Cover of One Brushstroke

Drama · Romance

One Brushstroke

Hana Ueda

A calligrapher is given one sheet of paper and one life.

Seven short stories about people who get a single attempt: a calligrapher, a translator, a widow returning a borrowed coat, and four others who will not be given a second sheet.

Reading time
1 h 36 min read
Pages
88
Language
English
Recommended
12+
4.6 · 498 readers
Watch preview Hardcover $28Digital $9
Wishlist SharePocket edition, sewn binding.
HardcoverDigitalAudiobook — coming soon

Story world

Seven cities, seven rooms, one recurring sheet of handmade paper that passes between them without ever being explained.

ImpermanenceCraftForgivenessCalmAcheWarmth

Characters

  • Sora

    Calligrapher

    Has practised the same character for nine years.

  • The Translator

    Unnamed

    Chooses the wrong word on purpose, once.

Timeline

  1. First story

    The paper is made.

  2. Fourth story

    It is nearly thrown away.

  3. Seventh story

    It is finally used.

Preview

A fifteen-second trailer, then the opening pages as they were first printed.

Trailer coming soon

The reading preview is below

Opening pages

The paper had been made in winter, which meant it would forgive nothing.

Sora sat with the brush dry in her hand until the light left the room.

End of preview

Soundtrack

  1. 01Ink and Water
  2. 02One Sheet
  3. 03Nine Years of Practice

Reader reviews

  • “Perfect for one long evening. I reread the third story twice.”

    Alina S.

  • “Spare and generous at once.”

    Jesse W.