Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet
NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • “An impressive, bitter, and sweet debut that explores the age-old conflicts between father and son, the beauty and sadness of what happened to Japanese Americans in the Seattle era during World War II, and the depths and longing of deep-heart love.”—Lisa See
“A tender and satisfying novel.”—Garth Stein, bestselling author of The Art of Racing in the Rain
In 1986, Henry Lee joins a crowd outside the Panama Hotel, once the gateway to Seattle’s Japantown. It has been boarded up for decades, but now the new owner has discovered the belongings of Japanese families who were sent to internment camps during World War II. As the owner displays and unfurls a Japanese parasol, Henry, a Chinese American, remembers a young Japanese American girl from his childhood in the 1940s—Keiko Okabe, with whom he forged a bond of friendship and innocent love that transcended the prejudices of their Old World ancestors. After Keiko and her family were evacuated to the internment camps, she and Henry could only hope that their promise to each other would be kept. Now, forty years later, Henry explores the hotel’s basement for the Okabe family’s belongings and for a long-lost object whose value he cannot even begin to measure. His search will take him on a journey to revisit the sacrifices he has made for family, for love, for country.
“A tender and satisfying novel.”—Garth Stein, bestselling author of The Art of Racing in the Rain
In 1986, Henry Lee joins a crowd outside the Panama Hotel, once the gateway to Seattle’s Japantown. It has been boarded up for decades, but now the new owner has discovered the belongings of Japanese families who were sent to internment camps during World War II. As the owner displays and unfurls a Japanese parasol, Henry, a Chinese American, remembers a young Japanese American girl from his childhood in the 1940s—Keiko Okabe, with whom he forged a bond of friendship and innocent love that transcended the prejudices of their Old World ancestors. After Keiko and her family were evacuated to the internment camps, she and Henry could only hope that their promise to each other would be kept. Now, forty years later, Henry explores the hotel’s basement for the Okabe family’s belongings and for a long-lost object whose value he cannot even begin to measure. His search will take him on a journey to revisit the sacrifices he has made for family, for love, for country.
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Community Reviews
Having read Amy Tan and other authors that capture the tension between mothers and daughters, I found it very interesting to read about the tensions between a father and son. I also recently read Unbroken which shed light on why Henry's father would have such a strong reaction against his Chinese son being involved with a Japanese girl.
Very interesting glimpse into a shameful time sanctioned by FDR - the internment of Japanese into dismal camps because they were deemed a threat to Americans. And unstated, but perhaps they were shipped off for their own protection against angry citizens. This, despite the fact those of Japanese heritage were naturalized citizens or immigrants, hoping to find a better life in America. The story centers on schoolmates at an American school - Henry, an American-born Chinese and Keiko, an American-born Japanese. It's told in a dual timeline. The war years, when they were on the cusp of becoming teenagers. And many years later, as they go their separate ways due to world affairs, and intense prejudices. A sweet love story that defies those prejudices, until Henry's Dad puts a stop to it, due to his hatred of the Japanese invading America and his homeland. Most of the present day, 1986, is told after the death of Henry's wife, Ethel. And the mysteries of opening up an old hotel by new owners, which also included the discovery in the basement of luggage and belongings from those families shipped off to internment camps during the War. Henry is looking for something specific, and enlists the help of his son and fiance to find it. This story reminds me of another book - Snow Falling on Cedars. I want to go back and re-read that one.
I really liked this book. I just felt like the secondary characters were tools to move the story along. I wish there was more depth to them.
Excellent read, well-developed characters and interesting plot, sometimes poignant. I definitely recommend.
12 yr old Chinese American Henry begins a friendship with Japanese American girl Keiko at an all white (besides them) prep school in Seattle during World War II. The author weaves a beautiful friendship turned love between the two.
When all residents of Japanese descent are rounded up and sent to internment camps, Henry shows his loyalty and strong moral character in very moving ways.
Strong parent/child themes and conflicts throughout the book, and a supporting character, Sheldon, a jazz sax player, who steals the show.
It is written in the voice of young Henry of 1942 and mature Henry of 1986, going back and forth between the two time periods. I thought it was an effective way to let the story unfold.
When all residents of Japanese descent are rounded up and sent to internment camps, Henry shows his loyalty and strong moral character in very moving ways.
Strong parent/child themes and conflicts throughout the book, and a supporting character, Sheldon, a jazz sax player, who steals the show.
It is written in the voice of young Henry of 1942 and mature Henry of 1986, going back and forth between the two time periods. I thought it was an effective way to let the story unfold.
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