My Interest
As you’ve learned if you have read my blog for a while, I love a good older man–younger woman romance. No Sugardaddies! No gold-diggers! No pervs! Just a sincere older man, younger woman pairing.
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The Story
Tsukiko is an office worker in early midlife. One evening at a bar she encounters a teacher from her high school. They develop a close, loving relationship. “Sensei” as she continues to call him is much older, but they find they order the same foods, like drinking together, and enjoy each other’s take on the world.
“Would you consider a relationship with me, based on a premise of love?” he asks a few years later.
My Thoughts
Hopefully, no spoilers. I hate them. Sorry if I give something away without realizing it First, let me say that I loved the sound of the food–I want to try ALL the food in this book!
I’ve only read a handful of Japanese books, so I probably missed miles of symbolism in this one. For example, Sensei always carries a briefcase and in the end, we find something out about it, but I’m still unsure what it means. Some of his pronouncements, some of her acts–surely there was supposed to be more meaning than I understood in them?
This is one of the few older man/younger woman relationships that I accepted and liked but found “off.” Not pervy, not desperate, not cringe-y, just “off” somehow. I found myself hoping Tsukiko would take off for America or move-in with her high school classmate or just adopt a pet. I did not “feel” the relationship between her and Sensei in the way I believe the author intended. I found Tsukiko’s only true-to-life emotion was in the cringy last part where she wonders if a physical relationship even matters.
My Verdict
3 Stars
Read all of the reviews of Japanese Literature Challenge 13 here
#JapaneseLitChallenge13
I often feel I’ve missed something in Japanese books, I have to admit! Some of them seem so simple that that can’t just be it!
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Exactly!
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Like Liz, I, too, often feel I may have missed something in a piece of Japanese literature! I remember the briefcase, and I remember being a titch confused about the symbolism…but, your post brought back lots of memories regarding their relationship. I thought it a lovely, gentle book when I read it many years ago. If you like relationships, I recommend The Housekeeper and The Professor. It was not enigmatic (☺️), and I thought it truly beautiful. Thank you for reviewing this one for us and for participating in the Japanese Literature Challenge 13!
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I loved The Housekeeoer and the Professor! I’m enjoying participating.
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I’m intrigued. I did enjoy The Housekeeper and The Professor as well.
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It’s wonderful
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