All Sorrows Can Be Borne

By Loren Stephens

Inspired by true events, All Sorrows Can Be Borne is the story of Noriko Ito, a Japanese woman faced with unimaginable circumstances that force her to give up her son to save her husband. Set in Hiroshima, Osaka, and the badlands of eastern Montana and spanning the start of World War II to 1982, this breathtaking novel is told primarily in the voice of Noriko, a feisty aspiring actress who fails her audition to enter the Takarazuka Theater Academy. Instead, she takes the “part” of a waitress at a European-style tearoom in Osaka where she meets the mysterious and handsome manager, Ichiro Uchida. They fall in love over music and marry. Soon after Noriko becomes pregnant during their seaside honeymoon, Ichiro is diagnosed with tuberculosis destroying their dreams.

Noriko gives birth to a healthy baby boy, but to give the child a better life, Ichiro convinces her to give the toddler to his older sister and her Japanese-American husband, who live in Montana. Noriko holds on to the belief that this inconceivable sacrifice will lead to her husband’s recovery. What happens next is unexpected and shocking and will affect Noriko for the rest of her life.

Eighteen years later, her son enlists in the U.S. Navy and is sent to Japan. Finally, he is set to meet his birth mother, but their reunion cracks open the pain and suffering Noriko has endured.

With depth and tenderness, All Sorrows Can Be Borne is a harrowing and beautifully written novel that explores how families are shaped by political and economic circumstances, tremendous loss and ultimately forgiveness.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Rare Bird Books
• Release date: May 11, 2021
• ISBN: 9781644282113

Reviews for All Sorrows Can Be Borne

[susan0316 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This was a sad well-written novel that was based on real events. It covers the years from the start of World War II to 1982 in Japan and is told mostly by Noriko. We see her age from a brave and talented teenager to an older woman with a life full of sorrows who finally finds happiness.Noriko was a talented and spoiled young girl who planned to be an actress. Even though she was at school when the bomb was dropped at Hiroshima, none of her family was injured. Her father spoiled her and paid for extra lessons so that she could achieve her dream. When she doesn't get accepted into Theater Academy, she has no idea what to do with her life. She goes to live with her sister in Osaka and takes a job as a waitress at a tea room that her sister owns. There she meets Ichiro - a quiet and contemplative man who had a rough upbringing but was working to turn his life around. They fall in love and get married. She gets pregnant on their honeymoon and right after they return from their honeymoon, Ichiro is diagnosed with tuberculosis. Their dreams for the future are shattered. When Ichiro convinces her to send their 3 year old son to America to be adopted by his sister and their husband, she is totally heartbroken but feels like they have no choice. Her life is filled with sorrow at the loss of her beloved son.This story is filled with sadness for Noriko but like many people, she handles life and her marriage as best she can while being consumed with sorrow for her son. She is much stronger than she believes she is and life keeps presenting her with situations that she has to handle. She is a well written character and I could feel her sorrow at the loss of her son and cried with her several times. Even though parts of the story are sad, the overwhelming feeling at the end is of love and the importance of family.This book was very interesting for me because I learned a lot about the Japanese culture and foods. This is a book that I'm still thinking about several weeks after I finished it. It was a wonderful look at the strength of a resilient woman as she dealt with the hardships of her life.Thanks to the publisher for a copy of this book to read and review. All opinions are my own.