Erin's Book #23: Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet by Jamie Ford

Okay, so the title's pretty corny. But this is a great story. I had a little bit of trouble getting into it - always enjoyed reading it, but didn't think it was really a must read. Once I got about halfway in, I was much more into it. There was still something about it that didn't blow me away, but I can't put my finger on it. I really did love the story though.

Hotel cuts between recently-widowed Henry in 1986 and 12-year-old Henry in 1942, with the emphasis on young Henry. He is a Chinese-American living in Seattle, going to an all-white school during World War 2. He doesn't fit in anywhere. His closest friend is a black saxophone player/street performer. His parents won't let him speak Cantonese at home, but they don't speak English. His father is obsessed with the war and hates the Japanese with every fiber of his being. His white classmates endlessly torment him. His only ally at school is the lunch lady, Mrs. Beatty, for whom he works as part of his scholarship.

That is, until Keiko arrives. An American who just so happens to be Japanese and also happens to be working in the cafeteria. As the only two Asians (really, non-whites period) at the school, Henry and Keiko quickly bond. Their budding friendship/romance must be kept secret from Henry's controlling father.

As the war goes on, the Japanese become increasingly the enemy, which means that any Japanese-Americans are also the enemy. Forced to leave their homes behind, thousands of Japanese-American families are sent to internment camps, a piece of history I'd either forgotten or never knew. I feel like I've been reading a lot of books lately that don't exactly portray the US in the best light. They've been a sobering reminder of what our country is capable of.

Anyway, Henry and Keiko promise to wait for each other for as long as it takes, until she can return. We know that they don't end up together, as the wife that recently died is named Ethel. But there is a connection to the 1986 story - the Panama Hotel, once the epicenter of Nihonmachi (Seattle's Japan Town). Boarded up during the war, it isn't until '86 that a new owner heads down to the basement and finds what those evacuating Japanese families left behind.

Naturally, the discovery opens up the floodgate of emotions for Henry. I won't reveal any more, but it's truly a beautiful story (and would make a wonderful film!). As always, I enjoyed learning about a part of history I hadn't known of and seeing the tragedy and strength of the Japanese families who were forced to give up all they had and live in stalls formerly reserved for livestock. The young love between Keiko and Henry is much stronger than you would think for that age, yet it seems very real. Hotel is also a coming-of-age story for Henry, as he becomes a man and makes his own decisions, possibly against the wishes of his father.