Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet: A Novel
June 30th, 2010 | in Hotels & Apartment | 5 comments
5 Responses to “Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet: A Novel”
N. Ferguson
June 30th, 2010 12:58 pm
Every few pages I found myself pausing to say, “I love this book!” I cared so deeply about the characters, found the plot fascinating, and loved the way the book is organized, alternating between the 1940s and 1980s.
Although the backdrop of our country’s mistreatment of Japanese-Americans (and other ethnic minorities) in World War II is tragic, I wanted to say that this book is NOT dark or depressing. Instead, it is human, warm, and full of love. It’s a book about people, not events, and a book about what matters in life. The book’s alternating chapters (1940s to 1980s) help to reinforce the theme of connectedness. I loved seeing who Henry became as an adult, and felt the portrayals of his character were beautifully congruent across the decades.
I looked over the other reviews here before adding my own, and wanted to comment on the controversy about its anachronisms. I read an advance review copy (as all VINE reviewers did), so I’m uncertain whether or not the final published version listed 1986 as the time frame for the chapters about Henry’s later life. Clearly, changing 1986 to 1996 would diffuse much of the noise here. But for this 40 year old woman, who has lived through the dawn and rush of the computer age, Ford’s apparent errors related to use of the internet feel inconsequential. This is not a book about technology- the few references to computers, etc., were background noise to me. The heart of this novel remains clear and beautiful– it is about relationships with those we love. I can’t imagine a reader who would have difficulty relating to (and loving) Henry.
Highly, highly recommended.
Rating: 5 / 5
Linda A. Lagomarsino
June 30th, 2010 3:57 pm
This is my first purchase and I am not happy with Customer Services. I wrote that the book had not been delivered and the response from BlueRidge was to refund my money instead of offering to ship a second copy. I want a copy of the book and will return a duplicate copy if the “lost” book ever is delivered.
Rating: 1 / 5
Hope Kreg
June 30th, 2010 4:50 pm
I bought this to listen in the car on long trips. I started and then had to bring it in the house because I wanted to keep on listening to it. It kept your interest and I just wanted not to stop. Like reading a book and not being able to put it down.
Rating: 1 / 5
Orion
June 30th, 2010 5:23 pm
This is a pleasant and bland story about young teenagers who form a bond during times of adversity. The setting is interesting. The internment of Japanese families during World War II was terribly unfair, but not necessarily a tragedy. The internment camps were not concentration camps. People had food and shelter and medical care. They could send and receive mail. Children went to school. Families mostly stayed together. People’s lives changed, but most people did get on with their lives. The tragedy seems to be that young love was interrupted. As sometimes happens, the teen-aged lovers grew apart, and went on to marry others, and have fulfilled lives, and find each other again later in life.
The book is… nice. Not emotional or compelling or exciting. Just nice.
Rating: 3 / 5
JJ Stark
June 30th, 2010 6:59 pm
I’m sorry. I tried. I really wanted to love this book and read it, but everytime I sat down and tried, I just couldn’t get into it. The story was too deep, too serious, too much for me. When I read a book, I do so for enjoyment and as an escape from my every day responsibilities and obligations. This book was just too serious and depressing for me to enjoy. I know there have been some wonderful reviews about this book and believe me, I tried – but it’s just not the kind of book I can read and/or get thru quickly and when I have book piled up next to the couch, I don’t want to wast any more time on one I know I (1) won’t enjoy or (2) will take so long to finish, I’ll never get to the books I do Want to read.
Rating: 3 / 5