The Housekeeper and the Professor
Ratings81
Average rating4
This book reminds me of my mathematical concepts teacher, Niel. However, unlike Niel the professor actually taught me something.
Now I love maths, and I also love reading. So combining those two topics is honestly the best thing imaginable. I loved how, like the main character, it gives you an appreciation for the hidden numbers that govern our lives. Who knew that the numbers 220 and 284 were so universally combined? I especially liked the bit about 0 because to me it truly shows how intelligent 0 is. It both exists and does not exist at the same time and yet is critical to the universe's function.
The characters are loveable and the ending was honestly one of the best endings I've read in a while. There were a few unanswered questions like the whole widow thing and a few translation errors but I'm happy enough that I won't lose sleep over it xD. This is definitely one of my favourite reads and I need to go and find my own copy just so I can own this masterpiece of a creation.
Mathematics was never my strong point. Growing up I barely could solve most problems without having the necessary formulas in front of me, so it comes as no surprise that I can't recall everything the Professor, in a way, tried to teach me. The Housekeeper and Root were undoubtedly much better pupils.
I found the book to be peculiar, but interesting. As much as I don't have a knack for maths, I enjoyed the Professor's explanations. Maybe if he would have been my professor in school, I would have learned more. I liked his passion for mathematics, his tenderness, and his gentle explanations. Even without the memory loss, I think he would have happily explained the same concepts over and over again until they were clear to the Housekeeper and Root. His joy when they understood something was touching.
I wish I would have known the characters' actual names. I don't know why, but Japanese books usually lack names. I did a quick search on the matter, but I came up empty-handed. Maybe the purpose is for the reader to relate better to the characters, to be able to easily imagine real people they know or maybe even themselves as one of the characters. While I see how that would work, it doesn't have that effect on me, and I really wish I could call them in a way. It wouldn't feel right to decide on a name myself.
Besides the name issue (well, not actually issue, more like curiosity), as I already said, I enjoyed the book. At first I felt sorry for the Professor, but I soon got to accept his situation as a fact and go about it more or less the same way the Housekeeper and Root did. I didn't always agree with their solutions, as it's probably to be expected, but for the most part I was glad they were the ones to lead the way.
While reading I was afraid the book might end abruptly or in a cruel manner. I definitely wouldn't have been surprised, but no, the book ended in a very smooth way and I'm glad about it.
I know that I did not understand everything in this book and, probably, barely grasped some of the ideas it plays with but I loved it.
I've always been a fan of Asian translated works and this novel is no exception to that as it holds all the elements that makes me actively search for more translated fiction, especially from Asian authors.
This is a slow, gentle and impactful novel. The relationship between the professor and the child Root was very sweet, kind, and warm. A small marvel.
This was an adorably sweet story about a housekeeper tending the house for a mathematics professor who has memory issues. Every 90 minutes, he forgets everything and has to start again with remembering who people are and his own mental situation. The one constant he has is his love and knowledge of mathematics, and it is through this that the housekeeper and his son come to make lifelong friends with this unique individual.
Because the professor uses mathematics to make sense of uncomfortable situations, there's a lot of mathematics discussion about amicable numbers, prime numbers, etc. But even if you don't know much math (or like much math, like me), you don't need to in order to enjoy this book. Baseball also comes up a lot, and while I know nothing about Japanese teams or players, I still felt right there with them when at the baseball game.
I really enjoyed this sweet book that follows their friendship from meeting (over and over again) all throughout the Professor's life. Rather than end on a sad note, the book remains lighthearted, upbeat, hopeful throughout, which I really appreciated.
There is something so gentle and peaceful about this story, the way it takes you along the life of three people who've become family. It's slow and meandering, but not in a dull sense. It feels like it's teaching you how to romanticize life, and all the little things that people forget to stop and appreciate. Most of the math went over my head, but since I can only imagine the housekeeper and Root felt much the same, it doesn't seem to really matter. I was certainly hoping and wishing for a happier ending, but the way it went felt true.
3,5*
I've heard really good things about this book. And it was charming in it's own way, had a little of that found family trope that I love. But I was also struggling to finish it, which given the length, is telling. Maybe I would've liked it more if I liked maths.
A simple and rather sweet story about math and friendship that I really enjoyed reading.
Lots of buzz around the blogosphere about this one. Not the usual hyped book, though. Very quiet story. Very Japanese.
Exactly the book I wanted to read this week after the read-a-thon last weekend.
I really Ogawa's writing. I've also begun to appreciate the slow and simplistic writing style that a lot of books written by East Asian writers seem to have. Of all things, this book made me view Mathematics in a light that I'd never before thought of. It actually made me LIKE Maths and even consider it interesting that, in my opinion, says a lot.
First of all... does anyone REALLY ever have the kind of memory problem the professor has (ie he can only remember the most recent 80 minutes of his life)? I suspect not. But whatever. This was an enjoyable read, but I'm not sure if I would strongly recommend it to anyone, unless you are super interested in memory problems. Or math. IDK.
The math parts of this were fascinating, but the baseball focus didn't work for me. This was an interesting plot but a little disappointing ultimately.
An charming little novel telling stories of numbers as a housekeeper and her son make friends with a math professor with a limited short-term memory. I am swaying between “quiet and elegant” and “too neat almost too lifeless”.
3.5
Very unlikely in the sense that it brings so much love for mathematics amongst a real friendship and respect built between the professor, the housekeeper and her son. Still, I was engrossed until the end.
5:
This made me cry at the office y'all, it made me cry in front of people D:
I loved it all the way, and this coming from someone who's as obtuse as can be when it comes to maths and baseball. Even though we never even learn their names, my heart filled with tenderness for the tiny family, and I can't wait to revisit sometime.
The ending, heartbreaking as it was, is the most touching part of all. A story about companionship, friendship, time past and present. Not a romance, but a love story nonetheless.
I am not a math fan at all. In fact, I'd rather never have to solve another somewhat complicated math problem in my life if I can help it. But this book made me see the wonder in it, which is a feat in and of itself. A very heartwarming little book, I only wish it was longer.
A beautifully written book with a strange premise. There a few praising that I scratch my head about, but I think that they are due to the difficulty one is present when trying to translate idioms. A really joyful book of the interactions between a housekeeper, her son, and a professor whose short term memory lasts only one hour. Definitely a good read.