Home Feed
Home
Search
Search
Add Review, Blurb, Quote
Add
Activity
Activity
Profile
Profile
The Japanese Lover
The Japanese Lover: A Novel | Isabel Allende
Named one of the most anticipated novels of the year by New York Magazine, The Wall Street Journal, Entertainment Weekly, Cosmopolitan, Harpers Bazaar, Publishers Weekly, The Huffington Post, and more. From New York Times and internationally bestselling author Isabel Allende, an exquisitely crafted love story and multigenerational epic that sweeps from San Francisco in the present-day to Poland and the United States during the Second World War.In 1939, as Poland falls under the shadow of the Nazis, young Alma Belascos 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 familys 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 familylike thousands of other Japanese Americansare 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 Franciscos 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.
Amazon Indiebound Barnes and Noble WorldCat Goodreads LibraryThing
Pick icon
100%
blurb
BarbaraBB
Japanese Lover | Isabel Allende
post image

This is it. The haul I‘ll take with me to Japan (please let that global outage be done with 🤞🏽🤞🏽🤞🏽🤞🏽). My man hates it I still do want to bring books instead of an e-reader but that‘s a pity for him. I need my books with me!

What do you think of my choices??

Ruthiella That‘s quite a pile! 👍 5mo
jlhammar Great choices! Wrong Place, Black Butterflies, Child Finder, Ellie Black—all really good. And I‘m currently gripped by The God of the Woods (about halfway through). Have a wonderful trip! 5mo
Bookwormjillk I don‘t blame you! Plus you can always leave some there to make room for souvenirs. 5mo
See All 15 Comments
JenReadsAlot I can't wait to hear about your trip! Also I loved Child Finder! 5mo
TrishB Some great choices there! Have a fabulous time. 5mo
Deblovestoread Black Butterflies! And the Wait! Enjoy! 5mo
LeeRHarry Ooooh I also agree Black Butterfiles is a great choice. I always carry physical books too and make my choices waaay before deciding on what clothes to pack! 😆 Safe travels. 💕 5mo
julesG Great stack! Enjoy your holiday and safe travels! 5mo
MicheleinPhilly I see you have your priorities in order. 😉 Safe travels and can‘t wait to see the pictures! 5mo
Librarybelle Looks great! Enjoy your travels! 5mo
kspenmoll Great books! Black butterflies 💛❤️💛 4mo
sarahbarnes So envious you‘re headed to Japan! Looks like you‘ve got the most important packing done. I see a Lennon in there. Safe travels! 4mo
CarolynM Have a wonderful trip! 4mo
Chelsea.Poole Nice stack! Enjoy your trip! 4mo
Suet624 I panic any time I leave home even for a night that I might run out of reading material. 4mo
86 likes15 comments
review
Eggs
Japanese Lover | Isabel Allende
post image
Pickpick

This novella title is not in Litsy database. At the art museum, two scantily clad lovers are found early one morning asleep on the floor; the young woman almost afloat in yards of frothy wedding dress fabric…they told the arresting police that the door was open during the night and they walked right in…

BTW the tagged book is one of my favorite Allende books.
#LitsyLove
#ReadAway2024

DieAReader 🥳Great! (edited) 7mo
Eggs @DieAReader 🥰🤩 7mo
60 likes1 stack add2 comments
review
KristiAhlers
post image
Pickpick

This is a soft pick for me as times there were a couple of slow points but overall I did enjoy the story, characters and I am a fan of this authors writing voice. It's currently free with KU.

review
behudd
post image
Pickpick

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
Sweeping, rich, & sentimental - what is, at its heart, a love story is also so much more.
Allende travels around the world through many time periods of her characters‘ lives and does so much without it feeling like she‘s doing too much. It was beautifully & impressively done. My first read of Allende‘s work but certainly won‘t be my last.
Joanna Gleason is lovely reading the audiobook, too, so I recommend listening if you can.

behudd @TheAromaofBooks this was my May #doublespin book! 2y
TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!! 2y
37 likes1 stack add2 comments
quote
behudd
The Japanese Lover | Isabel Allende
post image

When Irina Bazili began working at Lark House in 2010, she was twenty-three years old but already had few illusions about life.

#FirstLineFridays
@ShyBookOwl

review
Acoleman
post image
Pickpick

This was chosen by my book club and I was hesitant. But I was pleasantly surprised. A story of love and life and death with really remarkable character development.

blurb
TheBookgeekFrau
post image

I LOVED this book 💞

#Loveathan #ForbiddenLove

Clwojick 💜💜💜 2y
30 likes1 stack add1 comment
blurb
Eggs
post image

Some of the books I‘ve loved with memorable hats

#NationalHatDay #JanuaryJazz @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks

Cathythoughts Love the hats ❤️ 2y
Eggs Aren‘t they great 👍🏼👒💙 @Cathythoughts (edited) 2y
Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks So@e of my favorites ❤️ 2y
65 likes3 comments
review
avxi
Panpan

⭐️2⭐️
The book concerned itself with too many characters and it tried to describe all of the different phases of their lives no matter how irrelevant they were to the core of the story. It muddled Alma and Ichimei‘s relationship. Until the end, I couldn‘t appreciate their relationship. There was also too much narration and very little dialogue. Everything is described exactly leaving little room for one‘s imagination.

#bookreview #review

blurb
Susanita
post image

Caught up at last! #alphabetgame #letterJ

blurb
Blackink_WhitePaper
Japanese Lover | Isabel Allende
post image

This is the only book starting with J which I read in the recent past. I had to scroll through my goodreads list to get this 🤪

#Alphabetgame #letterJ

Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks Thank you for playing! 2y
35 likes1 comment
blurb
TheSpineView
post image

#Movie2BookRecs @klou
Prompt: Letters to Juliet

Klou Great choice! 2y
64 likes2 comments
review
Blackink_WhitePaper
Japanese Lover | Isabel Allende
post image
Pickpick

Good story line and narration but I could not enjoy the development of few characters. The main plot of the story was good but I felt author included too many things at once.started this book in December for #authoramonth finally it‘s done. I think I should try other books by this author. 3🌟

46 likes2 stack adds
review
DivineDiana
post image
Pickpick

It was cover love that drew me to this book. And true to the cover, Alma always wore red lipstick. I enjoyed the story of a Jewish woman who fled Poland for San Francisco to live with relatives and survive the War. She is now in her 80‘s. We learn about her love for a Japanese gardener who was sent to an Internment Camp. Another young character,Irina has also escaped her country. Politics and Love are the major themes. #authoramonth
@Soubhiville

Soubhiville I‘m really looking forward to reading this one. Great review! 3y
DivineDiana @Soubhiville And a big thank you to you for encouraging me to read my books! ❤️ 3y
60 likes2 comments
review
Skygoddess1
post image
Pickpick

Out of all the Allende books I‘ve managed to read this month, this was my favorite. I love the love stories of Alma and Ichimei and Irina and Seth. Such a beautiful story that takes a look at the Japanese-American internment, racism, and anti-miscegenation. A beautifully written story that pulled me in. #AuthorAMonth #BookSpinBingo

AmyG Same here. I thought it was a beautiful book of many different love stories. 3y
Soubhiville I‘m looking forward to reading this one. 3y
TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!! 3y
17 likes3 comments
review
Eggs
post image
Pickpick

I loved this! It had a certain mysterious aura and magic, and the characters were rich. A tender love affair that had to be hidden from the world and 3 generations, from 1939 to the present day…it will sweep you up and draw you in

#authoramonth2021 @Soubhiville
#bookspinbingo @TheAromaofBooks

AmyG I loved this one, too. 3y
TheAromaofBooks Yay!!! 3y
74 likes2 stack adds2 comments
blurb
DivineDiana
post image

This book is in my book stacks, but for the life of me, I just can‘t locate it. Had planned to finally read for #authoramonth. So glad, it was available on Libby! @Soubhiville

AmyG I loved it. 3y
Lcsmcat I had that issue with The Sum of Our Days! It took me days to find it. Do Allende books generally hide? 3y
DivineDiana @AmyG I am finding it fascinating! 3y
DivineDiana @Lcsmcat Could be. 🙂 3y
50 likes1 stack add4 comments
blurb
DHill
post image

One of my favorite books of the year. This won‘t be the last Isabel Allende that I read.

#AuthorAMonth

@Soubhiville

Soubhiville Oh good! I‘m glad you liked it so much 🙂 3y
45 likes1 comment
blurb
DHill
post image

If not for #AuthorAMonth I would not have found this author. I am enjoying this book so much.

@Soubhiville

AmyG I loves this book! This was my Allende pick , too. (edited) 3y
36 likes1 comment
review
mirnas
Japanese Lover | Isabel Allende
post image
Pickpick

Excellent story, excellent storytelling, loved it!

22 likes1 stack add
blurb
JGadz11
post image

Belgrade Botanical Garden: Saturday reading❤️

review
Texreader
post image
Pickpick

This is a quiet romantic story, but is in no way a romance novel. It‘s a beautifully told story about the love between and the long lives of a Polish Jewish girl escaping the Nazis and a Japanese boy, who for years is detained in a WWII concentration camp; a forbidden love in California. Told mainly from the perspective of an immigrant girl from #Moldova, she has her own painful story to tell. Excellent narration. #readingeurope2020 ⬇️

Kelly_the_Bookish_Sidekick Yay! One country closer to finishing up Europe! 4y
Texreader @Kelly_the_Bookish_Sidekick That‘s right! “Just” four more. Work is kicking my tush and I‘m way behind on getting ready for Christmas, so I‘m struggling for free time to read. Well #wintergames isn‘t helping! 😉 PS Where are more of your guesses? You hit your stride! And as fellow #merryreaders I‘m hoping you get bunches more! (edited) 4y
See All 8 Comments
Kelly_the_Bookish_Sidekick I'm not going to crush my goals thanks to work, but I can make a sizable dent and continue in January. I haven't had much time to play this game until tonight so I was scrolling back through to see if I can guess the unsolved ones from earlier. 4y
Texreader @Kelly_the_Bookish_Sidekick It‘s good timing then since you‘re so good at this. I‘m not a good visual detail person. So this game is impossible for me unless I‘m doing the posting. 4y
BarbaraBB Great review! 4y
Librarybelle Great review! I‘m stacking this 4y
TheSpineView 😊👍📖 4y
46 likes1 stack add8 comments
blurb
Texreader
post image
Librarybelle 😁 4y
PurpleyPumpkin So adorable! 🎄 4y
BarbaraBB Lovely cards! 4y
See All 6 Comments
Clwojick ♥️♥️♥️♥️ 4y
TheSpineView ❤🎄❤🎅 4y
Kelly_the_Bookish_Sidekick 🎅Santa approves!🎅 4y
44 likes6 comments
blurb
Texreader
post image
Librarybelle Very nice! 4y
Kelly_the_Bookish_Sidekick The nice list...well, then that's not my card! 🤣🤣🤣 4y
BarbaraBB Smart choice, I am surprised Allende writes about Moldova! 4y
Clwojick ♥️♥️♥️ 4y
TheSpineView 🎄🤩📚📖 4y
44 likes5 comments
blurb
Texreader
post image
Librarybelle Lovely! 4y
Kelly_the_Bookish_Sidekick You're so creative! 4y
freeatlast1137 Those are adorable! 4y
TheSpineView ❤🎅🎄 4y
45 likes4 comments
blurb
Texreader
post image
47 likes4 comments
blurb
Texreader
post image

Moving on to a new card design so more stamping and lots of coloring. This book to which I am audiocrafting is very good. #crushtherush #readyourway #wintergames #merryreaders @Kelly_the_Bookish_Sidekick @TheSpineView @Clwojick #readingeurope2020 #Moldova @Librarybelle @BarbaraBB

EclecticBookLover You're so talented! I love seeing all the little embellishments! 4y
Kelly_the_Bookish_Sidekick I'm barely organized enough to mail out my store bought cards. 😆 I'll be planning to start in July next year. 4y
TheSpineView You are so creative! ❤📚📖🎄 4y
Texreader @Kelly_the_Bookish_Sidekick @EclecticBookLover @TheSpineView Thanks y‘all! And yea I should have started back in July!! 😬 4y
57 likes4 comments
blurb
Texreader
post image
TheSpineView 🤩📖🎄 4y
48 likes1 comment
blurb
Texreader
post image
CaliforniaCay Beautiful 😍 4y
Librarybelle Pretty card! 4y
Deblovestoread So pretty! 4y
See All 7 Comments
TheSpineView 😊❤😍 4y
Kelly_the_Bookish_Sidekick 😍It's beautiful!😍 4y
Clwojick So pretty!! 😍 4y
Texreader @Kelly_the_Bookish_Sidekick @CaliforniaCay @Librarybelle @Kdgordon88 @TheSpineView @Clwojick Thanks y‘all! I have some kits to make cards but these I‘m especially proud of because I designed them on my own. 4y
53 likes7 comments
review
Addison_Reads
post image
Pickpick

#ReadingEurope2020 @Librarybelle @BarbaraBB #Moldova

I'll admit through the first part of this book I was only halfway invested. Around midway the story picked up and I was fully engaged from there until the end. The relationships in this story are so bittersweet. Allende writes beautiful, believable characters who are heartbreaking and hopeful all at once.

I am intrigued now to read more by this author.

Librarybelle I love this cover - so colorful! 4y
Scochrane26 I‘m reading The House of the Spirits right now. My first by her. 4y
BarbaraBB I‘ve read a lot of her books in the 90s but never since. Maybe I should rediscover her! 4y
37 likes3 comments
blurb
Texreader
post image

Second of 2 posts of my updates to my #readingeurope2020 since I bought a few more books this weekend. The ones in ink I‘ve finished. In pencil, those are the books I‘ve lined up to read for the challenge. No book listed? I have no idea what to read for those countries, except well, Wales. I have a lot of options for Wales.

GingerAntics Yeah, you almost have too many for Wales. 4y
Texreader @GingerAntics Indeed! The problem is which to pick! 😉 4y
GingerAntics What‘s the last one you read? Maybe the answer is the most logical. The next one. 😏 4y
See All 12 Comments
Texreader @GingerAntics While that makes complete sense, it‘s not how my brain works. I was thinking of backing up a bit and doing some rereads so I could get my bearings again. I also vaguely remember the last one I read took place in England. So would the next one be in Wales? 4y
GingerAntics Hm. I think so. I know the latest one is, but then the one before that was in Dublin, so maybe not. If you give me the title I MIGHT know. I was thinking of rereading that series from the beginning. I think I read them so fast the first time around they‘re all a bit of a blur now. 4y
Texreader @GingerAntics I‘ll find it and let you know. I‘d appreciate your help! 😁 4y
GingerAntics I‘ll do my best! 4y
GingerAntics The first book from the new series “Crouchback” could also be a good option. That one is definitely in Wales... and there is a still a murderer!!! 4y
Texreader @GingerAntics Ooooh great idea. I‘ll check it out. Thanks!! 4y
GingerAntics You‘re welcome!!! 4y
Kelly_the_Bookish_Sidekick You've read books from so many countries. I couldn't bang them all out in a year. Even if you get close and finish up in 2021, I'd consider it a win! 4y
Texreader @Kelly_the_Bookish_Sidekick You are so kind! I feel woefully behind, especially after losing over a month to one annoying book. But I see your point. I doubt I was ever going to finish 100% but it‘s still a win to get so many countries covered. 4y
58 likes12 comments
blurb
Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks
Japanese Lover | Isabel Allende
post image
OriginalCyn620 Nice pic! 4y
Andrew65 Misty takes such lovely photographs. @OriginalCyn620 4y
OriginalCyn620 Yes she does @Andrew65! 4y
89 likes4 comments
blurb
Texreader
post image

Book ideas for #Moldova for #readingeurope2020

Some of these books appear to only involve characters from Moldova and are not about or set in Moldova, such as the tagged book. I‘m still counting them, personally, given limited availability about book ideas for some countries.

review
Enya31
The Japanese Lover | Isabel Allende
Pickpick

It was a very well written book and an extremely pleasant reading.

blurb
Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks
post image
OriginalCyn620 She‘s been a popular choice today! 5y
Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks @OriginalCyn620 she is!! There weren‘t many! 5y
84 likes2 stack adds2 comments
blurb
Blueberry
post image

Currently reading from my tbr.

53 likes1 stack add
review
Ericalambbrown
Japanese Lover | Isabel Allende
post image
Pickpick

Damn. No one writes bittersweet relationships that last decades like Isabel Allende. I was meant to be gardening this afternoon but instead I read for six hours and couldn‘t put this book down until there was nothing left. Even though set predominantly in California, this one felt more like her earlier epics set in Chile than her other recent work has.

Prairiegirl_reading I‘ve never read Isabel Allende. Where would you recommend I start? 5y
Ericalambbrown @Prairiegirl_reading oh, gosh. If you like a touch of magical realism, I‘d start with The House of the Spirits. It was her first, I believe, and I love it. 5y
Prairiegirl_reading @Ericalambbrown I typically love magical realism! Great ! Thank you! 😄 5y
Ericalambbrown @Prairiegirl_reading I took a look your book ratings and saw you liked The Girl Who Drank the Moon. You may want to read the description for Allende‘s Eva Luna and see if that sounds like it could be for you, too. 😊 5y
Prairiegirl_reading @Ericalambbrown thank you so much! I‘ve never heard of that one! I will check it out. So thoughtful of you!! 5y
88 likes3 stack adds5 comments
review
crhealey
post image
Mehso-so

A little detached? It had good bones but never quite delivered...

review
alisadk
Pickpick

Historical fiction, early 1900s, CA and UT Japanese concentration camps

review
Sha0102
post image
Pickpick


"Love and friendship don't age"

What a beautiful romance! I loved that one of the main characters is Japanese and how the book addresses that culture too.

#OAmanteJapones #IsabelAllende #TheJapaneseLover #book #bookaholic #booklovers #ler #leitura #leitora #reading #instabook #instaread #instabooks #bookstagram #litsy #booklover #readingabook #amreading #books #Sha2020

review
hike.read.repeat
post image
Pickpick

Te Araroa kilometers tramped: 1911.1 of 3005.3

Days on trail: 81

Books completed on trail: 36

My first Allende read. A multifaceted story with a cast of interesting characters. The way the author revealed secrets and truths kept me hooked. #libby

blurb
Q84
post image

Thank you so much @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks!😯 No, I haven't read it yet. Meant to once but the library needed it back before I could😁.
You are so sweet. Things have been so crazy around here. It's so nice to get this sweet surprise! 🥰

47 likes1 stack add
review
Louise
post image
Pickpick

How does one live in the present when the past was defined by war, abuse, and loss? And how does one build a brighter future? In this novel, the characters are dealing with these questions and finding their answers through the many forms love takes. #audiobook

79 likes1 stack add
blurb
JenDR
post image

Starting my fourth book of my vacation on the plane home. Can I finish it before we land? I am up for the challenge!

review
DaniRey
post image
Pickpick

This in an epic tale: historical & romance, involving a romance from WWII to modern era. It is both heartbreaking and realistic. Ichimei and Alma are the star crossed lovers of their time. This feels like it could be real. In the modern era we have Irina, the Moldovan immigrant who becomes close to Alma and is entrusted with her secrets all the while Irina‘s skin crawling childhood secrets come to light as well. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ #mbcreadathon