Loren Stephens’ All Sorrows Can Be Borne is a poignant historical novel that threads love, grief, and cultural displacement into a deeply personal story. At the heart of the book is Noriko, a Hiroshima survivor, who must make the unimaginable decision to send her young son across the ocean to be raised by relatives in America. The story unfolds as both a tribute and an excavation of memory, of war, loss, and survival, told with a haunting, lyrical voice.

The opening chapter is profoundly affecting. The scene at the airport, in which Noriko and her husband Ichiro part ways with their young son Hisashi, is rendered with quiet intensity. It is not overwrought or sentimental; instead, it is measured and heartbreakingly restrained. The emotional impact lies in the understated details, Hisashi’s carefully chosen outfit, the heart-shaped box containing his umbilical cord, Noriko’s silent anguish as she tries to maintain composure. Stephens allows the emotion to unfold subtly, never forcing it, and this delicate control makes the moment all the more powerful.

One of the novel’s most compelling achievements is how it interweaves personal tragedy with the broader scope of historical trauma. Noriko’s recollections of surviving the Hiroshima bombing are not presented merely as historical context; they form the emotional core of her character. The stark imagery of black rain falling from the sky, scorched bodies in the streets, and a city in ruins conveys a haunting sense of devastation. Yet amid this bleakness, there are glimmers of resilience. Her father’s remark that her scarred forehead might one day be seen as a mark of uniqueness offers a moment of unexpected tenderness and wisdom.

Equally striking is the novel’s psychological complexity, particularly in the relationship between Noriko and Ichiro. Ichiro is a difficult figure, physically ailing, emotionally withdrawn, often sharp and unkind, yet Stephens renders him with empathy. His fear, frustration, and shame are palpable. A particularly heartbreaking moment occurs when he tells their son, Hisashi, that they will follow him to America on the next flight, a deliberate untruth meant to ease the child’s separation. It is a quiet betrayal, but one born of desperation. Later, Noriko’s acknowledgment of her own complicity, when she admits, “neither of us deserved him,” is devastating in its candor. It captures the depth of her remorse and the inescapable weight of their decision.

I’d recommend All Sorrows Can Be Borne to anyone who loves character-driven stories with emotional weight. It’s especially powerful if you’re drawn to historical fiction that isn’t about battles, but about what happens after. This book is for people who want to feel something real and lasting, something that lingers. It is not an emotionally light read, but it is unquestionably worthwhile.

Pages: 449 | ASIN : B0DV2X44K8