In a café in Tokyo, it's possible to go back in time to whenever you like. However, there are a lot of rules attached. you cannot leave your seat, nothing you do will affect the present, and you must drink your coffee before it gets cold.
This book tells four stories about regulars at the café and their trips back. One last chance to see a dead relative, to speak to their spouse before the onset of Alzheimer's disease or confront a lover who left them.
It's a gentle and thoughtful novel dealing with some of the eternal themes of life. The central conceit and method of time travel is uniquely Japanese and probably wouldn't work in any other culture.
No explanation is ever given, which is a good thing. It works, that's all we need to know.
The translation is smooth a very easy, even soothing, read. This is as far away in tone from many of my typical reads as it's possible to get, but I still enjoyed this book immensely.
The characters are drawn nicely. The links between the stories are cleverly placed. There are no surprises in the story, but that's not an issue. This is a moving and emotional set of vignettes around an interesting theme. I recommend it without any reservation. An easy 8/10.
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