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Cover of The Japanese Lover

Fiction · 2015 · PG-13

The Japanese Lover

by Isabel Allende

A love that lasted seventy years, hidden from everyone.

"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 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

For14+GenreFictionLength317 pagesRead time~8.5 hours

This analysis was generated by AI from publicly available reader reviews, literary criticism, and book discussions. It has not been verified by a BookLens community reviewer and may contain errors. Be the first to verify →

Content snapshot

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What's in this book, at a glance — five things readers want to know before they start.

Violence

Some

WWII and internment violence in historical sections; nothing gratuitous

Language

Barely any

Mild language throughout

Sexual Content

Some

A long-term intimate relationship depicted with sensitivity across decades

Substance Use

None

No substance use of note

Emotional Intensity

Some

A love that outlasts everything but time, the injustice of internment, secrets kept to protect others

What this book is about

In 2010 San Francisco, Irina begins working at a retirement community and befriends Alma Belasco — a beautiful, private woman in her eighties. Through Alma's letters and memories, Irina uncovers a love story spanning seven decades: the relationship between Alma and Ichimei Fukuda, a Japanese-American man whose family was interned during WWII. Isabel Allende weaves WWII history, the Japanese-American internment, and one of fiction's most quietly beautiful love stories into a multigenerational saga.

Notes for sensitive readers

Reader-flagged moments and themes that may affect your experience.

Japanese-American internment as historical backdrop

lifelong secret love story

themes of aging and loss

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