The Lovers' Room [Import] [Paperback]

Steven Carroll (Author)

Product Details

• Paperback: 400 pages
• Publisher: Mira (2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 077830146X
• ISBN-13: 978-0778301462
• Product Dimensions: 7.6 x 5 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #5,968,858 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars `Now you join the rest.', February 10, 2011

By 

J. Cameron-Smith "Expect the Unexpected" (ACT, Australia) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Lovers' Room (Paperback)

At the end of World War II, Allied Forces occupy Japan. One member of the Allied Forces is Allen `Spin' Bowler, an Australian working as an interpreter in the British Army. He meets Momoko, the London raised daughter of a Japanese diplomat. The two embark on a love affair which also meets other needs: Momoko is energised, as the affair takes her away (at least for a while) from the destruction and defeat of Japan; while Spin, a loner with low self-esteem, becomes more sure of himself.

In Momoko's room, absorbed in each other, the outside world is of little importance. The past can be pushed to one side, and the future does not feature.

But Spin's obsession with Momoko leads him to follow her, and when he discovers Momoko meeting with another man, he thinks the worst. Momoko has been helping an old boyfriend, Yoshi, a former artist whose war-time experiences have badly affected him. Momoko is helping Yoshi from a sense of duty, and on the day on which she is to assist him for the last time, Spin's jealousy results in actions which render her sacrifice worthless. Spin's jealous, impulsive actions destroy his relationship with Momoko and change both of their lives.

`One wretched hour. God, one hour was the difference between living and dying slowly.'

Years later, Professor Bowler's memories of Momoko are heightened by the particular mannerisms of a Japanese student who comes to him for help. He decides to try to locate Momoko. His journey takes him back to Japan, and then to London where he discovers that the past is over, but cannot be forgotten.

`Only this absurd hope, that somewhere out there was a past that might yet be soothed and a brief future yet to be embraced.'

I enjoyed most of this novel, but wasn't entirely satisfied with the ending. It seemed appropriate in some ways, but almost too neat. This novel was first published in 1994 as `Momoko', it was revised by Steven Carroll and published as `The Lover's Room' in 2007.

Jennifer Cameron-Smith