Paperback, 208 pages
English language
Published Oct. 5, 2017 by Oneworld Publications.
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.
This was a sweet little book about dorayaki and unlikely friendship. Thematically, it also deals with social stigma, being trapped, and listening more closely to the world around you. This was definitely on the sentimental side, but it was a breath of fresh hopeful air.
This was on my list based on the pitch of ‘book where nothing happens’. The only thing I would add is ‘;heartfelt, big emotions’. I don’t want to say too much more since the magic is finding out for yourself how big the world can get in the smallest of moments. If you enjoy slice of life, this is 100% for you. If slice of life isn’t typically your thing, but you are moved by deep character growth and human intimacy, this will be worth your time.
