I’ve been enjoying the “Before the Coffee Gets Cold” series by Toshikazu Kawaguchi. It’s about a cafe in Japan that has a special seat that allows you to time travel. There are certain rules you must abide by such as only being able to meet with other people who have been to the cafe and you must complete your visit before the coffee gets cold.

It’s written in short stories of visiting patrons with continuity in the characters who work at the cafe. Rich character development, explores some deep questions time and life lessons, and is whimsical.

The Marriage Plot was a big let down for me. The writing was still good like his other books, but the plot and characters weren’t as complex or interesting as in his other books. I felt detached from the story the whole time. I was waiting patiently for this book to come out since I had reread Middlesex and Virgin Suicides a few times too.