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Monday, December 7, 2015

The Japanese Lover by Isabel Allende

Standalone
336 p.
Publisher: Atria Books
Published: 11/3/15
Source: From publisher for review
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. 
Decades later, Alma is nearing the end of her long and eventful life. Irina Bazili, a care worker struggling to come to terms with her own troubled past, meets the elderly woman and her grandson, Seth, at San Francisco's charmingly eccentric Lark House nursing home. As Irina and Seth forge a friendship, they become intrigued by a series of mysterious gifts and letters sent to Alma, eventually learning about Ichimei and this extraordinary secret passion that has endured for nearly seventy years. 
Sweeping through time and spanning generations and continents, The Japanese Lover explores questions of identity, abandonment, redemption, and the unknowable impact of fate on our lives. Written with the same attention to historical detail and keen understanding of her characters that Isabel Allende has been known for since her landmark first novel The House of the Spirits, The Japanese Lover is a profoundly moving tribute to the constancy of the human heart in a world of unceasing change.

My thoughts:

This is a book that really speaks to the times we are having right now. I don't know if Isabel Allende foresaw what would happen or if it was just the subject matter that spoke to her, but I feel that this hits on so many levels in the here and now and what is happening in the world.

She tackles the interment of both the Jewish people and Japanese Americans. Both shameful parts of both world and American history. She hit so many levels that at times I became angry since I see the world on the precipice of making the same mistakes. Things we should have learned. The author reiterates the attitudes of fear and detachment that caused people to turn their backs on those being tortured and terrorized and then turn on it's own citizens. Things that we need to see again through the eyes of history so we can become better world citizens and compassionate human beings.

The book just doesn't bring these things back into the light from the dark, but it also tells a story of true love and what we do to get in our own way. Interracial relationships are obviously a big part of this as you can tell from the title, but also other kinds of relationships just now seeing the light. The author also tackles what it meant to be gay in the 80s. She also brings in sex trafficking if that isn't enough issues for you to deal with in this short novel. However, thoughout the whole story you never feel overwhelmed by the subject matter because all the characters are so well rounded. I do seem to be more attached to Alma (who represents the past) than Irina (the present) but both brought me through the story in a way that kept my interest and actually find hope for the future. Ichimei and Seth also brought a lot to the story by mostly being present and bringing a different perspective to the table. The characters really made this book.

I give this boo 4 1/2 stars. I find this an interesting perspective not just of the past but also for the times we currently live.

25 comments:

  1. Sad right how history keeps on repeating itself and that nothing much has changed despite all these advances?

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    1. Well, I can say that one change is that social media has helped a bit. I think more people are speaking out than before.

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  2. Amazed and yet deeply saddened that this compares favourably with much of what is happening in the world today ... will we ever learn?

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    1. I agree. I hope we don't repeat the problems we created in the past.

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  3. I love historical fiction, especially when it propels us to look at the past and think about the present. Wonderful review, dear--I'm excited to pick this up myself!

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    1. I think this one would really speak to you. This is one I am sure you would enjoy.

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  4. This sounds like a powerful story. I've been reading a few historical political romances lately and it makes me so sad how relevant it is to what's going on in the world right now.

    We're supposed to learn from the past - not repeat the same mistakes.

    Karen @For What It's Worth

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    1. It is also an entertaining book. I also agree I wish we would learn from the past.

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  5. This sounds like an emotional and profound read. Wonderful review!

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  6. Wow. This tackles a heap of issues doesn't it. I am always interested in this era so I am sure I would like this, even if it is weighty.

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    1. There are a lot of issues, but it really doesn't feel weighty. I think it is how it is written and the fact that I really liked the main characters and also the side characters.

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  7. This sounds amazing! Very emotional but I really connected with what you said. I have a lot of feelings about some of the mistakes I see happening in the world and just feel so angry about it. I bet this book would really get me riled up!

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    1. Yea, I think you would be upset too, but the characters do pull you through all of that and keep you going with the story.

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  8. sometimes i feel like history doesnt change ;/
    this sounds like a well worth the read

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  9. History repeats itself. It always makes me cringe a little when people say they hate history, because if they learned it, maybe certain things could be avoided in the future. Sounds like a good book.

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  10. It's alway sad... always the same... it sounds like a really interesting book there!

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  11. We're definitely barreling toward history repeating itself Melissa, and that's terrifying. Glad this was such a profound read for you:)

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  12. How did I miss this, i love the time period and the rich detail It sounds so beautifully done.

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  13. I really should read more Allende

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  14. Sounds so powerful. I don't often read these kinds of books, but you have me intrigued.

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  15. Sounds like a fascinating read! Glad that it tackled some harder issues and was written well. Fab review!

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  16. Her last book didn't spark any interest in me at all but this one does, especially after reading your great review. I'm awed that she tackled so many difficult subjects but didn't make it feel heavy handed and her characters are well rounded. Looks like I'll be adding this one to my tbr.

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