Reviews tagging 'Grief'

Tales from the Café by Toshikazu Kawaguchi

94 reviews

bluelien's review

emotional hopeful inspiring reflective relaxing medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

This book reminded me of why I picked up the first one. I've always been a fan of observing the way others live their lives, which is why "before the coffee gets cold" appealed to me. What's more fun than observing the customers in a coffee shop? So many people, so many lives. Since this isn't your typical cafe, I was immersed in its ins and outs and forgot my original goal. This second book gave me what I was looking for in the first place, now that I'm familiar with the staff and the workings of the cafe, I could comfortably focus on the patrons. To put it briefly, I found this an enjoyable read. There were a lot of life lessons to pick on, but if there's one thing that will stay with me, it's that we should strive to live a life with no regrets. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Grief, Death of parent, and Death

Minor: Child death

lovelybookshelf's review against another edition

adventurous emotional mysterious reflective medium-paced

4.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Miscarriage and Grief

john_quixote's review

emotional hopeful reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief

alainajreads's review against another edition

emotional reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.75

Overall, this was a solid follow-up to Before the Coffee Gets Cold, set about 7 years after the original, and I enjoyed the reoccurring characters and that we got to learn more of Kazu’s backstory. I love the atmospheric setting of the Café Funiculi Funicula, and seeing it through the seasons, in each story as a new person travels to the past. Three of the four stories involve someone returning to visit a deceased loved one, and the messages of some of the stories felt a little on-the-nose but still hit hard emotionally. Though formulaic, these stories always touch me and I feel better for having read them. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent, Grief, and Death

Moderate: Suicidal thoughts and Miscarriage

Minor: Pregnancy and Cancer

m_a_j's review

emotional hopeful reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Death of parent, and Grief

Moderate: Suicidal thoughts and Cancer

Minor: Pregnancy

lizbeththesimp's review against another edition

emotional inspiring relaxing medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Mental illness, Grief, Suicidal thoughts, Cancer, Car accident, Miscarriage, Death, and Death of parent

seubecca's review

emotional inspiring mysterious reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Abandonment, Cancer, Grief, Suicidal thoughts, Death, and Death of parent

Minor: Miscarriage and Pregnancy

diana_raquel's review against another edition

emotional medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Miscarriage, Death, Grief, and Death of parent

kukazashi's review

emotional hopeful mysterious reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Pregnancy, Death of parent, Death, Terminal illness, Murder, Suicidal thoughts, and Grief

Minor: Injury/Injury detail

cutepatzie's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional hopeful informative inspiring lighthearted mysterious reflective relaxing sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I recently lost my mom so this book gives me a lot of hope and reflection on myself. I really appreciate the book that gives everyone some kind of closure. And the part about losing a baby and the happiness that left. And the change of the perspective for all the characters, and letting them be happy. Really helped me in my own dark and cold winter. Amazing book.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cancer, Death of parent, Miscarriage, Suicide attempt, Chronic illness, Grief, and Death