“Sweet Bean Paste”: Wholesome Weekend Read

Short Japanese Novel to Brighten Your Day

If you are looking for a short, peaceful weekend read, then “Sweet Bean Paste” by Durian Sukegawa is your book:

It is a bittersweet story about a guy who works in a failing confectionery place, and an older lady who he hires to help him prepare sweet bean paste for Japanese pancakes dorayaki.

The old woman is being very secretive about her past, and for good reasons. Once it is revealed, it really shocks you (this story is based on real events in Japan, and probably other countries).

If I were to describe this story in one word, it would be “wholesome”.

Read “Sweet Bean Paste” if you:

• are looking for a short, immersive read on a weekend
• like fiction that is at least partially based on true events
• want to read about friendship through time

As you might know, I don’t post book reviews without a beer recommendation. It’s just not what I do.

Beer of the day will match the colors of today’s book cover, it is a Candy Kittens NEIPA by a Scottish brewery “Brewdog” 💗