Helpful Score: 7
It's not often that a book moves me the way this one did. After devouring most of it yesterday, even staying up late in the night, I finally finished it this morning, with tears streaming down my face.
This is a beautifully written novel (written by Ms. Ogawa in Japanese and translated by Stephen Snyder). It's a simple story of a woman who is the housekeeper for a mathematical genius - one who survived a tragic accident almost 20 years before leaving him with a short-term memory that lasts only 80 minutes. Each day, she must re-introduce herself when she comes to work. The Professor lives with notes clipped to his clothes, reminders to help him live. When he meets her son, he insists that she bring him with her every day. Nicknamed Root, the son and the Professor develop a fascinating relationship, sharing a love of math and baseball.
I could go on and on describing this book, its loveliness, and its love in every single page. Instead I will just say, please please read this book.
This is a beautifully written novel (written by Ms. Ogawa in Japanese and translated by Stephen Snyder). It's a simple story of a woman who is the housekeeper for a mathematical genius - one who survived a tragic accident almost 20 years before leaving him with a short-term memory that lasts only 80 minutes. Each day, she must re-introduce herself when she comes to work. The Professor lives with notes clipped to his clothes, reminders to help him live. When he meets her son, he insists that she bring him with her every day. Nicknamed Root, the son and the Professor develop a fascinating relationship, sharing a love of math and baseball.
I could go on and on describing this book, its loveliness, and its love in every single page. Instead I will just say, please please read this book.
Helpful Score: 4
A single mother is assigned work as a housekeeper for an aging mathematics professor. Although once brilliant, the professor's mind lives permanently in the past as his short term memory only lasts 80 minutes. However, through mathematics the professor is able to forge a strong and lasting emotional bond with the housekeeper and her ten year old son.
It is difficult to describe the premise of The Housekeeper and the Professor in a way that will do it justice. The slim volume can be read in one sitting, but will stay with the reader long after its conclusion.
It is difficult to describe the premise of The Housekeeper and the Professor in a way that will do it justice. The slim volume can be read in one sitting, but will stay with the reader long after its conclusion.
Helpful Score: 2
This is an absolutely wonderful book on so many levels! It was the March selection for a book club of which I am a member. The discussion was terrific, with readers finding connections to their fear of math as a child, to autism, to Alzheimer's, to the definition of family, to family secrets. This book will be remembered and cherished by all who read it.
Helpful Score: 1
This book was an unexpected treat. Although short, it's 180 pages,it was wonderful and original. It made me ponder many things such as how would I live my life if I had only 80 minutes of short term memory? If I only live in the present, could I form a bond with anyone? So beauitfully written, the prose is gorgeous but spare. The mathematical elements add another enjoyable layer to the story. You will keep thinking about this story long after you have turned the last page. Very highly recommended!
Helpful Score: 1
This was such a beautiful little book, written with a very gentle touch. As an English major, I was completely bumfuddled by all the math allusions, but none of that bothered my interest in the story. The 3 main characters will stay with you for a long time after this book, and that is always a sign of a good read to me.
Helpful Score: 1
I just finished my favorite book this year. Even though this book is short, only 180 pages, the prose is rich and sparse with nothing wasted. It took me longer than usual to read this book. I had to stop and savor what I had read, to digest it, to find all that was not written but felt deeply. Yoko Ogawa has brilliantly both written and not written exactly what was needed to tell this quiet, haunting story. If you have not read this yet, I recommend you pick it up. And give it to your sons and husbands too. It will touch you all.
Helpful Score: 1
The characters have no names. There is the housekeeper, her son and the professor. And, the author uses a novel approach for this story. The professor is a math whiz who was injured in an automobile accident. Now his memory lasts only eighty minutes. Thus, his uneducated housekeeper must introduce herself each day and explain who she is. She finds herself enjoying this gentle man whose love is math. He begins to teach her about prime numbers and other concepts.
When the professor meets her son, he calls him Square Root, which leads to another math lesson. The professor is a fine teacher, encouraging but not critical. No one can make a mistake. He urges the housekeeper and her son to make leaps of intuition about math. Just think about it he says. She grows to enjoy math, a subject she one detested. So does her son.
When the professor learns about the son's love of baseball other math lessons emerge as he describes the mathematics of the playing field, how fast balls move, and more. They grow to love the dear man. A gentle story told in a poetic, lyrical way. Very nice.
When the professor meets her son, he calls him Square Root, which leads to another math lesson. The professor is a fine teacher, encouraging but not critical. No one can make a mistake. He urges the housekeeper and her son to make leaps of intuition about math. Just think about it he says. She grows to enjoy math, a subject she one detested. So does her son.
When the professor learns about the son's love of baseball other math lessons emerge as he describes the mathematics of the playing field, how fast balls move, and more. They grow to love the dear man. A gentle story told in a poetic, lyrical way. Very nice.
I read this book in 2009 when it was first released, and at first I wasn't sure what I thought of it because it is so very different... however, as the book went on, I became more and more moved and invested into it. Now, it has been three years and I can remember it as vividly as if I read it last week! EXCELLENT book, and so worth reading this slim novel!
Loved it!! Fast read, completed in less than a day and enjoyed every minute of it. A story of a wonderful friendship between three people with one renewing the friendship everyday...can't say more or it will give the book away, just take the chance and read it I am sure you will love it too.
A sweet book. Not mushy, not a romance, not exciting, but wonderful reading and a very original story. I loaned my copy to two friends who felt the same way about it. I almost wanted to keep my copy (but did swap it).
I am not sure I completely understood all the symbolism in this book. However, the story was so compelling that I read it in one setting. Great book for discussion!
The Housekeeper and the Professor is a poignant story about human connections. Narrated by the former (we do not even know the characters' names), a single mother assigned to care for a mathematics professor whose memory is reduced to 80-minute intervals, the story follows the friendship between the professor, the housekeeper, and her 10 year old son. Baseball and numbers feature prominently in this heartwarming story in which Yoko Ogawa explores what is necessary for that connection to develop.
Marilyn M. (IndulgeYourself) -
OK, this is not going to be a popular review I'm afraid. I was disappointed with this book. I bought it new because the reviews on this site were so favorable. But, I didn't care for all the math references and I got bored with it. Having said that, I was still moved to tears throughout the last 5 pages so it did touch me on some level. I give this one 3 stars.
Sweet, beautiful story. I came across this book on accident and I am so glad I did. It would have been a shame to miss this one.
An story of amazing patience and love. Beautiful, beautiful story. I loved it! D.
