The Book Report #137

Episode #136

Before We Forget Kindness By Toshikazu Kawaguchi

The Book

First published in 2024 by Picador, an imprint of Pan Macmillan, London. Originally Published in Japan as Yasashi-sa O Wasurenu Uchi Ni by Sunmark Publishing Inc., Tokyo, Japan, in 2023.

Japanese/ English translation rights arranged by Sunmark Publishing Inc., through Gudovitz & Company Literary Agency, New York.

I own a signed first-print hardback edition of the book. I also used a digital copy when I was not at home.

What Did I Think?

This is book five in the series. However, chronologically. I believe this book is the second.

We have another four stories from Cafe Funiculi Funicula:

• The Son – His parents are splitting up, and he blames himself. He is willing to sacrifice himself to make his parents happy.

The story is sad. I blame the parents. Even though they do care about the kid. The main concern seems to be what they want more. The outcome was the best solution, as it was less harmful to the kid.

• The Nameless Child – A child has been born. The mother insists that the father choose the name. The problem is that the father has recently died, and now the only way to name the child is to visit the cafe – a nice, simple story.

Communication would have helped with any misunderstandings and maybe stubbornness.

• The Father – A father knows when someone isn’t good enough for their child. Maybe it’s for selfish reasons. As it turned out, he was right. But he wouldn’t tell his daughter why. They became estranged until it was too late to do anything about it.

This is another story where communication could have helped; however, when you have both as bad as each other. A sudden loss may have been the only way to bring them back together.

• The Valentine – Two friends meet in school and separate after. One of the friends has a secret but it takes year for the other to realise there was something she missed. She uses the cafe to find some answers and maybe some closure.

This story had a nice outcome.

The Formula

The story has been lightened ever so slightly, which is a good thing, as it made me step away from the series. It got depressing. But I couldn’t keep away. However, I think the author has realised this. Death is not the only solution for the stories. Even though most end that way. It isn’t the only outcome for the people who seek answers.

There’s some new information about travelling in the cafe. When you time-travel into the cafe, your past self vanishes to make room for you. When you leave, your past self returns.

Would I Recommend?

Even though the formula for most of these stories ends with death, I cannot help but be drawn to the drama that unfolds in the different lives of the people who come to the cafe.

Nagare and his family are brilliant as guides through the whole process and I enjoy there journey as much or even more than most of the stories that happen in the cafe.

Please give it a go.

Would you like to purchase your very own copy?

You could try these online stores: Amazon (UK/USA), Waterstones, AbeBooks (UK/USA), Barnes and Noble, eBay (UK/USA).

Alternatively, you could try your local bookshop or your local library.