In The Housekeeper and the Professor by Yoko Ogawa, a housekeeper is assigned to care for a former mathematics professor who suffers from a memory condition that limits his recall to 80-minute intervals. As she and her young son develop a bond with him, they share moments of mathematical discovery and baseball, creating a profound and touching friendship despite the professor's condition.

The Housekeeper and the Professor by Yoko Ogawa is widely praised for its elegant prose and poignant exploration of memory, mathematics, and human connections. Some critics find the pacing slow, but the book's strengths lie in its emotional depth and the tender relationships it depicts. Overall, it is a beautifully crafted and intellectually engaging novel.

The ideal reader for The Housekeeper and the Professor by Yoko Ogawa enjoys heartwarming tales of unlikely friendships, appreciates the beauty of mathematics, and revels in quiet, introspective narratives. Fans of Kazuo Ishiguro's The Remains of the Day and Markus Zusak's The Book Thief will find similar emotional depth and poignancy.

Contemplative / Bittersweet / Emotional / Melancholic

- The Housekeeper and the Professor inspired a film adaptation in Japan titled The Professor's Beloved Equation (2006), which explores themes of memory and human connection through the lens of mathematics.
- The novel prominently features mathematical concepts and puzzles, reflecting Yoko Ogawa's meticulous incorporation of mathematics in weaving the bond between the characters.
- The character of the Professor is inspired in part by the famous Japanese mathematician Chūgaku Hironaka, known for his work on singularity theory and algebraic geometry.

**The Housekeeper**  
The unnamed narrator and protagonist of the story, who works as a housekeeper to support herself and her son, Root. Her life changes as she develops a unique relationship with her employer, the Professor.

**The Professor**  
An elderly mathematics genius with a short-term memory condition that limits his ability to remember new information beyond 80 minutes. He forms a close bond with both the housekeeper and her son, Root.

**Root**  
The housekeeper’s 10-year-old son, who matures quickly due to his circumstances and shares an interest in baseball with the Professor. He builds a significant relationship with the Professor, which influences his future.

**The Widow**  
The Professor’s sister-in-law, who oversees his care and lives nearby in a house converted from their family's textile business. Initially distant, her true relationship with the Professor is intricate and somewhat mysterious.

Yoko Ogawa

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Before You Read

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Overview

Yoko Ogawa’s The Housekeeper and the Professor explores themes of memory, friendship, and math as a housekeeper builds a bond with a brilliant, amnesic professor.

The Housekeeper and the Professor Summary and Study Guide

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Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Chapters 1-3

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The Housekeeper and the Professor Chapters 1-3 Summary & Analysis

Chapters 4-6

The Housekeeper and the Professor Chapters 4-6 Summary & Analysis

Chapters 7-9

The Housekeeper and the Professor Chapters 7-9 Summary & Analysis

Chapters 10-11

The Housekeeper and the Professor Chapters 10-11 Summary & Analysis

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Character Analysis

The Housekeeper and the Professor Character Analysis

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Themes

The Housekeeper and the Professor Themes

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The Housekeeper and the Professor Symbols & Motifs

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Important Quotes

The Housekeeper and the Professor Important Quotes

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The Housekeeper and the Professor Essay Topics

Introduction

The Housekeeper and the Professor Teacher Introduction

Before Reading

The Housekeeper and the Professor Before Reading

During Reading

The Housekeeper and the Professor During Reading

After Reading

The Housekeeper and the Professor After Reading

The Housekeeper and the Professor

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