عيد ميلادها وقد رحلت منذ ثلاثين عاماً...
والتقيت برجل أراد السفر إلى المستقبل ليلتقي بحبيبته التي لم يتزوجها...
مهلاً...كيف يمكن لهم السفر عبر الزمن ؟!...
يجلس المرء على كرسي ، وتبدأ الرحلة ما أن تنسكب القهوة في الفنجان وتنتهي قبل أن تبرد القهوة وثمة قواعد عليه أن يتبعها وإلا ....
سأدعك تعرف أنت ما ينتظر من يخالف القواعد...اتفقنا...
ولكن اعلم بأن مهما فعل أحدهم في الماضي لن يستطيع ان يغير شيئاً من الحاضر...
بالرغم من أن الحوارات التي دارت قبل أن تبرد القهوة لم تكن قصيرة أبداً وقد يُخيل إليك بأن القهوة لابد وقد بردت لكن لندعي بأنها قهوة سحرية مميزة وتمنحك من الوقت لكي تخبر أحدهم بما لم تتمكن من قوله وهو على قيد الحياة...
توقفت عند اجواء المقهى الهادئة الداكنة..المصابيح المُظللة تتدلى من السقف ، تترصد لك ثلاث ساعات مُعلقة على الجدار ، واحدة توقيتها منضبط في المنتصف بين ساعة متأخرة وأخرى متقدمة..كما لو كان ثلاثتهم يمثلون الحاضر الماضي..والمستقبل..
ومن لا ينتهي من المُهمة قبل أن تبرد القهوة يعود إلى الحاضر شبحاً..طيفاً...أجل فكل من يعلق بالماضي هو كذلك...
ستدرك بنهاية المطاف.. بأنه على المرء مواجهة الماضي لكي يستطيع المُضي قُدماً في الحياة...وبأن كل من تواجد يوماً في حياتنا ، وكان سبباً في إسعادنا... علينا أن نعده بعد أن يُفارق الحياة... بأننا سنسمح لأنفسنا يوماً بأن نكون سعداء....
وأخيراً..أنا قد علمت من سألتقي عندما أسافر عبر الزمن إلى الماضي ، فهل سارعت أنت الآخر وتذكر من ستقابل قبل أن تبرد القهوة....
تلقيت دعوة في إحدى الصباحات الشتوية الباردة من مقهى " فونيكولي فونيكولا " لتناول فنجان من القهوة اللذيذة الساخنة...يبدو أن صاحب المقهى علِم بأنني لا يمكنني أن أرتشف رشفة واحدة من القهوة الباردة أو الفاترة....
هناك جلست بإحدى الطاولات التي تنزوي بعيداً...ترقبت مدخل المقهى ساكنة في مقعدي ، تزوغ عيناي كلما دخل أحد الزبائن ، وقد تناهى إلى مسامعي صوت مُنطفئاً خافتاً يأمل في السفر عبر الزمن...!!
ثلاثة منهم أراد السفر إلى الماضي...
رجلٌ أراد أن يلتقي صديقه الذي توفي قبل اثنين وعشرين عاماً...
الابن الذي لم يتمكن من زيارة والدته المريضة بالمستشفى ولم يتمكن من حضور جنازتها..
والمحقق الذي لم تسمح له الأقدار بأن يهدي زوجته هدية عيد ميلادها وقد رحلت منذ ثلاثين عاماً...
والتقيت برجل أراد السفر إلى المستقبل ليلتقي بحبيبته التي لم يتزوجها...
مهلاً...كيف يمكن لهم السفر عبر الزمن ؟!...
يجلس المرء على كرسي ، وتبدأ الرحلة ما أن تنسكب القهوة في الفنجان وتنتهي قبل أن تبرد القهوة وثمة قواعد عليه أن يتبعها وإلا ....
سأدعك تعرف أنت ما ينتظر من يخالف القواعد...اتفقنا...
ولكن اعلم بأن مهما فعل أحدهم في الماضي لن يستطيع ان يغير شيئاً من الحاضر...
بالرغم من أن الحوارات التي دارت قبل أن تبرد القهوة لم تكن قصيرة أبداً وقد يُخيل إليك بأن القهوة لابد وقد بردت لكن لندعي بأنها قهوة سحرية مميزة وتمنحك من الوقت لكي تخبر أحدهم بما لم تتمكن من قوله وهو على قيد الحياة...
توقفت عند اجواء المقهى الهادئة الداكنة..المصابيح المُظللة تتدلى من السقف ، تترصد لك ثلاث ساعات مُعلقة على الجدار ، واحدة توقيتها منضبط في المنتصف بين ساعة متأخرة وأخرى متقدمة..كما لو كان ثلاثتهم يمثلون الحاضر الماضي..والمستقبل..
ومن لا ينتهي من المُهمة قبل أن تبرد القهوة يعود إلى الحاضر شبحاً..طيفاً...أجل فكل من يعلق بالماضي هو كذلك...
ستدرك بنهاية المطاف.. بأنه على المرء مواجهة الماضي لكي يستطيع المُضي قُدماً في الحياة...وبأن كل من تواجد يوماً في حياتنا ، وكان سبباً في إسعادنا... علينا أن نعده بعد أن يُفارق الحياة... بأننا سنسمح لأنفسنا يوماً بأن نكون سعداء....
وأخيراً..أنا قد علمت من سألتقي عندما أسافر عبر الزمن إلى الماضي ، فهل سارعت أنت الآخر وتذكر من ستقابل قبل أن تبرد القهوة....
March 14, 2021
I was disappointed by this collection of short interconnected stories. 1.5 stars so it will be 2 stars.
Perhaps if I read the collection which preceded this, 'Before the Coffee Gets Cold', I would have appreciated or understood more about this book.
The upshot of the four stories is that 3 characters want to go back some time in the past, and one person wants to go to some time in the future. One is allowed to do such things if one sits in a certain chair in a 9-seat Japanese café, when the woman who has sat in that chair leaves temporarily to use the toilet (yes, that is true). And if you do not finish the coffee that is placed in front of you by the time the women gets back or if you let the coffee get cold or if you try to leave the seat before she comes back there will be negative consequences. And you can’t change anything in the past either…although that was confusing because the time traveler would converse with a person in the past and that person would talk back to the time traveler (isn’t that changing things…for the person in the past?) …
On a page shortly before the first story is a schematic of 14 boxes corresponding to 14 names with brief vignettes underneath the box about who the character is…and there are lines connecting some boxes to other boxes and phrases of “came from the past” and “returned to the past” and dots connecting different boxes, and solid lines connecting different boxes…I guess that all of that is supposed to be an aid to the reader when she or he gets hopelessly confused…like me. 😐
The collection did not work for me. Within the four 40-60 page short stories were key facts embedded in the story that the author seemed to only reveal when the reader (me in this case) was already exasperated as to what the hell was going on…and then finally the author reveals something critical to understanding the story and then there are characters from previous stories in the collection flitting in and out (and you haven’t fully grasped who those characters were from the preceding stories), and there is a ghost in all of the stories…and fer chrissake this is the second BadRead book I have encountered in the past 2 days. 🙁
Reviews:
• https://booksandbao.com/review-tales-...
• https://samstillreading.wordpress.com...
• https://thereadersroom.org/2020/09/26...
• https://motherbookerblog.com/2020/09/...
• https://www.thecrimson.com/article/20...
Final word from me: It appears all these reviewers read the prequel before reading this and waxed poetically about that book, and found this book to be equally pleasing. So there ya go…once again I am the outsider. Oh well, gotta go. I’ve had enough coffee from this café. 😐
Perhaps if I read the collection which preceded this, 'Before the Coffee Gets Cold', I would have appreciated or understood more about this book.
The upshot of the four stories is that 3 characters want to go back some time in the past, and one person wants to go to some time in the future. One is allowed to do such things if one sits in a certain chair in a 9-seat Japanese café, when the woman who has sat in that chair leaves temporarily to use the toilet (yes, that is true). And if you do not finish the coffee that is placed in front of you by the time the women gets back or if you let the coffee get cold or if you try to leave the seat before she comes back there will be negative consequences. And you can’t change anything in the past either…although that was confusing because the time traveler would converse with a person in the past and that person would talk back to the time traveler (isn’t that changing things…for the person in the past?) …
On a page shortly before the first story is a schematic of 14 boxes corresponding to 14 names with brief vignettes underneath the box about who the character is…and there are lines connecting some boxes to other boxes and phrases of “came from the past” and “returned to the past” and dots connecting different boxes, and solid lines connecting different boxes…I guess that all of that is supposed to be an aid to the reader when she or he gets hopelessly confused…like me. 😐
The collection did not work for me. Within the four 40-60 page short stories were key facts embedded in the story that the author seemed to only reveal when the reader (me in this case) was already exasperated as to what the hell was going on…and then finally the author reveals something critical to understanding the story and then there are characters from previous stories in the collection flitting in and out (and you haven’t fully grasped who those characters were from the preceding stories), and there is a ghost in all of the stories…and fer chrissake this is the second BadRead book I have encountered in the past 2 days. 🙁
Reviews:
• https://booksandbao.com/review-tales-...
• https://samstillreading.wordpress.com...
• https://thereadersroom.org/2020/09/26...
• https://motherbookerblog.com/2020/09/...
• https://www.thecrimson.com/article/20...
Final word from me: It appears all these reviewers read the prequel before reading this and waxed poetically about that book, and found this book to be equally pleasing. So there ya go…once again I am the outsider. Oh well, gotta go. I’ve had enough coffee from this café. 😐
May 2, 2024
“I swore to myself that I would make sure that I was happy.”
Trigger warnings for suicidal tendencies, terminal illness, loss of a family member, miscarriage
I do not know what happened with the first book. I couldn’t get into it even after trying again. I just had to give it up sixty percent into it every-time.
I do not know if it’s the translation or something else. I want to love the book.
However, I am so glad I was able to read the second book the third time I tried reading it. I would say the writing is more accessible and well etched out than the first.
I still feel I would have loved the book more if read in its original language.
One issue as with the first book is that the author seems to think the readers have short term memory and tends to remind us time and again about the rules of the cafe.
I find the characters not as engaging and interesting even though their stories sound interesting enough. Maybe their stories do not do much for me personally.
Well I am glad I was able to read this book until the last page. It is short and entertaining to read for a supposedly sad book. I just wanted to get connected with the writing and the characters more than I got.
It was all but lukewarm.
Trigger warnings for suicidal tendencies, terminal illness, loss of a family member, miscarriage
I do not know what happened with the first book. I couldn’t get into it even after trying again. I just had to give it up sixty percent into it every-time.
I do not know if it’s the translation or something else. I want to love the book.
However, I am so glad I was able to read the second book the third time I tried reading it. I would say the writing is more accessible and well etched out than the first.
I still feel I would have loved the book more if read in its original language.
One issue as with the first book is that the author seems to think the readers have short term memory and tends to remind us time and again about the rules of the cafe.
I find the characters not as engaging and interesting even though their stories sound interesting enough. Maybe their stories do not do much for me personally.
Well I am glad I was able to read this book until the last page. It is short and entertaining to read for a supposedly sad book. I just wanted to get connected with the writing and the characters more than I got.
It was all but lukewarm.
January 4, 2021
I was very happy to find out that there is a "sequel" to the first book and loved all of the stories in this continuation of "before the coffee gets cold" so so much! It definitely did not disappoint at all and we even find out more about the characters and the ghost... So beautifully written and just so heartwarming and yet sad at the same time... Its like a slice of life book that makes you learn and reflect a lot. Definitely give the first book a try and after that there is more to be read. Can't wait to see more books of Toshikazu Kawaguchi in the future. 🌟
January 15, 2023
This is Book 2, and I really enjoyed it. I liked catching up with some of the characters from Book 1, and meeting new ones too. The rules of time travel are the same, and the message is timely.
Full review at LucyKnowsThings.com.
Here's my review to Book 1: Before the Coffee Gets Cold.
Full review at LucyKnowsThings.com.
Here's my review to Book 1: Before the Coffee Gets Cold.
September 21, 2020
ARC received in exchange for an honest review.
Tales from the Cafe is the second lot of short tales from Kawaguchi's 'Before the Coffee Gets Cold' series, which follows people on a journey into the past (or future) within a magical cafe. There are, as usual, an astounding number of strict rules to follow, but perhaps the most important to remember is to drink the coffee before it gets cold.
This time we follow a man wanting to visit an old friend who died in a car crash 22 years ago, a detective wanting to give his wife the birthday gift he was never able to give, a son wanting to see his departed mother one last time and a dying man wanting to see the girl he could never marry. Connecting them all are the staff of the cafe, a small family unit in themselves.
Already being familiar with the cafe environment and staff, I felt more of a connection this time around and found the stories to be more cohesive. Although they're all contained within their own story arc, the staff offer a more complex and slow building tale that connections everything together. We also discover who the enigmatic lady in the white dress is too, which added a bit of closure to some of the mysteries left open in the previous installment.
I've slowly grown to really like the staff at the cafe, and the endearing and complicated reasons people want to travel to a different time. Whether it's redemption, self reflection, guilt or just a need for some closure, every story is simply yet beautifully told, with every patron having a unique story to tell. The series really does have the potential to go on and on, with countless people visiting the cafe.
At times the constant repetition of the rules got a bit irritating, but on the whole I enjoyed this a lot more than the last one.
Tales from the Cafe is the second lot of short tales from Kawaguchi's 'Before the Coffee Gets Cold' series, which follows people on a journey into the past (or future) within a magical cafe. There are, as usual, an astounding number of strict rules to follow, but perhaps the most important to remember is to drink the coffee before it gets cold.
This time we follow a man wanting to visit an old friend who died in a car crash 22 years ago, a detective wanting to give his wife the birthday gift he was never able to give, a son wanting to see his departed mother one last time and a dying man wanting to see the girl he could never marry. Connecting them all are the staff of the cafe, a small family unit in themselves.
Already being familiar with the cafe environment and staff, I felt more of a connection this time around and found the stories to be more cohesive. Although they're all contained within their own story arc, the staff offer a more complex and slow building tale that connections everything together. We also discover who the enigmatic lady in the white dress is too, which added a bit of closure to some of the mysteries left open in the previous installment.
I've slowly grown to really like the staff at the cafe, and the endearing and complicated reasons people want to travel to a different time. Whether it's redemption, self reflection, guilt or just a need for some closure, every story is simply yet beautifully told, with every patron having a unique story to tell. The series really does have the potential to go on and on, with countless people visiting the cafe.
At times the constant repetition of the rules got a bit irritating, but on the whole I enjoyed this a lot more than the last one.
December 5, 2023
Trzyma poziom pierwszego tomu, a może nawet nieco lepsza 🧡
October 18, 2021
Enjoyable sequel.
It was delightful to return to Cafe Funniculi Funnicula, where one can return to the past (or possibly go ahead to the future) for a short time, as long as you return before the coffee gets cold. This is a short novella, a series of vignettes that twine together as the various people come to the cafe in order to speak to someone from the past. A man wants to talk with his friend whose daughter he raised when the friend died young. Another man wants to give his wife the birthday gift he was never able to give her. A man who knows he is dying wants to travel to the future to speak to the girl he loves, and a son with regrets wants to talk to his mother again. There are rules that must be followed, and often the results of the visits are not what either party expects from the journeys.
As with the first book in the series, I partially listened to this as an audiobook and partially read it on the page. The audiobook helps me to get the pronunciations of the Japanese names, but the print helps me to see how the stories interconnect.
This is a conteplative tale, the repetition of the rules gets a little tedious, but overall those who sit at the table and travel through time receive what they desire from the encounters and more. They receive closure, confirmation of decisions, and most of all, forgiveness for perceived wrongs. It's always interesting to see that those who the travelers go to visit often have a completely different view of the events or situations than those they are visiting. It allows the reader to think back about regrets and realize that just because we might feel a certain way about something, it doesn't mean that the other person has the same view.
Overall I have enjoyed the two books in this series, hopefully if there is a third book the author can just say "the rules were explained" rather than listing them out one by one every single time.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book, all opinions are my own.
It was delightful to return to Cafe Funniculi Funnicula, where one can return to the past (or possibly go ahead to the future) for a short time, as long as you return before the coffee gets cold. This is a short novella, a series of vignettes that twine together as the various people come to the cafe in order to speak to someone from the past. A man wants to talk with his friend whose daughter he raised when the friend died young. Another man wants to give his wife the birthday gift he was never able to give her. A man who knows he is dying wants to travel to the future to speak to the girl he loves, and a son with regrets wants to talk to his mother again. There are rules that must be followed, and often the results of the visits are not what either party expects from the journeys.
As with the first book in the series, I partially listened to this as an audiobook and partially read it on the page. The audiobook helps me to get the pronunciations of the Japanese names, but the print helps me to see how the stories interconnect.
This is a conteplative tale, the repetition of the rules gets a little tedious, but overall those who sit at the table and travel through time receive what they desire from the encounters and more. They receive closure, confirmation of decisions, and most of all, forgiveness for perceived wrongs. It's always interesting to see that those who the travelers go to visit often have a completely different view of the events or situations than those they are visiting. It allows the reader to think back about regrets and realize that just because we might feel a certain way about something, it doesn't mean that the other person has the same view.
Overall I have enjoyed the two books in this series, hopefully if there is a third book the author can just say "the rules were explained" rather than listing them out one by one every single time.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book, all opinions are my own.
January 3, 2021
This book is just as beautiful and heart-wrenching as the first. I'm sobbing. It's so beautiful!
I was so incredibly excited when I heard that the other books in the Before the Coffee Gets Cold series by Toshikazu Kawaguchi were going to be translated into English! I adored the first book and it was my absolute favourite read of 2019, I even thought about it replacing The Gift as my favourite book! That’s how much I loved it! So of course when NetGalley had the arc available I requested it and was lucky enough to get it!
54373691. sy475
Translated by Geoffrey Trousselot, Tales from the Café continues to follow the staff from Café Funiculi Funicula, some familiar faces, and some new to us. Yet again this book tells the tale of individuals who need to face their past in order to move on with their future, and leaves the reader, or at least me, asking what I would change if I could travel back in time.
This is quite a short book, so it’s hard to say much about it when trying to avoid spoilers, but yet again this book just filled my soul. I adored the atmosphere Kawaguchi created around the café, how he expanded on the lore of the café itself, as well as on the history of those who work there. On top of this beautiful exploration we are also introduced to new people and are absorbed into new tales. Throughout this book, whilst I was reading it I really felt a sense of peace, of beauty. I cried, as with the first one, when I finished reading it. It’s such a touching and well written plot. And I love the path that Kawaguchi went down for this book.
I’ve already bought myself a physical copy of this book (and it’s signed!) and I’m also already excited for the 3rd and final book to be published in English! I wish that this was a longer series, but if I can’t have that then fingers crossed more of Kawaguchi’s works will be translated into English. If not then you might find me learning Japanese!
I was so incredibly excited when I heard that the other books in the Before the Coffee Gets Cold series by Toshikazu Kawaguchi were going to be translated into English! I adored the first book and it was my absolute favourite read of 2019, I even thought about it replacing The Gift as my favourite book! That’s how much I loved it! So of course when NetGalley had the arc available I requested it and was lucky enough to get it!
54373691. sy475
Translated by Geoffrey Trousselot, Tales from the Café continues to follow the staff from Café Funiculi Funicula, some familiar faces, and some new to us. Yet again this book tells the tale of individuals who need to face their past in order to move on with their future, and leaves the reader, or at least me, asking what I would change if I could travel back in time.
This is quite a short book, so it’s hard to say much about it when trying to avoid spoilers, but yet again this book just filled my soul. I adored the atmosphere Kawaguchi created around the café, how he expanded on the lore of the café itself, as well as on the history of those who work there. On top of this beautiful exploration we are also introduced to new people and are absorbed into new tales. Throughout this book, whilst I was reading it I really felt a sense of peace, of beauty. I cried, as with the first one, when I finished reading it. It’s such a touching and well written plot. And I love the path that Kawaguchi went down for this book.
I’ve already bought myself a physical copy of this book (and it’s signed!) and I’m also already excited for the 3rd and final book to be published in English! I wish that this was a longer series, but if I can’t have that then fingers crossed more of Kawaguchi’s works will be translated into English. If not then you might find me learning Japanese!
December 9, 2021
It's not an overly exciting book with a lot going out. Quite literally just people having coffee getting the last goodbye. However the character study in this and the very complex and fleshed out characters made this a very intriguing and fascinating book to listen to. Was a perfect book to listen to when I my brain had an hissy fit
May 19, 2021
Seasons flow in a cycle.
Life too, passes through difficult winters.
But after any winter, spring will follow
I read the first installment of this series some days ago and I fell in love with the calmness of the author’s writing.Japanese books usually give me the feeling of calm, relaxing and soothing emotion which hits hard but leaves a soft sadness.I was very afraid while picking up this book thinking that it wouldn’t do justice to the first installment.But I am very pleased to inform you that I was mistaken.This book holds the same charm for me as it’s first installment did.
This book is divided into 4 stories named The Best Friend,Mother and Son,The Lovers and The Married Couple featuring Gohtaro ,Yukio, Kurata and Kiyoshi.Each story has it’s own beauty and it will give you much contentment.
The changes in the café are satisfying.While reading this book,you will feel that you are a part of the character’s happiness and sorrow.Kazu’s life is more elaborately depicted here too.
In a nutshell,if you love Japanese soothing essence and want to read something which will give you a new perspective,try reading this book🎎
Life too, passes through difficult winters.
But after any winter, spring will follow
I read the first installment of this series some days ago and I fell in love with the calmness of the author’s writing.Japanese books usually give me the feeling of calm, relaxing and soothing emotion which hits hard but leaves a soft sadness.I was very afraid while picking up this book thinking that it wouldn’t do justice to the first installment.But I am very pleased to inform you that I was mistaken.This book holds the same charm for me as it’s first installment did.
This book is divided into 4 stories named The Best Friend,Mother and Son,The Lovers and The Married Couple featuring Gohtaro ,Yukio, Kurata and Kiyoshi.Each story has it’s own beauty and it will give you much contentment.
The changes in the café are satisfying.While reading this book,you will feel that you are a part of the character’s happiness and sorrow.Kazu’s life is more elaborately depicted here too.
In a nutshell,if you love Japanese soothing essence and want to read something which will give you a new perspective,try reading this book🎎
February 3, 2022
This one was so much better than the first book! I absolutely loved it 😍 and I am longing for more such literature now
November 30, 2023
Uwielbiam melancholijny klimat tych opowieści.
Read
December 29, 2020This is your typical time travel in a Japanese coffee shop novel , apparently it is the sequel to a similarly named earlier novel which I have never read .
On the one hand, you could say it is a pretty bad novel, the time travel is hemmed in with strict rules which I won't repeat here since they are so richly and frequently repeated in the book, the complex and involved back stories of characters are dumped on to the page in what is technically called an 'info dump' and there is a lot of repetition of the time travel rules, and it is probably best to repeat that a few more times in case you haven't got the idea yet. While the book comes with a chart showing the relationships between the characters - which is a bit of danger sign, it shows the publisher (and author) believing that you are never going to be able to figure it out, or keep it straight in your head from the cackhanded way that the author has constructed it.
On the other hand I was close to crying three times while reading so we could say it was a very good novel in succeeding to hit the sentimental, emotional, or just plain mawkish spot.
Life in Japan on the strength of this novel seems even stranger than I had imagined, even after learning about Godzilla, apparently if you are working for a friend in their small business and they die, you can just take over the business, and raise their child as your own and nobody will complain or cause you any problems, not the law, the banks, or even any grandparents.
But also in Japan it seems that being a ghost is pretty good - you can read books, drink coffee and you even need to go to the toilet - though admittedly only once a day - being dead in Japan seems a pretty minimal change of physical condition, this probably why Japan's population is ageing rapidly - too many people retiring to Japan in the hope of an active afterlife.
curiously this feels like an ancient book because the theme is reconciliation with your dead, that you can reconcile with your departed loved ones and go on to live your life in a new way. And that more or less the desire that religion has been busy trying to address for the past few thousand years with the help of their own strict rules - which admittedly don't involve coffee .
On the one hand, you could say it is a pretty bad novel, the time travel is hemmed in with strict rules which I won't repeat here since they are so richly and frequently repeated in the book, the complex and involved back stories of characters are dumped on to the page in what is technically called an 'info dump' and there is a lot of repetition of the time travel rules, and it is probably best to repeat that a few more times in case you haven't got the idea yet. While the book comes with a chart showing the relationships between the characters - which is a bit of danger sign, it shows the publisher (and author) believing that you are never going to be able to figure it out, or keep it straight in your head from the cackhanded way that the author has constructed it.
On the other hand I was close to crying three times while reading so we could say it was a very good novel in succeeding to hit the sentimental, emotional, or just plain mawkish spot.
Life in Japan on the strength of this novel seems even stranger than I had imagined, even after learning about Godzilla, apparently if you are working for a friend in their small business and they die, you can just take over the business, and raise their child as your own and nobody will complain or cause you any problems, not the law, the banks, or even any grandparents.
But also in Japan it seems that being a ghost is pretty good - you can read books, drink coffee and you even need to go to the toilet - though admittedly only once a day - being dead in Japan seems a pretty minimal change of physical condition, this probably why Japan's population is ageing rapidly - too many people retiring to Japan in the hope of an active afterlife.
curiously this feels like an ancient book because the theme is reconciliation with your dead, that you can reconcile with your departed loved ones and go on to live your life in a new way. And that more or less the desire that religion has been busy trying to address for the past few thousand years with the help of their own strict rules - which admittedly don't involve coffee .
May 30, 2024
guh 😩
probably gonna get flamed for this but it is what it is 😔
the first chapter fkn killed me 😱🙍 but 🍑🤔 the 👏👹 others 😤👈 were a bit flat, got tired of hearing the 👏🏔 stinkin rules 📝👊❌
3.5 💦
probably gonna get flamed for this but it is what it is 😔
the first chapter fkn killed me 😱🙍 but 🍑🤔 the 👏👹 others 😤👈 were a bit flat, got tired of hearing the 👏🏔 stinkin rules 📝👊❌
3.5 💦
Read
May 1, 2022Sweet and heartfelt, this collection of stories following this beloved time-traveling cafe reminded me of the importance of living in the moment, healing, and choosing happiness for yourself.
While it wasn’t as engaging or as touching as the first collection, I appreciated the three out of the four stories, the first being one that I felt no particular connection to.
While it wasn’t as engaging or as touching as the first collection, I appreciated the three out of the four stories, the first being one that I felt no particular connection to.
September 25, 2021
سأقولها ألف مرّة، يكاد أن يحظى الأدب الآسيوي بالمرتبة الأولى من ناحية سحر الحكايات. شخصيّات تنهمر من خلالها القصص، الازدحام، شبكة علاقات اجتماعية وثيقة، وكثير من المواقف والأحداث التي لا يمكن إلّا أن تُعاش من خلال هذا الأدب.
في زقاق صغير في طوكيو، هناك مقهى قديم يقوم بإرجاعك إلى الماضي، شرطًا أنك لا تستطيع أن تغيّر شيئًا في حاضرك، تقوم فقط بزيارة الماضي حتى تقابل أناس تحبّهم لتتكلم معهم، فإذا بردت القهوة في المقهى سترَدُّ إلى الحاضر من جديد، فكرة غريبة وممتعة؟ ربما، تغمض عينيك لتعود مع الشخصيات إلى الماضي ثم تفتح عينيك على قهوة باردة، هذه التنقلات الزمنية تجعلنا نضع أنفسنا مكان الشخصيات، لو كانت لديّ الفرصة هل سأعود إلى نقطة ما؟ ومَن سأقابل؟ وماذا سأقول حينها؟
الرواية ذكرتني كثيرًا بفيلم (interstellar) مع اختلاف التفاصيل طبعًا، وتبقى مسألة السفر عبر الزمن شيئًا غير قابل للتحقيق من الناحية العلمية، لكنّه ملاذًا يحوي الكثير من خيالات الإنسان الطائشة، الخيالات التي نسأل دائمًا من خلالها (ماذا لو؟!)
في زقاق صغير في طوكيو، هناك مقهى قديم يقوم بإرجاعك إلى الماضي، شرطًا أنك لا تستطيع أن تغيّر شيئًا في حاضرك، تقوم فقط بزيارة الماضي حتى تقابل أناس تحبّهم لتتكلم معهم، فإذا بردت القهوة في المقهى سترَدُّ إلى الحاضر من جديد، فكرة غريبة وممتعة؟ ربما، تغمض عينيك لتعود مع الشخصيات إلى الماضي ثم تفتح عينيك على قهوة باردة، هذه التنقلات الزمنية تجعلنا نضع أنفسنا مكان الشخصيات، لو كانت لديّ الفرصة هل سأعود إلى نقطة ما؟ ومَن سأقابل؟ وماذا سأقول حينها؟
الرواية ذكرتني كثيرًا بفيلم (interstellar) مع اختلاف التفاصيل طبعًا، وتبقى مسألة السفر عبر الزمن شيئًا غير قابل للتحقيق من الناحية العلمية، لكنّه ملاذًا يحوي الكثير من خيالات الإنسان الطائشة، الخيالات التي نسأل دائمًا من خلالها (ماذا لو؟!)
January 9, 2022
I liked the first one better.I still enjoyed the characters, but it should've stayed a stand alone book because the plot got repetitive and dull
October 28, 2021
Tales from the Café by Toshikazu Kawaguchi is the sequel to Before the Coffee Gets Cold, following four new customers who hope to travel back in time in a little Tokyo cafe. In a small back alley in Tokyo, there is a café which has been serving carefully brewed coffee for more than one hundred years. But this coffee shop offers its customers a unique experience: the chance to travel back in time . . .
From the author of Before the Coffee Gets Cold comes Tales from the Cafe, a story of four new customers each of whom is hoping to take advantage of Cafe Funiculi Funicula's time-travelling offer. It is definitely a unique take on time travel that I found quite fascinating with rules that must be followed.
Among some faces that will be familiar to readers of Toshikazu Kawaguchi's previous novel, we will be introduced to:
The man who goes back to see his best friend who died 22 years ago
The son who was unable to attend his own mother's funeral
The man who travelled to see the girl who he could not marry
The old detective who never gave his wife that gift . . .
From the author of Before the Coffee Gets Cold comes Tales from the Cafe, a story of four new customers each of whom is hoping to take advantage of Cafe Funiculi Funicula's time-travelling offer. It is definitely a unique take on time travel that I found quite fascinating with rules that must be followed.
Among some faces that will be familiar to readers of Toshikazu Kawaguchi's previous novel, we will be introduced to:
The man who goes back to see his best friend who died 22 years ago
The son who was unable to attend his own mother's funeral
The man who travelled to see the girl who he could not marry
The old detective who never gave his wife that gift . . .
January 28, 2023
I loved the first installment of this time-travel series, so I dipped right into the second. What I love about this book (and series) is that while we get a brief look into the lives of the different "travelers" in each chapter, the author does a masterful job of growing the back stories and current situations of the café workers. The owners daughter (born at the end of the first book) is school age now. Miki likes to perform and be the center of attention. She brings some comic relief and often steals the scene. Characters/"travelers" from the first book make return appearances (which I loved) and we are introduced to new characters/"travelers".
Characters are diverse in age and background, but they all are suffering in some way or carrying a burden or mental weight. Though they can't change the past, they can change the way they understand it and find a way to live/move forward in a new direction with peace in their heart. There are major developments in Tales from the Café. We learn more about the coffee pourers-former, current, and future. Loss is explored in all of the stories. One character states a wonderful view on the time we have with those we've lost and how to live our lives without them. One story/chapter focuses on a detective. His story was particularly moving. His research into past "travelers" and his observations/conclusions about the coffee pourers does a nice job wrapping up this installment.
Looking forward to book 3 and excited to see that book 4 will be released on 11/12/23.
Characters are diverse in age and background, but they all are suffering in some way or carrying a burden or mental weight. Though they can't change the past, they can change the way they understand it and find a way to live/move forward in a new direction with peace in their heart. There are major developments in Tales from the Café. We learn more about the coffee pourers-former, current, and future. Loss is explored in all of the stories. One character states a wonderful view on the time we have with those we've lost and how to live our lives without them. One story/chapter focuses on a detective. His story was particularly moving. His research into past "travelers" and his observations/conclusions about the coffee pourers does a nice job wrapping up this installment.
Looking forward to book 3 and excited to see that book 4 will be released on 11/12/23.
May 5, 2024
𝘄𝗲𝗹𝗹, 𝗰𝗼𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝘀𝗼 𝗯𝗮𝗱 𝗮𝗳𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗮𝗹𝗹, 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗱𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗸 𝗶𝘁 𝗯𝗲𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗶𝘁 𝗴𝗲𝘁𝘀 𝗰𝗼𝗹𝗱 ☕˳⭒ ࣪
before i say anything lemme just say that my absolute favourite in this is kazu and mikki, moi loves mikki so much and wants to hug her 🫂
okay so this one i did actually enjoy, turned out it was those damn annoying characters of book one who made me hate it, the writing was still actually frustrating at times but I'm guessing it's because this is a translated version of the real work in Japanese (wish i knew Japanese), this is part of why i don't like translated books i always feel like they don't give the full experience of reading them in their original language, now back to this trip to our magical café ☕༄˖*°
𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗳𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗱.
"𝘪 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘭𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘥 𝘮𝘺 𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘦 𝘶𝘯𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘦𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘵𝘩 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘳𝘪𝘴𝘬 𝘰𝘧 𝘭𝘰𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘺 𝘰𝘸𝘯 𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘴."
i loved gohtaro and shuichi story so much, it's sad and beautiful (even tho i kept pronouncing shuichi as sushi, I'm so sorry the names are just difficult for me😭)
𝗺𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝗼𝗻.
"𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘢 𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘯𝘰 𝘨𝘶𝘢𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘦𝘴, 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘮𝘢𝘳𝘳𝘪𝘢𝘨𝘦 𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘲𝘶𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯, 𝘦𝘢𝘤𝘩 𝘥𝘢𝘺 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘩𝘪𝘮 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘢 𝘣𝘢𝘵𝘵𝘭𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘭𝘢𝘺."
"𝘪’𝘭𝘭 𝘭𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘮𝘺 𝘮𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘯𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘱𝘱𝘦𝘥 𝘸𝘪𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘮𝘺 𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘴, 𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘦𝘯𝘥"
i know this was supposed to be about Yukio and his mother, but my heart hurts for kazu.., her story is the most tragic of all (I'm trying not to spoil anything), but i really hope we get more of her personal history in the rest of this series
can't believe i finally discovered who the woman in the white dree is..
Yukio's story was full of desperation and hope and some really deep emotions i really enjoyed it, it gave me hope that no matter what happens in life, you can still live with hope in your heart and soul, however i did not like his sister Kyoko she's annoying and too nosey for her own good😭
𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗹𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀.
this particular story i did not quite understand..
i felt so bad for kurata and i understood his motive over what he had to do to make asami finally move on with her happiness but i didn't like Asami's attitude one bit, so this is probably my least favourite tale in this book..
𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗺𝗮𝗿𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗱 𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗽𝗹𝗲.
why do i feel like crying??, kazu's story yet again stole the light from kiyoshi's, both are tragic stories yes but kazu is my favourite i wanna hug the seven years old baby girl in her..
𝗽𝗿𝗲-𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱 ☕ ֹ ˳⭒ ࣪
if you're wondering why am i reading this the answer is to torture myself because I'm a masochist (who knows maybe i'll like this one better...)
before i say anything lemme just say that my absolute favourite in this is kazu and mikki, moi loves mikki so much and wants to hug her 🫂
okay so this one i did actually enjoy, turned out it was those damn annoying characters of book one who made me hate it, the writing was still actually frustrating at times but I'm guessing it's because this is a translated version of the real work in Japanese (wish i knew Japanese), this is part of why i don't like translated books i always feel like they don't give the full experience of reading them in their original language, now back to this trip to our magical café ☕༄˖*°
𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗳𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗱.
"𝘪 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘭𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘥 𝘮𝘺 𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘦 𝘶𝘯𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘦𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘵𝘩 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘳𝘪𝘴𝘬 𝘰𝘧 𝘭𝘰𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘺 𝘰𝘸𝘯 𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘴."
i loved gohtaro and shuichi story so much, it's sad and beautiful (even tho i kept pronouncing shuichi as sushi, I'm so sorry the names are just difficult for me😭)
𝗺𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝗼𝗻.
"𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘢 𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘯𝘰 𝘨𝘶𝘢𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘦𝘴, 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘮𝘢𝘳𝘳𝘪𝘢𝘨𝘦 𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘲𝘶𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯, 𝘦𝘢𝘤𝘩 𝘥𝘢𝘺 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘩𝘪𝘮 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘢 𝘣𝘢𝘵𝘵𝘭𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘭𝘢𝘺."
"𝘪’𝘭𝘭 𝘭𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘮𝘺 𝘮𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘯𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘱𝘱𝘦𝘥 𝘸𝘪𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘮𝘺 𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘴, 𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘦𝘯𝘥"
i know this was supposed to be about Yukio and his mother, but my heart hurts for kazu.., her story is the most tragic of all (I'm trying not to spoil anything), but i really hope we get more of her personal history in the rest of this series
can't believe i finally discovered who the woman in the white dree is..
Yukio's story was full of desperation and hope and some really deep emotions i really enjoyed it, it gave me hope that no matter what happens in life, you can still live with hope in your heart and soul, however i did not like his sister Kyoko she's annoying and too nosey for her own good😭
𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗹𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀.
this particular story i did not quite understand..
i felt so bad for kurata and i understood his motive over what he had to do to make asami finally move on with her happiness but i didn't like Asami's attitude one bit, so this is probably my least favourite tale in this book..
𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗺𝗮𝗿𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗱 𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗽𝗹𝗲.
why do i feel like crying??, kazu's story yet again stole the light from kiyoshi's, both are tragic stories yes but kazu is my favourite i wanna hug the seven years old baby girl in her..
𝗽𝗿𝗲-𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱 ☕ ֹ ˳⭒ ࣪
if you're wondering why am i reading this the answer is to torture myself because I'm a masochist (who knows maybe i'll like this one better...)
October 1, 2022
This was just a big flop - in my humble opinion.
A dull repetition of the first book yet it even lacked a hook to keep me intrigued by the characters' stories. This series have an incredibly unique premise but I believe that the execution could've been so much better.
A dull repetition of the first book yet it even lacked a hook to keep me intrigued by the characters' stories. This series have an incredibly unique premise but I believe that the execution could've been so much better.
August 30, 2022
"إن كنت تستطيع العودة, فمن تود أن تقابل.؟"
.
بهذه الجملة نبدأ الجزء الثاني من الرواية الساحرة للغاية , " قبل أن تبرد القهوة"
والتي كانت أحداثها مشابهة الى أحداث الجزء الأول .. ولكن تمت أضافة تفاصيل أكثر وفتحت لنا باباً جديداً, لأحداث غير متوقعة قد تحصل في الجزئين المتممين لرباعية الرائع "توشيكازو كواغوشي". .
.
تدور أحداث هذا الجزء عن قصص مختلفة ومنوعة ..
لأشخاص يعتصر قلبهم الندم على أشياء فعلوها في حياتهم, أو أشياء لم يتمكنوا من فعلها .
ولمن قرأ الجزء الأول من الرواية يعلم أن في داخل ذلك الزقاق يوجد مقهى مميز يدعى "فينكولي فينكولا". ويقال أن هنالك أسطورة حية تعيش في داخل جدرانه , حيث يمكنك السفر عبر الزمن, ومقابلة شخص ما, لمدة من الزمن وهي " قبل أن تبرد القهوة" المقدمة أليك ,,
تماماً مثل الجزء الأول نعيش مع 4 قصص مميزة حاولت السفر عبر الزمن, وعلى الرغم من القوانين الغريبة التي وضعت كـشروط لكَ قبل أن تقوم بمغامرة السفر , وعلى الرغم من المخاطرة التي تتوجب عليك أن تعيشها إلا أن هنالك أشخاص قرروا بالفعل السفر وهم ..
المسافر الأول,, وهو الذي قرر أن يعود 22 عاماً ليرى أعز صديقاً له ليخبره بما يحمله من مخاوف وحزن دفين حمله طوال سنوات فراقهم " هذه القصة بالذات جعلتني أختنق بدموعي." :(
والمسافر الثاني , , هو الأبن الذي أفترق عن أهم أنسان بحياته وهو والدته, ولم يتمكن من العيش معها في آخر سنوات عمرها.
والمسافر الثالث , , الذي ذهب ليرى حب حياته الذي لم يتمكن من الزواج بها بسبب ظروفه الصعبة.
والمسافر الرابع , والأخير , هو المحقق الذي يريد رؤيته زوجته ليهدي لها هدية ذكرى عيد زواجهم.
.
قد ترى ان هذه القصص بسيطة وعادية ومكررة ,, ولكن الأحداث التي صنعت كل قرار من حياتهم , وطريقتهم للتعايش معها مؤثر للغاية , يجعلك تعيش معهم ندمهم وسعادتهم وخوفهم من فقدان كل شيء ,
تعد هذه الرواية وجزئها الأول من المفضلات لدي , والأقرب الى قلبي ,, لأنني أتفهم قرارهم, ومثل شخصيات الرواية سوف أفعل المستحيل لأتمكن من عيش هذه اللحظة التي سوف تمكنني من لقاء من فقدتهم في حياتي ,,
أسلوب الكتاب لاغبار عليه , ساحر ومليئ بالمشاعر الدافئة , مابين حب العشاق والصداقة والعائلة كتب لنا قصصاً واقعية أمتزجت بالسعادة والحزن وصنع لنا رواية باذخة الجمال, كذلك الترجمة سلسلة وأحترافية, تمكنت من نقل مشاعر الكاتب بطريقة صحيحة.
بكل بساطة, أحببت كل تفصيل وجد بها. ♥
.
"إن الصدمات النفسية غالباً ماتبقى مدفونة في الأعماق ولاتظهر علناً, كما أن هذه الجروح لا تلتئم بسهولة."
.
بهذه الجملة نبدأ الجزء الثاني من الرواية الساحرة للغاية , " قبل أن تبرد القهوة"
والتي كانت أحداثها مشابهة الى أحداث الجزء الأول .. ولكن تمت أضافة تفاصيل أكثر وفتحت لنا باباً جديداً, لأحداث غير متوقعة قد تحصل في الجزئين المتممين لرباعية الرائع "توشيكازو كواغوشي". .
.
تدور أحداث هذا الجزء عن قصص مختلفة ومنوعة ..
لأشخاص يعتصر قلبهم الندم على أشياء فعلوها في حياتهم, أو أشياء لم يتمكنوا من فعلها .
ولمن قرأ الجزء الأول من الرواية يعلم أن في داخل ذلك الزقاق يوجد مقهى مميز يدعى "فينكولي فينكولا". ويقال أن هنالك أسطورة حية تعيش في داخل جدرانه , حيث يمكنك السفر عبر الزمن, ومقابلة شخص ما, لمدة من الزمن وهي " قبل أن تبرد القهوة" المقدمة أليك ,,
تماماً مثل الجزء الأول نعيش مع 4 قصص مميزة حاولت السفر عبر الزمن, وعلى الرغم من القوانين الغريبة التي وضعت كـشروط لكَ قبل أن تقوم بمغامرة السفر , وعلى الرغم من المخاطرة التي تتوجب عليك أن تعيشها إلا أن هنالك أشخاص قرروا بالفعل السفر وهم ..
المسافر الأول,, وهو الذي قرر أن يعود 22 عاماً ليرى أعز صديقاً له ليخبره بما يحمله من مخاوف وحزن دفين حمله طوال سنوات فراقهم " هذه القصة بالذات جعلتني أختنق بدموعي." :(
والمسافر الثاني , , هو الأبن الذي أفترق عن أهم أنسان بحياته وهو والدته, ولم يتمكن من العيش معها في آخر سنوات عمرها.
والمسافر الثالث , , الذي ذهب ليرى حب حياته الذي لم يتمكن من الزواج بها بسبب ظروفه الصعبة.
والمسافر الرابع , والأخير , هو المحقق الذي يريد رؤيته زوجته ليهدي لها هدية ذكرى عيد زواجهم.
.
قد ترى ان هذه القصص بسيطة وعادية ومكررة ,, ولكن الأحداث التي صنعت كل قرار من حياتهم , وطريقتهم للتعايش معها مؤثر للغاية , يجعلك تعيش معهم ندمهم وسعادتهم وخوفهم من فقدان كل شيء ,
تعد هذه الرواية وجزئها الأول من المفضلات لدي , والأقرب الى قلبي ,, لأنني أتفهم قرارهم, ومثل شخصيات الرواية سوف أفعل المستحيل لأتمكن من عيش هذه اللحظة التي سوف تمكنني من لقاء من فقدتهم في حياتي ,,
أسلوب الكتاب لاغبار عليه , ساحر ومليئ بالمشاعر الدافئة , مابين حب العشاق والصداقة والعائلة كتب لنا قصصاً واقعية أمتزجت بالسعادة والحزن وصنع لنا رواية باذخة الجمال, كذلك الترجمة سلسلة وأحترافية, تمكنت من نقل مشاعر الكاتب بطريقة صحيحة.
بكل بساطة, أحببت كل تفصيل وجد بها. ♥
.
"إن الصدمات النفسية غالباً ماتبقى مدفونة في الأعماق ولاتظهر علناً, كما أن هذه الجروح لا تلتئم بسهولة."
January 30, 2024
4 stars!
Better than the first one.
Also, not in the right mental state to write reviews, so I’m just gonna take a small break from writing them. 👆
But hey, this one was great.
Better than the first one.
Also, not in the right mental state to write reviews, so I’m just gonna take a small break from writing them. 👆
But hey, this one was great.
November 15, 2023
Aaah this series is wrecking me as well as enlightening me w/ some life lessons! I kid you not when I say my eyes were watering all through out the final chapter!
This one has pretty much the same tone as the first one as it extends the story of some of the previous characters while telling four new tales. It’s very well paced, keeps you riveted to the book the whole time and I love the way the writing feels like you’re constantly solving a puzzle.
The main thing I was hoping to see here was more insight in the previous characters narratives especially Kazu’s ,the cafe’s waitress who’s my absolute fav btw, and the woman in the dress’s which we got. and oh was kazu’s a heart wrenching one. I literally had a lump in my throat every time it came to her, I just wanted to give her a hug.
The only thing you might find bothering ,if you’ve read the first book, is since the books can be read in any order you can find some explanations repetitive. but i didn’t mind it much and that’s why I’ll give this one a 5/5 too.
Well done Toshikazu Kawaguchi, we’ll done!!
This one has pretty much the same tone as the first one as it extends the story of some of the previous characters while telling four new tales. It’s very well paced, keeps you riveted to the book the whole time and I love the way the writing feels like you’re constantly solving a puzzle.
The main thing I was hoping to see here was more insight in the previous characters narratives especially Kazu’s ,the cafe’s waitress who’s my absolute fav btw, and the woman in the dress’s which we got. and oh was kazu’s a heart wrenching one. I literally had a lump in my throat every time it came to her, I just wanted to give her a hug.
The only thing you might find bothering ,if you’ve read the first book, is since the books can be read in any order you can find some explanations repetitive. but i didn’t mind it much and that’s why I’ll give this one a 5/5 too.
Well done Toshikazu Kawaguchi, we’ll done!!
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