May 3, 2009

Review: Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet by Jamie Ford


Author's Website


When a long hidden piece of history is discovered in the basement of Seattle’s Panama Hotel, Chinese American Henry Lee is overcome with memories of 1942. During World War II Henry was a small boy attending an all white private school on a scholarship. There he meets another scholarship student named Keiko Okabe, a Japanese American.

Over time and a shared love of Jazz, Henry and Keiko fall in love but Henry is too shy to reveal his feelings. Before Henry works up the courage to take things further Keiko and her family is sent to an internment camp. Initially Keiko is where Henry can visit her but she’s soon moved to a camp in Idaho where Henry risks the wrath of his father to visit Keiko one last time.

Oh how I loved this book. It was an amazing tale of friendship and a long lost love. I fell in love with Henry and Keiko from the minute they were introduced. The ups and downs Henry went through at school and at home with his family were heart breaking. Every time I thought things would work out for him something negative would happen and I felt my heart wrench with emotion.

Towards the end of the book I was anticipating the conclusion so much that I wanted to cheat and just skip to the last chapter to see if everything works out for Henry. I loved that the book was told by alternating from 1942 to 1986. It just heightens the anticipation because you get bits and pieces of the story but not the whole picture until the very end. Needless to say this is a must read!

9 comments :

bermudaonion said...

I can't wait to read this one! Great review.

Gwendolyn B. said...

This is a wonderful book - definitely one that I would read more than once!

Toni said...

Your review makes me want to drop every thing and read!!!!!!

Tracee said...

Great review - thanks for agreeing to be part of Jamie's virtual book tour!

thewriterslife said...

I only wish I had had the time to request a copy of this for review, but now it looks like it's going on my to buy list! Fantastic premise, great cover, talented author. Good luck on your virtual book tour, Jamie!

Cheryl said...

Me too Dorothy. So many good books, so little time. Sigh!

Best of luck on your tour, Jamie. I really love your website.

Cheryl

Unknown said...

This looks a great book and I can't wait to follow it's months tour. I have already been told by "she who must be obeyed" that it's one she wants to read.

Now I've read the review I am even more interested in this months visits and what is being said.

Thank you for sharing the book and the review.

Storyheart

Jamie Ford said...

Hi Monie, thanks for the kindly review! And a big warm helllloooo to everyone else. Sorry I didn't get here earlier in the day, it's been a crazy one!

CherylS22 said...

Great review - I can't wait to read this book.

Thanks!
megalon22[at]yahoo[dot]com