The housekeeper and the professor by Yoko Ogawa

​"The housekeeper and the professor" by Yoko Ogawa - Beautiful ! 

This book is published by Vintage Digital in 2009 and has 191 pages. This book is translated from Japanese to English by Stephen Snider.

The housekeeping agency assigns a house keeper to the house of a mathematics professor who had an accident in 1975, when his memory stopped. All his new memories last 80 minutes. The professor is immersed in numbers and nothing else. Its a small house, no visitors or phone calls, light meals; ideal for a housekeeper. Except for the host who doesn’t remember her next day, who is whimsical, doesn’t have good table manners and who asks her birthdate, shoe size, zip code everyday. But somehow the Professor likes her son.

How can the housekeeper handle the professor? Will Professor accept her the next day as he doesn’t remember her? Why does he call her son Root? How long will it last?

Professor doesn’t remember what he has for lunch but he can solve the most complex mathematical problems easily. He devises riddles for Root. Root and the housekeeper love this fatherly professor who doesn’t remember them the next day. The three persons create a special affection, based in a microcosm of their own. 

Author takes us into a world of her own. A world confined to the interiors of a small house. But a world with limitless possibilities. World with infinite numbers. The professor can express his feelings and affections only through numbers, but house keeper and Root express it normally. Professor doesn’t understand that. Author unveils the relations and relationships between humans in a very delicate and unique manner. It’s beautiful, poetic!

This Book has only four characters. Professor who I talked about above. Housekeeper, a single mother. Her reaction to professor goes from guarded, strange, empathetic, compassionate to looking at him like a family member. Root is 10 years old. He shares interest in baseball with Professor. His interest in mathematics is kindled due to his association with Professor. Sister-in-law is sister-in-law of the Professor who recruits and plays for the housekeeper but she doesn’t help in any other way, observing from the sidelines. 

My collectible sentence from this book:

I wonder why simple words sound so exotic when used in relation to the numbers.

What is the uniqueness of this book? First it’s a first person narration of the housekeeper. Second, none of the characters have name. Professor is Professor. Housekeeper is Housekeeper. Son is Root. Sister-in-law is Sister-in-law. Third it’s good.

This book sold 1 million copies in two months.  This book won Hon’ya Taisho award and was made into a film. 

Why did I read this book? Interesting title.  

What I didn't like? Everything.

What did I like? Umm….

A must read.