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4.07 AVERAGE
4.07 AVERAGE
emotional
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
If I were not here, this full moon would not be here. Neither would the trees. Or the wind. If my view of the world disappears, then everything that I see disappears too. It’s as simple as that.
Sweet bean paste is a short, bittersweet story that respectfully could’ve been even shorter.
I liked learning new things about Hansen’s disease and its impact on Japanese history.
I liked some of the dialogues. I liked the overall message.
However, it was written like a history recital at the end, with the beginning being extremely misleading slice of life drama, and the middle dragging on for no reason.
It has something to say and a point to make, but the story and the characters chosen for it weren’t the best, since the story wasn’t all that moving or relatable and was a tad boring towards the middle.
It’s telling that I enjoyed reading the author’s inspiration for the story in the note at the end more than the entire book.
This book had the right pace, the right character development and it was so easy to read (in terms of the writing) which kept me captivated to continue flipping through the pages.
A really short yet moving story which provides us the perspective of freedom through the storytelling of a disease called Leprosy. We often take freedom from granted despite it being a “basic human right” and Sweet Bean Paste teaches you to be attentive to what you are doing and the nature around you. I felt really inspired to see the world after reading the story of Tokue, a grandmother who had struggled with Leprosy in her early years and was kept in a sanatorium for most of her life.
It also taught me to not be too caught on our daily hustles to pay our dues but to take breaks at times because as humans, we may have this concept of “being useful to our economy through labour contribution”. Tokue has taught me to enjoy the process and take breaks to take in what is around me and Listen.
A really short yet moving story which provides us the perspective of freedom through the storytelling of a disease called Leprosy. We often take freedom from granted despite it being a “basic human right” and Sweet Bean Paste teaches you to be attentive to what you are doing and the nature around you. I felt really inspired to see the world after reading the story of Tokue, a grandmother who had struggled with Leprosy in her early years and was kept in a sanatorium for most of her life.
It also taught me to not be too caught on our daily hustles to pay our dues but to take breaks at times because as humans, we may have this concept of “being useful to our economy through labour contribution”. Tokue has taught me to enjoy the process and take breaks to take in what is around me and Listen.
emotional
inspiring
reflective
slow-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
What a charming read! Set in a confectionary, we find the novel’s protagonist, Sentaro, trapped in a life he hates, with only himself to blame. He takes out his frustration with on-the-job apathy and at-home alcoholism. This seems his destiny until an elderly woman asks to work for him, offering to teach him how she makes sweet bean paste. He agrees, and as he learns, their friendship slowly develops, and as their bond grows, the reader is treated with deeply rich characters. It’s impossible not to feel empathy and love and to cheer for the humans at the core of this novel, not because they deserve pity because of their difficult situations, but because author Durian Sukegawa effectively universalizes their unique struggles in a way that creates genuine bonds of affection between the audience and the characters. Like a confection, I devoured the early moments, racing through, but when I came down to the last pages, like a confection, I savored my final bites, the final moments in this world with these characters. A very good story, excellent pacing, and a great translation. Recommended.
emotional
inspiring
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
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
It was beautifully written. I loved Tokue and the kind stubborness she had. The only reason I didn't give it the full five is purely selfish, because I wanted more of the story. I would have loved an epilogue, but I also understand why the author chose to end the story where they did. Overall, if this is your genre then I would recommend. Also don't read this when you're hungry.
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
fast-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
hopeful
lighthearted
sad
medium-paced