I loved this book, even if the style and one or two chapters lost me a bit. It's a truly beautiful story about human connection, seeing and being seen, accepting and being accepted, about how loneliness can harden us and connection and acceptance can make us flourish.

At first I didn't like the main characters. Sensei was sexist due to his age and in my eyes he didn't respect Tsukiko. Then Tsukiko was impulsive and insensitive. Both abrasive and immature each in their own styles. The seed of their connection is loneliness, but what grows between them is true and real, based on seeing and appreciating the other person for who they are, and I think being able to show that is very special.

A very particular and intimist view on how much of us lives in others and in ourselves. I'll probably revisit it. Hope you like it.