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Novels

The Housekeeper and the Professor (Vintage Classics Japanese Series)

4.1(51)
Paperback€19.00
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About the book

He is a brilliant maths Professor with a peculiar problem - ever since a traumatic head injury, he has lived with only eighty minutes of short-term memory.

She is an astute young Housekeeper, with a ten-year-old son, who is hired to care for him.

Each morning, the Professor and the Housekeeper are introduced to one another. The Professor may not remember what he had for breakfast, but his mind is still alive with elegant mathematical equations from the past. He devises clever maths riddles - based on her shoe size or her birthday - and the numbers reveal a poetic world to both the Housekeeper and her son.

With each new equation, the three lost souls forge an affection more mysterious than imaginary numbers, and a bond that runs deeper than memory.

'This is one of those books written in such lucid, unpretentious language that reading it is like looking into a deep pool of clear water...Dive into Yoko Ogawa's world and you find yourself tugged by forces more felt than seen' New York Times

VINTAGE JAPANESE CLASSICS - five masterpieces of Japanese fiction in gorgeous new gift editions.

Editions (4)

ISBN9781784875442
PublisherRandom House UK Ltd
Publication Date10/03/19
Pages192

Reviews & Ratings

51 ratings

10 reviews

4.1

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  • jam
    jam

    42 Followers

    4.5

    Interessante, ruhige Lektüre

    Das Buch hat mich schon länger angelächelt, ich war aber von der Mathematiklastigkeit etwas abgeneigt. Wir begleiten eine junge, alleinerziehende Frau, wie sie einen neuen Arbeitsort erhält. Sie arbeitet für einen ehemaligen Mathematikprofessor, der vor fast 20 Jahren einen Autounfall hatte und deshalb nur eine 80 minütige Erinnerung hat. Dadurch müssen sie sich jeden Morgen neu vorstellen. Der Professor ist sehr eigen und zahlenfixiert, und zwischen dem Trio ergibt sich bald eine Freundschaft. Dabei spielt die geteilte Begeisterung des Professors und des Sohnes, liebevoll "Root" genannt, für Baseball eine zentrale Rolle. Eine sehr ruhige Wohlfühlgeschichte, die gerade Zahleninteressierte anspricht. Habe dabei auch selbst etwas über Zahlen gelernt, auch wenn ich nicht alles verstanden habe.

    Jun 28, 2026

  • cococapri
    cococapri

    1 Followers

    5.0

    Healed the dislike towards maths. Astonished by all the perspectives of the formulas mathematicians came up with. Such a wholesome book.

    Jun 30, 2026

  • g.re.t.a
    g.re.t.a

    3 Followers

    5.0

    The professor has the potential to heal people from their math trauma and I appreciate him a lot!

    Oct 13, 2024

3 of 10 reviews

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