My Dark Origins post today takes a look at Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet by Jamie Ford and the forced internment of Japanese Americans during WW2. Thanks for hosting Kaye Lynne Booth.
An overview of the book
Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet is a historical novel written by Jamie Ford. The plot makes use of a dual timeline: one featuring Henry as a 12-year-old Chinese boy growing up during World War II and the other depicting Henry 44 years later as a widow with an adult son.
The storyline revolves around the friendship between Henry, the only son of immigrant Chinese parents living in Seattle, Washington, and Keiko, the daughter of a second-generation Japanese family. Henry and Keiko become friends as the only two Asian children at their elementary school. They are both bullied by their white peers, and they are both expected/forced to work as free labour in the school cafeteria dishing up meals and cleaning up in terms of their scholarships.
When Japan bombs Pearl Harbour and the USA enters the war, the anti-Japanese sentiment in America…
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Robbie, an excellent, informative summary of a book — and of an awful action by the U.S. government.
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I’ve read several books about the Japanese internment during WW2 and I still find it shocking. I remember enjoying Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet. Heading over now to finish reading your post, Robbie!
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Interesting review, Robbie. It sounds like a powerful story.
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Thank you, Vera, it was. I learned about this book through a blog post about books focusing on Asian characters. I’m always keen to learn more and I did.
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It is such a shameful event in our history.
If you’re looking for other books with similar themes, check out The Bowl with Gold Seams by Ellen Prentiss Campbell, which was inspired by how some Japanese diplomats were held under house arrest.
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Hi Andrew, have you read this book? I really enjoyed it. Thank you for the recommendation, I appreciate it 💚🌼
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I’m afraid not. Maybe someday.
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I read it and what a wonderful review…i think i will have this one Robie❤️
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Hi Michelle, I thought this was an extraordinary read. I learned a lot about the internments of Japanese Americans which I didn’t know. I’m glad you liked this review.
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Thanks for this review, Robbie. The parents of one of my coworkers in DC were in one of those camps. His attitude about it was shockingly benign, unconcerned. I suppose that we all really do choose a lot of our perceptions. Hugs.
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Hi Teagan, that is interesting but maybe acceptance is the only way to make peace with it and not bear resentment.
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Maybe so. At least in this case, I tend to think so.
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Interesting and informative review, Robbie. It’s hard for me to imagine this happening in America.
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Hi Tim, yes, you are in a strange place right now from what I hear from bloggers and on the news. It is rather worrying for everyone, world-wide.
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An abundance of craziness.
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Popped over and read your review. Thank you for sharing this. It sounds like a powerful read (the quotes are beautifully written and heartbreaking).
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HI Sarah, I really enjoyed this book and I’m so glad I read a review of it on another blog as I would never have found it otherwise.
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On my way to read the rest!
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Thanks, Liz
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You’re welcome, Robbie.
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Hi Robbie, I opened all the boxes of books in the garage. I’m afraid I gave that book away. Toward the end of packing, I put my favorite novels in a bag, hoping to have room to bring them. I guess not. We filled the moving truck to the edge. The day before turning in the keys, I walked across the street to give my novels to my neighbor. She got my best novels. I’m sure you experienced this when you couldn’t keep so many things from moving.
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HI Miriam, yes, indeed, my parents gave away my leather bound Shakespeare collection (from my biological father) as well as his Churchill collection (also leather bound) during one big move. They also gave away all my Stephen King novels. I am still a tiny bit upset about it – smile!
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Robbie. A tiny bit upset is an understatement. Just say that you understand your parents’ situations, you forever then for what they did, and you accepted what happened. You’re a good person!! 💕😍
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I do understand why they did it, Miriam, but it was a pity. Those books are not easily replaceable.
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Your books are rare collections. They’re especially invaluable because it was your biological father who gave them to you, that has memories.
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🤗💞
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PS they weren’t being mean, they just didn’t understand my love affair with books. My adoptive dad tried to make it up to me by buying a beautiful illustrated copy of Heidi 💕
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I think that’s all he could do, Robbie! I don’t think he could give the original books back to you. Things like this happen in life either caused by someone else or by our own doing. ❤
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😁💚
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