The Cafe With No Name

This book is set in Vienna in the 1960’s, in a café that becomes the gathering place for a varied and initially unconnected group of people, who eventually grow into a community. The story begins when Robert Simon, a young man, who spent years working in the market stalls takes a leap of faith to open his own cafe.

He takes over a somewhat derelict establishment, spruces it up, and opens for business without giving the place a name because he has no idea what to call it. But as one of his friends tells him, it doesn’t matter what the place is called, or whether it even has a name, people will come. And they do…

The customers who populate the cafe make for a memorable cast of characters: the gossipy spinsters, the struggling factory workers, the poker players, the local butcher, a professional wrestler, an artist, and his girlfriend, who he continually cheats on, and a young seamstress named Mila, who eventually comes to work at the café.

Seethaler paints a vivid portrait of Vienna through the lens of this single establishment, which becomes the setting for the little dramas and triumphs, and the everyday doings and happenings, in the community that comes together around it.

This novel is not driven by one overarching plot, but rather by the ebb and flow of life within the cafe's walls. Each chapter offers glimpses into the lives of these ordinary people, weaving their individual stories into the broader narrative, through most of which, Robert Simon is a warm and steady presence behind the counter, a silent witness and occasional confidant in the lives and stories unfolding around him.

This is a beautifully observed novel with a gentle, easy pace. It’s remarkable for how immersive it is. The narrative unfolds seamlessly despite the fact that it features so many characters, and takes place over a decade. The writing is exquisite and it has a deep emotional resonance. The author handles moments of both tenderness and tragedy with a light touch. This is a gem of a book that will stay with me.