Welcome to Litsy!

Two friends recommended this novel to me so here I am enjoying these cute stories about a cafe in Tokyo which has one seat which can transport a person to the past. But there are rules!! I‘m about halfway through this novel, still trying to keep the characters straight. I don‘t know why this is such a problem for me because, in truth, there are very few character!!

Visitors to a Tokyo cafe get to travel in time if they sit on a certain chair and follow very specific rules. Four segments follow four different people as they travel, along with snippets of their back stories, and the stories of those who work in the cafe. The premise is intriguing and some of the stories sweet, yet the delivery not so much so. It dragged, despite being a short book, I lost track of who was who and found the narrative overdone.

Took a bit to get into but I loved it!

#snowflake #snowflakes #papersnowflakes

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

I found this in a little book store and read the whole thing on the short flight home. It was such a fun little read with a lovely ending. Very cute.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Completed November 29th 2024. It took a bit to get into it. Originally written in Japanese and translated….the characters name difficult to follow but over all concept cool!

Our latest book club pick.
Too 🤮 sweet for me! I found it so annoying all the repetition, I could tell you the time travel rules in my sleep! I don‘t like books that describe every detail of every single thing going on and every single emotion. Why tell me how much the actual coffee is and how much money you gave and how much change you get and how you put it in the till……….You get the idea.

14-6 Nov 24 (audiobook)
I absolutely hated this book, only finishing because it was short and I could then pan it.
The repetitive, simple writing style drove me crazy and was exacerbated by the bland, childish narration. The text was so laboured and obvious - it was clear from the start that you could not change the present, but could change the future. And the characters were incredibly obtuse. I cannot remember a book I have enjoyed less.

I adore this series

#Coffee_Tea
#DaysDevotedTp
@Eggs
@Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks

If you like The Midnight Library by Matt Haig, you should consider reading Before the Coffee Gets Cold by Toshikazu Kawaguchi. Both novels explore the complications of time travel and dig deep into the weight of personal experiences. A common theme in Before the Coffee Gets Cold is the idea of acceptance. The four characters followed are faced with the dilemma of their individual choices, leading them to evaluate what truly matters to them.

Two books in my TBR were left in my Little Free Library this week! #bookhaul #serendipity #littlefreelibrary

If you are looking for a book that explores time travel and the complexities of human experiences, Before the Coffee Gets Cold by Toshikazu Kawaguchi is perfect for you. This novel is written from a third-person limited point of view. Although each chapter features different stories, the author only provides access to the feelings and thoughts of one character at a time.

I am not sure what happened here. It sounded like a book that would be right up my alley - there is even a cat on the cover! But I was ...bored? I switched to audio for entertainment while I painted my office but I just didn't care and ended up watching Criminal Minds instead.
The concept is good, but either the execution or translation was not.

Woke up.this morning really needing a change so I decided to paint my office/library green.

Listening to the tagged #Bookspin on audio while I work!

⭐️⭐️⭐️ I thought I‘d love this low-stakes time traveling café book more than I did. I think it came down to how it‘s a short story collection and I‘m never a good reader of those. That said, I did like how all the stories were connected and how the time travel was so low-stakes. You weren‘t worried the world would be changed, just the people there.I don‘t think I‘ll read more, but there are some characters I am wondering about, so you never know!

“‘Oh gosh, is that the time? Sorry I have to go,‘ the man mumbled evasively, as he stood up and reached for his bag.”

#FirstLineFridays
@ShyBookOwl

I felt for characters, this book made me feel.

The setting was cozy but this was also a sad book. The life always won so even though there were tough topics this still felt really hopeful.

I loved the message of the book: how a change of heart can make all the difference.

#serieslove2024

Another book club pick, the topic was Exotic Escapades. I guess time travel is the exotic part. No one goes anywhere and the entire book is set in the same cafe. The rest of my review is in the comments, buckle up I have thoughts on this very meh book.
There‘s no explanation of how the chair/ cafe came to be. Also, who is the ghost woman?! We are teased about her but then given NOTHING. And after the fourth story, it just ends. (More in comments)

#CoverLove Day 19: #Chair(s) in this bestselling series - I finally caved and bought them all. Will probably read the first book with college kid in our book club of two this summer. I hope it lives up to the hype. Have you read these titles yet? Do share with me some of your thoughts.

Hooray! I found a book with a #lamp on it! I almost gave up. 😅 #CoverLove #myneverendingtbr

This is quite a quirky book but charming with it. It‘s a gentle and touching little tale about life. What would you change if you could travel back in time? Don‘t forget to drink your coffee before it gets cold, though! ☕️😉

A library book. I keep seeing this little book mentioned and thought I‘d give it a go. 🙂

4 charming interlinked short stories set in a cafe in Tokyo where you can go back in time. There are certain constraints, however:

1.Nothing you do will change events between then and now. Whatever has happened, will happen.

2. You cannot leave your seat in the cafe, so you can only meet people who have already been to the cafe.

3. You will return to the present when you have finished your coffee - and you MUST finish it before it gets cold.

#LitSolace #MidsummerSolace

Let's make Saturday a day for coffee and chats. Join in our #SaturdayChatterday event. Grab a drink and start chatting.
☕️ Are you having a good weekend?
☕️ What are you up to today?
☕️ Where are you?
☕️ What are your plans for next week?
☕️ Any recommendations - books, places, films/tv shows etc?

Have a great day 🌞

@TheBookHippie @Chrissyreadit @jenniferw88

@ShyBookOwl
#FirstLineFridays

#coffeeandabook

Re-reading for my book club

Mixed feelings about this book. I agree with other reviews that this would be better as a play or a Netflix series. As a book . . . well, I'll just say I think maybe something has been lost a bit in translation. I think that if I could read it in Japanese, instead of this translation, it would be better. The English translation, well, I thought it felt simplistic and overexplained. But I like the concept.

I liked the premise of this one, but it did get a bit samey with the descriptions of the coffee and going back in time. I think that was partially because it is very similar in style to What you are looking for is in the library! But I did enjoy it! I don‘t think I will rush to get the next one, but I will probably read it in the future :)

#DogsOfLitsy #ReadingBuddy

My current read for my IRL book club.

I can‘t say that I‘m loving it exactly but I‘ve already found myself teary. 😆

What a cool idea. Books about time travel are usually fantasy / wish-fulfillment. But what if it cane with so many rules that it hardly made sense to even try it? While the idea carried the beginning of the book, and the slow reveal of the connections between the characters carried the middle, it had lost all steam by the end.

‘Oh gosh, is that the time! Sorry, I have to go,‘ the man mumbled evasively, as he stood up and reached for his bag.
#firstlinefriday
@ShyBookOwl
#24countriesin2024

Imagine a coffee shop that lets you go back in time with a few (read many) rules to follow.

As interesting as the premise was, the book was pretty bland. I understand some essence being lost because of this being a translation. Expected a bit too much I guess, DNFing after the second story.

1. Read or listen to an audiobook at least one hour each day this week, Oh and I have tickets to see TJ Klune Friday evening. So buy lots of his books....that's part of the plan.
2. Before the Coffee Gets Cold and The Book Thief.
3. Impulsive, Kind.

@cupcake12
#MotivationalMonday

Have a great week!

I liked the story but not the writing, which is understandable as it‘s a translation. However it felt clunky to read and a tad repetitive. The way the female character‘s perspectives were written also felt a little off base.
Nevertheless, it was a short read with an interesting plot line.

I was intrigued by the concept & the specific relationships each section explored.

But the writing style just felt so flat. I saw other reviewers suggest it might have been due to translation, but I don‘t think that was my issue. It was more about where the author offered detail (like describing everybody‘s outfits?!) vs where he kept it sparse or oversimplified (the action, character development)? I was left annoyed; so much missed potential.

1, I think WWI or WWII are my favorites, although the WWII time period has so many books set in that time it gets a little saturated.
2. A Court of Thorns and Roses.
3. Gone With The Wind or The Mists of Avalon are the longest books I've read.
#wondrouswednesday @eggs

I've done it again I've started a new audio book and it turns out to be a series of 4 book's.
Why do I do this to myself...
oh well here we go with the first book Before the coffee gets cold by Toshikazu Kawaguchi

#audiobook
#readingontheroad
#solotravel
#traveltheworld

Merry Christmas! 🎄I‘m up early and waiting for the rest of the household to wake up and open their presents so I‘ve used the time wisely and finished my book! This is between a ‘pick‘ and a ‘so-so‘. I‘m feeling generous as it‘s Christmas! This is an interesting concept and story, just the execution wasn‘t great. The writing didn‘t really flow. But maybe this is just the translation. Anyway, Merry Christmas and happy reading!

Book Advent Day 8!

I wasn‘t expecting this book to touch so deeply on emotions and humanity. The four stories were heartfelt and thoughtful. Though each was short, the stories were big and didn‘t leave me feeling a hole in the story. The flow of the writing took me a bit to get into maybe due to its translation or that it was written as a play, but I did like the style. I enjoyed getting to know these characters and I‘m looking forward to my bookclub discussion!

I have been depressed & painfully sad since I lost my better half recently. And the rare moment I feel the least bit happy about something I immediately feel guilty. So this hit home, “If I had led a sad life as a result of my sister's death, then it would have been as if her death has caused it. So, I thought I mustn't allow that to happen.I swore to myself that I would make sure that I was happy.My joy would be the legacy of my sister's life.“💙

This book was great! The 3rd and 4th stories in particular made me bawl like a baby. Can't recommend this enough. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Seems like this one's got lots of mixed reviews, but I quite enjoyed the original so am hoping for the same this go round.

I am very turned off by how kawaguchi describes his female characters.

TBD on bailing because of that.

I think this little book lost out with the translation. Also it was originally a stage play and I could see that working well. The appeal of this book might be the lessons/ moral or what ever each story portrayed. I‘m afraid I couldn‘t finish it as there was something about the writing that didn‘t get me in in. I‘m guessing it was the way it was translated. I did love the life lessons of the first two that I read.