‘’So, there’s nothing one could do to change the present?’’

In the fourth instalment of our beloved Tales From the Cafe series, the focus turns on family, parenthood, the relationship between daughters and parents, and the regret that comes to haunt our step once our bond with those we love- be it kin or lovers - is shuttered by misunderstanding, prejudice or plain denial to accept the truth.

‘’You cannot change the present no matter how hard you try…what a cruel rule.’’

The Husband: A rather inquisitive professor wants to return to the time when his wife was healthy, for there are things left unspoken…What do you do when you know the future and the misery it will bring? Do you tell or keep everything locked within you, suffering in silence?

The Farewell: We often overlook the special bond, the adoration even, between a human being and their pet. In this moving episode, a woman visits the past to face her regrets over the death of her pet.

The Proposal: In an unexpectedly sad story, a young woman wants to meet the boyfriend whose marriage proposal she refused. One of the most moving moments in the entire Funiculi Funicula series.

The Daughter: This moment was equally heart-breaking and infuriating. A daughter who treated her father in such a manner makes it difficult for me to understand her. Making amends? There would be no need for that if you had tried to listen to your father and care for his feelings instead of being a megalomanic selfish shrew. I am sorry if I sound cruel but honesty always comes first.

Yes, Toshikazu Kawaguchi and his treasures keep breaking our hearts, but the hope, love, and sense of freedom surrounding you when you read his books last long after your coffee gets cold. Within these pages, Life awaits. You don’t want to miss it…

‘’When our action brings about an unexpected result, how can we not experience huge regret? After all, do we ever get another shot?’’

My reviews can also be found on https://theopinionatedreaderblog.wordpress.com/ ( )

My review of this book can be found on my YouTube Vlog at::

https://youtu.be/Ekm1eoT1ByU

Enjoy! ( )

Another great installment in the Before the Coffee Gets Cold series. I love that every person coming in to the cafe has a different need/want to go back to the past. Each of the stories is centered around love but each one plays out differently.

I see on GoodReads that there is a fifth book in the series. I am looking forward to reading the next book in this series, can't wait for the publisher to translate the next novel. ( )

The fourth book from this rather enjoyable series: at least it had been rather enjoyable up to this book.   But i'm beginning to feel that Toshikazu is beginning to get a bit repetitive and the cafe is beginning to become a little stale.

I think that Toshikazu is simply rushing out books and not really making any effort to create something new and interesting, which is a shame.   I really feel that what this series needs is for Toshikazu to just put it down for a while and not come back to it until he has something new and interesting to bring to the cafe.

That's my thoughts on the matter, it really doesn't need to be ruined to meet a deadline, either with the publisher or with Toshikazu's bank account.

Bye for now. ( )

ok this time the writing really drove me bonkers. it's just too detached and too many steps away from the emotions for me. the philosophical questions being asked in these books are still interesting, and actually in this one more so - it kind of addresses the loopholes and what-abouts that come up when reading the others, so i appreciated that for sure. but i really was bothered by the writing this time, and the number of things that felt like inconsistencies to me. like the way (for example) in one story she said she thought he was boring and wasn't really interested in him at all but then later in the story spoke as if the opposite was true? it was too all over the place. i don't know why i keep listening to these. ( )