Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet
The Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet
by: Jamie Ford. 2009;
320 pages,
rating: 4.5
This book was one of many that I read as part of my birthday gift (Amazon gift card). At first, I wasn't sure what to expect, but I was in for a treat and just didn't know it.
"Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet" starts off a bit slow, but by the time I'd let the characters settle in a bit, it felt almost as if they were family.
And really, what better praise can you give anything?
The story is of Henry and his search for his childhood friend and lifeline, Keiko. The two are the only non-white students at their school during WWII. Henry is Chinese, and Keiko is Japanese, though both are American.
The two become inseparable, until the Japanese are forced out of the cities and into internment camps. While the two are apart, they strive to be together, reliving their jazz filled childhood days.
I love the relationship that Henry has with African American jazz musician Sheldon. And, the exploration of Henry's relationship with his father, and how that impacted his life (and his relationship with his own son) was very well illustrated and accurately portrayed.
Bitter and sweet are good words to describe this novel. I really liked it, and I'm very glad to have read it. Thank you everyone for the birthday gifts that gave me "Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet".
Comments
Youre so cool! I dont suppose Ive read something like this before. So nice to find any individual with some authentic thoughts on books.
Posted by: Brice Monigold | February 5, 2011 03:26 AM