The Before The Coffee Gets Cold series has quickly become a favourite of mine, and sparked a growing enjoyment of Asian translated fiction in recent years. Most recently I read Before Your Memory Fades, playing catch up as the latest book in the series, Before We Forget Kindness, has recently been released. The third book did not disappoint, though it felt notable that in Before Your Memory Fades, the short stories tone had shifted to a more sombre attitude, the focus turned to that of deep loss, deteriorating mental health and thoughts of ending life. There were still moments of levity, humour and jest, slid in at the right time, but never to make light of the struggles faced by the characters. This novel was different to the first two, in that it almost felt more personal, that having seen the good and the bad in books one and two’s time travelling characters, book three was about the sad.
BLURB:
The third novel in the international bestselling Before the Coffee Gets Cold series, following four new customers in a cafe where customers can travel back in time.
In northern Japan, overlooking the spectacular view Hakodate Port has to offer, Cafe Donna Donna has been serving carefully brewed coffee for more than one hundred years. But this coffee shop offers its customers a unique experience: the chance to travel back in time.
From the author of Before the Coffee Gets Cold and Tales from the Cafe comes another story of four new customers, each of whom is hoping to take advantage of the cafe’s time-travelling offer. Among some familiar faces from Toshikazu Kawaguchi’s previous novels, readers will also be introduced to:
A daughter who couldn’t say ‘You’re an idiot.’
A comedian who couldn’t ask ‘Are you happy?’
A younger sister who couldn’t say ‘Sorry.’
A young man who couldn’t say ‘I like you.
REVIEW:
I will preface that this novel talks about ending ones life a lot, the reasons and events that lead these characters to want to take such actions. I think for the most part it is written well and avoids placing judgement on the characters. Instead it aims to help the reader understand how someone can reach that point. Conversely, through the conversations these characters have as they travel back in time, whether to say a final goodbye or to vent anger at a relative, they experience a shift in perspective or come to some kind of realisation about what it means to live and be alive.
“He realized that no matter how difficult life seemed, it could be completely turned around by a single epiphany.” P.192
For those anxious readers, like me, I will spoil it to say that no one does end their life after visiting the café as they intended. But loosing loved ones and loosing a sense of one’s self is still very much the theme of this book. The way loss is written is so evocative. These are fictional characters, yet the realness in which they written will connect with you. The Sister nearly made me bawl my eyes out in public. In fact I am feeling emotional again just thinking of the story.
Note to readers: maybe read this book somewhere you can ugly cry without worry.
Before Your Memory Fades is a short but powerful read that examines human connection and mental health. A somewhat change in tone from earlier novels in the series it still feels very connected, and a extension of the stories and themes that came before it. Well worth reading and short enough to read in a day or two, Before Your Memory Fades is a worthy addition to your TBR if looking for something a little different.
Until next time,
Rating: 4.5 Stars
Genre: Fiction – Translated
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