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Sweet Bean Paste

The International Bestseller
By Durian Sukegawa
0.0 (0 reviews)
4.06 goodreads logo

Ratings/reviews counts are updated frequently.

Check link for latest rating. ( 68,961 ratings, 11,220 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
Sweet Bean Paste by Durian Sukegawa is a heartwarming story centred around a struggling street food vendor and an elderly woman who applies to be his assistant. As they work together, they form an unexpected friendship that reveals personal stories and life lessons. This touching tale explores themes of redemption, compassion, and the healing power of human connection.
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Format: Paperback / softback
$2199
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

This touching and heartwarming story beautifully explores themes of friendship, redemption, and the simple joys of life. You might enjoy it if you're drawn to tales that capture the essence of human connection and the transformative power of sharing stories and food. Set against a backdrop of traditional Japanese culture, it's perfect for those who appreciate a gentle, reflective narrative.

Book Hero thinking about your next read

A charming tale of friendship, love and loneliness in contemporary Japan

A charming tale of friendship, love and loneliness in contemporary Japan

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

Sentaro has failed: he has a criminal record, drinks too much, and hasn’t managed to fulfil his dream of becoming a writer. Instead, he works in a confectionery shop selling dorayaki, a type of pancake filled with a sweet paste made of red beans. With only the blossoming of the cherry trees to mark the passing of time, he spends his days listlessly filling the pastries. Until one day, an elderly, handicapped woman enters the shop.

Tokue makes the best bean paste imaginable and begins to teach Sentaro her art. But as their friendship flourishes, societal prejudices become impossible to escape, in this quietly devastating novel about the burden of the past and the redemptive power of friendship.

Sweet Bean Paste by Durian Sukegawa is a poignant exploration of human connection, resilience, and the transformative power of understanding and compassion.

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Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

Sweet Bean Paste is praised for its charming, uplifting narrative and is seen as a delightful exploration of redemption and companionship. It’s described as a beautifully crafted tale that moves at a relaxed pace and resonates deeply with themes of solitude and connection. The novel is seen as a poignant and poetic fable that intertwines elements of Japanese culture and history, evoking empathy and introspection in readers.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781786071958

Publisher: Oneworld Publications

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 05 October 2017

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Oneworld Publications

Contributors:

  • Translated by Alison Watts
  • Translated by Alison Watts

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 16.0mm

Width: 129.0mm

Height: 198.0mm

Weight: 250g

Pages: 224

Collections

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About the Author

Durian Sukegawa studied oriental philosophy at Waseda University, before going on to work as a reporter in Berlin and Cambodia in the early 1990s. He has written a number of books and essays, as well as various TV programmes and films. He currently lives in Tokyo, Japan. Alison Watts is a freelance translator, translating literature from Japanese into English. She currently lives in Ibaraki, Japan.

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