From the Bookshelf of Constant Reader…

The Housekeeper and the Professor

Yōko Ogawa

Start date: February 15, 2013

Finish date: March 15, 2013

Discussion: Reading List

Discussion leader: Emily

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Reading List

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What Members Thought

Aug 08, 2010 Laura rated it really liked it

Shelves: e-books, read-2019, japanese-fiction, fiction, contemporary-fiction, japan, sports

A little gem of literature. The plot is already described elsewhere, don't want to be repetitive. ...more

10 likes · Like · see review

Nov 10, 2012 Rosana rated it it was amazing

Shelves: constant-reader-bookclub, 2012

It has been a long time since a book has touched me as deeply as this one. The truth is that I bought it to give to my daughter for Christmas. We recently had a discussion about “memory” and she is also intrigued by mathematics, so when I read the summary about this book, I had to buy it for her. But when the package arrived in the mail, I started browsing it… and the rest of the afternoon I could not let it go.
My daughter is probably going to read this post, so I need to reassure her that she i ...more

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Jun 21, 2010 Celeste rated it liked it

This was a book club read, one I probably would never have picked up on my own, however, I did enjoy it. If a book can be called soothing, that is this book. It's an interest read with a interest, yet sad concept. Yodo Ogawa brought these characters to life within her pages. They lived and breathed. You felt their pains and joys. I would not call it the best book I've ever read, but I did enjoy it and would recommend it to some people. This book is for a reflective read. If this is your mood. Th ...more

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Jun 19, 2013 Kai Coates rated it really liked it

Shelves: w15-roundtable-challenge

There are few things in life I could care less about than math, baseball, and cleaning, yet I was enchanted by Yoko Ogawa's understated novel. The small cast of characters are known almost exclusively by their roles (the Professor, the Housekeeper, the Sister-in-Law) and the majority of action takes place in a two-room cottage, yet the simplicity of the story allows for expansive themes. What is the role of memory in our lives? Is friendship more than the sum of shared experiences? A lovely shor ...more

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Jan 18, 2010 Dree rated it liked it

Shelves: in-translation, 2010-reads, east-asia

I did enjoy this book, but the long descriptions of math and the formulas were generally incomprehensible to me. I tried to understand--and some I could. Others, though--like Euler's formula--were so incomprehensible I don't even know the point of it being in the story.

I did enjoy the themes of family (and what it means), friendship, and memory. ...more

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