{"product_id":"sweet-bean-paste-9781786071958","title":"Sweet Bean Paste","description":"\"Sukegawa--enabled by Watts's lucid translation--tells an endearing, thoughtful tale about relationships and the everyday meaning of life. Readers in search of gently illuminating fare--e.g., Shion Miura's \u003ci\u003e The Great Passage\u003c\/i\u003e, Jeff Talarigo's \u003ci\u003eThe Pearl Diver\u003c\/i\u003e--will appreciate this toothsome treat.\"\u003cbr\u003e \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003e -- Library Journal \u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e \u003cbr\u003e \"Although Tokue's past is a reflection of a dark chapter of Japanese history, her wisdom, patience, and kindness shape this touching and occasionally wistful novel. Through Tokue's story, Sukegawa eloquently explores the seeds of biases and challenges us to truly listen to the natural world and the messages it artfully hides.\"\u003cbr\u003e \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003e -- Booklist \u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e Sentaro has failed: he has a criminal record, drinks too much, and hasn't managed to fulfill his dream of becoming a writer. Instead, he works in a confectionery shop selling dorayaki, a type of pancake filled with a sweet paste made of red beans. With only the blossoming of the cherry trees to mark the passing of time, he spends his days listlessly filling the pastries. Until one day an elderly, handicapped woman enters the shop. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eTokue makes the best bean paste imaginable, and begins to teach Sentaro her art. But as their friendship flourishes, societal prejudices become impossible to escape, in this quietly devastating novel about the burden of the past and the redemptive power of friendship.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eBinding Type:\u003c\/b\u003e Paperback\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/b\u003e ONEWorld Publications\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublished:\u003c\/b\u003e 11\/14\/2017\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN:\u003c\/b\u003e 9781786071958\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePages:\u003c\/b\u003e 160\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eWeight:\u003c\/b\u003e 0.50lbs\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eSize:\u003c\/b\u003e 7.70h x 5.10w x 0.80d\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eReview Citations: \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003ci\u003eLibrary Journal\u003c\/i\u003e 09\/15\/2017\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eBooklist\u003c\/i\u003e 10\/01\/2017 pg. 29\u003cbr\u003e","brand":"Durian Sukegawa","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":38471913078965,"sku":"9781786071958","price":14.44,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0473\/0804\/6492\/products\/img_138a908a-cb09-4d4b-9ea7-01349b436496.jpg?v=1612932877","url":"https:\/\/pastforward.org\/products\/sweet-bean-paste-9781786071958","provider":"Past Forward","version":"1.0","type":"link"}