you must drink the cup of coffee you are served before it gets cold

I heard about my most recent read on the Diving In podcast which I have mentioned here previously. Another book that would not normally be something I thought to pick up, but after hearing them discuss it, I was intrigued. Before the Coffee gets Cold, by Toshikazu Kawaguchi is about a coffee shop called Funiculi Funicula, located in a back alley in Tokyo. From this cafe it is possible to travel in time. 

There are, as you might expect, some rules that the traveler must adhere to.
1. You can only meet people who have visited the cafe
2. You can do nothing while in the past that will change the present
3. There is only one seat in the cafe that takes you to the past
4. You can not move from that seat while you are time traveling
5. There is a time limit - you must drink the cup of coffee you are served before it gets cold and once consumed you are returned to the present

The rules and the concept are what sparked my interest - and of course the way that Virginia and Louise were talking about it on the podcast. It is a quick read, the subject is different, and I quite liked it. It's probably not for everyone. This book was adapted from a play and in my mind I kept seeing it being put on in the "little theatre" at Marymount College in 1980. That might have contributed to my enjoyment as well. 

Comments

[jan mccann]

I love the cover too- on my list!