Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet: The international bestseller and word-of-mouth sensation

Product Information

To tell the tale of Henery Lee an intelligent, brave, 12yr old Chinese American quickly growing into a man thru struggling WWII times. Amid the chaos of blackouts, curfews, and FBI raids, Henry and Keiko forge a bond of friendship–and innocent love–that transcends the long-standing prejudices of their Old World ancestors. I had no idea Japanese living in the US faced such racism during the war (well they always did but that increased during the war). I think a part of me resists because I love finding "little" books that deserve kudos and talking about them. She makes it her mission to match cusomers with the special something that they are missing, a talisman to bring them what their heart desires.

The story, set in Seattle, opens in 1986 in front of the Panama Hotel, a place that holds both bitter and sweet memories for Henry Lee, a Chinese American citizen, who is in his mid-fifties and has recently lost his wife, Ethel, to cancer. Then, I read the synopsis on the back cover, and learned the novel was historical fiction, another plus. I found the relationship between Henry and Keiko difficult to accept as these were children 12 years old the relationship and emotions are way too advanced for children of this age and I feel that for me this is where the author got it badly wrong. Out walking one day he sees a familiar landmark of his childhood, The Panama Hotel being brought back to life, and from the basement come a number of items from years previous. At school, Henry helps out in the school canteen and it is when American-born of Japanese parents, Keiko begins to work there too that he realises just how different he is to his father.

The 'sweet' is the innocence of love, so fragile, of waiting for that one person and never forgetting about them. Asian/Pacific American Award For Literature Winners selected", American Library Association, February 3, 2010, accessed July 11, 2011. Psychologies Magazine ‘Every once in a while a book comes along that truly touches your heart – Jamie Ford’s Hotel on the corner of Bitter and Sweet is one such book.

I never had kids, so as an outsider I have seen SO many unnecessary parent/child/life dramas because of lack of communication! Alas, because of the war and Henry's prejudiced traditionalist father, our two lovebirds are torn apart and end up falling out of touch—despite the purity of their true love.Then the story fast-forwards to decades later, when Henry Lee is an old man with a grown son of his own. Henry never gets over Keiko and when his present wife dies he eventually tracks her down, with the help of his son.

The efforts of how Henry tried to maintain his connection with Keiko, even visiting her in the camps in disguise, is very touching and well portrayed. I really loved the characters of Henry, Keiko and Sheldon, and really cared about what happened to them. As I went on Goodreads a few days ago to add the book to my list of 'currently reading' however, I came across a number of really bad reviews. The discovery of belongings left behind by Japanese American families at the Panama Hotel brings on a rush of memories, and Henry embarks on a journey to look for Keiko again, hoping to right the past.

Some of these mandated rights are about giving all citizens freedom to express ideas, religions, and culture, as long as there is no harmful coercion or illegal behavior, and as refined by the Supreme Court, without any interference from either the Federal or States' governments. the exploration of Henry’s changing relationship with his family and with Keiko will keep most readers turning pages.