Reviews tagging 'Fire/Fire injury'

Before the Coffee Gets Cold by Toshikazu Kawaguchi

12 reviews

_al's review against another edition

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emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

Sometimes the book has everything you like and it just doesn't hit, like this one for me. I adore time travel, love short stories, and love love when book character-driven. But this one in a little more than 200 pages was so difficult to get through for me. Closer to the end I found out this was a play originally and I think I would enjoy it more on stage.
But like the but i didnt a good time in the slightest and I'm not sure it was because of translation or author's style or me not just vibing with it.
2.6 stars for last story and very interesting concept of time travel and its rules. I think I will try one more book with different translator to get it but I don't think I will continue with whole series. 

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koplomps's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional hopeful inspiring sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.25


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nick_thebucket's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective relaxing sad fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

I'm sure everyone hates the rule about not being able to change the future, but I think it's actually what makes this such a good depiction of grief.

I'm grieving someone right now; and it's hard. There is so much I would give to go back and to be able to at least say a proper goodbye, to let them know once more how much they meant to me, even if I never get to see them again. I think a lot of people forget how important closure is because they're so focused on what they lost. Like yes, I would much rather have them back in my life, but that's not how the world works, so at the very least I want to be able to make peace with my goodbye. 

The book is really just a reminder to tell your loved ones how you feel, even if it's difficult or awkward and to say what you really mean, before it's too late.

I think the way so many of the people who time travel get choked up is pretty annoying and frustrating, but it's accurate. When the moment finally arrives, when you can finally let the words you've been dying to say out, your emotions clog your throat. 

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erisouls's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.25

Loved this book but the blurb on the front is misleading. The whole shtick is that you can’t change anything by sitting in the chair. 

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singalana's review against another edition

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emotional reflective sad slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

This book broke my heart. I didn't expect to feel so deeply and find philosophical meaning in this work. In Tokyo, there's a café that can allow you to travel in time to meet someone who has visited that café, but you only have time until the coffee gets cold. At first, I wasn't sure whether I was going to like it or not. In the beginning of the book we get to know how the process of going back works, and I was sceptical whether it will be executed believably. 

In this book, we follow four different storylines. Even though all of them were touching in their own way, the second one was really heartbreaking, and made me bawl my eyes out. 

The book still feels like it sort of keeps the reader at an arm's length, something I find that many japanese authors do, it manages to pack a punch, and make the reader ponder on philosophical questions. It does that by gently leading the reader to think on their own. 

If the purpose of art is to make people feel something, then this book certainly delivers. 

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gabriella_'s review against another edition

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emotional funny hopeful sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

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.

I like the plot points throughout and felt the world building intriguing. The magical realism elements had a way of grounding the reader while still giving you a bit of whimsy and imagination. I would’ve liked more characterization, but maybe the sequels develop the characters more? 

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lynxpardinus's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful mysterious reflective sad

4.0


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cristinareading's review against another edition

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hopeful inspiring reflective slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0


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reina_shouko's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0


THE BEST BOOK I HAVE READ IN MY LIFETIME. IF I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO GIVE THIS BOOK MORE THAN FIVE STARS I WOULD.
 

It's impossible for me to put all the emotions this book made me feel into words. This book wasn't just a read, it was an experience, an incredible one at that. An experience that had left such an imprint on me I think I've changed as a person.

In one word, MASTERPIECE.
If you can, pick up this book now! and go into it blindly with a cup of coffee by your side to accompany your ride.
But remember!
Drink the coffee before it gets cold :)

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rosenau's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0


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