I'm back at the cafe! Now onto the third entry of the コーヒーが冷めないうちに book series by Toshikazu Kawaguchi.
But wait....this looks different, yet familiar. I am now at Café Donna Donna for more coffee, views of the seas, comedy, and....death.
And I wonder to myself, am I truly living in the present?
You can read my thoughts here for the first book and the second book. The series do gradually get better and that's why I'm back for more by reading the third book of this series! Even though it's still the same thing as the previous two books, I can see why these sequels exist.
They're saying something different, but ultimately arriving at the same uplifting conclusion each time.
And that's too good to be ignored, even though let's be clear, this book series is nothing special. There's already tons of 'reflexive' Japanese media like this one, and this book series seems to only offer its sci-fi elements to bring something new in the table. I mean come on, waitresses being living TARDISes hasn't even been explored in Doctor Who.
But the thing is....the formula works. If it ain't broken, just keep doing it. And yet, I still have tears in my eyes.
And so, once again, with the album “Steve McQueen” by Prefab Sprout still playing in my ears, wistful evenings in my home, and coffee in my desk, I am back at the cafe to think, to feel, and to go back to the past before the coffee gets cold.
As I finish this book, the cup of coffee in my mouth tells me to live in the present. Full (LONG) thoughts under the cut, as usual.
Onto the second book of the コーヒーが冷めないうちに book series now! I am once again back at Café Funiculi Funicula for more coffee, feels, and regrets....now with grief and guilt.
And now I have thoughts and some words about myself....
I wrote my thoughts on the first book here, and as you can see, I liked the premise enough despite the MAJOR shortcomings, because I believe that when done well, the premise could be something profound and wonderful. Also I'm a sucker for both reflexive time travel plots and sad slice-of-life.
So, with the album “Steve McQueen” by Prefab Sprout playing in my ears, rainy days on my window, and lounging in my desk, I am back at to immerse in the wistful atmosphere of the story, ready to go back to the past before the coffee gets cold.
I am happy to report that the second book is better than the first! There are significant number of improvements here and there, and it seems that author Toshikazu Kawaguchi listened to some of the criticisms of the first one...
Upon finishing, it felt like a nice cup of coffee after a somber rainy day. Full thoughts and a little story about me under the cut.
It seems that I've been doing something shocking.....reading a book! Well, it's been a while since I read a book, and I had a sudden urge to spend my Eid holidays reading a book....a simple book, of course. I liked it, but I have thoughts.
So, I've been spending my week reading Before the Coffee Gets Cold (2015) solely for the premise. It's not quite sci-fi, but grounded enough to put me in a breeze.
At a glance, the premise of “a cafe that can get their patrons back in time but it can't change the present” intrigued me. Not to mention that I have the perfect album to listen to while reading, to immerse myself in the wistful, warm feeling of the premise.
The fact that the cafe cannot change the present gives the premise an opportunity to provide meaningful insights on how the looking into the past might not change the present, but it will give us will to live in the present and build our futures. Previously, I really loved Petite Maman (2021) for exploring a similar premise with similar insights and I was so stoked to hear that there are more stuff like this. Also, stories like this IS my bread and butter after all.
Now that I finished it.....it was a mixed experience. Full thoughts under the cut.