A review by abi0609
Sweet Bean Paste by Durian Sukegawa

emotional hopeful 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

5.0

i’ve never cried so much at a book. WOW. this book is so much deeper and emotional than I imagined. i went into this book with the expectation of a cute story about two surface level friends working in doraharu but instead was shocked in the most positive way possible to get to learn more about Hansens disease. i found this book so inspiring as it answers the question: what is the meaning of life. the answer it gives is beyond beautiful. in the works of tokue: 
‘we were born in order to see and listen to the world. and that’s all this world wants of us.’ 
this loops back to the reoccurring narrative about the blossom trees, marking the passing of time for sentaro, and all we have to do in this world is observe these changes. this story was truly beautiful, and endlessly meaningful. 

this is a story of two outcasts from society, who, through each others company, have found meaning in their lives. a found family. it’s so so wholesome.

i hope that if this book were to continue on that sentaro would follow the dream. go to tokues hometown and commemorate both her and a part of himself by making pickled cherry blossom tea and dorayaki with wakana.

this book was 216 pages of beautiful writing. 
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