Sweet Bean Paste, Durian Sukegawa

My dear friend recommended this book and she has never steered me wrong. So I decided I needed to grab myself a copy. This is a must read that should be on everyone’s TBR.

Everyone has a story to tell, and it’s not always in their words. For Sentaro, his story is in his actions. Every day he makes dorayaki, but his heart isn’t in it. For Tokue, who chooses her words carefully, her story comes out in pieces and over time. How can these two people, who are seemingly opposites, come together over Sweet Bean Paste? Especially when Sentaro is hesitant to hire Tokue based on looks alone. Dorayaki will bring them together in the most beautiful of ways.

This is a hard book for me to review because it was so wonderful, I didn’t make any notes while reading. For someone who lived such a sheltered life, Tokue was incredibly wise. Her words spoke volumes. “We were born in order to see and listen to the world.” My heart broke a lot in this book, from how people with Hansen’s disease were treated in Japan, to the specific impact it had on Tokue. Sweet Bean Paste is one of the most beautiful books I have read; I cannot recommend it enough.

Additionally, my friend sent me some dorayaki. I can confirm that it’s even tastier than it sounds in the book. Tokue’s process is very thorough, but I hope to make some at home. Maybe with a little practice, I can become quite adept at it.