The Japanese Lover by Isabel Allende

This year I made the pledge to try and read more. I love reading. When people ask me what my hobbies are I list reading first. And it has always been this way, I have loved books since I was a child. After having children, however, and even before if I am to be honest, my reading habit slowed down to almost a dismal halt.

In 2016 I read 8 books. So far in 2017 I have read 22 books. I had a goal to read 52 books this year, and it doesn’t look like I am going to get there. But, I have done a hell of a lot better than last year! And this is just a silly personal goal with no pressure attached. So I am chuffed with my progress 🙂

I was thrilled to spot The Japanese Lover in my local library as it’s been on my TBR list for a while. I loved Allende’s Eva Luna and this book came highly recommended from a few friends. I was actually super impressed as my local library is not well stocked at all and seems to hardly ever get new books!

A few chapters in and I was getting bored. I pushed through but it really wanst love for me. And I so wanted it to be! It never really picked up the pace or got exciting to did anything, really.

I can see this book being a popular book club book as it touches on quite a few different topics such as WW2, inter-racial relationships, homosexuality and even pedophilia, so has plenty to discuss! But in my opinion those topics were touched on so briefly that it seemed almost that they were token mentions, as if Allende wanted this book to tick a few boxes set by her publisher.

A story of forbidden love that touches on the injustices of the world. I have always preferred books with a stronger moral motivation, soul jarring stuff, leaving you ready to take on the world and make a change! This was not one of them.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
I gave this book 3 stars of GoodReads. It was an ok read, well-written but lacked excitement and any real substance for me.