A review by chery
Sweet Bean Paste by Durian Sukegawa

inspiring reflective medium-paced

3.75

It is romantic and sweet, a story that captures a perspective of life from Tokue, who navigated through her youth with severe illness, devoid of the regular life that we might have now. Yet, she holds a lot of faith in the world, not because it has taught her to be kind, but because a life lived with even a hint of self-pity is one that is unfulfilled and meaningless. She didn’t let her sickness define what she could or couldn’t do because we are always capable of choosing our state of mind, and our life is so much more than the perpetual misery brought upon us.

I like the way Sukegawa, at the beginning of the chapter, described the changing of seasons and mentioned cherry blossoms in many paragraphs. I think it highlights the message to tell us to listen to that around us, as Tokue did. What deeply reflects with me is within Tokue’s letter:

But with joy also came pain. All experience adds up to a life lived as only you could. I feel sure the day will come when you can say: this is my life.

It’s only recently that I also expressed my own understanding of life, acknowledging the inseparability of pain and happiness, and how missing one of them will diminish the entire essence of living a life that holds meaning and value, one that teaches us from our experiences.