The Japanese Lover by Isabel Allende – 336 pages
ARC courtesy of Atria Books
Book Blurb:
In 1939, as Poland falls under the shadow of the Nazis, young Alma Belasco’s parents send her away to live in safety with an aunt and uncle in their opulent mansion in San Francisco. There, as the rest of the world goes to war, she encounters Ichimei Fukuda, the quiet and gentle son of the family’s Japanese gardener. Unnoticed by those around them, a tender love affair begins to blossom. Following the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, the two are cruelly pulled apart as Ichimei and his family, like thousands of other Japanese Americans are declared enemies and forcibly relocated to internment camps run by the United States government. Throughout their lifetimes, Alma and Ichimei reunite again and again, but theirs is a love that they are forever forced to hide from the world.
My Review: 4.5 stars
The Japanese Lover is my first Allende book although The House Of Spirits has been sitting in my TBR for years. I understand now the draw she has to readers because this book was a trifecta of superb storytelling, well developed, interesting characters and just the right dose of history to draw upon.
At its heart, this book is a beautiful romance (thus the title) but through this romance, Allende sheds light into the Nazis, the interment camps after Pearl Harbor, living your twilight years with grace, family, race issues, marriage and overcoming your past.
There is a hint of magical realism that together with her poetic voice makes this a great read. I highly recommend.
Quotes I liked:
If nothing hurts, that means I woke up dead,”
– “The need for her to know he was loved was insatiable.”
-“I suppose that what comes after death is the same as before birth.”
-“Love and friendship do not age.”
– “Marriage without passion is like food without salt.”
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