Before the Coffee Gets Cold by Toshikazu Kawaguchi

1. The story was originally a play. In what ways does this show throughout the text? How could a stage adaptation change or enhance the story? What might be different?

2. This book is an international bestseller. What about it has universal appeal? What about the story feels distinctly Japanese?

3. How did the characters who traveled in time satisfy their goals? Did everyone succeed? Did anyone fail? Were these characters likeable/unlikeable? How does duty play into their motivations?

4. How does the magical realism of the story compare to hard sci-if or fantasy? What about the rules of time travel? Did they seem fair? What other time travel stories are very different, and are any similar?

5. Who do you think the ghost was? How do you think she ended up that way?

6. Would you time travel under these parameters? Would you prefer to go to the past or to the future? What about in general — is there a year you would time travel to?

7. This book has been on stage and on screen. Who would you cast for a streaming anthology series?