Book review: The Japanese Lover
We feel glimmers of this in her latest novel, The Japanese Lover.
However, I was a little disappointed to discover large passages of description and sometimes-stiff dialogue.
Nevertheless, there is a heart-warming story at the core and Allende takes the reader on a journey of forbidden romance and deep, meaningful friendships.
The story has all the makings of a poignant historical novel.
Irina Bazili and Alma Belasco cross paths in Lark House Nursing home where Irina is a care worker and Alma is a resident, with the assistance of Alma’s grandson Seth.
Irina gives herself the task of discovering Alma’s mysterious past and her love affair with Ichimei Fukuda.
It’s a touching novel.
However, it fails to really get off the ground, as I feel Allende does rather more ‘telling’ than ‘showing’.


