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reflective
relaxing
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
A quiet novel about a mathematician and the people who grow to love him.
Ogawa manages to make numbers lyrical, emotive and comforting. The Professor is such a well rounded character, awkward and kind.
The Housekeeper is less endearing*, though patient and considerate. I appreciated the way she supported the professor, altering her behaviours to accommodate for him. Showing an understanding of what he needed.
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*Struggled with the evident neglect of Root. A large portion of which I understood as she clearly had no other choice (single mother requiring long shifts), but then she passively mentioned intentionally crying to get her child to comfort her - as early as his single digit years. From then on all I could see was parentification.
Ogawa manages to make numbers lyrical, emotive and comforting. The Professor is such a well rounded character, awkward and kind.
The Housekeeper is less endearing*, though patient and considerate. I appreciated the way she supported the professor, altering her behaviours to accommodate for him. Showing an understanding of what he needed.
—————————————————————————
*Struggled with the evident neglect of Root. A large portion of which I understood as she clearly had no other choice (single mother requiring long shifts), but then she passively mentioned intentionally crying to get her child to comfort her - as early as his single digit years. From then on all I could see was parentification.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Chronic illness, Death, Blood, Medical content, Grief
Moderate: Car accident, Abandonment
Minor: Dementia
CW [Minor] for dementia is for occasional similarities between the Professors amnesia and dementia - the latter isn’t actually present
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Oh. I’m moved and stirred and saddened and feeling so tender after reading this book.
The relationships between the narrator, the professor, and her son was so lovely. I even respected the widow by the end. The way they loved each other and showed each other their devotion was beautiful.
The parallel metaphors of all the mathematics and numbers were poetic. It also reignited my love of math. I was a terrible math student, but I’ve always loved how math could explain almost everything that needed explaining in the world.
Only thing I can't understand is the 80-minute clock. If I told him something at the 79th minute, shouldn't he still remember it the 81st-minute since the first minute of the 80-minute countdown since a fresh 80-minutes would start with every new minute? Instead, it felt like the clock only worked once a day...maybe I misunderstood the writing, or maybe something got lost in translation. I'm probably overthinking it, because that was certainly not the point of the book. Still, I'm curious how the professor would explain it to me.
My mom always said that the chance to teach someone is a gift and that it was upon the teacher to be infinitely patient. My grandfather had taught her that. For this reason, I kind of see the professor as I would see my grandfather.
I can see why it won so many awards. Every one was well-deserved.
The relationships between the narrator, the professor, and her son was so lovely. I even respected the widow by the end. The way they loved each other and showed each other their devotion was beautiful.
The parallel metaphors of all the mathematics and numbers were poetic. It also reignited my love of math. I was a terrible math student, but I’ve always loved how math could explain almost everything that needed explaining in the world.
Only thing I can't understand is the 80-minute clock. If I told him something at the 79th minute, shouldn't he still remember it the 81st-minute since the first minute of the 80-minute countdown since a fresh 80-minutes would start with every new minute? Instead, it felt like the clock only worked once a day...maybe I misunderstood the writing, or maybe something got lost in translation. I'm probably overthinking it, because that was certainly not the point of the book. Still, I'm curious how the professor would explain it to me.
My mom always said that the chance to teach someone is a gift and that it was upon the teacher to be infinitely patient. My grandfather had taught her that. For this reason, I kind of see the professor as I would see my grandfather.
I can see why it won so many awards. Every one was well-deserved.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Chronic illness, Death, Terminal illness, Blood, Medical content, Dementia, Grief, Car accident, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Abandonment, Injury/Injury detail
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
If there's one thing that I always love in fiction is found family, just give me disparate people crossing each other's path by chance and forming long-lasting and life-changing relationships and I'll be content. The connection that develops between the housekeeper, her son and the professor is, without a doubt, my favourite aspect of the novel, it's heartwarming.
Maths and baseball are two other central elements and, while I understand how they contribute to and enrich the story, I have to be honest and say that at times it felt a bit too much. But this has a lot to do with me personally, as I am not well versed/knowledgeable or particularly interested in either of these topics.
I really enjoyed the writing style; there were many beautiful and poetic passages, especially descriptions of nature and musings by the main narrator, the housekeeper.
I felt that the story lost itself a bit towards the end. There is a big and quite abrupt temporal jump and then the conclusion approaches in a fast-paced way. Still, I really enjoyed the book overall and I would recommened it to someone looking for a quiet but moving exploration of found family.
Maths and baseball are two other central elements and, while I understand how they contribute to and enrich the story, I have to be honest and say that at times it felt a bit too much. But this has a lot to do with me personally, as I am not well versed/knowledgeable or particularly interested in either of these topics.
I really enjoyed the writing style; there were many beautiful and poetic passages, especially descriptions of nature and musings by the main narrator, the housekeeper.
I felt that the story lost itself a bit towards the end. There is a big and quite abrupt temporal jump and then the conclusion approaches in a fast-paced way. Still, I really enjoyed the book overall and I would recommened it to someone looking for a quiet but moving exploration of found family.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Chronic illness
Moderate: Animal death, Car accident
Minor: Cancer, Child death, Death, Blood, Medical content, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Abandonment, Injury/Injury detail
emotional
informative
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Content Warnings
Graphic: Dementia
Minor: Death, Abandonment
emotional
funny
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Chronic illness
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Abandonment, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Death, Blood, Car accident
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Moderate: Blood, Medical content, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Pregnancy, Abandonment
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Content Warnings
Minor: Blood, Car accident, Death of parent, Abandonment
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Beautiful heart warming read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Dementia
Moderate: Blood, Car accident, Abandonment
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
the housekeeper and the professor is a touching, subtle, simultaneously simple and complex story. in the vein of much of japanese literature, it has a whimsy touch, able to weave magic in and from the simplest, most ordinary things.
the immense significance and amount of math did throw me off guard, but i was also awed at how ogawa was able to make it seem poetic and, dare i say, even slightly miraculous. but the baseball sections def made me feel lost as i have no knowledge abt it whatsoever.
my fav thing abt this book is perhaps the relationships and bonds between the main characters: the housekeeper, her son, and the professor, where the latter's short-term memory--which couldve easily been just sth to make the book ~quirky~--actually strengthened the aforementioned relationship, and their time and mini adventures tgt, though so ordinary, felt like remarkable, subtly magical feats. i also appreciate how the book didnt make the ending melodramatic w/ a sudden death like i was dreading. a touching, though intimidatingly math-filled story.
the immense significance and amount of math did throw me off guard, but i was also awed at how ogawa was able to make it seem poetic and, dare i say, even slightly miraculous. but the baseball sections def made me feel lost as i have no knowledge abt it whatsoever.
my fav thing abt this book is perhaps the relationships and bonds between the main characters: the housekeeper, her son, and the professor, where the latter's short-term memory--which couldve easily been just sth to make the book ~quirky~--actually strengthened the aforementioned relationship, and their time and mini adventures tgt, though so ordinary, felt like remarkable, subtly magical feats. i also appreciate how the book didnt make the ending melodramatic w/ a sudden death like i was dreading. a touching, though intimidatingly math-filled story.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Chronic illness
Moderate: Confinement
Minor: Death, Abandonment, Injury/Injury detail
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
oh man as a math nerd and a slice of life bitch this was such a joy to read!! I absolutely adored spending time talking about the beauty of prime numbers with a nameless housewife, her 'root-shaped' haired son, and an iconic math professor.
I 100% want to reread this book at some other time though, because I read most of it at school (I tried to avoid reading it in math classes as a sign of respect to the Professor) and sometimes my mind would drift off and I'd lose focus :c
Ogawa Yoko san's writing was honestly super accessible (there was not One furigana throughout the entire book and I managed to get through it fine?????) without sounding too simple - it was like a warm comforting blanket that just poured love into me.
I 100% want to reread this book at some other time though, because I read most of it at school (I tried to avoid reading it in math classes as a sign of respect to the Professor) and sometimes my mind would drift off and I'd lose focus :c
Ogawa Yoko san's writing was honestly super accessible (there was not One furigana throughout the entire book and I managed to get through it fine?????) without sounding too simple - it was like a warm comforting blanket that just poured love into me.
spoiler (kinda?)
definitely one of those books that I'll think about randomly at some point daily <3
e^{πi}+1=0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Chronic illness, Dementia
Moderate: Pregnancy, Abandonment
Minor: Cancer, Car accident