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Titles in This Set
1. Before the Coffee Gets Cold
2. Tales from the Cafe
3. Before Your Memory Fades
4. Before We Say Goodbye
Details
Condition: BRAND NEW
Format: Paperback
Publisher: Picador
Age Range: Adult (18+)
Overview
Step into the hushed, coffee-scented world of Cafe Funiculi Funicula with this complete four-book paperback set by Toshikazu Kawaguchi. Translated from the original Japanese and adapted from Kawaguchi's award-winning play, this beloved series follows visitors to a Tokyo cafe where a single cup of coffee offers a fleeting chance to travel back in time. Gentle, wise, and deeply moving, these interconnected stories explore regret, memory, and the courage it takes to say what matters most before it's too late.
About the Books
This collection brings together the first four instalments of the series in publication order. Before the Coffee Gets Cold introduces the cafe's legend: sit in a particular seat, follow the rules, and you may travel back in time - but only for as long as your coffee stays warm. Four visitors seek their own reckoning with the past, from an abandoned lover to a woman hoping for a final letter from a husband whose memory is fading. Tales from the Cafe deepens the mythology with new regulars and fresh journeys through pivotal moments. Before Your Memory Fades introduces new faces alongside familiar ones, each grappling with grief and healing. Before We Say Goodbye closes the set with visitors seeking reconnection and closure, rounding off the arc begun in book one. Each volume presents standalone stories that reward readers whether read individually or in sequence, forming a tender meditation on time and memory.
- Complete story arc: collects the first four books in original publication order.
- Perfect for gifting: ideal for book clubs, fans of translated fiction, or a gentle, emotional read.
- Internationally bestselling: the series has sold over a million copies worldwide.
- Easy to love, easy to share: lightweight paperback format, great for reading on the go.
- Beautifully translated: Geoffrey Trousselot's translation preserves the warmth of Kawaguchi's original prose.
About the Author
Toshikazu Kawaguchi was born in Osaka, Japan, in 1971. Before turning to fiction, he worked as a playwright and director with the theatrical group Sonic Snail, where his play Before the Coffee Gets Cold won the grand prize at the Suginami Drama Festival. That play became the basis for his debut novel, now an internationally bestselling series adapted for film in Japan. His work is known for its gentle, contemplative tone and its focus on small, human moments that make time travel feel like a chance for healing.
Why You'll Love This Set
If you're drawn to quietly emotional stories with a touch of magic, this four-book paperback set is a comforting, thought-provoking read from start to finish, perfect for cosy nights in, book clubs, or a meaningful gift for a fellow reader.
Please Note: This is the current UK paperback edition; cover artwork may vary slightly from the images shown.
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