Magical Realism | Book Chatter

Before the Coffee Gets Cold
By Toshikazu Kawaguchi
Hanover Square Press, 9781335430991, November 2020, 272 pp.

The Short of It:

Grab a coffee and enjoy.

The Rest of It:

Everyone has heard of this book and the books that follow it. I was SO late to the party with this one even though I’ve owned a copy for a very long time. I finally got to it late one night.

In a small, basement cafe, there is one seat that can transport you to the past or future, but only once and only if the strictest rules are followed.

This story consists of a very small cast of characters all in one setting, the cafe itself. The owners of the cafe do what they can to guide each person as they seek time travel, but they can’t really explain how it came about, only that it works from one specific seat and has to happen before their coffee gets cold.

That’s right. The entire process has to happen before their coffee gets cold. It’s just a brief moment to visit a specific time period and no matter what they do, it can never change the present. So why bother?

Each person who chooses to sit in that seat has their own reasons for doing so. Mostly for closure but even with the rules, they still hope to correct something in the present. Like saving someone from certain death.

It’s a bittersweet story. These characters long for their loved ones and feel the full weight of their decision to go back or forward.

I really enjoyed this simply told tale. I’ve already added the next book to my shelf. We could all use some feel good books right about now.

Source: Borrowed
Disclosure: This post contains Bookshop.org affiliate links.

Remarkably Bright Creatures
By Shelby Van Pelt
Ecco Press, 9780063204157, May 2022, 368pp.

The Short of It:

Delightful.

The Rest of It:

After Tova Sullivan’s husband died, she began working the night shift at the Sowell Bay Aquarium, mopping floors and tidying up. Keeping busy has always helped her cope, which she’s been doing since her eighteen-year-old son, Erik, mysteriously vanished on a boat in Puget Sound over thirty years ago.

Tova becomes acquainted with curmudgeonly Marcellus, a giant Pacific octopus living at the aquarium. Marcellus knows more than anyone can imagine but wouldn’t dream of lifting one of his eight arms for his human captors–until he forms a remarkable friendship with Tova. ~ from the publisher

I am not a fan of magical realism but when it’s done well? I can’t help myself. Tova, a lovely woman working at the aquarium befriends a large Pacific octopus. He escaped and got tangled in a bunch of cords so Tova came to his rescue. You see, Marcellus, is quite the adventurer. He escapes his enclosure nightly, gathers little things here and there but he has a secret that he’s been trying to share with Tova but she hasn’t quite caught onto it yet.

Tova is happy cleaning the aquarium and she enjoys her nightly visits with Marcellus and company, but after her brother dies, she begins to ponder her next step. Should she move into a retirement home? After spraining her ankle while tending to Marcellus, she comes to the conclusion that although she has friends, she doesn’t have anyone to care for her when that time comes. Life is nothing but a bunch of decisions, isn’t it?

Interwoven into this story is also Cameron’s story. A young man, unemployed and searching for the father he’s never known. Without any real ties, he heads north to look for his father. Luck is not on his side though. His bag is lost at the airport and inside it, the only chance he had at making a little money. Penniless, and desperate he calls his aunt, borrows more money and invests in a run down camper. Thinking, hey, at least I can live in it.

Although Cameron is used to living by slim means, he desires more. He desires a more stable life, and he hopes his father can be a part of that. What begins as a quest for an inheritance becomes something much more. While trying to make a living, he meets Tova at the aquarium.

Between the loss of Tova’s son Erik, the loss of her brother Lars, and the entrance of this young, wayward boy, Tova takes a liking to him and the two form a bond.

This is a beautiful story. There was one part where Marcellus’ secret hits me and I gasped. Out loud. Gasped. Nearly shed a tear. What a wonderful story! I had heard great things about this book but the magical realism turned me off. Boy, was I wrong. I ADORED this book. It will be on my fave list for sure but you all need to read it! It’s been out for a long time but hey, just pick it up. Trust me.

Highly recommend.

Source: Borrowed
Disclosure: This post contains Indiebound affiliate links.

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