Book review- Tales from the Cafe by Toshikazu Kawaguchi

This is the second review of the second book in the series “Before the Coffee Gets Cold”

In “Tales from the Cafe,” the setting remains consistent. The cafe Funiculi Funicula features a special chair that can transport a seeker on a journey into the past or future, as long as the rules are followed to ensure they return to the present before the coffee gets cold. The characters have grown and developed from the previous book.

The book has four tales, viz., 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 he could not marry; and my favourite, the old detective who never gave his wife that gift.

Reading the café’s rules in each story became quite repetitive, but it didn’t matter; it actually made me feel like one of the regular customers at the cafe.

The stories are captivating, especially when we understand the various reasons for revisiting the past or future. The book explores themes of regret, grief, and unconditional love.

I highly recommend that anyone read this! The unique style of narration, along with vivid descriptions of characters and incidents, makes the reader hooked and eager to complete each story in one go!


Quotes-

" Seasons flow in a cycle. Life too, passes through difficult winters. But after any winter, spring will follow." 

" A parent’s love for their child is bottomless. Their children remain children, no matter how old they grow." 

" Sometimes people will only confide in someone they trust, but other times they need the listener to be a complete stranger."

"Spring hides inside winter."

"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."