Title: Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet
Author: Jamie Ford
Review: I read this book for a new book club that some friends of mine are starting. I haven't been to a book club for a while and am eager to start reading and discussing various books. I'm going to try to get the details right in my review, but I lent my library copy of the book to another friend to read before book club, so I can't double check my dates, spellings of names, etc.
This novel has a dual time frame, partially set in 1942, partially set in 1986. It focuses on a 12-year-old, first-generation Chinese-American boy named Henry. (Wow! That's a lot of hyphenated adjectives.) He lives in Seattle during the World War II era and befriends a Japanese-American girl named Keiko. Though Keiko and her family are American citizens, they are discriminated against because of their Japanese roots. Henry's own father vehemently disapproves of his relationship with Keiko.
The two kids fall in love (I know, gag me). The "teenage romance" aspect of the story definitely grated on me, though I am glad the central characters were kids, because it adds an element of "loss of innocence" as relating to bigotry. Eventually Keiko and her family are forced to leave town and are relocated to prison camps (I forget the polite, PC term). Henry is devastated and tries to do anything in his power to be with Keiko.
Fast forward 40-some-years. The 1986 portion of the story focuses on Henry's relationship with his adult son - how Henry's past has effected how he relates to his son and how Henry reveals the personal details of his childhood to his son. Henry still clings to the memories of his relationship with Keiko and reflects on how the experiences of his childhood have shaped him.
Overall, I enjoyed this book and found its discussion of the Asian American community during WWII to be quite informative. It was definitely touching at times, but the romance aspect was a little annoying at the same time. Oh, and it was a very "clean" book. No sexual stuff. No (or very little - I can't remember) cussing. All in all, it was a pleasant book to read.
Showing posts with label other. Show all posts
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Wednesday, July 17, 2013
Wednesday, June 26, 2013
The Daughter of Time - Summer 2010 - Genre: Crime
Genre #15 - Crime
The Daughter of Time by Josephine Tey
read 7/23/10 - 7/31/10
This book dragged for me. It was a murder mystery, but the whole thing was solved academically from an invalid's bed. I thought that I'd be intrigued by the unique plot, but it actually felt quite slow to me. It was also full of history (which, unfortunately, isn't my cup of tea). For me there were too many names of obscure historical figures to keep track of, so I stopped keeping track and just plowed through. Those who love English history would probably enjoy this book. It just wasn't for me.
This book was part of my 2010 summer reading program.
The Daughter of Time by Josephine Tey
read 7/23/10 - 7/31/10
This book dragged for me. It was a murder mystery, but the whole thing was solved academically from an invalid's bed. I thought that I'd be intrigued by the unique plot, but it actually felt quite slow to me. It was also full of history (which, unfortunately, isn't my cup of tea). For me there were too many names of obscure historical figures to keep track of, so I stopped keeping track and just plowed through. Those who love English history would probably enjoy this book. It just wasn't for me.
This book was part of my 2010 summer reading program.
Magnificent Obsession - Summer 2010 - Genre: Inspirational
Genre #14 - Inspirational
Magnificent Obsession by Lloyd Douglas
read 7/18/10 - 7/22/10
This was a pleasant book about sacrificing of yourself and doing good for others. The characters in the book take the principle of Matthew 6:3 ("But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing") and use it as a formula for life (even turning it in to its own religion--a bit creepy). There is also a fun little love story woven in. The woman keeps avoiding the man, but he keeps pursuing. All in all, despite the odd religiousness of the book, Magnificent Obsession is a very pleasant, heartwarming book.
This book was part of my 2010 summer reading program.
Magnificent Obsession by Lloyd Douglas
read 7/18/10 - 7/22/10
This was a pleasant book about sacrificing of yourself and doing good for others. The characters in the book take the principle of Matthew 6:3 ("But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing") and use it as a formula for life (even turning it in to its own religion--a bit creepy). There is also a fun little love story woven in. The woman keeps avoiding the man, but he keeps pursuing. All in all, despite the odd religiousness of the book, Magnificent Obsession is a very pleasant, heartwarming book.
This book was part of my 2010 summer reading program.
O Pioneers! - Summer 2010 - Genre: Western
Genre #13 - Western
O Pioneers! by Willa Cather
read 7/16/10 - 7/17/10
This was a fantastic book. It follows the lives of a family battling the hardships of the prairie as well as struggling through their own internal battles. This book has great descriptive elements to it, really helping the reader to visualize what life was like for the pioneers. Probably the greatest thing that endeared me to this book was the characterizations. The characters in this book are multi-faceted. The heroes have flaws, and the villains have redeeming qualities. Because of the excellent characterization and descriptive voice, O Pioneers! has a distinctly realistic and endearing tone.
This book was part of my 2010 summer reading program.
O Pioneers! by Willa Cather
read 7/16/10 - 7/17/10
This was a fantastic book. It follows the lives of a family battling the hardships of the prairie as well as struggling through their own internal battles. This book has great descriptive elements to it, really helping the reader to visualize what life was like for the pioneers. Probably the greatest thing that endeared me to this book was the characterizations. The characters in this book are multi-faceted. The heroes have flaws, and the villains have redeeming qualities. Because of the excellent characterization and descriptive voice, O Pioneers! has a distinctly realistic and endearing tone.
This book was part of my 2010 summer reading program.
His Master's Voice - Summer 2010 - Genre: Sci Fi
Genre #12 -- Sci Fi
His Master's Voice by Stanislaw Lem
read 7/11/10 - 7/15/10
This book was so hard to get through. I don't think I have ever felt so dumb after reading a book as I felt after reading His Master's Voice. The vocabulary and concepts are outrageously scientific. This is truly a SCIENCE fiction novel. I felt like I was reading a text book. I can't imagine how smart Lem must have been. This book is filled with chemistry, physics, philosophy, linguistics, mathematics, anthropology, sociology, and other -ics and -ologys that I'd never even heard of. The segments I could understand were cleverly written with witty metaphors. Overall, however, this book went way over my head.
This book was part of my 2010 summer reading program.
His Master's Voice by Stanislaw Lem
read 7/11/10 - 7/15/10
This book was so hard to get through. I don't think I have ever felt so dumb after reading a book as I felt after reading His Master's Voice. The vocabulary and concepts are outrageously scientific. This is truly a SCIENCE fiction novel. I felt like I was reading a text book. I can't imagine how smart Lem must have been. This book is filled with chemistry, physics, philosophy, linguistics, mathematics, anthropology, sociology, and other -ics and -ologys that I'd never even heard of. The segments I could understand were cleverly written with witty metaphors. Overall, however, this book went way over my head.
This book was part of my 2010 summer reading program.
Rebecca - Summer 2010 - Genre: Romance
Genre #11 -- Romance
Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier
read 7/2/2010 - 7/8/2010
Rebecca is such an exquisite book. The storyline completely captured me. I loved how a beautifully romantic scene would dissolve into an intensely chilling scene and, conversely, how moments of pain would become redeemed by moments of tenderness. The basic plot here is that Rebecca, the dead wife of Mr. de Winter, haunts Mr. de Winter and his new young second wife. This is not a ghost story with paranormal activity; this is a story of dealing with and letting go of the anguishes of the past. The characterizations in this book are incredible; so many times I felt myself feeling the same emotions as the characters. Rebecca has definitely become one of my all-time favorites.
This book was part of my 2010 summer reading program.Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier
read 7/2/2010 - 7/8/2010
Rebecca is such an exquisite book. The storyline completely captured me. I loved how a beautifully romantic scene would dissolve into an intensely chilling scene and, conversely, how moments of pain would become redeemed by moments of tenderness. The basic plot here is that Rebecca, the dead wife of Mr. de Winter, haunts Mr. de Winter and his new young second wife. This is not a ghost story with paranormal activity; this is a story of dealing with and letting go of the anguishes of the past. The characterizations in this book are incredible; so many times I felt myself feeling the same emotions as the characters. Rebecca has definitely become one of my all-time favorites.
The Man Who Knew Too Much - Summer 2010 - Genre: Suspense
Genre #10 -- Suspense
The Man Who Knew Too Much by G. K. Chesterton
read 6/30/2010 - 7/1/2010
This was a fantastic read. I'm not sure why I haven't read this book before. Each chapter was its own separate mystery, which I really liked; however, all the chapters were tied together and came to a great conclusion in the final chapter. The mysteries were very ingenuous and quite enjoyable. My only regret is that I wish I knew a little bit more about English history so I could follow the politics of this book. I highly recommend this book and am considering having my high school students read a few of the chapters, if not the whole thing.
This book was part of my 2010 summer reading program.
The Man Who Knew Too Much by G. K. Chesterton
read 6/30/2010 - 7/1/2010
This was a fantastic read. I'm not sure why I haven't read this book before. Each chapter was its own separate mystery, which I really liked; however, all the chapters were tied together and came to a great conclusion in the final chapter. The mysteries were very ingenuous and quite enjoyable. My only regret is that I wish I knew a little bit more about English history so I could follow the politics of this book. I highly recommend this book and am considering having my high school students read a few of the chapters, if not the whole thing.
This book was part of my 2010 summer reading program.
Ellen Foster - Summer 2010 - Genre: Women's Lives
Genre #9 -- Women's Lives
Ellen Foster by Kaye Gibbons
read 6/29/2010
The first word that comes to my mind about this books is "delightful". Though I'm not sure how Gibbons manages to write a book about an orphan girl who gets tossed from one cruddy family member to the next, yet still leave me with the word "delightful" after reading it. The first-person narrating is expertly and realistically done, and you can't help being drawn in by Ellen's story. Ellen's is a story of suffering, yet her attitude is one of victory. I challenge you to read this book and not fall in love with Ellen.
This book was part of my 2010 summer reading program.
Ellen Foster by Kaye Gibbons
read 6/29/2010
The first word that comes to my mind about this books is "delightful". Though I'm not sure how Gibbons manages to write a book about an orphan girl who gets tossed from one cruddy family member to the next, yet still leave me with the word "delightful" after reading it. The first-person narrating is expertly and realistically done, and you can't help being drawn in by Ellen's story. Ellen's is a story of suffering, yet her attitude is one of victory. I challenge you to read this book and not fall in love with Ellen.
This book was part of my 2010 summer reading program.
The Mermaid in the Basement - Summer 2010 - Genre: Gentle Reads
Genre #8 -- Gentle Reads
The Mermaid in the Basement by Gilbert Morris
read 6/22/2010 - 6/28/2010
It's been a while since I've read a Gilbert Morris book. Unfortunately, I was quite disappointed. I definitely enjoy meatier, more literary writing. I suppose the storyline was okay; though, I did predict the ending of this who-done-it. Mostly, however, it was the drab writing style that dragged for me. Morris does a lot of telling and explaining, when simply showing the reader would suffice. The dialogue in this book also seemed a bit forced, especially when the characters talk about faith. Why is it so hard to find quality Christian fiction?
This book was part of my 2010 summer reading program.
The Mermaid in the Basement by Gilbert Morris
read 6/22/2010 - 6/28/2010
It's been a while since I've read a Gilbert Morris book. Unfortunately, I was quite disappointed. I definitely enjoy meatier, more literary writing. I suppose the storyline was okay; though, I did predict the ending of this who-done-it. Mostly, however, it was the drab writing style that dragged for me. Morris does a lot of telling and explaining, when simply showing the reader would suffice. The dialogue in this book also seemed a bit forced, especially when the characters talk about faith. Why is it so hard to find quality Christian fiction?
Kim - Summer 2010 - Thriller
Genre #7 -- Thriller
Kim by Rudyard Kipling
read 6/16/2010 - 6/21/2010
This was a fun book (a slow read for me, but fun, nonetheless). I loved seeing the country of India through Rudyard Kipling's eyes. His portrayal of the various castes and religions (Hinduism, Buddhism, Catholicism, Islam, and spirit worship) especially interested me. The story line, though it didn't move as quickly as I would have liked, was also fun: street boy grows up to become a secret agent. The book took on an added charm for me when my dad told me that he remembered reading and enjoying Rudyard Kipling's book in high school.
This book was part of my 2010 summer reading program.
Kim by Rudyard Kipling
read 6/16/2010 - 6/21/2010
This was a fun book (a slow read for me, but fun, nonetheless). I loved seeing the country of India through Rudyard Kipling's eyes. His portrayal of the various castes and religions (Hinduism, Buddhism, Catholicism, Islam, and spirit worship) especially interested me. The story line, though it didn't move as quickly as I would have liked, was also fun: street boy grows up to become a secret agent. The book took on an added charm for me when my dad told me that he remembered reading and enjoying Rudyard Kipling's book in high school.
This book was part of my 2010 summer reading program.
The Secret Agent - Summer 2010 - Adventure
Genre # 6 -- Adventure
The Secret Agent by Joseph Conrad
read 6/12/2010 - 6/15/2010
All in all I found this book quite dull. It was full of rambling monologues and political tirades. Most of the action was recounted through dialogue rather than actually happening before the reader's eyes. HOWEVER, chapter 11 redeemed the book, as it is one of the most literarily stunning segments I have ever read. Conrad masterfully creates an atmosphere of suspense through in-depth detail (even so far as to describe sound waves and shadows) and through psychologically stunning sketches of the characters' thought processes. He slows time down and captures the eternity of a single vengeful, emotional moment in this chapter. Don't bother with the book, but definitely read chapter 11!
The Secret Agent by Joseph Conrad
read 6/12/2010 - 6/15/2010
All in all I found this book quite dull. It was full of rambling monologues and political tirades. Most of the action was recounted through dialogue rather than actually happening before the reader's eyes. HOWEVER, chapter 11 redeemed the book, as it is one of the most literarily stunning segments I have ever read. Conrad masterfully creates an atmosphere of suspense through in-depth detail (even so far as to describe sound waves and shadows) and through psychologically stunning sketches of the characters' thought processes. He slows time down and captures the eternity of a single vengeful, emotional moment in this chapter. Don't bother with the book, but definitely read chapter 11!
The Big Sleep - Summer 2010 - Genre: Mystery
Genre #5 -- Mystery
The Big Sleep by Raymond Chandler
read 6/10/2010 - 6/12/2010
You can't really go wrong with a good ol' fashioned mystery novel. I forgot that I had seen the movie, so as I was reading, scenes from the movie kept flashing into my head. Fortunately, I didn't remember the end, so the ending was still a surprise for me. I actually kind of had a hard time tracking with this book. I think part of it was due to the fact that a ton of characters are introduced in the beginning, and I didn't really have enough time to "get to know" the characters and distinguish them from one another. Also, for a 1930's novel, I was quite surprised by the quantity of cuss words--over the top.
This book was part of my 2010 summer reading program.
The Big Sleep by Raymond Chandler
read 6/10/2010 - 6/12/2010
You can't really go wrong with a good ol' fashioned mystery novel. I forgot that I had seen the movie, so as I was reading, scenes from the movie kept flashing into my head. Fortunately, I didn't remember the end, so the ending was still a surprise for me. I actually kind of had a hard time tracking with this book. I think part of it was due to the fact that a ton of characters are introduced in the beginning, and I didn't really have enough time to "get to know" the characters and distinguish them from one another. Also, for a 1930's novel, I was quite surprised by the quantity of cuss words--over the top.
This book was part of my 2010 summer reading program.
Brave New World - Summer 2010 - Genre: Literary
Genre #4 -- Literary
Brave New World by Aldous Huxley
read 6/8/2010 - 6/10/2010
I'm not quite sure what to make of this book. It was rather intriguing. Huxley poignantly delves into topics such as family, promiscuity, happiness, free will, and God. The story takes place 600-some years in the future. This future world has completely flip-flopped morals and cultural practices (though his vision of future morality and lack thereof unfortunately doesn't seem so far off at times). Huxley also has such a poetic way of writing. It's obvious that great thought went into the wording, often with satirical tongue-in-cheek results. Caution: The book does deal with a lot of male/female relationships, and though it is not explicit, it sure hints at a lot of "blushing material."
This book was part of my 2010 summer reading program.Brave New World by Aldous Huxley
read 6/8/2010 - 6/10/2010
I'm not quite sure what to make of this book. It was rather intriguing. Huxley poignantly delves into topics such as family, promiscuity, happiness, free will, and God. The story takes place 600-some years in the future. This future world has completely flip-flopped morals and cultural practices (though his vision of future morality and lack thereof unfortunately doesn't seem so far off at times). Huxley also has such a poetic way of writing. It's obvious that great thought went into the wording, often with satirical tongue-in-cheek results. Caution: The book does deal with a lot of male/female relationships, and though it is not explicit, it sure hints at a lot of "blushing material."
The Haunting of Hill House - Summer 2010 - Genre: Horror
Genre #3 -- Horror
The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson
read 6/5/2010 - 6/7/2010
Well, I must say, reading a horror book is a lot better than watching a horror movie. I wanted to get the horror genre over with as soon as possible; however, I actually somewhat enjoyed this book. Granted, it has a psychological dimension to it that I found quite intriguing. It's fun when an author messes with your mind, and you're not quite sure what is really going on. At the end of the book, I found myself tempted to reread some of it, just so I could figure out what exactly did happen. But I have a feeling that a rereading wouldn't be able to answer all my questions. I enjoyed the ambiguity and the freedom to interpret the ghosts as a trick of the mind.
This book was part of my 2010 summer reading program.The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson
read 6/5/2010 - 6/7/2010
Well, I must say, reading a horror book is a lot better than watching a horror movie. I wanted to get the horror genre over with as soon as possible; however, I actually somewhat enjoyed this book. Granted, it has a psychological dimension to it that I found quite intriguing. It's fun when an author messes with your mind, and you're not quite sure what is really going on. At the end of the book, I found myself tempted to reread some of it, just so I could figure out what exactly did happen. But I have a feeling that a rereading wouldn't be able to answer all my questions. I enjoyed the ambiguity and the freedom to interpret the ghosts as a trick of the mind.
Gone With the Wind - Summer 2010 - Genre: Historical
Genre #2 -- Historical
Gone With the Wind by Margaret Mitchell
read 5/29/2010 - 6/5/2010
I am so torn in regard to this book. I loved, loved, loved it, but was so disillusioned by the ending. I wanted closure! And quite honestly, I wanted a happy ending. I guess there are no happy endings for Scarlett. Regardless of the ending, this was such a great book, and I'm glad I read it. The character development almost reminded me of Dickens' character development (though not quite as impressive). Mitchell did such a great job of making the Civil War-era South come alive to me.
This book was part of my 2010 summer reading program.
Gone With the Wind by Margaret Mitchell
read 5/29/2010 - 6/5/2010
I am so torn in regard to this book. I loved, loved, loved it, but was so disillusioned by the ending. I wanted closure! And quite honestly, I wanted a happy ending. I guess there are no happy endings for Scarlett. Regardless of the ending, this was such a great book, and I'm glad I read it. The character development almost reminded me of Dickens' character development (though not quite as impressive). Mitchell did such a great job of making the Civil War-era South come alive to me.
This book was part of my 2010 summer reading program.
The Alchemist - Summer 2010 - Genre: Fantasy
Genre #1 -- Fantasy
The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
read 5/28/2010
I really enjoyed this quick-read fable. Coelho kept my imagination going; I almost felt as if I were travelling the world with the little boy. I was highly intrigued by the quantity of Biblical references in this book. God is portrayed as deeply caring about His creation and being intimately involved with it. I would not, however, recommend this book to immature Christians, as it mixes universalist doctrines, alchemy, and Islamic thought with Christian ideas and could cause confusion if one were not solidly grounded and were to mistake the teachings for reality rather than the fable that the book is.
This book was part of my 2010 summer reading program.
The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
read 5/28/2010
I really enjoyed this quick-read fable. Coelho kept my imagination going; I almost felt as if I were travelling the world with the little boy. I was highly intrigued by the quantity of Biblical references in this book. God is portrayed as deeply caring about His creation and being intimately involved with it. I would not, however, recommend this book to immature Christians, as it mixes universalist doctrines, alchemy, and Islamic thought with Christian ideas and could cause confusion if one were not solidly grounded and were to mistake the teachings for reality rather than the fable that the book is.
This book was part of my 2010 summer reading program.
The Screwtape Letters - Summer 2010 - Genre: Fantasy
Genre #1 -- Fantasy
The Screwtape Letters by C. S. Lewis
read 5/28/2010
I love C.S. Lewis's unique perspective in this book (writing from the perspective of a devil). There is a lot of food for thought for Christians (live in the present, it's the "little" sins that cause us to stumble, one of Satan's primary goals is to cause us to be self-focused, etc.). At times I got bogged down by the reading; it seemed to drag a bit--could be partially due to Lewis's academic-type sentence structure and vocabulary. The chapters, however, are very short, so it was easy to take a break when I needed one.
This book was part of my 2010 summer reading program.
The Screwtape Letters by C. S. Lewis
read 5/28/2010
I love C.S. Lewis's unique perspective in this book (writing from the perspective of a devil). There is a lot of food for thought for Christians (live in the present, it's the "little" sins that cause us to stumble, one of Satan's primary goals is to cause us to be self-focused, etc.). At times I got bogged down by the reading; it seemed to drag a bit--could be partially due to Lewis's academic-type sentence structure and vocabulary. The chapters, however, are very short, so it was easy to take a break when I needed one.
This book was part of my 2010 summer reading program.
Library Summer Reading Program 2010
I first began participating in my library's summer reading program in 2010. That was actually my most "prolific" year to date. (It was before I had kids; need I say more?)
I really enjoyed the format of the 2010 summer reading program. The library selected 15 genres, dividing them into 5 groups. So, each little group had 3 genres. The goal was to choose 1 of the 3 genres in each of those 5 groups (thus, reading 5 books by the end of the summer). Well, since I've always been an over-achiever, I decided I wanted to read all 15 genres. It was such fun! The library gave recommendations of books and authors in each of the genres.
I originally posted my reviews on Facebook, but now that I have a blog, I'll also post them here.
Here are the 15 genres:
Fantasy (I actually read 2 for this one)
Historical
Horror
Literary
Mystery
Adventure
Thriller
Gentle Reads
Women's Lives
Suspense
Romance
Sci Fi
Western
Inspirational
Crime
Hope you enjoy the reviews! What's your favorite genre to read?
I really enjoyed the format of the 2010 summer reading program. The library selected 15 genres, dividing them into 5 groups. So, each little group had 3 genres. The goal was to choose 1 of the 3 genres in each of those 5 groups (thus, reading 5 books by the end of the summer). Well, since I've always been an over-achiever, I decided I wanted to read all 15 genres. It was such fun! The library gave recommendations of books and authors in each of the genres.
I originally posted my reviews on Facebook, but now that I have a blog, I'll also post them here.
Here are the 15 genres:
Fantasy (I actually read 2 for this one)
Historical
Horror
Literary
Mystery
Adventure
Thriller
Gentle Reads
Women's Lives
Suspense
Romance
Sci Fi
Western
Inspirational
Crime
Hope you enjoy the reviews! What's your favorite genre to read?
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