Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet

Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet by Jamie Ford follows Henry Lee, a Chinese American, from the 1940s to 1986(going back and forth frequently between the 40s and the 80s). Henry, a recent widow, begins remembering his long lost friendship with Keiki, a Japanese American that he had known during his boyhood. Soon he finds himself on a journey to find a long-lost object whose value is immeasurable.

This insomniac's opinion:

Oh, what a lovely novel! It is written in the most eloquent and moving way. From the very beginning of the book you find yourself swept up into Henry's world and desperately hoping that he finds what he is looking for. For the truth is, Henry is not only looking for a beloved object, he is searching for truth and love.

This book takes place in(if you have read this blog you can probably guess what is coming!) the World War II era, with particular emphasis on the treatment of Japanese Americans after Pearl Harbor. I have long felt that the placement of Japanese Americans in internment camps during the war is a subject that we as Americans do not face enough. It is deplorable that we shamed the Nazis for the placement of Jews in concentration camps while doing the same egregious deeds here on American soil. I thought this novel dealt with this perfectly. We can not learn from our mistakes until we first face them.

Worth staying up all night to read?

Absolutely! The love story of Henry and Keiko is one of my absolute favorite love stories. Their love is based not on appearance or societal acceptance, but on the true connection of two souls. The last scene of this novel will make your heart swoon!

Rating: 5 stars