The city blocks south of king street had a charming trashiness by day. Why do you think the author chose to write a novel from two different periods in his protagonists life, spanning some 40 years. The book was published in multiple languages including english, consists of 290 pages and is available in hardcover format. Hotel on the corner of bitter and sweet by ford, jamie ebook. Read book hotel on the corner of bitter and sweet full pdf in the opening pages of jamie fords stunning debut novel, hotel on the corner of bitter and sweet, henry lee comes upon a crowd gathered outside the panama hotel, once the gateway to seattles japantown.
Overall, i enjoyed hotel on the corner of bitter and sweet for its historical perspective one we see far too little of and the heady relationships between boy and girl and fathers and sons. Find books like hotel on the corner of bitter and sweet from the worlds largest community of readers. Jamie ford, quote from hotel on the corner of bitter and sweet so henry found himself stepping off the bus three stops early and wandering over to the panama hotel, a place between worlds when he was a child, a place between times now that he was a grown man. Jamie ford and his other booksincluding the other historical novel he wrote. Jan 30, 2009 the hotel in the title of jamie fords debut novel is not just on the corner of bitter and sweet. Through the struggles and obstacles being thrown at people who are in love but the others may not be able to see it, they will always find a uuay back to each other. This book alternates between 1942, when the twelveyearold henry lee was forming a budding relationship with a japaneseamerican girl, and 1986, with henry, now a widower, reminiscing on what might have been. This is another of those books that you see so much hype about. Hotel on the corner of bitter and sweet themes, motifs. Rank hotel on the corner of bitter and sweet by jamie ford on a scale of 1 to 5. Review of hotel on the corner of bitter and sweet by jamie.
Lisa see in 1986, henry lee joins a crowd outside the panama. Hotel on the corner of bitter and sweet introduction shmoop. The hotel represents the bitter and the sweet components of the book s title because it is bitter because of the memories it holds with keiko and her belongings that he knows he cannot get back and the sweet because it makes him remember the times we had with keiko, his best friend and childhood sweetheart. Hotel on the corner of bitter and sweet themes, motifs, symbols fatherson relationships are at the heart of this novel. Hotel on the corner of bitter and sweet is an historical novel by jamie ford. Books similar to hotel on the corner of bitter and sweet hotel on the corner of bitter and sweet. An impressive, bitter, and sweet debut that explores the ageold conflicts between father and son, the beauty and sadness of what happened to japanese americans in the seattle era during world war ii, and the depths and longing of deepheart love. Free download or read online hotel on the corner of bitter and sweet pdf epub book.
New york times bestseller an impressive, bitter, and sweet debut that explores the ageold conflicts between father and son, the beauty and sadness of what happened to japanese americans in the seattle era during world war ii, and the depths and longing of deepheart love. Set in seattle, the story unfolds in chapters that alternate between the two time periods. Jumping back and forth between the 1940s and 1980s, the book tells the story of henry, a chineseamerican living in seattle, and his love for keiko, a japaneseamerican student who is sent with her family to an internment camp during world war ii. Hotel on the corner of bitter and sweet ford, jamie on. Hotel on the corner of bitter and sweet summary and study. Henrys father follows many chinese traditions and cannot accept that his son has developed modern ideas, particularly in regards to intermingling with people of japanese ancestry. These book club discussion questions reveal important details about hotel on the corner of bitter and sweet by jamie ford. Pdf hotel on the corner of bitter and sweet book by. Host scott simon talks with first time novelist jamie ford about his book hotel on the corner of bitter and sweet. It is a love story about two 12yearold friends, a chinese boy, and a japanese girl, that delves into the ethnic tensions of the time and japanese internment. The hotel on the corner of bitter and sweet community note includes chapterbychapter summary and analysis, character list, theme list, historical context, author biography and quizzes written by community members like you.
Hotel on the corner of bitter and sweet characters gradesaver. Hotel on the corner of bitter and sweet themes shmoop. Content includes books from bestselling, midlist and debut authors. In 1986, henry lee joins a crowd outside the panama hotel, once the gateway to seattles japantown. Hotel on the corner of bitter and sweet test flashcards. A tender and satisfying novel set in a time and a place lost forever, hotel on the corner of bitter and sweet gives us a glimpse of the damage that is caused by war not the sweeping damage of the battlefield, but the cold, cruel damage to the hearts and humanity of individual people. Hotel on the corner of bitter and sweet follows henry lee at two pivotal stages in his life in 1942, when he is a twelveyearold with a crush on a japanese girl, and in 1986, when he is recently widowed. Lisa see a tender and satisfying novel set in a time and a place lost forever, hotel on the corner of bitter and sweet gives us a glimpse of the. Its multifaceted, wellpaced plot is sure to put it at the top of many a book clubs reading list, and it is likely to attract a wide audience.
But most of the story takes place in the past, when hes a young boy living in seattle during the tumultuous years of world war ii. Within these eras, fords novel focuses on a chinese boy, henry lee, and what it was like to grow up in the international district with prejudice everywhere, especially in his own family being a first generation american. A site dedicated to book lovers providing a forum to discover and share commentary about the books and authors they enjoy. Jamie ford hotel on the corner of bitter and sweet audio book online. Hotel on the corner of bitter and sweet, is an absorbing story of hope and love. At the beginning of hotel on the corner of bitter and sweet, we meet henry when hes an old man. Hotel on the corner of bitter and sweet by jamie ford goodreads. Goodreads members who liked hotel on the corner of. Jodies selection of hotel on the corner of bitter and sweet by jamie ford was so wonderful. Set in the ethnic neighborhoods of seattle during world war ii and japanese american internment camps of the era, this debut novel tells the heartwarming story of widower henry lee, his father, and his first love keiko okabe. Hotel on the corner of bitter and sweet jamie ford, author. The story is told in two parallel storylines, one following 12yearold henry lees experiences during the second world war, and the other depicting henry 44 years later as a widower with a collegeaged son. Jamie ford hotel on the corner of bitter and sweet audiobook. Hotel on the corner of bitter and sweet by jamie ford.
Hotel on the corner of bitter and sweet hotel on the corner of bitter paperback by aa. Hotel on the corner of bitter and sweet summary gradesaver. Lisa see, bestselling author of snow flower and the secret fan in the opening pages of jamie fords stunning debut novel, hotel on the corner of bitter and sweet, henry lee comes upon a crowd gathered outside the panama hotel. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read hotel on the corner of bitter and sweet. This is a beautifully written book that will make you think.
The seattle times praised the book as a wartimeera chinese japanese variation on romeo and juliet. Lisa see, bestselling author of snow flower and the secret fan in the opening pages of jamie fords stunning debut novel, hotel on the corner of bitter and sweet, henry lee comes upon a crowd gathered outside the panama hotel, once the gateway to seattles japantown. Hotel on the corner of bitter and sweet book by jamie ford. Fords debut novel is historical fiction that moves between seattle during world war ii and the present day. Hotel on the corner of bitter and sweet freebooksummary. Hotel on the corner of bitter and sweet jovieebueno one should nor. Buy a cheap copy of hotel on the corner of bitter and sweet book by jamie ford. Hotel on the corner of bitter and sweet summary shmoop. Hotel on the corner of bitter and sweet is an absorbing story of hope and love. It is set against the politically tumultuous period of world war ii, where we experience the alienation forces between the chinese, japanese and america people as they live together in the united states.
Winner of the 2007 bookbrowse award for most popular book. In jamie fords historical fiction hotel on the corner of bitter and sweet, this split narrative focuses on two eras. The peripheral characters are well drawn and help both drive and flesh out the story and henry is an admirable, likable and complicated protagonist. The main characters of this historical, historical fiction story are henry lee, keiko. To outsiders, the demarcations between chinatown and. Hotel on the corner of bitter and sweet by jamie ford book. Hotel on the corner of bitter and sweet test flashcards quizlet. The book revolves around henrys memories of his childhood best friend and first love, a japanese american girl named keiko okabe. It has been boarded up for decades, but now the new owner has made an incredible discovery. Hotel on the corner of bitter and sweet a novel ebook.
The hotel in the title of jamie fords debut novel is not just on the corner of bitter and sweet. Jan 27, 2009 hotel on the corner of bitter and sweet. Set during one of the most conflicted and volatile times in american history, hotel on the corner of bitter and sweet is an extraordinary story of. I could see the streets, smell the different fragrances of both the japanese and also the chinese sections of the city in 1942, really feel the bias and also racism towards and in between both groups and truly felt the temper, aggravation and also fear as the japanese.
Jamie ford writes novels of the chineseamerican experience questions for book club discussion on gone girl by gillian flynn. To outsiders, the demarcations between chinatown and japantown might not be readily apparent. A tender and satisfying novel set in a time and a place lost forever, hotel on the corner of bitter and sweet gives us a glimpse of the damage that is caused by warnot the sweeping damage of the battlefield but the cold, cruel damage to the hearts and humanity of individual people. An atmospheric, gritty, and compelling novel of starcrossed lovers, set in the circus world circa 1932, by the bestselling author of. I am predisposed to liking this book since i love historical fiction, but even if you dont, this is a wonderful love story. The main characters of this historical, historical fiction story are henry lee, keiko okabe. Hotel on the corner of bitter and sweet by jamie ford youtube.
Read book hotel on the corner of bitter and sweet full pdf. Hotel on the corner of bitter and sweet by jamie ford paperback. The bestselling novel about a young womans comingofage, set against the glitzy, grimy backdrop of new yorks most elite restaurants. Books similar to hotel on the corner of bitter and sweet. In hotel on the corner of bitter and sweet, world war ii looms in the background and informs much of what the characters do and how their lives play out. Hotel on the corner of bitter and sweet by jamie ford, paperback.
It is set against the politically divisive period, world war ii, where we experience the alienation forces between the chinese, japanese and america people. One of bookbrowses top 3 favorite books of 2009 in the opening pages of jamie fords stunning debut novel, hotel on the corner of bitter and sweet, henry lee comes upon a crowd gathered outside the panama hotel, once the gateway to seattles japantown. Newly arrived in new york city, twentytwoyearold tess lands a job as a backwaiter at a celebrated downtown. Use these book club discussion questions on by jamie ford to lead your book club into fords novel. Hotel on the corner of bitter and sweet characters. Discussion questions book club recommendationsdiscussion. Before the new owner, the hotel had been boarded up since 1950, and in those years, chinatown had become a ghetto gateway for tongsgangs from hong kong and macau.
Henry falls in love with keiko, a japanese american girl, but their relationship is complicated by the war, particularly the internment of japanese americans. Hotel on the corner of bitter and sweet on apple books. Lisa see a tender and satisfying novel set in a time and a place lost forever, hotel on the corner of bitter and sweet gives us a glimpse. Especially relevant in todays world, this is a beautifully written book that will make you think. Hotel on the corner of bitter and sweet is a story about a man named henry lee and his memories of growing up during wwii, which is why the story switches from his current life as an older man to his childhood in the 1940s. It has been boarded up for decades, but now the new owner has. So grab your finest time traveling pants and lets get going. Pdf hotel on the corner of bitter and sweet book by jamie. This aside, hotel on the corner of bitter and sweet is an exceptionally wellwritten historical fiction novel with many complex themes intertwined throughout the narrative. The first edition of the novel was published in january 27th 2009, and was written by jamie ford. Published in 2009, hotel on the corner of bitter and sweet is a tale of first love. The story also features the seattle jazz scene and examines parentchild.