Registration opens:
September 30th, 2026

Short Attention Span Book Club

Sweet Bean Paste by Durian Sukegawa

Don't always get the book read? This book club is for you. Dive into short stories and novellas of all genres. This month's selection is "Sweet Bean Paste" by Durian Sukegawa. Age 18 and up.

If you have the best of intentions about book clubs, but don't always get the book read, this is for you! If you want to try a new genre without committing to a full book, this is also for you. This month, we'll be reading Sweet Bean Paste by Durian Sukegawa.

Book summary:
Sentaro has failed. He has a criminal record, drinks too much, and his dream of becoming a writer is just a distant memory. With only the blossoming of the cherry trees to mark the passing of time, he spends his days in a tiny confectionery shop selling dorayaki, a type of pancake filled with sweet bean paste. But everything is about to change. Into his life comes Tokue, an elderly woman with disfigured hands and a troubled past. Tokue makes the best sweet bean paste Sentaro has ever tasted. She begins to teach him her craft, but as their friendship flourishes, social pressures become impossible to escape and Tokue’s dark secret is revealed, with devastating consequences.

Please contact Emily Bedwell at ebedwell@mcpl.info if you have any questions about this program.

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