The Japanese Lover

Content Warning: This section discusses racism, child abuse, warfare, and genocide.

Lark House is described as a retirement community for impoverished elderly people, and many of them subscribe to liberal or progressive ideologies. How does this subvert the expectations of elderly people? What do the residents of Lark House do that might seem uncommon for elderly people, and how do these activities inform the novel’s portrayal of what it means to be old?

Irina quickly becomes a favorite among the residents at Lark House. What about her makes her popular, and what does she use to explain her success in her role? Why is Irina a perfect character to become Alma’s assistant and friend, and how does Irina’s past influence her relationship with Alma?

Alma’s history involves narrowly escaping the Nazi invasion of Poland, while Ichimei’s involves being in a concentration camp in America. How do these events compare? How does Ichimei’s experience contrast with Alma’s, and how do their shared conflicts with racial and ethnic discrimination shape their relationship?