Sweet Been Paste was a book that my best friend recommended me to read during winter. I do not even know how to describe how grateful I am that I read it, it was a beautiful book, and it made me cry in several chapters. The closest feeling I could describe is that it made me feel like when I hug my mom when I need her the most. Her warm and loving hug overwhelms me with security and affection, which makes me cry, but not in a sorrowful way, but in a way that I feel like everything bad is over, and everything will be fine from now on.
The first chapter was a detailed and lovely introduction to the main characters, Sentaro, who runs a Dorayaki shop, and Tokue, a 76-year-old lady who wants to work with him in the shop. Of course, Sentaro thought Tokue was too old to work, especially since her fingers are “crippled” and could drive away the customers. At first, I obviously did not like Sentaro because I thought he was so rude to Tokue, but once they befriended each other. She shared her secret and unique sweet bean paste with him, and taught him how to make it, everything began to feel so wonderful.
The book completely surpassed my expectations as I continued reading and sympathizing with the characters. The moment, the school girl “Wakana” began to have an important role in the lives of Sentaro and Tokue by frequenting the shop, I felt like I was watching a family care for each other and support each other at all cost. As their friendship started to flourish even more, Sentaro and Wakana were closer to finding out the dark past of Tokue which I do not want to spoil.
I recommend you read the book yourself, and experience your own journey of self-discovery, and let the book embrace you and take you to the amazing adventures the characters endured while exploring the world full of prejudices, desires, and regrets. I guarantee you that you will cry, but it will be worth it. I could not stop thinking about the book for weeks, perhaps these past two months still.
