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4.07 AVERAGE
4.07 AVERAGE
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Sweet Bean Paste begins with the gentle rhythm of a seemingly modest narrative—a man running a dorayaki stand, an old woman with a talent for anko—but soon deepens into something more resonant. What at first appears to be a light, almost sentimental tale reveals itself as a quietly powerful meditation on missed chances, societal prejudice, and the small acts of care that shape a life. Tokue, with her disfigured hands and luminous philosophy of noticing, becomes both the emotional and moral centre of the book. Her presence transforms Sentarō, though the novel might have benefited from spending more time truly showing his inner shift.
Tokue is rendered with grace and subtlety, never feeling like a mere symbol, but a fully felt character whose past and wisdom leave a lasting mark. The tone is gently sorrowful—not melancholic, but tinged with regret and the ache of what cannot be undone. It’s a story more about the future than the past, and its quiet defiance of society’s cruelty is more powerful for its understatement.
The prose is plain and accessible, almost deceptively so. While the contemplative scenes are well paced and spaced, there is a missed opportunity in the emotional climax, where a more textured, visceral style might have better conveyed the gravity of Sentarō’s grief. Still, the novel’s restraint feels culturally rooted, and its impact lingers. It’s a story of unlikely connection, modest in scope but rich in spirit.
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
Books like this are the reason I read.
I have no words, just sobs, I loved this so much.
I have no words, just sobs, I loved this so much.
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
hopeful
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Moderate: Chronic illness
"If all you ever see is reality, you just want to die. The only way to get over barriers, she said, is to live in the spirit of already being over them".
Very touching and necessary story. I learned a lot about the treatment of Hansen’s disease patients in Japan and it truly broke my heart.
Very touching and necessary story. I learned a lot about the treatment of Hansen’s disease patients in Japan and it truly broke my heart.