Sweet Bean Paste

by Durian Sukegawa Narrated by Cindy Kay

Overview

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



Sentaro has failed. He has a criminal record, drinks too much, and his dream of becoming a writer is just a distant memory. With only the blossoming of the cherry trees to mark the passing of time, he spends his days in a tiny confectionery shop selling dorayaki, a type of pancake filled with sweet bean paste.



But everything is about to change.



Into his life comes Tokue, an elderly woman with disfigured hands and a troubled past. Tokue makes the best sweet bean paste Sentaro has ever tasted. She begins to teach him her craft, but as their friendship flourishes, social pressures become impossible to escape and Tokue's dark secret is revealed, with devastating consequences.



Sweet Bean Paste is a moving novel about the burden of the past and the redemptive power of friendship. Translated into English for the first time, Durian Sukegawa's beautiful prose is capturing hearts all over the world.

Editorial Reviews

The Herald

‘As wise as it is moving, Sukegawa’s novel beguiles and seduces the reader from evocative opening to compassionate close.’

Japan Times

‘Sweet Bean Paste is a subtle, moving exploration of redemption in an unforgiving society... Sukegawa’s writing style, delicately translated by Alison Watts, is well-matched to the subject matter: a slow, muted movement that gently guides the reader, while leaving the unnecessary unsaid... It is an original twist on the “odd couple” genre, in which two unlikely companions find they have much to offer each other, and retains much of the humour that genre entails. A book with deceptive heft and lingering resonance.’

Guardian

‘Simply delicious.’

Cecelia Ahern

‘I'm in story heaven with this book.’

Lausanne Cités

‘An ode to cuisine and to life. Poignant, poetic, sensual: a treat.’

The Bookbag

‘Enthralling...This is that rare book that leaves readers truly humbled, reminding us of everything we should be thankful for, and that it is never too late to do something with our lives.’

Complete Review

‘A polished piece of work, and a decent, touching read.’

Press Association

‘Charming and uplifting.’

B&N Reads

‘A beautifully rendered tale of outsiders coming together.’

Thoughts on Papyrus blog

‘Sweet Bean Paste is a book for your heart, mind...and appetite... It feels important, significant and far-reaching. It really is a moving and inspiring story which is as heart-warming as a delicious dorayaki, well maybe with a bit of salt. It is not often that a book touches your very soul and, therefore, Sweet Bean Paste deserves the highest of marks.’

Foyles Gary Powell

‘A perfect example of cover and content in total harmony – I love this little masterpiece.’

i (The Independent)

‘Charmingly written, the plot is a continual surprise. A tale of sorrow that feels uplifting by its end.’

author of The Peculiar Life of a Lonely Postman Denis Thériault

‘A poignant, poetic fable.’

Booklist

‘Although Tokue’s past is a reflection of a dark chapter of Japanese history, her wisdom, patience, and kindness shape this touching and occasionally wistful novel. Through Tokue’s story, Sukegawa eloquently explores the seeds of biases and challenges us to truly listen to the natural world and the messages it artfully hides.’

Radio SRF 2 Kultur Kompakt

‘This mixture of grief and solace, cherry blossoms and red beans is a recipe for happiness.’

The Japan News

‘Sweet Bean Paste is a short book that can be read quickly, yet it unfolds at a relaxed pace. The changing seasons provide reference points for the changes in the characters, but never in a way that seems forced.’

Lausanne Cités

‘An ode to cuisine and to life. Poignant, poetic, sensual: a treat.’

author of The Peculiar Life of a Lonely Postman Denis Thériault

‘A poignant, poetic fable.’

Booklist

‘Although Tokue’s past is a reflection of a dark chapter of Japanese history, her wisdom, patience, and kindness shape this touching and occasionally wistful novel. Through Tokue’s story, Sukegawa eloquently explores the seeds of biases and challenges us to truly listen to the natural world and the messages it artfully hides.’

— Booklist

"Sentaro Tsujii’s life runs pretty much on autopilot. An ex-convict who served time for drug-related crime, he once wanted to be a writer. Instead, Sentaro spends his days making dorayaki, sweet pancakes filled with bean paste, in a small Japanese shop and drowning his evenings in drink. In debt to the shop’s owner, who granted him a new life, Sentaro finds little joy in his everyday life. Only when an old woman, Tokue Yoshii, visits the shop and gives Sentaro a taste of her very special sweet bean paste, does life take a more purposeful turn. Tokue is aged, with weak, gnarled hands, and despite his better judgment, Sentaro employs her to make the filling that will turn his shop’s fortunes around. Although Tokue’s past is a reflection of a dark chapter of Japanese history, her wisdom, patience, and kindness shape this touching and occasionally wistful novel. Through Tokue’s story, Sukegawa eloquently explores the seeds of biases and challenges us to truly listen to the natural world and the messages it artfully hides."

— The Independent (UK)

"Charmingly written, the plot is a continual surprise."

— The Guardian

"Simply delicious."

-- The Guardian

"Simply delicious."

Product Details

BN ID:	2940175663465
Publisher:	Tantor Audio
Publication date:	06/07/2022
Edition description:	Unabridged

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