I have long read Isabel Allende's writing. I remember reading House of Spirits and being so deeply moved by it when I was just out of high school. I loved her generosity and her ways of helping voice stories that were unusual.
The Japanese Lover was sitting in my book box (where I keep my library books) and it was not jumping out as things to read. I had to force myself to pick it up. I'm mostly glad I did. This books follows Irina, who is working at a senior living facility and Alma, a woman she works for. Alma escaped the Nazis, moved to San Francisco and fell in love with the son of the Japanese gardener. While Alma's memories unfold, we also learn about Irina leaving Moldova, living with her mother and abusive stepfather and her own travails overcoming some seriously damaging experiences.
The characters were nice enough, but it felt like the conflicts of this book (acceptance, thwarted true love, aging) were more set dressing than actual conflict. It was slow in places, though Allende's language was still wonderful. I'm not sure I was mistaken to let this book languish in the box for so long.
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