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Japanese novels have a certain amount of charm to them, carrying their own sense of uniqueness. Although the translation may not be efficient, it somehow surpasses all the flaws and is instantly liked by the readers. Before The Coffee Gets Cold is no different. It is bizzare, mysterious and unpredictable. The characters are not entirely likeable but as you read along, you learn to be okay with it. They're different in their own way, one being aloof while the other has seriousness etched all over his face. What I couldn't help but notice was how women took the centre stage in this book. Women of different personalities. Originally written in Japanese by Toshikazu Kawaguchi, this piece of work was initially a play. I can only imagine how splendid it would have been to witness the play considering how well it pleased me as a novel.
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There's a café in Tokyo that stands sturdy since the time of the Edo period. But that's not what makes this place special. An urban lengend claims that the café allows it's customers to travel back in time or to visit the future. But there are a set of rules to be followed and failing to do so, one can forever be trapped in time. The story opens with Fumiko and her boyfriend, Goro, visiting the café purely by chance. While Fumiko expects a proposal, Goro decides to break-up and move to America. Heartbroken, Fumiko arrives at the café few days later after learning about the legend. But she is disappointed after being informed that the present cannot be changed in spite of any number of visits to the past or the present. One of the rules states that the person needs to be seated at a particular chair, one which is almost always occupied by a woman in the white dress who gets up only to use the washroom. The people who own the café, Yaeko Hirai, Kazu Tokita and Kei Tokita lend their ears to the customers and sympathize with their need to travel in time.
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Apart from Fumiko, there are three more characters who wish to travel and their stories are both heartbreaking but also uplifting. They are arranged in a specific order, something that I enjoyed reading. The pace of the book was steady and surprisingly easy to take in, irrespective of the fact that I do not enjoy science fiction much. The characters were given enough time, the women scoring additional importance. There were minute details that were enhanced and written beautifully. For example, the manner in which the coffee was brewed and how people savoured the taste differently. As it often comes with Japanese literature, this one too had a feeling of lovely aftereffect that lingered for a couple of days post finishing the book. The manner in which the characters were portrayed ordinarily, with all of their quirks was refreshing to read. Although I thoroughly enjoyed this novel, there was one loose end that I couldn't quite get over. The story of the woman in the white dress needed more pages in the book and this is why I cannot give it five stars. But, I highly recommend this wonderful book.
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Rating : 4.7/5.