"The Translation of Love is a rarity: a haunting mystery that is also a moving coming-of-age story. A young woman disappears in the midst of the American occupation of Tokyo after the Second World War, and her younger sister tries desperately to find her. Lynne Kutsukake has written a remarkable, beautiful first novel."
—Chris Bohjalian, author of The Guest Room and Close Your Eyes, Hold Hands
“Lynne Kutsukake paints a vivid portrait of the American Occupation of Japan in The Translation of Love and keenly tackles the layered complexities of national identities in flux: Japanese, Canadian, and American. At the heart of this book is a young girl's page-turning quest to find her missing sister, and a touching, masterfully-woven tale of bystanders who cannot look away.”
Suzanne Rindell, author of The Other Typist
"An evocative and compelling tale of friendship, family and a country in transition. Lynne Kutsukake’s novel is an elegantly crafted reminder that no one is left untouched by the ripple effects of war, and that our quests for outside truths can often lead us to secrets we’ve been keeping from ourselves."
—Sarah Bird, author of Above the East China Sea
“The Translation of Love is a sweepingly gorgeous book about post-war Japan, a shattered country trying to piece itself back together. It begins with a letter passed to General MacArthur by two little girls, and ends with a heart-stopping search for a lost sister in the underbelly of Tokyo. From the desperate clutch of friendship in the time of tumult, to the bustling night markets and brothels-every brutal, moving moment is beautifully wrought in Lynne Kutsukake's expert hands. An incredible debut.”
—Lisa Gabriele, author of Tempting Faith DiNapoli and The Almost Archer Sisters
“Lynne Kutsukake is a beautiful writer. The Translation of Love is shaped by her spare and elegant prose into an accomplished and powerful story.”
—Helen Humphreys, author of Coventry
“In clear, confident prose, Lynne Kutsukake examines the lives of people who have been affected by the horrors of war and who must now navigate a new world order. In doing so, she explores the complexities of the human heart and the universal need to belong. A must-read, a strong and impressive debut.”
—Judy Fong Bates, author of Midnight at the Dragon Café
“Moving from the gorgeously epic to the unflinchingly intimate, The Translation of Love takes us to the emotional core of Occupied Japan. It captures the strange, liminal time between destruction and recovery, and the uttermost vulnerability of those carrying on in the rubble of uncertainty and loss. This beautiful and mesmerizing book will be a special treat for anyone who loves dramatic history and ingenious storytelling.”
—Kyo Maclear, author of The Letter Opener