We are saving someone without even knowing it. A walk along the river, cooking an omelet, ordering cocoa, forgetting to drop your nail polish. … The events that we cause are connected, and in the end, we save someone’s life. This is a series of 12 short stories that begin with a cup of cocoa at a small cafe "Marble Cafe. It is a gentle story that will save your heart after you finish reading it. *The information about Sydney appearing in the text is current as of July 2017.
If you have a question about grammar, vocab, cultural things, etc - please ask! That’s an important part of the discussion, and other readers will be happy to help.
When discussing a specific section, please mention where you are in the book, ideally by chapter so people reading different versions have a clear point of reference.
Feel free to read ahead, but please refrain from spoiling ahead of the appropriate week.
Spoilers should always be hidden using spoiler blur.
Thanks for organizing, Mara. I’m fine mostly with any pace, just not sure how long the chapters are, so I didn’t pick that option (I think the description said there were 12 stories, so maybe not so long?)
Ah, sorry, should have mentioned that earlier! Maths says the stories are 17.5 pages long on average (210 pages and 12 stories), but I think a lot are around 20 pages, albeit with a fair amount of white space taken up in full title pages for each new chapter.
I was also thinking that we could read a full chapter each time, but vary the number of weeks (one or two) based on whether it was a longer or a shorter one. But figured I’d check on what folks’ preferred reading pace is first.
I would like to join, I just put maybe since I’m just trying to finish off my current book and my health hasn’t been very reliable. So at the time it starts I’ll see where I’m at with life and how fast the club wants to read.
In that case, I would love to know what reading pace might work for you! I would really like to include everyone who wants to join if at all possible. I’m sorry your health has been on the fritz, and I hope that Aoyama-sensei’s healing stories can help on some level.
Thanks so much! This book does look like just what I need
I’ll read digital so up to 15 pages a week will be doable, and for the longer stories I like the idea to allow longer. I know splitting the discussion can be annoying for people who read faster, so perhaps to avoid that we could open the discussion for the whole chapter, but leave two weeks for it?
I wasn’t looking for a new Book Club to join but I had decided to read that book, so I guess I’m in!
Do you already know what’s the expected start date?
I’m in for sure! How about one week per chapter, plus one week for in the middle to catch up? 13 weeks total? I think breaking up a story would be difficult…
First of all, now that I’ve figured out the chapter lengths we can be a little more specific about the schedule … (Ignore the week numbers for now.)
I think after the first four chapters it would be pretty safe to read one chapter a week, but the first four chapters could be a bit tough at that pace.
Schedule options for the first four chapters (pick your favorites)
2 weeks for each chapter, 8 weeks total
1 week for chapter 1, 2 weeks for each other chapter, 7 weeks total
1 week for chapters 1 and 3, 2 weeks for chapters 2 and 4, 6 weeks total
1 week for each chapter, with a catch up week after, 5 weeks total
Hey @hotdogsuplex and @Kappa ! I believe you both voted for this book in the Iyashikei main thread, but haven’t voted in any of the polls over here yet. Just a quick reminder. (If you changed your mind no worries, but just wanted to check in.)
Thanks for the ping! I don’t come here super often so I sometimes forget which clubs and polls I’ve voted in.
I do really want to read this book so I will make reading with the club a priority, but it will also depend on my schedule as life is getting rather hectic for me lately. I may end up falling behind and catching up a few times.
The results are in! While the “six weeks” option didn’t get the majority, it only takes one week longer than the most popular option and may allow a few folks to keep up who maybe wouldn’t otherwise. So I’ve gone for that option and hope that the speedier readers don’t mind bearing with us for that extra week!
Thanks for hosting! I found out about this from @mitrac san on the WaniKani forums, and love this book, so I’m looking forward to rereading it along with other stuff now that my Japanese is a bit better.
But yes, April 12th!
thanks so much for running it 