Mat Canary’s Reviews > Before the Coffee Gets Cold > Status Update

It takes a death to realize what means in one's life. Japanese literature has so many lessons. Profound guides on how to live a content, modest life that always involves a community. I loved Hirai's character growth; the author really takes time with world-building, and he's one storyteller.

The 'Husband & Wife' bit really was the highlight and heart of the novel. The writer’s attention to detail and ability to emotionally narrate the scene beautifully laid out a memorable reading experience. Love is unconditional, love is eternal. I can see it making people ugly cry. This story alone would suffice and give the book justice for its persistence as a top book recommendation.

I'm having real hard time reading this because I'm not really good at remembering names and characters. And it doesn't really help that the names are in Japanese. Reading the book took me a lot longer than I had expected. I will now continue watching the film, so I am more familiar with the story and appreciate the small details left by the writer. Their stories intertwine, and I’m excited to see where they lead.

I was not expecting the twist but I guess I had finished 1/3 of the novel. I liked it. Though it was funny I had read female leads getting dumped back-to-back, but in Fumiko's case it was very ambiguous. The build-up was slow and had too many interruptions but the payoff was worth it. I want to know how the author will intertwine the stories. This is a book full of surprises.