Sweet Bean Paste

I really enjoyed this for the most part, although it was a bit sad towards the end. Its quite a thoughtful read, like many asian books are. Its what may be regarded as a form of mindful-reading, a kind of a book version of slow TV (a slow book? well, I read it pretty quick but thats not what that means). More specifically it centres in on food, asian snacks, primarily sweet bean paste and dorayaki, which I discovered are like pancakes with chocolate I think (a bit like Pain au Chocolat in France?).

The book is made up of lots of fairly short chapters, so it isn't a daunting read. Its quite thoughtful, in a philosophical sense. I thought it was quite comforting, although its hard to explain how - its one of those books that you'd have to read for yourself and, in doing so, see for yourself. Maybe it wouldn't appeal to everyone but I know I enjoyed reading it and would be happy to recommend it, although I feel I should add as a sort of trigger warning that it does mention (if in passing) self harm and death but I'll say no more, so as not to spoil the plot. It is both sad and contemplative and also uplifting and comforting but again its difficult to put my finger on precisely why. I also felt that the term indulgent applied but I mean it in a nice way, in that I could feel myself in the characters shoes, picturing the landscapes described and so on and not in the sense that the author was going on and on too much, or anything like that.

“Sweet Bean Paste” is a touching novel that involves on Sentaro Tsujii, a former ex-con turned disgruntled cook at a tiny confectionery shop, Tokue Yoshii, a elderly woman with disfigured hands, and Wakana, a teenage school girl in modern Japan.

When the novel begins, Sentaro is working as a dorayaki cook at Doraharu, a tiny Japanese confectionery shop. Dorayaki is a sweet dish consisting of sweet bean paste sandwiches between two pancakes.

Sentaro is frustrated by because he is only working at the shop to pay off a debt he owes. While making the dorayaki, an elderly woman keeps coming by the shop staring at him as he works. One day, the woman inquires to him about the help wanted sign in the shop’s window. Although Sentaro tries to discourage seventy-six year old Touke from working at the shop, he eventually gives in to her request for a job at a much lower rate.

As the seasons change, Sentaro and Touke become closer and as she teaches him her technique to make sweet bean paste, he gains confidence. Not only does the shop business steadily improves, Touke also begins to find joy by interacting with store customers and talking to the school girl customers especially one named Wankana. Just as the flagging business begins to improve, the owner of the cafe comes to Sentaro with shocking news about Touke and gives him an ultimatum. By the end of the novel, the lives of Sentaro, Touke, and Wakana are forever changed.

This novel was interesting in the way in which Sukegawa chose to slowly introduce details of the illness that lead to Touke’s disfigured hands as well as the segregated world she lived in due to her illness. Despite legislation was passed in 1996 to allow Touke and others like her to interact with others, prejudice and fear still exist and cause friction as the dorayaki cafe. Although this book was sad at times, overall the book shows the power of connecting with others experiencing loneliness and also how a little kindness to other can have a life changing effect.

5*

RTC

"We are born in order to see and listen to the world"

A fantastic book which explores a theme of what is the meaning of life with a beautiful story of friendship between two people. Each has missed out on life because of circumstances and they are looking to start over

In a society where being useful is emphasized over everything else, people don't get too many second chances. This book explore why as a society we should look beyond this and appreciate life for what it is.