Take a photo of a barcode or cover
danipanini 's review for:
Tales from the Café
by Toshikazu Kawaguchi
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Rating: 4⭐
Yet AGAIN another one of those books I never should've spaced out over a week or so. I mentioned in my review of the first book that it's such a quick read that you may not fully realize its beauty once it's done. Finishing the second book now and considering its length, the duology is definitely like the cup of coffee you need to drink to go back in time: drink it too fast, and you miss the reason why you're here; drink it too slow and you risk losing the magic and letting it die off. Everything needs to happen just before the coffee gets cold indeed.
Basically, Book 1 is "you cannot change the past or the present, but you have all the power to change the future if you decide to do so." Book 2 is "you are allowed to be happy even when your loved ones are not with you anymore; you create your own happiness."
Regret is such a finicky thing. Along with its close cousin trauma, it can let a person spiral into despair. "Tales from the Cafe" provides the validation and reminds you that you are your own person and you are worthy of happiness, no matter your past or present. The ending—though a seeming cliffhanger—brings the themes of both books together neatly.
I did like the first book more because I thought it weaved all its stories better; the second book confused me a bit more. But having this book answer the questions I had from the first was definitely worth staying for until the end. And yes, we NEED that third book! By then I'll make sure to not let it go cold on me.
Yet AGAIN another one of those books I never should've spaced out over a week or so. I mentioned in my review of the first book that it's such a quick read that you may not fully realize its beauty once it's done. Finishing the second book now and considering its length, the duology is definitely like the cup of coffee you need to drink to go back in time: drink it too fast, and you miss the reason why you're here; drink it too slow and you risk losing the magic and letting it die off. Everything needs to happen just before the coffee gets cold indeed.
Basically, Book 1 is "you cannot change the past or the present, but you have all the power to change the future if you decide to do so." Book 2 is "you are allowed to be happy even when your loved ones are not with you anymore; you create your own happiness."
Regret is such a finicky thing. Along with its close cousin trauma, it can let a person spiral into despair. "Tales from the Cafe" provides the validation and reminds you that you are your own person and you are worthy of happiness, no matter your past or present. The ending—though a seeming cliffhanger—brings the themes of both books together neatly.
I did like the first book more because I thought it weaved all its stories better; the second book confused me a bit more. But having this book answer the questions I had from the first was definitely worth staying for until the end. And yes, we NEED that third book! By then I'll make sure to not let it go cold on me.