Maybe even 4.5*

( )

This is a beautiful novel about an unlikely but symbiotic friendship between a housekeeper who never finished school after becoming pregnant, a former mathematics professor whose short-term memory lasts only 80 minutes, and the housekeeper's young son, nicknamed Root for his flat head that reminds the professor of the square root symbol.

The book incorporates a lot of mathematical terminology and theories but does so in a very easy to understand manner. This is the professor's language, it is the way he sees the world, and sharing his knowledge is his passion. Reading this novel brought me back to my school days when I was in love with math. The simplicity of it, the black and white nature of working out a proof (at least at that level) was comforting to me at a time when so much else seemed muddled and bewildering.

The story itself is a simple one and gently paced. As the housekeeper works for the professor and Root spends his afternoons with them both, these three share themselves and their lives and begin to bond as much as they can given the professor's limitations. He pins notes to himself to remind him about his memory and the housekeeper and her son. He shares his love of numbers, he and Root share their love of baseball (stats and players galore), and the housekeeper/mother finds that she has a natural affinity and respect for numbers, as well.

Ogawa has embued the novel with a sense of tranquillity. The prose flows smoothly on course with just a few ripples over stones when something mildly dramatic occurs. It is a reminder to focus on the present, to live in the moment, and to appreciate what each person in your life brings to the table. There's not much more to say other than that I enjoyed spending the time that I did with these characters. ( )

A beautiful story, delicately understated yet conveying an elegant message. Since an accident in 1975 the professor, a brilliant mathematician, is no longer able to remember anything after that date and his short term memory is limited to 80 minutes. The housekeeper has to re-introduce herself every day. He gave her son the nickname Root because his flat-topped head was a reminder of the square root symbol. His fascination with number theory is catching: prime numbers, theorems, equations, yet the story remains captivating and never boring. The professor's other passion is baseball, which is not one that I share and although I was able to follow, most of this slid over my head. However, the beauty of the story was not limited to numbers, but to the tender relationship that developed between the housekeeper, a single mother, her ten-year old son, and the professor. Absolutely charming, thought-provoking and unforgettable. ( )

I am shocked that no one has shoved this book into my hands and said "Read THIS right now!" because that's how perfect a book it is for me. I absolutely loved this little gem. I'm writing this review with tears rolling down my cheeks. It just moved me emotionally, and honestly books don't usually do that to the extent that I'm actually crying.

This book is not a big one. It's not action packed. It's just a beautifully told tale of a mathematics professor who sustained a memory impairment in a car accident and his relationship with his housekeeper and her son. All three of these characters are so well depicted and absolutely delightful, each in their own way. The prose is simple and straightforward and yet the author says so much in just a few words.

It is a story solely about relationships, but it has a lot of math and baseball interwoven into the story. I love baseball and so for me, that added element just enhanced the book for me. Which is why I'm not sure if everyone would love it quite as much as I did . . .I actually felt as though this book was written for me . . .I can't imagine many readers who wouldn't be moved by this one. ( )

I rarely read translated works, so this was interesting. It was a unique story, although it read like a memoir, in other words, there was lots of reminiscing and telling but only a limited amount of showing.

I also found it more fatalistic than what I’m used to... calmly accepting of hard knocks. Which can feel a bit phlegmatic to a Western reader, you know? But it was a good story and the professor was appealingly drawn. ( )