Barnes & NobleBefore Your Memory Fades- A Novel by toshikazu Kawaguchi

Its lost its charm

In the third installment of the series, we are introduced to a new cafe, this time in Hakodate, where Negare, Kazu, and Sachi have taken over while Negare's mother, Yukari, is travelling in America. Despite the new setting, the rules for travelling to the past are the same: Nothing about the present will change, you can't move from your seat, and you only have until the coffee gets cold. What follows is more of the same, although some of the charm seems to have been lost. This could be that its the third book and there aren't new stories to tell- lots of visiting of loved ones who died young. It could also be that this is the first one I've read instead of listening to on audio. I found these stories and the writing to be repetitive and felt like I was being spoonfed the characters feelings at times through the inner dialogue. This could be in part due to translation but I just felt like I was being told things I already knew over and over again or character's feelings were already well-expressed through description and the inner dialogue wasn't necessary. I still enjoyed reading this book for the most part but it doesn't compare to my experience with the first book. I think it was such a beautiful and unique idea when the first book came out and now the story has grown a bit tired and the lessons learned are a bit pat: someone was unhappy, travels to the past to speak to someone again, and their life turns around. I definitely don't recommend starting here. In fact, I don't know that I'd recommend ending here. Stick with When the Coffee Gets Cold.