Reviews

Les délices de Tokyo by Durian Sukegawa

sweetbeegarden's review against another edition

emotional hopeful reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Loveable characters? Yes

4.5

oh wow, this story took me by surprise. About a week ago, on a particularly rainy day, I felt the urge to read something sweet and warm. I looked up a random list on trusty goodreads and this was one of the first books listed. 

I have recently started reading more japanese literature and am finding that I really enjoy the reflective and at times bittersweet notes in a lot of the stories. This book came highly reviewed and oh man what a heartwarming story it was! The message is one we’ve all read before but should never get tired of reading: friendship! love! hope! 

No spoilers here, but the unlikely friendship between Sentaro and Tokue is a lovely reminder to think beyond ourselves, listen to the world around us, and always find joy in our lives despite whatever jumbled crises we’re in :)

I will leave my review at this and share what I thought was some terrific food for thought in the author’s note:

“Twenty years ago I was a […] late-night radio personality. […] I often asked my listeners: ‘What is life all about?’ 

I wasn’t looking for an answer; I simply wanted them to think about it. Their replies, however, were always much the same: I was born to be a useful member of society. If I can’t be that, life has no meaning.

This admirable sentiment is much approved of in Japan, but I could never bring myself to give it a nod.

[…] Some lives are all too brief, while others are a continual struggle. I couldn’t help thinking that it was a brutal assessment of people’s lives to employ usefulness to society as a yardstick by which to measure their value. […] There has to be a reason for being born, irrespective of individual circumstance.

[…] Over the aeons the universe has nurtured life forms whose very awareness makes them involved in its continued existence. Hence we are all alike in having materialized on this Earth because that was what the universe so desired. The ill, the bed-ridden, and the children whose lives are over before they’ve barely begun; all are equal in their relationship to the universe. Anyone is capable of making a positive contribution to the world through simple observation, irrespective of circumstance.”

afterttherain's review against another edition

4.0

“It’s my belief that everything in this world has its own language. We have the ability to open up our ears and minds to anything and everything. That could be someone walking down the street, or it could be the sunshine or the wind.”

nerv_atz's review against another edition

4.0

now i want to cry

cynthiareads's review against another edition

emotional hopeful medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.5

A sweet story about loneliness, friendship, second chances, and making dorayaki.  CW for mentions of suicide ideation and attempts.

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Content Warnings

Minor: Suicidal thoughts

vishwesh's review against another edition

3.0

Short and sweet. A typical classic Japanese novel with an emotional tale.

Talks about taboos around illnesses, and friendships beyond expectations.
Loved it!

221bpinkst's review against another edition

lighthearted 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? It's complicated

4.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Medical trauma, Suicide, and Forced institutionalization

Minor: War

kylave's review against another edition

emotional hopeful 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? It's complicated

5.0

alywaly's review against another edition

emotional hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective sad 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

3.5

xyvo's review against another edition

emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad fast-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

5.0

seunghyunjee's review against another edition

4.0

Janganlah kalian tertipu dengan betapa cerahnya warna ilustrasi bunga sakura di sampul depan buku ini, karena ceritanya sungguh mengandung banyak bawang.
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Pasta Kacang Merah tidak hanya bercerita tentang toko Dorayaki bernama Dora Haru yang dikepalai oleh Sentaro, tetapi juga cerita tentang seorang Nenek bernama Yoshii Tokue yang berkenan dibayar 200 dolar saja demi bisa bekerja membuat pasta kacang merah untuk Dora Haru. Tokue yang usianya sudah 76 tahun dengan salah satu jarinya yang bengkok, memohon kepada Sentaro untuk bisa bekerja paruh waktu di Dora Haru. Kondisi tersebut tentu saja tidak serta merta diiyakan oleh Sentaro, namun, setelah Sentaro mencicipi pasta kacang merah buatan Tokue, akhirnya ia menyetujui permintaan Nenek itu.
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Novel ini mengantarkan kisah yang sederhana, ringan, melankolis dan juga penuh makna. Di novel ini, Tokue mengajari Sentaro, sekaligus pembaca, bagaimana cara "berkomunikasi" dengan kacang merah agar tercipta pasta kacang merah yang sempurna. Tokue memperlakukan kacang merah dengan amat teliti. Mungkin agak rumit, tetapi langkah demi langkah yang diajarkan Tokue justru akan membuat pasta kacang merah untuk dorayaki "Dora Haru" menjadi sempurna. Tetapi tidak hanya membuat pasta kacang merah yang sempurna, Tokue juga mengajarkan Sentaro dan juga pembaca bagaimana caranya tetap menjalani hidup dalam situasi tersulit sekalipun. Bagian bawangnya ada di sini...
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