Book Review - Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet

Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet
by Jamie Ford

Loved all of its "Bitter Sweetness"

This book is a great piece of historical fiction and is wonderfully written by Jamie Ford. Henry is a poignant character who reminds us all to regard each other with humanity and love because we have no idea what battles others have endured or are enduring in their lifetime. Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet is the story of Henry, a first generation Chinese-American, and Keiko, a second generation Japanese-American during the 1940's in Seattle. The two meet when they are twelve and form a bond of friendship and love through their mutual affection for Jazz music and surviving together the hardships of attending an all white school. With the multicultural and thriving city of 1940's Seattle as the backdrop, Ford weaves a memorable tale of a war torn community during a dark, yet intricate piece of American history. A time when all citizens of Japanese decent were "relocated" to internment camps following the attacks on Pearl Harbor until after the war was over. The book is an easy, relaxing read and you won't regret a moment you spent reading it. Highly recommended.