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Ever since the publication of The House of the Spirits, Isabelle Allende has become one of the most prominent and influential Latin American writers of our time. Her latest novel, The Japanese Lover: A Novel, published by Atria Books, was one of the most highly anticipated books of 2015. While not of the same standard as Allende’s earlier work, The Japanese Lover is a compelling story that is worth a read.

Like some of her earlier novels, The Japanese Lover tells a story that spans decades with a large, vivid cast of characters. Irina Bazili, a care worker in Lark House Nursing Home becomes the secretary of one of the residents, Alma Belasco. Together with Alma’s grandson, Seth, Irina discovers that Alma immigrated to the US in 1939 to avoid the outbreak of World War II, and fell in love with Ichimei Fukuda, the son of her relative’s gardener. However, Alma and Ichimei were kept apart throughout their lives by Japanese internment during World War II, and later by race and class issues.

The novel is an enjoyable read; the characters are complex and vividly portrayed, which immediately draws the reader into the plot. Allende has a gift for taking sprawling narratives and presenting them in a clear and compelling manner, and this book does precisely that. The Japanese Lover deals with a dark, complicated period in world history, and it does not shy away from some of the more uncomfortable legacies of that era. For instance, while the topic of internment camps in the US during World War II can be a difficult subject to approach, even today, Allende does not shy away from portraying them. The novel’s keen awareness of social issues sets it apart from many other historical novels. However, it must be said that the writing is not quite as rich and subtle as Allende’s earlier work. Admittedly, this could be an issue with translation, as opposed the quality of the original writing.

The Japanese Lover is an alluring book that deals complexly with social and historical issues, as well as more intimate matters of family and romance. While it may not live up to expectations, it is nonetheless a satisfying read.