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Between coffee cups and bookmarks, I stumbled upon a few notable books.

Three books with three different moods: here’s my review.

Before the Coffee Gets Cold by Toshikazu Kawaguchi

• This book is strangely comforting. It transports you to a whimsical world of time travel. The premise revolves around the idea of a magical café in Tokyo, where people can travel back in time, but only until their coffee gets cold.
• What I liked most about this book is the non-dramatic quietness. It is adapted from a play, and you can actually imagine the scenes happening on a stage. I finished the book in 3 days, as it consists of only four intertwined stories.
• I definitely recommend this book to people who like short stories or are just starting a new habit of reading. The writing is simple yet effective. It is a tiny book that can be a good travel companion, too. I would give it 5/5 stars.

Six Days in Bombay by Alka Joshi

• Set in 1930’s India, this book follows the life of an Anglo-Indian nurse, Sona, who is assisting a celebrity painter in the hospital. The plot twists suddenly when Mira, the painter, dies under mysterious circumstances, and Sona becomes the prime suspect.
• The writing is nostalgic, and the visual detailing of the early 1900s is on point. Alka Joshi’s portrayal of a half-British and half-Indian girl is commendable. The dichotomy of the characters draws you instantly. None of the characters appear how they really are. And as the story unfolds, we learn more about their layered personalities.
• I recommend this book to people who like period dramas. Alka Joshi takes you on a world tour of 1930s India and England. What I didn’t like in the book was the long voyage by the story’s protagonist. While I enjoyed reading about all the cities, the story’s grip on the mystery felt like slipping. The ending felt prolonged and then suddenly rushed in the final chapter. I would give it 3/5 stars.

Horse by Geraldine Brooks

• The book follows the story of a legendary racehorse, Lexington. The thoroughbred horse was at its prime in the 1800s. Geraldine Brooks stitches together different timelines of American history to narrate a compelling tale of a black slave and his exceptional horse.
• What stood out to me the most was the emotional bond between the horse and his trainer. The story captures black history meticulously. I felt like I was on a journey starting from Kentucky (1850) to Washington, D.C. (2019) with a stopover in New York (1954). The themes of racism and social injustice are woven naturally into the story without making it sound preachy.
• I recommend this book to readers who enjoy historical fiction with emotional depth and strong social themes. Geraldine Brooks paints every scene with remarkable detail while keeping the story quite engaging. The story is not just about horse racing; it covers the topics of art, science, and social realities of different timelines. It is definitely worth reading, and I give it 4/5 stars.

These books showcase the literary prowess and exceptional storytelling styles of these authors. Each book teleports you to a different world. I consider these books to be a window of escape from reality. I hope you pick one of these books this weekend and spend some leisurely time with these extraordinary characters 😊.

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