A review by savvylit
The Housekeeper and the Professor, by Yōko Ogawa
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
Yoko Ogawa utilizes the topic of memory loss to make broad suggestions about humans and their inherent desire for intimate connection. In this way, The Housekeeper and the Professor is similar to her other novel, The Memory Police. However, this short book is definitely a distinct story on its own. The Housekeeper and the Professor is a charming and heartwarming tale about finding common ground across generations.
This novel is so charming that I enjoyed it despite its heavy focus on mathematics and baseball; two topics I generally care very little about. The professor, the housekeeper, and the professor's son - all quite lonely in their own way - bond over the magic and "beauty" of math-based logic. It's the same with baseball; the trio finds common ground by discussing players and their chances of winning. Very cute and good for them. Honestly, though, I stopped reading each individual equation and/or string of factors pretty early on because I have dyscalculia and it may as well have been gibberish!
This novel is so charming that I enjoyed it despite its heavy focus on mathematics and baseball; two topics I generally care very little about. The professor, the housekeeper, and the professor's son - all quite lonely in their own way - bond over the magic and "beauty" of math-based logic. It's the same with baseball; the trio finds common ground by discussing players and their chances of winning. Very cute and good for them. Honestly, though, I stopped reading each individual equation and/or string of factors pretty early on because I have dyscalculia and it may as well have been gibberish!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Car accident, Dementia, and Injury/injury detail