Review: Before the Coffee Gets Cold by Toshikazu Kawaguchi

Before the Coffee Gets Cold by Toshikazu Kawaguchi

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I seem to have given everything four stars so far so maybe I should explain a bit about what I think about when rating a book! First, you’ll probably never see a review on this blog that is less than three stars. There are too many amazing books in the world to struggle through a book I don’t enjoy so if I’m really hating something I always DNF it. For the books I do finish, three stars means I liked it enough to want to finish it but there were one or two things that weren’t really for me about it, four stars means I really enjoyed it but there was maybe one wee thing I would have changed or it just didn’t completely blow me away, and five stars means I absolutely loved it, couldn’t put it down, instant favourite and I am now trying to force everyone else to read it too. Hope that makes sense! Anyways, back to Kawaguchi and Before the Coffee Gets Cold. I have read some Japanese literature before and it’s definitely a hit or miss for me, although I guess that’s true of any genre or category of literature. It is a very different writing style than what most western readers might be used to, with a lot of shorter sentences and what might be described as a clipped prose style. There also tends to be a less chronological narrative and more snippets of seemingly disconnected events that contribute to a final image, impression, or vibe of the text. Again however, I have only read a few Japanese books so I’m sure there are loads that don’t conform to these characteristics!

Before the Coffee Gets Cold is set in a wee underground café in Tokyo which offers a very special service. If you sit in a particular seat, you will be given one chance to travel in time. Of course, nothing is ever as simple as it seems, and the time traveller must follow a series of complex and irritating rules. Above all, they must drink all their coffee to return to the present before the coffee gets cold. Kawaguchi’s writing style has a careful, intentional, almost delicate feel. No word or phrase is superfluous or out of place. There is a feeling of warmth and calm throughout the novel despite Kawaguchi tackling deeply emotional issues. One thing that contributes to this is the familiarity the reader gains with the café staff and regulars. Most importantly, the reader and the characters find out about each other at the same pace which gives the reader a sense of belonging in the story rather than feeling like an outsider to a tight knit group. I really enjoyed the way the time travellers interlink in ways that only become clear as the story unfolds and gives you deeper insight into the characters’ motivations and relationships. As I mentioned before, one characteristic of Japanese fiction is the isolated chapters. The same is true here, which makes it well suited to being a public transport companion or for people who don’t have much time for reading as you can read one wee chapter at a time and still feel the satisfaction of finishing a complete story. Before the Coffee Gets Cold is a cosy yet intriguing read, its flowing narrative and warm inviting setting making it more accessible and digestible than some other angstier Japanese novels, such as Murakami’s work. I would really recommend Before the Coffee Gets Cold as a charming, relaxing and heartfelt entry point into the world of modern Japanese fiction. Have you read any Japanese books before? What did you think?

Love, Grace xx