Review: Before the Coffee Gets Cold

Before the Coffee Gets Cold by Toshikazu Kawaguchi
My rating: 4 of 5 stars



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Before the Coffee Gets Cold by Toshikazu Kawaguchi-Notes & Highlights

I got this on Christmas 2021 from my Ma! <3

I The Lovers

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CLANG-DONG

Note - Location 47

What does this mean?

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It was the type of face that if you glanced at it, closed your eyes and then tried to remember what you saw, nothing would come to mind. In a word, she was inconspicuous. She had no presence. She didn’t have many friends either. Not that she worried about it–Kazu was the sort of person who found interpersonal relationships rather tedious.

Note - Location 93

Sounds like me lol

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On some rare occasions a person can be so engrossed in a book she does not hear the surrounding voices and sounds.

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There was no mistaking–Fusagi was waiting for the woman in the dress to go to the toilet. This revelation was a huge blow for Fumiko. Disappointment spread across her face and she collapsed onto the table again. The devastating conversation continued.

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Why is she so dramatic?

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Desperate is one way to describe her lol

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desperate

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Fusagi had simply agreed, Perhaps that’s right.

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I think Fusagi is maybe a bit more dedicated

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He glanced over at the woman in the dress, then paused, deep in thought. ‘Sure, OK,’ he replied.

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This is almost like a dramatic action sequence the way the audiobook narrator, Arina Ii, is reading this.

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‘Right then. We’ll leave when you finish your cup,’ said Kohtake, looking at the half-empty coffee cup. Fusagi now seemed to be only thinking about leaving. ‘No, it’s OK. It’s gone cold anyhow,’

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A nod at the title of the book?

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Meanwhile, Fusagi was checking his second bag, his shirt pocket, his back pocket, and every other place he could think . . . ‘That’s odd, my wallet . . .’ he muttered. It seemed he had come to the cafe without his wallet. After looking in the same places again and again, he still couldn’t find it. He looked visibly upset, close to tears, even.

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Me when I locked my keys in my car :'(

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Fusagi pulled out one coin and handed it to Kazu. ‘OK, receiving five hundred yen . . .’ Kazu took the money, entered it into the cash register. Cha-ching . . . She pulled the change from the drawer. ‘That’s one hundred and twenty yen change.’ Kazu carefully placed the change and receipt in Fusagi’s hand. ‘Thank you for the coffee,’ he said, putting the change carefully in his wallet. He stowed the wallet in his bag, having seemingly forgotten that Kohtake was there, and he quickly headed for the door.

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Maybe the wallet is significant to the rest of the story? Otherwise, the whole writing of this chapter or book is so detailed that the author had to write every single part of a cash transaction.

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‘Your time in the past will begin from the time the coffee is poured . . .’ Kazu said, ignoring the question from Fumiko, who was nevertheless reassured by the news it would be happening soon. ‘And you must return before the coffee goes cold.’

IV Mother and Child

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Negativity is food for a malady,

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Negativity is food for a disease

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People don’t see things and hear things as objectively as they might think. The visual and auditory information that enters the mind is distorted by experiences, thoughts, circumstances, wild fancies, prejudices, preferences, knowledge, awareness, and countless other workings of the mind.

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Taken together, these artworks show the world as seen through Picasso’s eyes. They are the result of something passing through the filter that is Picasso. Until now, Kazu had never sought to challenge or influence people’s opinions or behaviour. This was because her own feelings didn’t form part of the filter through which she interacted with the world. Whatever happened, she tried not to influence it by keeping herself at a safe distance. That was Kazu’s place–it was her way of life.

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Just as she was planning to add sugar to her coffee, the bell rang, and out of habit, she was about to yell, ‘Hello, welcome!’ when the man said it before her. Kei bit her lip and looked over to the entrance.

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Lol

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“You help out here?’

‘Yeah.’

Miki’s answers were blunt and monosyllabic. Kei was finding it difficult to continue talking.”

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monosyllabic = consisting of one syllable, using brief words to signify reluctance to engage in conversation

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The present hadn’t changed–but those two people had. Both Kohtake and Hirai returned to the present with a changed heart. Kei gently closed her eyes.

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Filling in for her, Fumiko had been by Miki’s side for these fifteen years. Nagare had been there for Miki as her father, showering her with love, no doubt going some way to make up for her absence. Also filling in for her, Kazu had lavished Miki with kindness, playing the role of mother and big sister. She realized that there had been all these loving people around Miki, earnestly supporting her growth for the fifteen years she had been gone, wishing for her happiness.

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The magazine piece on the urban legend had stated, ‘At the end of the day, whether one returns to the past or travels to the future, the present does not change. So it raises the question: just what is the point of that chair?’ But Kazu still goes on believing that, no matter what difficulties people face, they will always have the strength to overcome them. It just takes heart. And if the chair can change someone’s heart, it clearly has its purpose. But with her cool expression, she will just say, ‘Drink the coffee before it gets cold.’

The movie wasn't that good that I would finish it. It switched up some of the characters and added a new one and took out other characters. It was nice, but meh.