The Japanese Lover in Book Riot's Read Harder Challenge

Sep 15, 2019 Nadine in NY Jones rated it it was ok

Shelves: historical-fiction, translation, fiction, era-world-war-2, audio, womens-day

Recommended for: fans of The Notebook, and Victorian “sensation” novels like The Woman in White.

This was incredibly over the top. Allende took everything she had and threw it in. If it could happen, it happened. If a character trope exists, it’s in there. Noble poverty; lazy but good-hearted rich; old people bravely facing the ends of their lives, epic love affairs, classism, sexism, racism, homophobia; (view spoiler) ...more

5 likes · Like · see review

Oct 20, 2015 Jenni rated it really liked it

Shelves: read-finished-in-2016

This was a really captivating story. I really enjoyed the live of Alma. I did find the story of Irina to heartbreaking but ultimately felt out of place to me. It didn't feel like it related enough to make it tie into the greater story that was Alma's. ...more

4 likes · Like · see review

Dec 10, 2018 Booktart rated it liked it

Shelves: contemporary-fiction

A good story but I think Allende tried to include too many issues in here -- Japanese internment, the Holocaust, sex trafficking, and AIDS/ attitudes toward the LGBT community. All of these are very important issues to explore, it just seemed like too much for one book. Still a very good read though and there aren't many novels about Japanese internment out there. ...more

2 likes · Like · see review

Jan 11, 2016 Mary rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: format-audio

What a beautiful story. This was my first novel by Allende and I understand from talking with others that multiple time periods, settings and points of view, together with well-defined characters, a little mystery and even a bit of magic are typical of her books. I can't wait to dive into her backlist! ...more

Like · see review