This week, I finished up NoMansLand, and began a new book, The Housekeeper and the Professor. When I was searching through our bookshelves for a good read, my brother recommended this book and many others like Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep, Slaughter-House Five, and Feed. Those books are on my list, so expect to hear about them in my later posts.
But this week I decided to read The Housekeeper and the Professor. The Professor, whose name is unknown, is an old, but brilliant mathematician who had a head injury, so his memory only lasts for 80 minutes. The young housekeeper, whose name is also unknown, is working to get pay to feed her small family, after her boyfriend left her. During the introduction to all of the main characters, I recognized these two didn't have names, which I found absurd. However, this may not apply to all the characters. Later on, the professor called the housekeeper's son "Root," because of the shape of his head. I said "may" because it was a nickname, not his formal name.
Each day, the same "formal" introduction was given but the housekeeper and son both played along. Yes, they had known him, but because of the professor's lack of memory everyday was a new day. They did it sincerely without any frustration or irritation. I thought it told me more about their personalities, that they were good people even to a man who wouldn't know them the next day. One day, Root had cut his hand trying to peel an apple, under the supervision of the Professor. When the Housekeeper came back from her errands, she found him pale and holding Root in his arms. Root himself was trying to calm the Professor. On their way to the dingy clinic that was still open, the Professor (keep in mind he's old), picked Root up on his back, and carried him to the hospital. I found this was a great act of friendship, driven by some source of friendship deep within the Professor's mind.
Root struggled in school, specifically mathematics, which was a great opportunity for the housekeeper; to get him tutored by a mathematician. But when she intended to have her son tutored, the whole family is tutored. She herself learns more and more about math, ranging from factorials to amicable numbers. I personally think these equations are providing a foundation for a bond that is slowly creating, with the help of the notes pinned on to his suit. From the 92 pages that I've read, this book is magnificent, and is easily one of my favorite books.
9/4 - 5min., 9/5 - 25min., 9/6 - 30min., 9/7 - 30min., 9/8 - 40min., 9/9 - 20min.
Total - 150min, pp. 221-224, 1-92
That sounds very interesting. Its also a lot to take in! One of the main things I must ask you are, Why did you pick this book? Is their a series after this book? Who's the author?
ReplyDeleteAgain I have to touch on this again, Why did this book call out to you? Im not saying its a weird book or that its bad, but its definitely out of the ordinary. What made you want to read this when you saw it in the library? Was the cover colorful? Have you read books by the author? Was it recommended to you? If so by whom? Although this sounds interesting it doesn't really spark my interest. Personally I wouldn't read this book because these types of books and topics don't really grab me and pull me into the story. I like books that are somewhat based on past events in history that view them from certain peoples POV. Basically a book that is fiction and non-fiction if that makes any sense. All in all great post and hope you enjoyed it!
To say the very least this book sounds very interesting. Also, what is the setting or date around which this book was based? The professor character doesn't seem like he's all there because of the memory problems but I'm sure it serves for some pretty interesting plot devices.
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