The Housekeeper and the Professor

• Genre: Fiction; contemporary literary fiction
• Originally Published: 2003
• Reading Level/Interest: Lexile 940L; college/adult
• Structure/Length: 11 chapters; approximately 192 pages; approximately 5 hours, 55 minutes on audio
• Protagonist/Central Conflict: The novel follows the story of a brilliant mathematician, known only as the Professor, who has a memory span of just 80 minutes due to a traumatic accident. The story unfolds through the eyes of the Housekeeper, a single mother hired to care for the Professor. As the Housekeeper and her son develop a bond with the Professor, they learn valuable lessons about memory, friendship, and the beauty of mathematics.
• Potential Sensitivity Issues: Themes of memory loss; themes of aging; emotional depth

Yōko Ogawa, Author

• Bio: Born 1962; Japanese author known for her poetic and contemplative writing style; The Housekeeper and the Professor is one of her acclaimed works, celebrated for its exploration of memory and its emotional resonance; often focuses on the intricacies of human relationships and the impact of small moments; awarded various literary prizes for her contributions to contemporary literature; regarded as one of Japan’s most prominent and influential authors
• Other Works: The Diving Pool (1990); The Memory Police (1994); Hotel Iris (1996); Revenge (1998)

CENTRAL THEMES connected and noted throughout this Teaching Guide: