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A review by krystalgaia
Before the Coffee Gets Cold by Toshikazu Kawaguchi
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
It’s quite difficult to review an “anthology” because the character & story arcs are not as fleshed-out as full-length novels, and most especially when there is only one story that resonated with you. Perhaps I lack the experience/empathy needed to relate with the other stories; but then, I think it’s also part of the author’s job to make us care for their characters.
The world where this novel was set was interesting though. The premise (“What would you do if you could go back in time?”) was definitely something that had been used over and over again in other novels, so I was interested in how Kawaguchi executed it differently. And although I’d give him full marks for worldbuilding and the world itself, I still wish there was something more to this novel, something that would keep me up at night.
As for the technical aspect, there were a lot of stage directions that became repetitive, and Kawaguchi was mostly telling and not showing. Though I’d cut him some slack here, since this is his debut novel, and it must have been difficult to transition from playwriting to prose writing.
Overall, this is a warm, lighthearted read that wouldn’t ruin your vacation.
The world where this novel was set was interesting though. The premise (“What would you do if you could go back in time?”) was definitely something that had been used over and over again in other novels, so I was interested in how Kawaguchi executed it differently. And although I’d give him full marks for worldbuilding and the world itself, I still wish there was something more to this novel, something that would keep me up at night.
As for the technical aspect, there were a lot of stage directions that became repetitive, and Kawaguchi was mostly telling and not showing. Though I’d cut him some slack here, since this is his debut novel, and it must have been difficult to transition from playwriting to prose writing.
Overall, this is a warm, lighthearted read that wouldn’t ruin your vacation.