Welcome at the Torunka Café, a hard to find coffee place, nestled in an alleyway that branches off of the market street. People who are meant to find the place, will see a tabby cat, that they only have to follow to stumble upon this haven of peace. The Torunka Café is a place where its denizens can quiet their mind, where the proprietor pours a delicious cup of coffee, where his daughter’s enthusiasm mesmerises customers and a part-time student completes this three-headed team.
Three stories, following different characters, show how lives that have crossed in the past and grown divergent, can join again at the right time. The writing style is quite simple, which symbolises the contents in a way. The Torunka Café shows the daily lives of both customer and barista, which are relatable since most of us lead simple lives. There is a real comfort in following people who have a normal job, worry about small things, make mistakes and try to rectify them, and seeing them finding their way.
The stories show snippets of people’s lives, with flashbacks to give context, but some things are left open-ended, which I usually don’t like, but for this novel it really fit. Though I found the events intriguing and I wanted to know what happened, the real magic happens in the message conveyed. In a culture where hard work, making promotion and earning money is the standard, Days at the Torunka Café offers comfort in knowing that there is another option. It shows the merits of slowing down, living consciously and enjoying the small things, like a cup of coffee, and the things that really matter, like the people around us.
Reading a book like this is perfect when life feels cluttered, stressed or unsure. Yagisawa gives his readers the same feeling of comfort, company and peace as customers receive in the Torunka Café. There is a sentence on the back of the book that perfectly sums up the core of this beautiful novel:
“While the Torunka Café serves up a perfect cup of coffee, it provides these sundry should with nourishment far more lasting. Satoshi Yagisawa brilliantly illuminates the periods in our lives where we feel lost – and how we find our way again.”
If you decide to pick this book up, my advice is to grab a cup of coffee, savour every page, and enjoy.
One of the things I enjoy about reading is that it allows me to continually learn new things. The genre that lends itself the most to this, aside from non-fiction, is historical fiction. This article will take you around the world and through history via some of my favourite books. From 1860s Japan, through World War II in Europe to America in the late nineteenth century. Buckle up, grab a camera and get ready to travel through time.
1 The Last Concubine by Lesley Downer
This book takes place in 1860s Japan and follows eleven year old Sachi. When princess Kazu travels through a farmer’s village on her way to the palace to marry the Shogun, she notices Sachi. Kazu decides to bring the girl along as her servant, confidante and to eventually offer her as a concubine to her husband. The Last Concubine is a beautiful story, intertwined with Japanese history from the Edo time period. The novel largely takes place at the palace, portraying customs that are wildly different from western culture. Set against the backdrop of a changing country, you are emerged in a world where tradition has to make way for modernity.
Downer is a historic, has lived in Japan for over fifteen years and is fluent in the language. The novel is rooted in historical facts and taught me a lot about a time and place I hardly knew anything about.
2 The Four Winds by Kristin Hannah
While Hannah has written multiple novels that take place in the past and feature specific time period and events, I chose The Four Winds. It centers around an important event in 1930s-1940s America and Canada that I previously knew nothing about: The Dust Bowl. In typical Kristin Hannah fashion, she weaves a heartbreaking story about adversity and resilience within the backdrop of this agricultural and environmental disaster that many people suffered from. The protagonist, Elsa Martinelli, has not had an easy start, but she has finally built the life she has dreamed about. Working on the farm of her in-laws is hard work, but finding a family and place to belong to makes it worth it. When tragedy strikes and a drought holds the Great Plains in an iron grip, Elsa is suddenly faced with making the hardest decision of her life. Does she stay at the land she loves but might prove unsalvageable, or fight for a better future for her children in California, a place described as paradise.
Reading this novel has given me so much awe and respect for the strong people who lived through this, a hardship I can not even imagine.
3 Sea of Memories by Fiona Valpy
World War II is one of the most popular historical fiction topics and therefore features twice in this list. Sea of Memories is a love story, set in both Scotland and France. It starts in 1938, when seventeen year old Ella is sent to a Île de Ré, A French Island. She meets and falls in love with Christophe, and as many of us do when we are young and in love, she feels incredibly free. The feeling is short lived however, as times are grim. With a war on the doorstep, Ella is called back to Scotland. Desperate to oppose, she stays and joins the French resistance. With hardship and war surrounding her, the summer with Christophe on Île de Ré only floats farther away.
Sea of Memories is a story that shows the incredible bravery of many people, when they had every reason to be scared.
4 The Last Bookshop in London by Madeline Martin.
The story starts in 1939 and also centers around WW II, but this time it takes place in England. When Grace arrives in London, it isn’t at all what she had envisioned. War is on the doorstep and the only employment she can find is in a dusty bookstore, with a patron who is not keen to have her there. But when Grace discovers the beauty of reading and storytelling, she finds the strength to fight back.
The Last Bookshop in London is a story about coming together and building a strong community, even in the hardest of times. Portraying the power and endurance of literature, this book is perfect for all readers.
5 Stars in an Italian Sky by Jill Santopolo
This story is told in a dual timeline, partly taking place in 2017 New York, and partly in 1946 Genoa, Italy. When Vincenzo and Giovanna fall in love, they believe their differences in descent is the greatest obstacle. He is the son of a count and she is the daughter of a tailor, but their connection is so strong that they do everything to make it work. When political tensions rise in their country, the young lovers realise that their differences are even greater, and betrayal from both sides shatter their love, and future with it. Dozens of years later, an engaged couple in New York bring their grandparents together to pose for a painting. When past and present come together, secrets come to light once more and everything changes.
While Stars in an Italian Sky is more on romance than some other historical fiction books, I still enjoyed learning about the time period and events that formed the backdrop to this novel. The period after WWII was still a difficult one, with political unrest throughout Europe. While some choices seen easy from an outsider’s perspective, this story shows that every decision has consequences. When in a different position, we might also choose differently.
6 Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens
In 1952, Kya is six years old. Her mother and her older siblings leave their home to get away from an abusive and alcoholic husband and father, but they don’t take her with them. Living isolated in the North Carolina Marshes, Kya’s father teachers her to survive, but when he too eventually leaves, she is left to fend for herself. Growing up away from society, as an outsider, Kya faces prejudice and harassment from the community. The older she gets, the more she has to battle her own desires to both be free from societal norms, and to belong and be loved. When a young man is discovered dead, locals immediately suspect the wild naturalistic girl, who will have to fight the prejudice to clear her name.
While this coming of age story does not feature any particular historical events, the period it is set in frames the story and draws a clear picture of what that time was like.
7. Summer of ’69 by Elin Hilderbrand
True to the title, this story takes place during the summer months of 1969. The novel follows the different members of the Levin family on Nantucket, as they go through changes fit with their age, while also adjusting to a tumultuous time in the world. Blair is going through a twin pregnancy, while her sister Kirby is swept up in the civil rights protests, their brother Tiger gets drafted and deployment to Vietnam and thirteen year old Jessie feels lost without her siblings. The effects of a changing nation are visible throughout this novel, while the Levin siblings go through their own dramatic changes.
Reading Summer of ’69 was like travelling back in time through a photograph and living in that year for 448 pages long. Enchanting and immersive, Elin Hilderbrand has captured one of the most turbulent summers in American history in a gripping novel.
8 Mary Jane by Jessica Anya Blau
Similar to the previous two recommendations, Mary Jane does not so much feature one specific historical event as it portrays the culture and the way of life of a broader time period in the West. Set in 1970s Baltimore, the novel follow fourteen year old Mary Jane as she discovers the world outside of her community, through her first summer job. Her mother is as glad as her daughter when she lands the respectable job of nanny for the daughter of a local doctor. Respectable as they might look from the outside though, the Cone could not be more different from Mary Jane’s own family. While she introduces the Cone’s to home cooked meals, crisp and clean laundry and milk that does not spoil, they introduce her to the world of sex, drugs and rock ‘n roll. The more time she spends with them, the more she falls in love with their family and way of life, and starts to develop her own identity. As the summer goes on, it gets harder to keep her parents in the dark about what goes on in the Cone household. When summer comes to an end, will she be able to go back to her life before?
Mary Jane is a coming of age story of a young girl, growing up in changing polar times, and deciding who she wants to be.
At the end of every month I like to look back to see what my favourite book of the previous month was. While it can be difficult to decide, January had a clear winner. Frank & Red is a beautiful story about a grumpy old man and an enthusiastic six year old with a trampoline. Not only was it my favourite book of January, but one of my new favourites of all time. Not only did it check the two measures I have for easily deciding if a book has made an impact on me, which are making me cry, and occupying my thoughts for a significant time after finishing it, but it had so much more. Vulnerable characters that find their way to a little corner of your heart? Check. Real human connections? Check. A book that makes you wish characters were real so you could give them a big hug and tell them everything will be allright? Check. Matt Coyne has made an impression on me with his debut novel and I intent to read a lot more by him.
The story follows an old man, Frank, whose deeply rooter sorrow in losing his wife has made him secluded and a real grump. One day, six year old Red moves in next door with his mom, since his parents just got divorced. They are both struggling in their own way, and find unexpected companionship in each other. Despite Frank’s reluctance to let Red in, the latter’s persistence eventually warms the old man up. Red wriggled his way into Frank’s heart the same way this book and its characters did into mine.
While the novel has a strong plot that kept me intrigued, especially in the second half, Coyne’s real strength lies in his character work. Both of the protagonists are round, fleshed-out and go through an inner transformation. While the initial premise can be seen as stereotypical, grumpy old man meets happy kid who turns his life around, the characters overcome these stereotypes as we learn more about them. This goes beyond the two protagonists, as we also see how Red’s mom is struggling to provide her son with a stable and happy home, while going through her own life changes after divorce. Even Red’s classmates who don’t appear in a lot of the novel, feel like more than side characters towards the end.
Coyne portrays different human connections: between a parent and a child, husband and wife, friends, neighbours, classmates and even strangers. Every connection feels very real, and characters are vulnerable because we can see the person behind the facade. The combination of character work and realistic human connections is what made this book so wonderful for me and why it has stayed with me since the last word.
I think it is great for people who enjoy Frederik Backman, since it reminded me of A Man Called Ove. However, both are incredible in their own way and have a unique take on the premise. If you like reading about vulnerable characters, seeing them overcome their challenges, connect to each other and you want a story that warms your heart, you should pick up Frank & Red. And if you do, please let me know your thoughts.
It might be the most dreaded moment in a romance novel, and one that has readers groaning aloud upon reading: the dreaded third act breakup. Like everything in literature, taste differs and while some people might enjoy the tension and disruption in the story line that it might bring, it’s not for everyone. This post is specifically catered to those readers who enjoy a romance that proves the characters can have a healthy and strong relationship that overcomes hardships without having to break up over them.
Specific tropes or writing devices are always used for a reason, and in this case, advocates often describe the third act breakup as a way to ensure character growth. By challenging the protagonist with the breakup, they can show how they have evolved and overcome the flaw or trouble they have been dealing with for the entirety of the storyline by making up and ending with their loved one. While I have enjoyed romance novels with this narrative device, I prefer a story that shows the couple can resolve their issues, individual or joined, before getting together. I don’t think showing breaking up at the first issue that shows up after the protagonists getting together promotes a healthy relationship, because in my eyes, things can usually be resolved without them breaking up. That being said, even a romance novel needs some kind of conflict or obstacle, sometimes very small. I think there is a big difference between a third act breakup and a third act conflict. The first usually arises from miscommunication or the characters handling something in an obviously bad way, while the latter can be an external or internal conflict that the characters either resolve before getting together, or tackle together in a mature way. So, here are my recommendations that either have a third act conflict that is resolved in a well thought-out way, or does not have a third act conflict altogether.
Out on a Limb by Hannah Bond-Young
When Win has a one-night stand at her best friend’s costume party, the last thing she expects is to see those two pink lines on a pregnancy test. Surprised but confident in her decision, she decides to keep the baby, and Bo, the father, steps up to the plate. Together, Win and Bo get to know each other, so they can be the best platonic parents for their child on the way, but along the way they find that maybe they can have it all.
This heartwarming story portrays one of the healthiest relationships I have read about and does not need a third act break-up to ensure character growth or to keep readers engaged.
2. If It Makes You Happy by Julie Olivia
This book caught readers’ attention last year for being a nostalgic autumn romance set in the late nineties and reminiscent of Gilmore Girls. Michelle, after losing her mother and divorcing her husband, moves from Seattle to Vermont, to temporarily run her late mother’s bed-and-breakfast, until her sister graduates and can take over. Her new neighbour is a single dad and runs a bakery, but he still finds the time to help her get settled in the bed-and-breakfast and offer companionship. They quickly develop a strong friendship, but as the end of Michelle’s three months in Vermont nears, they wonder if their relationship can blossom into something more than friends.
Despite outside factors complicating their situation, there is no third act breakup in this cosy romance, portraying a healthy adult relationship.
3. The Flatshare by Beth O’ Leary
Beth O’ Leary has some unique concepts for her novels, and her debut, The Flatshare, is no exception. When Tiffy needs to find a new apartment to get away from her cheating ex-boyfriend, she ends up sharing a flat with Leon. The catch? The apartment only has one bedroom. The solution? Tiffy takes the flat from the evening until the morning, while Leon, who works the night shift, uses the flat during the day. The new roommates get to know each other through a series of notes, and despite never meeting each other something starts to grow.
This romance was very unique, sweet, and completely third act breakup free!
4. Tangled Up In You by Christina Lauren
As Tangled was my favorite princess movie growing up, this book was an easy hit for me. Tangled Up In You is a modern day retelling of the fairy tale, following Ren and Fitz. Growing up on a homestead, Ren has never partaken in regular teenage activities, never been to school or even held an iPhone before. She is twenty-two years old, she finally convinces her parents to let her go off to college so she can learn about new farming techniques to bring home. It is there she meets Fitz: smooth talker, teacher’s pet, and does not do charity work. When Ren finds out something shocking in their shared immunology class, the two find themselves embarking on a road trip that will change the course of both of their lives. Ren discovers more about the world she has never seen before, and Fitz discovers that the girl sitting next to him can show him new things too.
Perfect for fans of Disney and real life fairy tales.
5. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
A sure way to make sure your romance book does not have a third act breakup is to pick up a classic, because in that time, separation was not a possibility. Pride and Prejudice was a romance book in its own time, and while there are obstacles keeping the protagonists apart, there is no third act breakup. Set in nineteenth century England, a mother with five daughters’ main goal is to ensure they are all married to a rich and respectable husband. When a rich gentleman moves into the estate near them, Mrs. Bennet is confident one of her girls will marry him. While Jane, the eldest, forms an early attachment to the newcomer, Mr Bingley and makes a great impression, but Lizzie is less impressed with his stern and unsociable friend, Mr. Darcy. The two find themselves in each others company more often than expected, and feelings start to stir, but will Mr. Darcy’s pride and Lizzie’s prejudice prove to strong to be overcome by true love?
For those who like romantic books and want to get into classics, Pride and Prejudice is a perfect place to start. It is popular for a reason and, as a bonus, will spare you from modern day third act breakups.
Toni's Book Corner 