"The Housekeeper and the Professor" - Yoko Ogawa

This one wasn't a "must read" but was .... nice.  I actually kept it in my purse and read it at karate but was OK putting it back to continue the next time.   I am NOT a math person and there is a lot of math in here.  The "Professor" is a math genius and was a professor at a college, until a car accident.  He now only remembers things that happened before 1975 and 80 minutes of his day, after those 80 minutes he forgets. (kind of like "50 first dates.)  So every morning the "housekeeper" is reintroduced to the Professor and she takes care of him.  Her son Root (the professor nicknamed him that because his head looks like a square root sign) stops by after school and because the Professor has a note on his coat (one of many) he knows that this is the housekeeper's  son.  The story is cute because they become this non traditional family.  There isn't any chemistry between the two characters just a chaste, respectful, admiration. She is in awe of his situation and genius but also appreciates how well he treats her son who has no father figure. 

I did find it interesting that there was never any names mentioned..except Root and that was a nickname.  In the discussion questions in the back it asks if this changes things for a reader and would it have made a difference if the characters had names? what do you think?