I was utterly charmed by this story of a former math professor who has short-term memory due to an accident, and the connection he forms with his new housekeeper and her young son, affectionately nicknamed Root because his hair looks like the square root sign. There's a lot in this book I thought I would NOT like, particularly the tangents on math and baseball, but I was actually quite captivated by these subjects as Ogawa weaves them into the narrative, and as read by Cassandra Campbell—I do wonder if I would be more confused if it wasn't in audio? I felt like I could let the numbers and lines float around me rather than trying to scrutinize something on the page.

Much like how I thought I wouldn't like THE ART OF RACING IN THE RAIN because it was about race car driving, I was surprised to feel my heart warm to these characters and the love they find for each other despite situational circumstances (money, class, Japanese culture also play into the dynamics). I smiled when they were happy, and despaired when they were sad; I was endeared to them in every sense. And though I guessed as to some of the revelations near the end, I still felt like I was 'with them,' and wistful to have to say goodbye at the close. The novel is a quick and affectionate read if you're searching for a good audiobook.

Plus, just sayin', they really focus on the perfection of the number 28, which is my favorite number.