Read an Advanced Reader Edition. 
 Overall, THE JAPANESE LOVER was a moving tale with memorable characters that explored themes I particularly enjoy, such as the different forms of love to nostalgia and ephemeral moments. 
 Spanning generations, the tale jumps back and forth between present day, with protagonist Alma Belasco; Alma's caretaker, Irina; and Alma's grandson, Seth, to various moments in Alma's life prior to moving into an assisted care facility. While I don't generally mind novels that play around with the chronological timeline, the order in which particular parts of Alma's story were told was random and choppy. Chapters end abruptly, almost in the middle of a conversation, and some information is provided early, almost carelessly, with the explanation following fifty pages afterwards. 
 Still, Allende's skill in crafting a beautiful tale of love and family, particularly the chapters on Ichimei's life, kept me going in spite of the chaotic formatting.