Before we say goodbye --book 4 of 5 of the Before the Coffee Gets Cold books by Toshikazu Kawaguchi

 Publisher: Hanover Square Press; November 14, 2023

Language: English

Hardcover: 240 pages

ISBN-13: 978-1335009111

5 Stars

 

To be honest, I hesitated on reading this one. I’d read the first three, and I wasn’t sure Kawaguchi could come up with 4 more different stories. I should have known better. Like the previous books, these four stories are charming, heartwarming, and great fun. He has a ‘formula’ for his books, they all, so far at least, have four stories and are in small format (roughly 6.5” x 8.5”), the books are easy to hold while reading in bed, and are just fun! Some of the characters have appeared in earlier stories, and it’s like meeting an old friend by chance again.

 

One of the great things, to me at least, is you do not have to read the books in order. I read the second one first and had no problem reading number one later. Just buy these little books, they are great fun. Honest. Trust me.

 

 To read my reviews on earlier books:

https://lenoragood.blogspot.com/search?q=Toshikazu+Kawaguchi

The Little Sparrow Murders --by Seishi Yokomizo

 Publisher: Pushkin Vertigo (September 3, 2014

Language: English

Paperback: 320 pages

ISBN-13-1782278870

4 Stars

 

This book was a fun who-done-it read. The book takes place in a small village in Japan c. 1955. Thirty years prior, there were some murders in the village that were never solved and Kosuke Kindaichi a detective on vacation, is asked by a friend of his to spend it in the village and see what he can make of it. And more deaths occur in the time he is there. As a mystery it’s pretty good, but as a read about the life in a small village, it’s marvelous. And how the police interview people where manners and ‘caste’ are important in the extreme. Definitely not according to the police procedurals one American/European tv.

 

I’m not sure who did the translation into English. But I found several places where the pronouns were not consistent, and a few other little things that threw me out of the story for just a second or two, but throwing me out of the story didn’t help. 

 

I think this could be called a ‘Japanese cozy’ type murder mystery. It was my bedtime read. No graphic drawn out described in detail murders, hence, no nightmares. If you like Agatha Christie type murder mystery books, try this one. There are Japanese words here and there, but they are explained by context. Just be patient with the translator. 

 

All of It, So Far --poetry by Anita May

 Zeitgeist Press

ISBN: 978-1-940572-54-3

Orders and other information at: www.Zeitgeist-Press.com

85 pages

5 Stars

 

From the first poem, What is the It? which begins, “Some people do it in rhythm, / others do it in rhyme.” to the end of the book, I was hooked. I used it as a bedtime read, what I read before turning out the light. No nightmares riding my skull those nights. 

 

The book has many photo throughout, but it is the words I was most interested in. Invisible Forces closes with this couplet, “I pray I have done all I can for your success, / I am capable of only very simple magic.” Haven’t we all prayed for those we love, sad we only had a very simple magic and needed the help of a Divine?

 

Normally, I will find a couple of poems in a book that I really like, but there are several in this book. Especially Permission to Fail. “Make a way / by going / begin /not knowing /” begins this poem, it ends, “venture / into the unknown / be wrong / honest / imperfect / you have / permission to fail/” I think this poem should be taught in every school. We all need to fail so we can grow. 

 

The final poem is short and contains a great deal of balance, Esse, “And / our lives / were filled /with / Joy / ...Our Sorrow / ...and / balanced / in / reality”

 

This book will happily reside in my bookcase for years, and often taken out and read.